Natural Product Biosynthesis in Lichen and Other Fungi

鉴定新的生物活性天然产物是长期发展新的临床治疗感染和疾病的关键。曼尼托巴大学的索伦森天然产品实验室正在研究曼尼托巴北部独特的地衣和真菌菌株生产天然产品的情况。已经开始对抗菌和抗真菌地衣天然产物usic酸的生物合成有了详细的了解。我们将使用分子生物学技术来确定基因，从而确定参与usic酸生物合成的酶。该提案描述了我们将如何利用这些知识来生产具有改进生物活性的天然产品类似物。

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.