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Lookup NU author(s): Emeritus Professor Matt Bentley, Dr Gary Caldwell
Marine chemical ecology comprises the study of the production and interaction of bioactive molecules affecting organism behavior and function. Here we focus on bioactive compounds and interactions associated with phytoplankton, particularly bloom-forming diatoms, prymnesiophytes and dinoflagellates. Planktonic bioactive metabolites are structurally and functionally diverse and some may have multiple simultaneous functions including roles in chemical defense (antipredator, allelopathic and antibacterial compounds), and/or cell-to-cell signaling (e.g. polyunsaturated aldehydes [PUAs] of diatoms). Among inducible chemical defenses in response to grazing there is high species-specific variability in the effects on grazers, ranging from severe physical incapacitation and/or death to no apparent physiological response depending on predator susceptibility and detoxification capability. Most bioactive compounds are present in very low concentrations, in both the producing organism and the surrounding aqueous medium. Furthermore, bioactivity may be subject to synergistic interactions with other natural and anthropogenic environmental toxicants. Most, if not all phycotoxins are classic secondary metabolites, but many other bioactive metabolites are simple molecules derived from primary metabolism (e.g., PUAs in diatoms, DMSP in prymnesiophytes). Producing cells do not seem to suffer physiological impact due to their synthesis. Functional genome sequence data and gene expression analysis will provide insights into regulatory and metabolic pathways in producer organisms, as well as identification of mechanisms of action in target organisms. Understanding chemical ecological responses to environmental triggers and chemically-mediated species interactions will help define crucial chemical and molecular processes that help maintain biodiversity and ecosystem functionality.
Author(s): Ianora A, Bentley MG, Caldwell GS, Casotti R, Cembella AD, Engstrom-Ost J, Halsband C, Sonnenschein E, Legrande C, Llewellyn CA, Paldaviciene A, Pilkaityte R, Pohnert G, Razinkovas A, Romana G, Tilman U, Vaiciute R
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Marine Drugs
Year: 2011
Volume: 9
Issue: 9
Pages: 1625-1648
Print publication date: 22/09/2011
Date deposited: 22/09/2011
ISSN (electronic): 1660-3397
Publisher: MDPIAG
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/md9091625
DOI: 10.3390/md9091625
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