Xestospongins (Xe's) A, C, D, araguspongine B, and demethylxestospongin B, a group of macrocyclic bis-1-oxaquinolizidines isolated from the Australian sponge, Xestospongia species, are shown to be potent blockers of IP3-mediated Ca2+ release from endoplasmic reticulum vesicles of rabbit cerebellum. XeC blocks IP3-induced Ca2+ release (IC50 = 358 nM) without interacting with the IP3-binding site, suggesting a mechanism that is independent of the IP3 effector site. Analysis of Pheochromocytoma cells and primary astrocytes loaded with Ca2+-sensitive dye reveals that XeC selectively blocks bradykinin- and carbamylcholine-induced Ca2+ efflux from endoplasmic reticulum stores. Xe's represent a new class of potent, membrane permeable IP3 receptor blockers exhibiting a high selectivity over ryanodine receptors. Xe's are a valuable tool for investigating the structure and function of IP3 receptors and Ca2+ signaling in neuronal and nonneuronal cells.

New compounds bastadin 20 (9), 15,34-O-disulfatobastadin 7 (10), and 10-O-sulfatobastadin 3 (11) were isolated from Ianthella basta collected in Exmouth Gulf, Western Australia. Compounds 10 and 11 exhibited moderate differential activity as SR Ca2+ channel agonists (EC50 13.6 and 100 microM, respectively) of the Ry1R FKBP12 complex, while the potency of 9 was almost half that of 10 (EC50 20.6 microM). The problem of dereplication of bastadins was addressed using 1H-NMR "fingerprinting" of MeO signals in the corresponding permethyl bastadin derivatives.