Biosynthesis of brominated tyrosine metabolites by Aplysina fistularis

The biosynthesis of brominated tyrosine metabolites by the marine sponge Aplysina fistularis was investigated. [U-14C]-L-Tyrosine, [U-14C]-L-3-bromotyrosine, and [U-14C]-L-3,5-dibromotyrosine were incorporated into both dibromoverongiaquinol [1] and aeroplysinin-1 [2], and [methyl-14C]methionine was specifically incorporated into the O-methyl group group of 2. [Methyl-14C]-L-O-methyltyrosine, [methyl-14C]-L-3,5-dibromo-O-methyltyrosine, and several putative nitrile precursors were not incorporated into 1 or 2.