Corrugoside, a new immunostimulatory alpha-galactoglycosphingolipid from the marine sponge Axinella corrugata

Corrugoside (1a), a new immunostimulatory triglycosilated alpha-galactoglycosphingolipid, was isolated from the marine sponge Axinella corrugata, and its structure determined by spectral analysis and chemical degradation. Compound 1a activated murine NKT cells in vitro, with a potency of about 2 logs lower than that of alphaGalCer. Four stereoisomeric glycosphingolipids (2a-2d) were also obtained, beta-glucosylceramides bearing unusual endoperoxide and allylic hydroperoxide functionalities on the sphinganine chain. They were shown to be photooxidation artifacts of the known glycosphingolipids 3, also present in the sponge. A possible role of compound 3 as a singlet oxygen scavenger to protect the organism from oxidative damage is proposed.