The focus of this research, carried out in an undergraduate institution, is to study the cardiotonic glycosides alpha- and beta-antiarin, components of dart poisons isolated from the latex of Antiaris toxicaria. The specific aims of the project are to test whether the antiarins and related secondary metabolites evolved as defense chemicals versus insect herbivores, to characterize any anti-insectan activity, to study the specific mode of action of the poisons as a guide to biorational pesticide development, to investigate the similarity of the antiarins to ouabain, a known inhibitor of membrane-bound NA+/K+ ATPase and to ascertain which structural units in ouabain and the antarins represent the sources of anti-insectan activity. %%% With this Research in Undergraduate Institutions (RUI) award, the Synthetic Organic Program is supporting the research of Dr. David P. Richardson of the Department of Chemistry at Williams College. Professor Richardson will focus his work on carrying out rigorous chemical and biological studies on the dart poisons derived from the latex of Antiaris toxicaria, a tree indigenous to Borneo. The project offers exceptional opportunities for student participation in the areas of chemical separation, structural analysis and synthetic chemistry.
