Review abstract
Nature Chemical Biology 4, 466 - 473 (2008)
Published online: 18 July 2008 | doi:10.1038/nchembio.101
Trading molecules and tracking targets in symbiotic interactions
Eric W Schmidt1
Abstract
It is probable that nearly every natural product structure results from interactions between organisms. Symbiosis, a subset of inter-organism interactions involving closely associated partners, has recently provided new and interesting experimental systems for the study of these interactions. This review discusses new observations about natural product function and structural evolution that emerge from the study of symbiotic systems. In particular, these advances directly address long-standing 'how' and 'why' questions about natural products, providing fundamental insights about the evolution, origin and purpose of natural products that are inaccessible by other methods.
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Utah, 30 South 2000 East, Room 201, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, USA.
Correspondence to: Eric W Schmidt1 e-mail: ews1@utah.edu
MORE ARTICLES LIKE THIS
These links to content published by NPG are automatically generated.
NEWS AND VIEWS
Combinatorial biosynthesis in symbiotic bacteriaNature Chemical Biology News and Views (01 Dec 2006)
Engineering Escherichia coli to produce nonribosomal peptide antibioticsNature Chemical Biology News and Views (01 Aug 2006)
See all 5 matches for News And ViewsRESEARCH
Natural combinatorial peptide libraries in cyanobacterial symbionts of marine ascidiansNature Chemical Biology Letter (01 Dec 2006)
Polyketide assembly lines of uncultivated sponge symbionts from structure-based gene targetingNature Chemical Biology Article (01 Jul 2009)
See all 11 matches for Research
