Surface Distribution of a Seaweed Secondary Metabolite by Imaging Mass Spectrometry

Tiffany Andras and co-workers studied the influence of certain seaweeds on the grwoth inhibition of coral reefs.  Extracts of Phacelocarpus neurymenioides revealed a previously characterized antibacterial metabolite, neurymenolide A, as the main allelopathic agent.The authors used desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (DESI-MS) to visualize and quantify neurymenolide A on the surface of P. neurymenioides, and found the neurymenolide A on all surfaces analyzed, with highest concentrations on basal portions of blades.  

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