Bioactive Secondary Metabolites in Marine Organisms
Summary
Marine habitats host a remarkable array of secondary metabolites—organic compounds not directly involved in growth or reproduction but instrumental in ecological interactions. Among these, polyketides, nonribosomal peptides, alkaloids and terpenes stand out for their structural novelty and potent bioactivities. Marine invertebrates, microorganisms and algae deploy these molecules as chemical defences against predators, competitors and pathogens. Advances in analytical techniques such as high-resolution mass spectrometry, genome mining and molecular networking have uncovered pathways for nonribosomal peptide synthetases and polyketide synthases that sculpt diverse scaffolds, including cyclic dipeptides and hybrid peptide-polyketide structures. The unique physicochemical conditions of the ocean—such as high pressure, low temperature and distinct microbial symbioses—foster the emergence of unprecedented chemical architectures. These compounds have generated lead candidates for antimicrobial, anticancer and anti-inflammatory therapies, as well as agrochemical and cosmeceutical applications. Recent progress in metagenomic library screening, heterologous expression and synthetic biology is accelerating the discovery of cryptic biosynthetic gene clusters, while fostering sustainable production strategies. The global threat of multidrug-resistant infections and unmet therapeutic needs underscores the strategic importance of marine natural products. Collaborative efforts that integrate chemical ecology, genomics and pharmacological evaluation are driving the translation of marine-derived metabolites from the ocean to the clinic.
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Bioactive Secondary Metabolites in Marine Organisms publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in bioactive secondary metabolites in marine organisms across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Secondary metabolite: A compound produced by an organism that is not essential for its primary metabolism but confers ecological advantages, often with bioactive properties.
Molecular networking: A mass spectrometry-based approach that groups related metabolites by spectral similarity, facilitating annotation of complex mixtures.
Nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS): A multi-enzyme complex that assembles peptides independently of ribosomes, generating diverse cyclic and linear peptide structures.
2,5-Diketopiperazine (DKP): A cyclic dipeptide scaffold characterised by a six-membered ring, known for chemical stability and broad biological activities.
Metagenomic library: A collection of DNA fragments cloned from environmental samples, used to access genetic material from uncultured microorganisms.
References
- New Pyrroline Isolated from Antarctic Krill-Derived Actinomycetes Nocardiopsis sp. LX-1 Combining with Molecular Networking. Marine Drugs (2023).
- Structures and Biological Activities of Diketopiperazines from Marine Organisms: A Review. Marine Drugs (2021).
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