ARS | Publication request: Variecolactol: A New Sesterterpene Lactone from the Sclerotia of Aspergillus auricomus (Guegen) Saito

Submitted to: Science Diliman
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: February 10, 1999
Publication Date: February 10, 1999
Citation: Deguzman, F.S., Gloer, J.B., Wicklow, D.T., Dowd, P.F. 1999. Variecolactol: A New Sesterterpene Lactone from the Sclerotia of Aspergillus auricomus (Guegen) Saito. Science Diliman. 11(1):1-5.

Interpretive Summary: Many fungi produce durable physiological structures called sclerotia as a mechanism for the long-term survival and propagation of the species. Sclerotia contain metabolites that appear to play a role in protecting them from microbial degradation and potential predators (i.e. fungivorous insects). Studies on the chemical constituents of the sclerotia of Aspergillus auricomus led to the isolation of variecolactol, a new sestertepend lactone related to variecolin which possesses a number of interesting biological activities.

Technical Abstract: Variecolactol (1), a new sesterterpene lactone related to variecolin (2), has been isolated from the organic extracts of Aspergillus auricomus. Structure determination of this compound was achieved primarily through HMQC, HMBC, and NOESY experiments. The known compounds dihydropenicillic acid (3) and penicillic acid (4) were also isolated from A. auricomus.