Localization studies of ioactive cyclic peptides in the ascidian Lissoclinum patella

A Palauan specimen of the ascidian Lissoclinum patella contained the cyclic peptides patellamides A-C. In contrast to previous reports concerning the location of cyclic peptides in L. patella and L. bistratum, it has been demonstrated that these cyclic peptides were not located in the symbiotic cyanobacterium Prochloron sp. but were instead distributed throughout the ascidian tunic. The relevance of these results with respect to the biosynthetic origins of the patellamides is discussed.