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Methods for isolation of marine-derived endophytic fungi and their bioactive secondary products

Nature Protocols volume 5, pages 479–490 (2010)Cite this article

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Abstract

Marine-derived fungi have been shown in recent years to produce a plethora of new bioactive secondary metabolites, some of them featuring new carbon frameworks hitherto unprecedented in nature. These compounds are of interest as new lead structures for medicine as well as for plant protection. The aim of this protocol is to give a detailed description of methods useful for the isolation and cultivation of fungi associated with various marine organisms (sponges, algae and mangrove plants) for the extraction, characterization and structure elucidation of biologically active secondary metabolites produced by these marine-derived endophytic fungi, and for the preliminary evaluation of their pharmacological properties based on rapid 'in house' screening systems. Some results exemplifying the positive outcomes of the protocol are given at the end. From sampling in marine environment to completion of the structure elucidation and bioactivity screening, a period of at least 3 months has to be scheduled.

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Acknowledgements

We are indebted to numerous previous coworkers and to several colleagues who were indispensable for our studies on marine-derived fungi. Continued support by BMBF to P.P. is gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Pharmazeutische Biologie und Biotechnologie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany

    Julia Kjer, Abdessamad Debbab, Amal H Aly & Peter Proksch

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  1. Julia Kjer
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Correspondence to Peter Proksch.

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Kjer, J., Debbab, A., Aly, A. et al. Methods for isolation of marine-derived endophytic fungi and their bioactive secondary products. Nat Protoc 5, 479–490 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/nprot.2009.233

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