Leucamide A: a new cytotoxic heptapeptide from the Australian sponge Leucetta microraphis

Abstract

Leucamide A (1), a bioactive cyclic heptapeptide containing a unique mixed 4,2-bisheterocycle tandem pair consisting of a methyloxazole and thiazole subunit was isolated together with the known compound BRS1 (2), from the dichloromethane extract of the Australian marine sponge Leucetta microraphis. The planar structure of leucamide A (1) was elucidated by employing spectroscopic techniques (NMR, MS, UV, and IR). Its absolute stereochemistry was established by chemical degradation, derivatization, and chiral GC[bond]MS analysis. A conformational analysis of 1 was made using MMFF. Leucamide A (1) was found to be moderately cytotoxic toward several tumor cell lines.