A biosynthetically significant new bacteriohopanoid present in large amounts in the Caribbean sponge Plakortis simplex

In addition to the previously reported bacteriohopanoids, the marine sponge Plakortis simplex was shown to contain large amounts of (32R,33S,34S)-32,35-anhydrobacteriohopanetetrol. The structure of this new bacteriohopanoid was determined by extensive NMR analysis, and further supports the hypothesized biosynthetic pathway to bacteriohopanoids. Altogether, the amounts of bacteriohopanoids in P. simplex is as high as 50% of sterols in weight, and these compounds could play a structural role in the sponge cell membranes.