CHANCE - THE NATURAL-PRODUCTS OF THE MARINE AREA IL ROGIOLO, AND OTHER STORIES

In this lecture I show how from the study of unique, branched C-15 ace togenins of oxepane structure, and new-skeleton beta-chamigrenes, foun d in a marine sponge and a seaweed at my fishing spot, Il Rogiolo, fun damental aspects of both classes of compounds are brought to light. Th e identikit of the C-15 acetogenins is thus changed, an interplay betw een marine sponges and seaweeds starts to become appreciated, and why beta-chamigrenes are so common in Nature is revealed. On another, much wider front, comprising all the seven seas, I show here how the popul ation dynamics of marine ciliate protists is regulated by most evolved sesquiterpenic protected aldehydes.