6-bromoindole-3-carbaldehyde, from an Acinetobacter Sp. Bacterium associated with the ascidian Stomozoa murrayi

Article abstract of DOI:10.1023/B:JOEC.0000006663.28348.03

The ascidian Stomozoa murrayi from Caribbean coral reefs is not overgrown by macroepibionts. Chemical extraction of this organism gave 6-bromoindole-3-carbaldehyde (1) and its debromo analog (2). These two compounds, previously obtained from several marine organisms, were also extracted from an Acinetobacter sp. bacterium isolated from the surface of S. murrayi. Compound 1 exhibits in vitro settlement inhibition of barnacle larvae, moderate antibacterial properties, but not antialgal or fish-feeding deterrent activities. Its potential role in contributing to the reduced fouling in S. murrayi is proposed.