Ascidiacyclamide is a cyclic octapeptide containing the amino acids thiazole and oxazoline.
Keyword:
cytotoxic
Keyword:
octapeptide
Layman's explanation:
Ascidiacyclamide is part of the family of cyclic peptides and is usually found
in coral reef systems throughout the tropical pacific. Ascidians use the
molecule as a defense mechanism since it is cytotoxic.
Ascidiacyclamide is isolated from the ascidian lissoclinum patella, which
harbors a photosynthetic alga called procloron. There has been a great deal of
speculation in the literature about this association and which one or both
organisms biosynthesizes the peptides, although there is little hard evidence to support the
speculation. Several research groups have reported syntheses of various members of the
peptide family; there are also reports that these peptides sequester metals.
Reciprocal Net site software 0.9.1-50,
copyright (c) 2002-2009, The Trustees of Indiana University
Files and data presented via this software are property of their
respective owners.
Reciprocal Net is funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation as part of
the National Science Digital Library project.
