Exploitation of marine algae: biogenic compounds for potential antifouling applications

• Published in: Planta 2004-08, Vol.219 (4), p.561-578
• Main Authors: Bhadury, P, Wright, P.C
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Algae; algae and seaweeds; Amides; Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents - chemistry; Anti-Bacterial Agents - isolation & purification; Anti-Bacterial Agents - metabolism; Antibacterials; Antifouling; antifouling agents; Antifouling substances; Antifungal Agents - chemistry; Antifungal Agents - isolation & purification; Antifungal Agents - metabolism; Antifungals; Bacteria; Biofilms; Biofouling; Biological and medical sciences; Cell physiology; Chlorophyceae; Cyanobacteria; Cyanobacteria - chemistry; Cyanobacteria - metabolism; Dinophyceae; Eukaryota - chemistry; Eukaryota - metabolism; Fouling; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; literature reviews; macroalgae; Marine; Marine Biology; Marine environment; Metabolism; Metabolites; Microalgae; Models, Chemical; Organic Chemicals - chemistry; Organic Chemicals - pharmacology; Phaeophyceae; phytochemicals; Plant physiology and development; Plasma membrane and permeation; REVIEW; Rhodophyceae
• ISSN: 0032-0935; 1432-2048
• DOI: 10.1007/s00425-004-1307-5

Marine algae are one of the largest producers of biomass in the marine environment. They produce a wide variety of chemically active metabolites in their surroundings, potentially as an aid to protect themselves against other settling organisms. These active metabolites, also known as biogenic compounds, produced by several species of marine macro- and micro-algae, have antibacterial, antialgal, antimacrofouling and antifungal properties, which are effective in the prevention of biofouling, and have other likely uses, e.g. in therapeutics. The isolated substances with potent antifouling activity belong to groups of fatty acids, lipopeptides, amides, alkaloids, terpenoids, lactones, pyrroles and steroids. These biogenic compounds have the potential to be produced commercially using metabolic engineering techniques. Therefore, isolation of biogenic compounds and determination of their structure could provide leads for future development of, for example, environmentally friendly antifouling paints. This paper mainly discusses the successes of such research, and the future applications in the context of understanding the systems biology of micro-algae and cyanobacteria.