Diversity of organic structures of marine microbial origin with drug potential

The investigation of marine microorganisms from a range of different marine habitats is likely to be a productive approach to the discovery of novel chemical entities with potent and selective biological activity. Varied habitats to explore include, but are not limited to, marine invertebrates, marine sediments, sub seafloor, hot vents, cryogenic environments and cold seeps. Salinosporamide A is an orally active proteasome inhibitor that induces apoptosis in multiple myeloma cells. Diazepinomicin is a unique farnesylated dibenzodiazepinone produced by a sponge-associated Micromonospora strain. Lomaiviticin A was first isolated from the marine-derived actinomycete Micromonospora lomaivitiensis, a microbial symbiont from the marine ascidian Polysyncraton lithostrotum. Abyssomicin C is a novel polycyclic polyketide antibiotic produced by a marine Verrucosispora strain. Marine chemical diversity does not overlap to any great extent with terrestrially-derived chemical diversity, thus making it an important source of new structures for drug discovery