Natural Product Biosynthesis in Lichen and Other Fungi

新型生物活性天然产物的鉴定是感染和疾病新临床治疗长期开发的关键。马尼托巴大学索伦森天然产品实验室正在研究来自马尼托巴北部的独特地衣和真菌菌株的天然产品生产情况。已开始详细了解抗菌和抗真菌地衣天然产物松萝酸的生物合成。我们将使用分子生物学技术来鉴定参与松萝酸生物合成的基因，从而鉴定酶。该提案描述了我们将如何利用这些知识来生产具有改进的生物活性的天然产物类似物。

The identification of novel biologically active natural products is key to the long-term development of new clinical treatments for infections and disease. The Sorensen Natural Products Laboratory at the University of Manitoba is examining the production of natural products by unique strains of lichen and fungi from Northern Manitoba. Have started to develop a detailed understanding of the biosynthesis of the antibacterial and antifungal lichen natural product usnic acid. We will use molecular biology techniques to identify the genes, and thereby the enzymes, that are involved in the biosynthesis of usnic acid. This proposal describes how we will use this knowledge to produce natural product analogues with improved biological activity.