Suberitenone B: A Novel Inhibitor of Cholesteryl Ester Transfer Protein (CETP) with an Unprecedented Skeletal Class from the Antarctic Sponge Suberites sp.

Cholesteryl Ester Transfer Protein (CETP) mediates the transfer of cholesterol ester and triglyceride between high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and other low-density lipoproteins, therefore, it might influence HDL levels. The levels of HDL is closely related to the atherogenic diseases in human and there were several reports that the trasgenic mice expressing CETP had much worse atherosclerosis than non-expressing control one. Therefore, selective inhibitors of CETP have the potential to be used as antiatherosclerotic agents. Continued screening for potent inhibitors of CETP led to the isolation of Suberitenone B from marine sponge. Suberitenone B, sesterterpenoids of a new skeletal class have been isolated from the sponge Suberites sp. collected from King George Island the Antartic. The structure of the metabolite has been determined by NMR experiments and chemical methods.