Sulcaceramide, a Novel Triglycosylceramide from the Marine AscidianMicrocosmus sulcatus

A new glycosphingolipid, sulcaceramide (1a), has been isolated as its peracetate (1b) from the marine ascidian Microcosmus sulcatus, and its structure elucidated by spectroscopic and chemical analysis. The unprecedented trisaccharide chain present in 1a is a rare example of a fucosylated carbohydrate moiety encountered as a constituent of glycosphingolipids isolated from marine invertebrates. (© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2002)