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Published on: October 24, 2025
Marine Invertebrate Natural Products that Target Microtubules
John H Miller, Jessica J Field, Arun Kanakkanthara1
1Department of Oncology and Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics , Mayo Clinic , Rochester , Minnesota , United States.
Abstract:
Marine natural products as secondary metabolites are a potential major source of new drugs for treating disease. In some cases, cytotoxic marine metabolites target the microtubules of the eukaryote cytoskeleton for reasons that will be discussed. This review covers the microtubule-targeting agents reported from sponges, corals, tunicates, and molluscs and the evidence that many of these secondary metabolites are produced by bacterial symbionts. The review finishes by discussing the directions for future development and production of clinically relevant amounts of these natural products and their analogues through aquaculture, chemical synthesis, and biosynthesis by bacterial symbionts.
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