jasplakinolide

Jasplakinolide is a naturally occurring marine macrolide isolated from the marine sponge *Jaspis stellifera*. It is a cyclic depsipeptide characterized by a 20-membered ring containing several unusual amino acids, including a dehydroamino acid and a hydroxylated proline derivative. Jasplakinolide exhibits a range of biological activities, most notably its potent ability to induce actin polymerization.

The mechanism of action for jasplakinolide involves binding to actin filaments and promoting their assembly into stable structures. This potent actin-modulating activity has made it a valuable tool in cell biology research for studying the dynamics of the actin cytoskeleton. Beyond its effects on actin, jasplakinolide has also been reported to possess cytotoxic, antifungal, and antiparasitic properties. These broader biological effects suggest potential therapeutic applications, although its use in medicine is still under investigation. The complex structure of jasplakinolide also presents significant challenges for total synthesis, making its isolation from natural sources the primary method of obtaining this compound for research.