http://www.mdpi.com/journal/marinedrugs/special_issues/terpenoids/ Dear Colleagues, The last review published on marine-derived terpenoids was in 2006. It is about time to collate and update the work done on this group of compounds in the last decade. This special issue will focus on the chemistry of terpenoids from diverse marine sources ranging from sponges, soft corals, molluscs, and other marine invertebrates. This will also include studies done on their biosyntheses, ecological significance, and biological activity. Dr. RuAngelie Edrada-Ebel Guest Editor{snippet name="submission_info"} http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/8/8/2340/ Terpenes from marine-derived fungi show a pronounced degree of structural diversity, and due to their interesting biological and pharmacological properties many of them have aroused interest from synthetic chemists and the pharmaceutical industry alike. The aim of this paper is to give an overview of the structural diversity of terpenes from marine-derived fungi, highlighting individual examples of chemical structures and placing them in a context of other terpenes of fungal origin. Wherever possible, information regarding the biological activity is presented. http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/8/8/2340/ Fri, 13 Aug 2010 00:00:00 CEST Marine Drugs 2010-08-13 8 8 Review 2340 2368 1660-3397 Terpenes from Marine-Derived Fungi 2010-08-13 doi: 10.3390/md8082340 Rainer Ebel http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/8/7/2080/ In the last two decades, large scale axenic cell cultures of the marine species comprising the family Euplotidae have resulted in the isolation of several new classes of terpenoids with unprecedented carbon skeletons including the (i) euplotins, highly strained acetylated sesquiterpene hemiacetals; (ii) raikovenals, built on the bicyclo[3.2.0]heptane ring system; (iii) rarisetenolides and focardins containing an octahydroazulene moiety; and (iv) vannusals, with a unique C30 backbone. Their complex structures have been elucidated through a combination of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, molecular mechanics and quantum chemical calculations. Despite the limited number of biosynthetic experiments having been performed, the large diversity of ciliate terpenoids has facilitated the proposal of biosynthetic pathways whereby they are produced from classical linear precursors. Herein, the similarities and differences emerging from the comparison of the classical chemotaxonomy approach based on secondary metabolites, with species phylogenesis based on genetic descriptors (SSU-rDNA), will be discussed. Results on the interesting ecological and biological properties of ciliate terpenoids are also reported. http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/8/7/2080/ Thu, 08 Jul 2010 00:00:00 CEST Marine Drugs 2010-07-08 8 7 Review 2080 2116 1660-3397 Structures, Biological Activities and Phylogenetic Relationships of Terpenoids from Marine Ciliates of the Genus Euplotes 2010-07-08 doi: 10.3390/md8072080 Guella Skropeta Di Giuseppe Dini http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/8/2/313/ Marine ecosystems (>70% of the planet's surface) comprise a continuous resource of immeasurable biological activities and immense chemical entities. This diversity has provided a unique source of chemical compounds with potential bioactivities that could lead to potential new drug candidates. Many marine-living organisms are soft bodied and/or sessile. Consequently, they have developed toxic secondary metabolites or obtained them from microorganisms to defend themselves against predators [1]. For the last 30–40 years, marine invertebrates have been an attractive research topic for scientists all over the world. A relatively small number of marine plants, animals and microbes have yielded more than 15,000 natural products including numerous compounds with potential pharmaceutical potential. Some of these have already been launched on the pharmaceutical market such as Prialt® (ziconotide; potent analgesic) and Yondelis® (trabectedin or ET-743; antitumor) while others have entered clinical trials, e.g., alpidin and kahalalide F. Amongst the vast array of marine natural products, the terpenoids are one of the more commonly reported and discovered to date. Sesterterpenoids (C25) and triterpenoids (C30) are of frequent occurrence, particularly in marine sponges, and they show prominent bioactivities. In this review, we survey sesterterpenoids and triterpenoids obtained from marine sponges and highlight their bioactivities. http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/8/2/313/ Tue, 23 Feb 2010 00:00:00 CET Marine Drugs 2010-02-23 8 2 Review 313 346 1660-3397 Bioactive Sesterterpenes and Triterpenes from Marine Sponges: Occurrence and Pharmacological Significance 2010-02-23 doi: 10.3390/md8020313 Sherif S. Ebada WenHan Lin Peter Proksch