Aplysqualenols

Aplysqualenols A and B were recently isolated by the Rodriguez laboratory in 0.06% yield from the Caribbean sea slug Aplysia dactylomela collected in Puerto Rico (read it here). Their structure was determined using a combination of MS, 1D-NMR and 2D-NMR spectroscopic methods. Using a bidirectional affinity approach, we were able to identify the binding of aplysqualenol A to the light chain of dynein type 1 (DYNLL1 (read it here). A recent expedition to Mona Island in Puerto Rico provided access to new specimens. We are now in the process of applying our recent target identification efforts to adapt these materials to provide fluorescent probes for dynein as well as examine the mechanisms in which the aplysqualenols target viral infections.

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