Biomarkers
Table 1 - 4,8,12-TM-l3:0 (A) and 5,9,13-TM-l4:0 (B) acids (%).
Cinachyrella sponges
A
B
C. alloclada (Senegal)
14.5-36.7
0.3-1.5
C. kükenthali (Senegal)
19.6-24.4
0.3-0.6
C. aff. schulzei (New Caledonia)
8.8
0.5
Cinachyrella sp. (Australia)
15.6
0.2
This feature seems to characterize a sponge belonging to the genus
Cinachyrella. 4,8,12-TM-13:0 rarely occurs at high levels and undoubtedly
plays a major role as a membrane component. From a chemotaxonomic
viewpoint, a reevaluation has led to new interest in the lipids of sponges
from the Tetillidae family (Ruetzler, 1987).
Long-chain A5,9 demospongic fatty acids
The discovery of several new fatty acids in these Senegalese sponges has
led to a better understanding of the metabolic pathways of typical
unsaturated fatty acids, namely demospongic acids.
In Trikentrwn loeve, we have identified the known A5,9,23-30:3 together
with the unusual monoenoic Δ23-30:1 and the new Δ9,23-30:2 acids.
These latter acids were previously considered to be biosynthetic intermediates for trienoic acid (Litchfield et al., 1980; Walkup et al., 1981).
As shown below, the new dienoic acid was readily identified as the pyrrolidide derivative, whose mass spectrum showed a molecular ion peak
at m/z 501 (30:2 acid). The double bonds were located by 12 amu differences between the m/z 196 (C 8 ) and m/z 208 (C 9 ) peaks (Δ9), and
between the m/z 390 (C
2
2
) and m/z 402 (C
2
3
) peaks (Δ23).
A fourth C 30 new fatty acid was identified in Trikentrion, namely
Δ5,9,25-30:3. Furthermore, the new fatty acid Δ5,9,21-26:3 was identified in Pseudaxinella cf. lunaecharta.
Table 2 shows the importance of the typical A5,9 fatty acids in some
Senegalese and Qatari sponges. It is noteworthy that such large numbers
of A5,9 long-chain acids were unprecedented.
37
Table 1 - 4,8,12-TM-l3:0 (A) and 5,9,13-TM-l4:0 (B) acids (%).
Cinachyrella sponges
A
B
C. alloclada (Senegal)
14.5-36.7
0.3-1.5
C. kükenthali (Senegal)
19.6-24.4
0.3-0.6
C. aff. schulzei (New Caledonia)
8.8
0.5
Cinachyrella sp. (Australia)
15.6
0.2
This feature seems to characterize a sponge belonging to the genus
Cinachyrella. 4,8,12-TM-13:0 rarely occurs at high levels and undoubtedly
plays a major role as a membrane component. From a chemotaxonomic
viewpoint, a reevaluation has led to new interest in the lipids of sponges
from the Tetillidae family (Ruetzler, 1987).
Long-chain A5,9 demospongic fatty acids
The discovery of several new fatty acids in these Senegalese sponges has
led to a better understanding of the metabolic pathways of typical
unsaturated fatty acids, namely demospongic acids.
In Trikentrwn loeve, we have identified the known A5,9,23-30:3 together
with the unusual monoenoic Δ23-30:1 and the new Δ9,23-30:2 acids.
These latter acids were previously considered to be biosynthetic intermediates for trienoic acid (Litchfield et al., 1980; Walkup et al., 1981).
As shown below, the new dienoic acid was readily identified as the pyrrolidide derivative, whose mass spectrum showed a molecular ion peak
at m/z 501 (30:2 acid). The double bonds were located by 12 amu differences between the m/z 196 (C 8 ) and m/z 208 (C 9 ) peaks (Δ9), and
between the m/z 390 (C
2
2
) and m/z 402 (C
2
3
) peaks (Δ23).
A fourth C 30 new fatty acid was identified in Trikentrion, namely
Δ5,9,25-30:3. Furthermore, the new fatty acid Δ5,9,21-26:3 was identified in Pseudaxinella cf. lunaecharta.
Table 2 shows the importance of the typical A5,9 fatty acids in some
Senegalese and Qatari sponges. It is noteworthy that such large numbers
of A5,9 long-chain acids were unprecedented.
37