Reef invertebrates as producers of bioactive compounds
Taxonomic expertise on marine invertebrate species is relevant for the identification of animals that are recognized as producers of secondary metabolites. These chemical toxins are used as a defense against predation or as a weapon in the competition for space in relation to neighboring organisms. Relevant species groups are sponges (Porifera), octocorals (Cnidaria: Octocorallia), and tunicates.
Selected references 
2011
Daowan Lai, Yongxin Li, Minjuan Xu, Zhiwei Deng, Leen van Ofwegen, Peiyuan Qian, Peter Proksch, Wenhan Lin, 2011 Sinulariols A-S, 19-oxygenated cembranoids from the Chinese soft coral Sinularia rigida. Tetrahedron 67: 6018-6029.
2010
Pengcheng Yan, Zhiwei Deng, Leen van Ofwegen, Peter Proksch and Wenhan Lin, 2010. Lobophytones O–T, New Biscembranoids and Cembranoid from Soft Coral Lobophytum pauciflorum. Marine Drugs 8: 2837-2848.Pengcheng Yan, Zhiwei Deng, Leen van Ofwegen, Peter Proksch, and Wenhan Lin, 2010.-- Lobophytones H-N, Biscembranoids from the Chinese Soft Coral Lobophytum pauciflorum. Chem. Pharm Bull. 58: 1591-1595.
Pengcheng Yan, Yang Lv, Leen van Ofwegen, Peter Proksch, & Wenhan Lin, 2010 Lobophytones A-G, New Isobiscembranoids from the Soft Coral Lobophytum pauciflorum. Organic Letters 12: 2484-2487.Williams DE, Amlani A, Dewi AS, Patrick BO, Ofwegen LP van, Mui ALF, Andersen RJ, 2010. Australin E Isolated from the Soft Coral Cladiella sp. Collected in Pohnpei Activates the Inositol 5-Phosphatase SHIP1. Australian Journal of Chemistry 63: 895-900.
2008
Ma A, Deng Z, Ofwegen LP van, Bayer M, Proksch P, Lin W, 2008. Dendronpholides A-R, Cembranoid Diterpenes from the Chinese Soft Coral Dendronephthya sp. Journal of Natural Products 71: 1152-1160.
Wen T, Ding Y, Deng Z, Ofwegen LP van, Proksch P, Lin W, 2008. Sinulaflexiolides A-K, Cembrane-Type Diterpenoids from the Chinese Soft Coral Sinularia flexibilis. Journal of Natural Products 71: 1133-1140.
2007
Hanif, N., Tanaka, J., Setiawan, A., Trianto, A., Voogd, N.J. de, Murni, A., Tanaka, C. & Higa, T., 2007. Antibacterial Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers from the Indonesian Sponge Lamellodysidea herbacea. Journal of Natural Products 70: 432-435.
Ke Ma, Wei Li, Hongwei Fu, Kazuo Koike, Wenhan Lin, Ofwegen, L. van & Hongzheng Fu, 2007. New 4a-methyl steroids from a Chinese soft coral Nephthea sp. Steroids 72: 901-907.
Salmoun, M., Braekman, J.C., Dewell, J., Darro, F., Kiss, R., Voogd, N.J. de & Soest, R.W.M. van, 2007. New terpenoids from two Indonesian marine sponges. Natural Product Research 21: 149-155.
Voogd, N.J. de, 2007. An assessment of sponge mariculture potential in the Spermonde Archipelago. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 87: 1777-1784.
Voogd, N.J. de, 2007. The Mariculture potential of the Indonesian reef-dwelling sponge Callyspongia (Euplacella) biru: growth, survival and bioactive compounds. Aquaculture 262: 54-64.
2006
Huang, X.-P., Z.-W. Deng, L. van Ofwegen, J. Li, H.-Z. Fu, X.-B. Zhu & W.-H. Lin, 2006. Two new pregnane glycosides from soft coral Cladiella krempfi. Journal of Asian Natural Products Research 8: 287-291.
Huang, X., Z. Deng, X. Zhu, L. van Ofwegen, P. Proksch & W. Lin, 2006. Krempenes A–D: A Series of Unprecedented Pregnane-Type Steroids from the Marine Soft Coral Cladiella krempfi. Helvetica Chimica Acta 89: 2020-2026.
Yu, S., Z. Deng, L. van Ofwegen, P. Proksch & W. Lin, 2006. 5,8-Epidioxysterols and related derivatives from a Chinese Soft Coral Sinularia flexibilis. Steroids 71: 955-959.
2005
Li, G., Z. Deng, H. Guan, L. van Ofwegen, P. Proksch & W. Lin, 2005. Steroids from the soft coral Dendronephthya sp. Steroids 70: 13-18.
Li, G., Y. Zhang, Z. Deng, L. van Ofwegen, P. Proksch & W. Lin, 2005. Cytotoxic cembranoid diterpenes from a soft coral Sinularia gibberosa. Journal of Natural Products 68: 649-652.
Jin, P., Z. Deng, Y. Pei, H. Fu, J. Li, L. van Ofwegen, P. Proksch & W. Lin, 2005. Polyhydroxylated steroids from the soft coral Sinularia dissecta. Steroids 70: 487-493.
Voogd, N.J. de, J.J.H. Haftka & B.W. Hoeksema, 2005. Evaluation of the ecological function of amphitoxin in the reef-dwelling sponge Callyspongia (Euplacella) biru (Haplosclerida: Callyspongiidae) at southwest Sulawesi, Indonesia. Contributions to Zoology 74: 53-61.
2000
Cinel, B., M. Roberge, H. Behrisch, L. van Ofwegen, C.B. Castro & R.J. Andersen, 2000. Antimitotic Diterpenes from Erythropodium caribaeorum Test Pharmacophore Models for Microtubule Stabilization. Organic Letters 2000 2 (3): 257-260.
Lin, X., B.O. Patrick, M. Roberge, T. Allen, L. van Ofwegen & R.J. Andersen, 2000. New Diterpenoids from the Octocoral Pachyclavularia violacea Collected in Papua New Guinea. Tetrahedron 56: 9031-9037.
Ru, A.E., V. Wray, L. Witte, L. van Ofwegen & P. Proksch, 2000. Bioactive Terpenes from the Soft Coral Heteroxenia sp. from Mindoro, Philippines. Zeitschrift für Naturforschung 55c: 82-86.
1998
Morris, L.A., E.M. Christie, M. Jaspars & L.P. van Ofwegen, 1998. A bioactive Secosterol with an Unusual A- and B-Ring Oxygenation Pattern Isolated from an Indonesian Soft Coral Lobophytum sp. Journal of Natural Products 61: 538-541.
Ru, A.E., P. Proksch, V. Wray, L. Witte & L. van Ofwegen, 1998. Four new bioactive diterpenes of the soft coral Lobophytum paucifl orum from Mindoro, Philippines. Journal of Natural Products 61: 358-361.
Sunday, November 13, 2011