Leptochelins have been shown to have great biotechnological potential in human and environmental health.
A 30-year investigation has finally reached its conclusion with the collaboration of researchers from CIIMAR-UP to uncover the chemical structure structure of a family of compounds produced by marine cyanobacteria. These molecules reveal biotechnological potential for the production of cancer-fighting drugs and as chelating agents. with uses that can range from the pharmaceutical industry, food industry, agriculture and metal recycling, among other recycling, among other bioremediation applications.
This study involved researchers from CIIMAR, the Center for Marine Biotechnology and Biomedicine, California, and the College of Pharmacy, Oregon. The CIIMAR team was led by CIIMAR researcher Mariana Reis with the collaboration of researchers Leonor Ferreira, João Morais and Vitor Vasconcelos.
Thirty years after their first discovery, the results were finally published in the article Leptochelins A-C, Cytotoxic Metallophores Produced by Geographically Dispersed Leptothoe Strains of Marine Cyanobacteria, in the prestigious Journal of the American Chemical Society (JACS).
For more information please refer to the press release here.
