Chlorinated isoquinoline alkaloids production in Psychotria ipecacuanha

• Grant number: 21/02807-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: May 01, 2021
• End date: December 31, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Organic Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Adriana Aparecida Lopes
• Grantee: Thais Gabriela Pereira da Silva
• Host Institution: Universidade de Ribeirão Preto (UNAERP). Campus Ribeirão Preto. Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Chemical structures of several natural products, and especially their derivatives, can be promising candidates for novel drugs. Natural products diversification can occur through many strategies of structural modification such as; semi-synthesis, biotransformation, and precursor-directed biosynthesis. This project aims the molecular modification by precursor-directed biosynthesis, which is achieved by a producer organism and whose culture medium is supplemented by an analog precursor. The target natural product is from the isoquinoline alkaloids class, which are biosynthesized and accumulated in the species Psychotria ipecacuanha, popularly called "ipecac". The precursor-directed biosynthesis experiments will aim to obtain new isoquinoline alkaloids analogs by supplementation with a chlorinated analog, the main indole precursor, in the culture medium of the adventitious roots of P. ipecacuanha. Isoquinoline alkaloids derivatives will expand therapeutic options by obtaining new prototypes that may be more biologically active than the natural product. (AU)