TRANSFORMATION OF STEMODANE TERPENES AND INDUCTION OF THE BIOSYNTHESIS OF NATURAL PRODUCTS IN FUNGI BY USING EPIGENETICS AND MEDIA MODIFICATIONS
I obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Pure Chemistry and Biochemistry with First Class Honours from the faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, at The University of the West Indies, Mona campus. During that period I was engaged in the Chemistry Peer-led Team Learning programme as a tutor. I have received an academic bursary, postgraduate scholarship and research grants from the said institution. While pursuing my research project I served as Chemistry Association of Postgraduate (CAPS) secretary, vice president, president and Resident Advisor (Cluster manager and First Year Experience Facilitator) at Rex Nettleford Hall of residence.
The research project can be described as a synergy between natural products isolation (plant and fungi), semi-synthesis, biotransformation and epigenetics.
The plant Stemodia maritima L. produces the compound, Stemodin in relatively high concentration. Stemodin is reported to possess mild antiviral and cytotoxic activities. As a result of its relative abundance and bioactivity, it has been considered an attractive starting material for preparation of potential biologically active analogues. In this study stemodin was chemically converted to 15 analogues. These were subjected to anticancer, antioxidant, lipid peroxidation and cyclooxygenase 1 and 2 inhibitory assays as well as biotransformation studies with the fungus Beauveria bassiana. The biotransformation study yielded several novel products. Currently, the analyses of these products of biotransformation are being used to generate an active site model of the hydroxylase cytochrome P450 enzyme in this fungus. I am also investigating the induction of secondary metabolite production in fungi, in an effort to discover biologically active compounds.