Scientists from Florida State University have synthesized molecules derived from a bacterium found in a Pacific Ocean sea sponge.
The new synthetic molecules could play a key role in the discovery of new drugs, especially those targeting rare forms of cancer.
The team was the first to successfully synthesize the following two molecules:
- Tetradehydrohalicyclamine B
- Epi-tetradehydrohalicyclamine B
Commenting on the research Zackary Firestone, a fourth-year doctoral student in FSU’s Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and the study’s lead author, stated:
“Around 50 percent of approved drugs are either natural products or derivatives of natural products. Synthetic access to these molecules is important because it allows for easier procurement for biological testing as well as the making of new derivatives.”
Discussing the creation of the molecules, he added:
“These complex molecules have shown promise in medicinal applications, but gathering large quantities of them is difficult and expensive. We make these molecules from materials you can buy from suppliers, giving researchers easier access to the molecules as well as the ability to modify them to improve their properties.”
He added:
“I really enjoy the problem-solving aspect of making molecules. In some ways, it feels like a puzzle where you’re trying to use a plethora of available reactions to build a complex molecule in the most efficient way possible.”
While Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry Joel Smith, who leads the Smith Laboratory, an organic synthesis research where the work was conducted, stated:
“Zack is a tenacious synthetic chemist. In addition to intellect, he’s extraordinarily resilient and disciplined when it comes to doing great science. This makes him exceedingly adept at tackling difficult synthetic problems with a thoughtful and diligent approach, setting him up for a very successful future, both at FSU and beyond.”
