Charting Metabolic Pathways in Ocean Ecosystems

Charting Metabolic Pathways in Ocean Ecosystems

Laura Burchill 

The University of Melbourne 

1:00 pm Monday 12th August

Venue: AIBN Seminar Room

Abstract: Each day, algae transform 100 million tons of CO₂ into organic metabolites, providing half of the oxygen in our atmosphere.^[1] These organic outputs are primary metabolites that sustain global ocean ecosystems and support complex food-webs, nutrient cycling, biomass production and climate regulation. Primary metabolites from algae interact with bacteria (symbiosis), generating intricate algae-bacterial networks. These interactions are complex! Bacteria use the chemical outputs of algae to generate secondary metabolites for mutualistic (i.e. antibiotic) or parasitic (i.e. algalcidal) outcomes, allowing bacteria to secure their environmental niche.

This talk will focus on both primary and secondary natural products, it will feature 3 different projects and showcase how total synthesis and chemical biology approached provide an improved understanding of marine ecosystem health. Firstly, I will highlight the role of total synthesis in correct existing literature (Part 1).^[2],[3] Secondly, we will investigate the discovery of new metabolic pathways (Part 2) and thirdly, I will highlight some bio-inspired chemical approaches of marine algicides (Part 3).

Figure 1: To be explored in [This Talk] a. The purported^[3] biomineralization pathway of the primary metabolite DHPS (2,3-dihydroxy-propanesulfonate). b. Previously undescribed pathways of homotaurine biomineralization. c. Synthetic efforts towards the secondary natural product thomasidioic acid and algaecidal natural products roseochelin A and B.

Biography: I am an Elizabeth Vernon Puzey Postdoctoral Fellow working in the lab of Professor Spencer Williams at the University of Melbourne. I am a chemical ecologist exploring complex chemical networks and microbial interactions and use chemical synthesis to uncover new metabolic pathways in marine ecosystems. I conducted a BSc (Hons.) at Monash University in the field of phosphine catalyzed reaction discovery, while my PhD at the University of Adelaide involved the biomimetic total synthesis of natural products. Looking ahead, I aspire to use my training as an organic chemist to improve our understanding of how chemistry underpins Earth’s ecosystems.