Symbiotic and dietary marine microalgae as a source of bioactive molecules-experience from natural products research

摘要

Cyanobacterial metabolites have proven to be invaluable as tools in the dissection of signal transduction pathways in mammalian cells and some are currently under clinical evaluation as drug candidates. It is now, also realized that cyanobacteria are the true biosynthetic origin of many bioactive molecules isolated from marine invertebrates; marine invertebrates may sequester cyanobacteria through diet or by symbiosis. This review discusses the dietary-derived cyanobacterial origin of the dolastatins. potent cytotoxic compounds, originally isolated from the Indian Ocean sea hare. Dolabella auricularia. A discussion on the dietary dissemination of cyanobacterial metabolites through the marine food chain is also presented. Reference to the metabolites isolated from Dysidea sponges is given to illustrate their origin from symbiotic cyanobacteria associated with this organism. [References: 26]