The multifaceted role of mitochondria in metabolism contributes to their involvement in multiple disorders that are characterized by mitochondrial dysfunction. Given the increasing pharmaceutical interest in marine natural products (MNPs), assaying MNPs for biological activity in mitochondria could explore their usefulness as targets for treatment of these disorders. Accordingly, it is hypothesized that the bioactive compounds of MNP extracts from corals, sponges, and algae of the Caribbean Sea inhibit respiration in yeast mitochondria. This investigation involves assays to measure growth and oxygen consumption of yeast treated with MNPs from twenty marine organisms which have been extracted using various solvent extraction methods. Currently, the effect of ten MNP extracts from two coral and two algae species have been tested on intact Saccharomyces cerevisiae (S. cerevisiae) cells in oxygen consumption assays to monitor the effect the MNPs have on mitochondrial respiration in the presence of oxygen-saturated media. The following extracts have exhibited consistently reduced oxygen consumption rates (OCRs): the methanolic fraction of the extract of Pseudopterogorgia acesora (MEPA), the hexane fraction of the extract of Padina pavonica (HEPP), the methanolic fraction of the extract of Valonia ventricosa (Sailor’s eye) (MESE), and the hexane fraction of the extract of Plexaura homomalla (HEPH). When compared to the control, MEPA decreased the OCR by 28.7%, HEPP decreased the rate by 34.2%, and MESE and HEPH caused decreases of 37.1% and 44.1%, respectively. More MNPs will be extracted from other marine organisms and they will be tested on different yeast species in various assays to observe their effects. MNP research has produced multiple drugs that have been approved or are in clinical trials to treat communicable and non-communicable diseases. It is an area of research that can revolutionize drug discovery programs for the treatment of many disorders.

Marine natural products from Padina, Plexaura, Pseudopterogorgia, and Valonia reduce the respiration of yeast cells in culture

ACS Fall 2021

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