Taurospongin A, a novel acetylenic fatty acid derivative inhibiting DNA polymerase beta and HIV reverse transcriptase from sponge Hippospongia sp.

Taurospongin A (1), a novel acetylene-containing natural product consisting of a taurine and two fatty acid residues, has been isolated from the Okinawan marine sponge Hippospongia sp. and its structure elucidated by spectral data and chemical means. Taurospongin A (1) exhibited potent inhibitory activity against DNA polymerase beta and HIV reverse transcriptase. The absolute configurations of taurospongin A (1) were established to be 3R, 7S, and 9R by synthesis of the MTPA ester of a degradation product of 1.