9-(5'-Deoxy-5'-thio-β-D-xylofuranosyl)adenine Disulfide from the Southern Australian Marine Sponge Trachycladus laevispirulifer: the First Natural Occurrence of a Nucleoside Disulfide

Abstract

Chemical fractionation of a southern Australian marine sponge, Trachycladus laevispirulifer, yielded 9-(5′-deoxy-5′-thio-β-d-xylofuranosyl)adenine disulfide as the first recorded natural occurrence of a nucleoside disulfide, and only the second of a xylo-nucleoside. Structure elucidation of the disulfide was achieved by detailed spectroscopic analysis and comparison to synthetic model compounds. The antibacterial, antifungal, and anticancer properties of the disulfide are documented and the literature surrounding natural and synthetic thionucleosides is reviewed.