ARS | Publication request: SHERAMIDE A: A NEW CYCLIC PEPTIDE FROM THE ASCOSTROMATA OF EUPENICILLIUM SHEARII

Submitted to: Tetrahedron Letters
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: May 18, 1998
Publication Date: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Our research program has shown that fungal survival structures called sclerotia and stromata commonly contain unique chemicals which are toxic to insects or show other forms of bioactivity relevant to agriculture and medicine. Stromata produced by Eupenicillium shearii were examined for their ability to produce antiinsectan agents and other bioactive metabolites. Here we report a new antiinsectan cyclic peptide that we named shearamide A. This is the first cyclic peptide to be isolated from a Eupenicillium sp. or from sclerotia or stromata of any fungal species. There is an urgent need for new sources of insecticides and leads to insecticides (i.e., new chemotypes) because many insects are developing resistance to existing products and there are few environmentally tolerable replacements. This research is of use mainly to other scientists interested in novel pesticides from unique sources.

Technical Abstract: A new antiinsectan cyclic peptide was isolated from the ascostromata of Eupenicillium shearii (NRRL 3324). The structure was determined by analysis of NMR and FABMS data.