Our research is directed at characterizing structures and biological functions of small molecule metabolites (SMM’s). SMM’s play important roles in most biological processes, and detailed knowledge of their chemical structures and their interactions with other biomolecules is essential for advancing our molecular understanding of biology. For example, SMM’s regulate development and immune responses in plants and animals, and serve important functions in interactions of different organisms with each other.

Considering their origin in living organisms, SMM’s must have evolved to serve specific biological functions. As a result, an organism's metabolome essentially comprises a collection of small molecules with potentially useful affinities for specific molecular targets. Not surprisingly, SMM’s constitute the most important source of lead structures for drug development.

Compared to template-derived biological macromolecules such as proteins and nucleic acids, SMM’s are much more diverse chemically, and, therefore present great analytical challenges. As a result, genomic and proteomic knowledge has not yet been complemented by a comprehensive characterization of structures and functions of metabolomes, presenting one of the most significant barriers toward advancing our understanding of biological pathways.

The Schroeder lab aims to help close this knowledge gap by developing approaches for a more systematic structural and functional characterization of SMM’s. Usually, SMM’s occur as - often minor - components of a more or less complex biological matrix, comprising a large number of SMM's and other biomolecules. Traditional approaches for the characterization of SMM's such as HPLC-MS or activity-guided fractionation have distinct disadvantages that severely limit their applicability. Our aims is to develop NMR spectroscopy-based approaches that complement or enhance traditional methodology by enabling detailed characterization of SMM’s in complex biological samples, with regard to both chemical structure and biological function.

Three ascarosides, SMM's that regulate development
in the nematode C. elegans.

Based on NMR-spectroscopic methodology we have engaged in a comprehensive effort to characterize structures and functions of the metabolome (the entirety of all SMM’s) produced by the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans, focusing on several newly discovered compounds that control development, and ultimately lifespan. In addition we have started a project directed at investigating the chemical ecology of microorganisms in search of leads for new antibiotics.  Complementing our interests in analytical chemistry, we pursue development of efficient syntheses for newly identified compounds with particular biological significance.

Please visit our research pages for more details!

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