Antarctic ascidian Synoicum adareanum microbiome metagenome

Scientific inquiry into the novelty of marine natural products produced by Antarctic benthic invertebrates led to the discovery of a bioactive macrolide, palmerolide A (PalA). PalA has specific activity to melanoma and holds promise for an anticancer therapeutic. This compound was isolated from the Antarctic ascidian Synoicum adareanum, and its biosynthesis has been hypothesized to be sourced from a microorganism living with the host. Metagenome assembly and binning of the host-associated microbial DNA fraction resulted in identification of several assembled bacterial genomes, one of which encoded a candidate PalA biosynthetic gene cluster.