Bioactive marine metabolites, IV. Isolation and the amino acid composition of discodermin A, an antimicrobial peptide, from the marine sponge Discodermia kiiensis.

An antimicrobial peptide, discodermin A, has been isolated from the marine sponge Discodermia kiiensis. The peptide showed antimicrobial activity as well as an inhibition of starfish embryo development. It appeared to be a tetradecapeptide consisting of D-Cys(O3H), L-Asp, L-MeGlu, L-Thr (2 moles), Sar, D-Pro, D-Ala, D- and L-t-Leu, D-Leu, L-Phe, D-Trp, and L-Arg.