Brominated polyacetylenic acids from the marine sponge Xestospongia muta: inhibitors of HIV protease.

The EtOAc extract of the sponge Xestospongia muta collected in Colombus Island, Bahamas, yielded eleven straight-chain unsaturated, polyacetylenic, brominated acids, seven of which were identified on the basis of spectral data, including the unknown acids 2-7. These acetylenic acids are the first known examples that have been shown to inhibit HIV protease, a critical enzyme in the replication of human immunodeficiency virus.