SULFOQUINOVOSYLDIACYLGLYCEROL, KM043, A NEW POTENT INHIBITOR OF EUKARYOTIC DNA-POLYMERASES AND HIV-REVERSE TRANSCRIPTASE TYPE-1 FROM A MARINE RED ALGA, GIGARTINA-TENELLA

A new sulfolipid, KM043, which belongs to the 6-sulfo-alpha-D-quinovop yranosyl-(1 --> 3')-1',2'-diacylglycerol (SQDG) class of compounds, ha s been isolated from a marine red alga, Gigartina tenella, as a potent inhibitor of eukaryotic DNA polymerases and HIV-reverse transcriptase type 1. Its structure was determined on the basis of spectroscopic an d gas chromatographic analyses. The inhibition was dose-dependent, and complete (more than 90%) inhibition of DNA polymerase alpha (pol. alp ha), DNA polymerase beta (pol. beta) and HIV-reverse transcriptase typ e 1 (HIV-RT) was observed at concentrations of 5, 10, and 30 mu M, res pectively.