title: Metal and metalloid containing natural products and a brief overview of their applications in biology, biotechnology and biomedicine.
abstract: Bioinorganic natural product chemistry is a relatively unexplored but rapidly developing field with enormous potential for applications in biology, biotechnology (especially in regards to nanomaterial development, synthesis and environmental cleanup) and biomedicine. In this review the occurrence of metals and metalloids in natural products and their synthetic derivatives are reviewed. A broad overview of the area is provided followed by a discussion on the more common metals and metalloids found in natural sources, and an overview of the requirements for future research. Special attention is given to metal hyperaccumulating plants and their use in chemical synthesis and bioremediation, as well as the potential uses of metals and metalloids as therapeutic agents. The potential future applications and development in the field are also discussed.
authors.affiliation: School of Medical Sciences, RMIT University, PO Box 71, Bundoora, VIC, 3083, Australia. daniel.dias@rmit.edu.au.
authors.forename: Daniel A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Dias
authors.affiliation: Metabolomics Australia, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, 30 Flemington Road, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia.
authors.forename: Konstantinos A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Kouremenos
authors.affiliation: Land and Water, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), 41 Boggo Road, Dutton Park, QLD, 4102, Australia.
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Beale
authors.affiliation: Centre for Chemistry and Biotechnology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, Melbourne, VIC, 3125, Australia.
authors.forename: Damien L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Callahan
authors.affiliation: Australian Centre for Research on Separation Science (ACROSS), School of Applied Sciences, RMIT University, GPO Box 2476, Melbourne, VIC, 3001, Australia.
authors.forename: Oliver A H
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D001688:Biological Products / Q000737:chemistry*; D020811:Biomedical Technology; D001709:Biotechnology; D006801:Humans; D058955:Metalloids / Q000737:chemistry*; D008670:Metals / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D001688:Biological Products; D058955:Metalloids; D008670:Metals
keywords: Bacteria; Fungi; Hyper accumulators; Metals; Natural products; Therapeutic agents