MAKALUVAMINES AS CHITINASE INHIBITORS ISOLATED FROM AN ASCIDIAN OF THE GREAT BARRIER REEF

Abstract

This thesis investigates the secondary metabolites isolated from a marine tunicate species of the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Structural elucidation techniques led to the identification of at least two known compounds belonging to a family of secondary metabolites more commonly isolated from marine sponges. One of the isolated compounds, Makaluvamine H, was used in a preliminary enzyme kinetics assay to assess potential inhibitive properties against chitinase. Additional Makaluvamine compounds from previous studies were obtained and assessed in this assay. This included a purified sample of Makaluvamine P, which was one of the two known compounds isolated and identified from the sample of this investigation. The findings of this research demonstrate that the Makaluvamine compounds assessed do possess inhibitive properties against Streptomyces chitinase enzyme. Makaluvamine A demonstrated the highest level of biological activity against the Streptomyces chitinase enzyme, with inhibition observed at a molar concentration of 12.4 μM. The lowest molar concentration at which inhibition was observed for the other Makaluvamine compounds were as follows; Makaluvamine P (15.4 μM), Makaluvamine H (23.1 μM) and Makaluvamine C (117 μM). Further investigation into the inhibitive properties of these compounds could potentially lead to their application in commercial sectors such as agriculture and healthcare.