Psammaplin A, a chitinase inhibitor isolated from the Fijian marine sponge Aplysinella rhax

Several brominated tyrosine derived compounds. psammaplins A (1), K (2) and L (3) as well as bisaprasin (4) were isolated from the Fijian marine sponge Aplysinella rhax during a bioassay guided isolation protocol. Their structures were determined using NMR and MS techniques. Psammaplin A was found to moderately inhibit chitinase B from Serratia marcescens, the mode of inhibition being non-competitive, Crystallographic studies suggest that a disordered psammaplin A molecule is bound near the active site. Interestingly, psammaplin A was found to be a potent antifungal agent. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.