Terpene biosynthesis in marine molluscs: incorporation of glucose in drimane esters of Dendrodoris nudibranchs via classical mevalonate pathway

The biosynthesis of drimane esters in marine molluscs Dendrodoris limbata and Dendrodoris grandiflora has been reinvestigated by feeding experiments with d-[14C-(U)]- and d-[6-13C]-glucose. Both experiments proved the incorporation of the precursors in the terpenoid part of drimane esters. Use of [6-13C]-glucose also demonstrated that the labelled material was incorporated via the classical acetate/mevalonate pathway.