Natural products from three nudibranchs: Nembrotha kubaryana, Hypselodorisinfucata and Chromodoris petechialis

Abstract

Nudibranchs are shell-less molluscs that are often brightly colored and seemingly defenseless against predation. However, these beautiful animals usually contain large amounts of diet-derived natural products that help defend them against predation. We have isolated a blue tetrapyrrole from Nembrotha kubaryana, the known nakafuran-8 and -9 from Hypselodoris infucata and spongiane-16-one from Chromodoris petechialis. These compounds have previously been found in other marine organisms, thus supporting a link between diet and natural products in the nudibranchs.