Biosynthesis of invertebrate-derived natural products: an uncharted territory

Covering: up to 2025Invertebrates, as the majority of macroscopic species on the Earth, are important resources for natural products. Chemical investigations of animals can date back to the early 20th century and have led to the discovery of thousands of compounds with diverse biological functions. These natural products can be structurally classified as terpenoids, polyketides, and alkaloids. Additionally, many compounds have been isolated from symbionts, leading to the widespread belief that animals lack the capability for secondary metabolism. Recent biochemical studies challenge this notion, revealing great potential for animal biosynthesis research. Animals possess larger genomes and more complex metabolic pathways, suggesting untapped biosynthetic potential. In contrast to microorganisms, studies on the biosynthesis of natural products in animals remain limited. Characterized genes represent only a small fraction of their vast genomes. The discovery of biosynthetic gene clusters suggests that the methods used to mine the biosynthetic genes of microorganisms may also be applicable to animals. The characterization of 4-vinylanisole in locusts demonstrates that the pathways lacking clear core biosynthesis enzymes still require multidisciplinary experimental approaches. In summary, further biosynthesis studies will expand methodological approaches and accelerate the characterization of remaining natural product pathways.