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Planta Med 2007; 73(2): 103-115
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-967104
Review
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Fungal Genetics, Genomics, and Secondary Metabolites in Pharmaceutical Sciences

Mathias Misiek1 , Dirk Hoffmeister1
  • 1Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmaceutical Biology and Biotechnology, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, Germany
Further Information

Publication History

Received: September 29, 2006

Accepted: December 17, 2006

Publication Date:
23 January 2007 (online)

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Abstract

Filamentous fungi produce a plethora of bioactive natural products. These metabolites display a broad range of useful activities for pharmaceutical purposes, exemplified best by the antibiotic penicillin. Yet, many more have been isolated, characterised, and tested, and some have made their way in clinical trials and into pharmaceutical practice. Through genomics, we become increasingly aware that the biosynthetic abilities for natural products are much richer than expected. The first part of our review highlights selected metabolites that filamentous fungi offer to pharmacists for drug development. This is followed by a summary on the potential of fungal genetics and genomics for pharmaceutical sciences and natural product research.

Key words

Fungi - natural products - genomics - gene cluster

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Dr. Dirk Hoffmeister

Pharmaceutical Biology and Biotechnology

Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg

Stefan-Meier-Strasse 19

79104 Freiburg

Germany

Fax: +49-761-203-8383

Email: dirk.hoffmeister@pharmazie.uni-freiburg.de

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