U.S.-Brazil Cooperative Research: Chemical Defense in Brazilian Marine Invertebrates

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This U.S.-Brazil award will support a collaborative research project between Dr.William Fenical of Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California and Dra. Rosangela de A. Epifanio of Universidade Federal Fluminense, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to explore the natural products chemistry and chemical ecology of selected Brazilian marine invertebrates, principally gorgonian corals and encrusting ascidians. Their program is composed of interactive studies to expand knowledge of the sources, types and reactivities of defensive molecules produced by Brazilian invertebrates, and to explore the natural functions of these molecules in defensive adaptations. The objective of the project is to form a collaboration between the two researchers through a series of expeditions and research seminars within Brazil, as well as research visits by the Brazilian researchers to Scripps. Some of the visits will emphasize the training of students in new instrumental methods, i.e. 2D NMR techniques, and biological methodologies associated with determining the functions of secondary metabolites in shallow marine habitats.