In vitro biosynthetic studies of stevensine, a natural product from the sponge Teichaxinella morchella

Stevensine is a biologically active secondary metabolite produced by several marine sponges, including Teichaxinella morchella. Two in vitro methods were used to investigate the biosynthetic origin of stevensine in the sponge T. morchella. A cell-free enzyme extract was developed to test for the incorporation of the potential radiolabeled metabolic precursors histidine, arginine, ornithine, and proline. Secondly, cell cultures of T. morchella were used to determine the biosynthetic origin of stevensine from the radiolabeled amino acids histidine, arginine, ornithine, and proline. Histidine and ornithine/proline were converted to stevensine in the cell culture system. This represents the first study involving the use of cell cultures of a marine invertebrate to investigate the biosynthesis of a biologically active natural product. An understanding of the biosynthetic process leading to the production of this compound in the source organism could lead to the development of more efficient and environmentally safer production methods.