In our laboratory, we are conducting exploration of bioactive compounds and enzymes beneficial to society derived from marine organisms. Additionally, as an advanced challenge, we are also striving to elucidate the ecological significance of these natural substances.

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Discovery of Natural Compounds from Marine Organisms

　A number of compounds has been discovered from marine organisms such as sponges, ascidians, soft corals, and nudibranchs for pharmaceutical development. These compounds exhibit potent biological activity at extremely low concentrations against cancer cells, viruses, and other pathogens. Compounds that show some form of effect on such organisms are referred to as ‘bioactive compounds.’ In our laboratory, we collect a diverse range of marine organisms inhabiting coral reef areas in Okinawa, Japan and conduct research to explore bioactive compounds for development of pharmaceuticals and drug discovery. Since 2022, we have been conducting exploratory research on drug seeds targeting three diseases (cancer, viruses, and leishmaniasis) as part of a project initiated.

1. Takahiro Jomori, Shuji Shiroyama, Yuji Ise, Hisanori Kohtsuka, Kenichi Matsuda,Takefumi Kuranaga and Toshiyuki Wakimoto. “Scrobiculosides A and B from the deep-sea sponge Pachastrella scrobiculosa” Journal of Natural Medicines, 73, 814-819, (2019)
2. Takahiro Jomori, Andi Seitawan, Miho Sasaoka and Masayoshi Arai. “Cytotoxicity of new diterpene alkaloids, ceylonamides G-I, isolated from Indonesian marine sponge of Spongia sp.” Natural Product Communications, 14, 1-7, (2019).
3. Chie Ishikawa, Takahiro Jomori, Junichi Tanaka, Masachika Senba and Naoki Mori. “Peridinin, a carotenoid, inhibits proliferation and survival of HTLV-1-infected T-cell lines” International Journal of Oncology, 49, 1713-1721, (2016).
4. Takahiro Jomori, Takahiro Shibutani, Peni Ahmadi, Toshimasa Suzuka and Junichi Tanaka. “A new isocyanosesquiterpene from the nudibranch Phyllidiella pustulosa” Natural Product Communications, 10, 1913-1914, (2015).

Biosynthesis of Marine Natural Products

　Numerous candidate pharmaceuticals from marine organisms have been reported. However, many of them remain poorly understood in terms of how they are produced “biosynthesized”. In our laboratory, we extract metagenomic DNA from marine organisms and search for biosynthetic genes, which serve as blueprints for compounds, and conduct functional analysis of recombinant proteins. Research on natural product biosynthesis has the potential to lead to the discovery of enzymes that synthesize complex skeletal structures of compounds or insert specific functional groups into compounds, providing solutions to the shortage of natural product supply. Furthermore, while the question of ‘why these organisms produce organic compounds?’ remains shrouded in mystery, our laboratory aims to unravel the ecological roles of natural products by elucidating the role of biosynthetic enzymes.

1. Takahiro Jomori, Kenichi Matsuda, Yoko Egami, Ikuro Abe, Akira Takai and Toshiyuki Wakimoto, “Insights into phosphatase-activated chemical defense in a marine sponge holobiont” RSC Chemical Biology, 2, 1600-1607, (2021).