Marine invertebrates such as sponges, corals and mollusks have evolved a variety of defenses to protect themselves in the hostile environment of the ocean. Some of these defense mechanisms are physical. More common in these organisms is chemical defense, production of toxic secondary metabolites that deter predation, fouling, infection or otherwise promote the welfare of the organism. The study of secondary metabolites in marine invertebrates is a multifaceted endeavor. Once we have identified a new metabolite, we can broaden the scope of our investigation to biosynthetic and ecological aspects and investigate its biological activity.
Biosynthesis addresses the fundamentals of metabolism in an organism.
The location of the label in the product is identified by spectroscopy or chemical degradation. Nature is an important source of new pharmaceuticals. In collaboration with pharmacologists, we screen our new isolates in assays that will identify their potential as drugs.