Conformational dynamics and molecular interactions of natural products: unveiling functional structures in biological membranes

Structural studies of natural products have been a driving force in the development of organic chemistry throughout its long history, especially in the early years. Recently, structure determination based on new concepts has also gained momentum. In this review we will mainly discuss the functional structures of natural products that account for the mechanisms of action largely from our studies. The topics include marine natural products, amphidinols, and ladder-shaped polyether compounds, which are known as potent antifungal agents and important marine biotoxins, respectively. Nuclear magnetic resonance studies for determining the stereochemistry of amphidinol 3 and its conformation in lipid-bilayer membranes will be presented in detail.