Chemical ecology: Can it survive without natural products chemistry?

Chemical ecology: can it survive without natural products chemistry?

N disciplines arise by convergence of interests. Chemical ecology is the product of a partnership between biologists and natural products chemists united by a shared vision and empowered by complementary skills. The vision stems from the realization that all organisms emit chemical signals and that all, in their respective ways, respond to the chemical emissions of others. Nature, in accord wit...

D. John Faulkner (1942-2002): marine natural products chemistry and marine chemical ecology.

John Faulkner (Figure 1) made fundamental and highly insightful contributions to the study of marine natural products chemistry and chemical ecology for more than 30 years. His sense of rigor, coupled with a strong interest in education, made him an outstanding leader in these fields. Faulkner!s fascination with the chemistry of marine life began with his appointment as Assistant Professor of M...

Obstetrics in family medicine: can it survive?

For the 30 years family practice has formally been accepted as a primary specialty, it has had a defined scope of practice that includes all conditions and both sexes. Pregnancy is among the most common conditions and is often the first involving young families with the health care system in a meaningful way. The medical literature and government reports have documented the importance of family...

Can mankind survive without stainless steels?

The chemistry of isoindole natural products

This review highlights the chemical and biological aspects of natural products containing an oxidized or reduced isoindole skeleton. This motif is found in its intact or modified form in indolocarbazoles, macrocyclic polyketides (cytochalasan alkaloids), the aporhoeadane alkaloids, meroterpenoids from Stachybotrys species and anthraquinone-type alkaloids. Concerning their biological activity, m...