Spirolides isolated from Danish strains of the toxigenic dinoflagellate Alexandrium ostenfeldii

Using LC/MS methodology, spirolides were detected in two clonal isolates of Alexandrium ostenfeldii isolated from Limfjorden, Denmark. Examination of the LC/MS profiles of extracts from these Danish cultures revealed the presence of two dominant peaks representing two previously unidentified spirolide components and one minor peak identified as the previously reported desmethyl spirolide C ( 1). Culturing of these clonal strains, LF 37 and LF 38, of A. ostenfeldii resulted in the accumulation of sufficient cell biomass to allow for the isolation and structure elucidation of two new spirolides, 13,19-didesmethylspirolide C ( 2) and spirolide G ( 3). While 2 was found to differ from 1 only in that it contained one less methyl group, 3 was the first spirolide to be isolated that contained a 5: 6: 6-trispiroketal ring system. The effect of this new feature on the toxicity of 3 relative to other spirolides is presently being pursued.