Asperterpenes A and B, two BACE1 inhibitors with unprecedented carbon skeletons isolated from Aspergillus terreus, exhibit potent anti-Alzheimer's disease activity.

Periconiastone A (1), an ergosterol with an unprecedented pentacyclo­[8.7.0.01,5.02,14.010,15]­heptadecane system, was isolated from Periconia sp. TJ403-rc01. Its structure was assigned by extensive spectroscopic analyses and quantum-chemical 13C NMR and ECD calculations. A vinylogous α-ketol rearrangement and an aldol condensation reaction during biosynthesis were proposed as key steps for the formation of 1. Compound 1 showed antibacterial activity against Gram-positive S. aureus and E. faecalis with MIC values of 4 and 32 μg/mL, respectively.

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Alterbrassicicene A (1), a fusicoccane-derived diterpenoid with an unprecedented framework, together with two known biosynthetic intermediates (2 and 3), were characterized from Alternaria brassicicola. The absolute structure of 1 was assigned by extensive spectroscopic analyses and quantum chemical calculations. Compound 1 represents a newly transformed monocyclic carbon skeleton of a highly functionalized diterpenoid bearing unique dihydro-2(3H)-furanone and 2-cyclopenten-1-one motifs. Compound 1 was the first fusicoccane-derived diterpenoid functioning as a potent PPAR-γ agonist (EC 50 = 744.1 nM).