More marine natural products have been derived from sponges than any other invertebrate phylum. Research on compounds with potential therapeutic application often requires a greater amount than can be supplied by collection or synthesis. The long-term objective of the proposed research is to develop invertebrate cell culture methods as an alternative to large-scale collections of marine invertebrates for bulk production of potential therapeutic agents derived from marine natural products.
The specific aims are to develop methods for cell culture of selected species of bioactive marine sponges and the production of bioactive metabolites in culture. The emphasis of the proposed research will be on establishing axenic cell cultures of at least two species of bioactive sponges (both from shallow and deep water), determining nutritional requirements of the cells in culture, and optimizing culture conditions for production of bioactive metabolites.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
1R01CA055871-01
Application #
3200432
Study Section
Bio-Organic and Natural Products Chemistry Study Section (BNP)
Project Start
1992-04-01
Project End
1995-03-31
Budget Start
1992-04-01
Budget End
1993-03-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
1992
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, Inc.
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
Fort Pierce
State
FL
Country
United States
Zip Code
34946
Yentsch, C M; Pomponi, S A (1994) Strategies for flow cytometric analysis of marine microalgae and sponge cells. Methods Cell Biol 42 Pt B:523-38