A fortified enzyme preparation of the gorgonian Pseudopterogorgia americana or Pseudopterogorgia elisabethae has been developed which efficiently transforms a variety of precursor molecules, e.g., sterols, to their corresponding metabolites, e.g., 9(11)-secosteroid in high yield. NAD, NADP, and glut...

The ecteinascidins are a family of tetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloids isolated from the tunicate Ecteinascidia turbinata. Ecteinascidin 743 is a candidate for the treatment of several human cancers. Ecteinascidins have been shown to kill tumor cells in vitro, inhibit tumor growth in vivo, suppress all...