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Trading molecules and tracking targets in symbiotic interactions

Nature Chemical Biology volume 4, pages 466–473 (2008)Cite this article

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.

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Figure 1: Roles of metabolism in symbiosis.
Figure 2
Figure 3: Bryostatins and E. sertula are found throughout the tissues of the host animal, B. neritina.
Figure 4: Evolution of natural product pathways.
Figure 5: Potential co-evolution of sponge symbionts and natural products.

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Acknowledgements

Our work on symbiosis is funded by the US National Institutes of Health (GM071425) and by the US National Science Foundation (EF-0412226) (subcontract from University of Maryland). The author thanks M.G. Haygood (Oregon Health and Science University) for critically reading an early version of the manuscript.

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    Eric W Schmidt

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Schmidt, E. Trading molecules and tracking targets in symbiotic interactions. Nat Chem Biol 4, 466–473 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/nchembio.101

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