Lyso-PAF Analogues and Lysophosphatidylcholines from the Marine Sponge Spirastrella abata as Inhibitors of Cholesterol Biosynthesis

A series of phospholipids, including previously undescribed compounds 4-7, were isolated by a bioactivity-guided fractionation from the marine sponge Spirastrella abata as inhibitors of cholesterol biosynthesis in human liver cells. These compounds were identified as lyso-PAF analogues (1-5) and lysophosphatidylcholines (6, 7) based on NMR and MS analyses. Compounds 1-7 specifically blocked the conversion of lanosterol into cholesterol in the Chang liver cell.