Russell Kerr

Russell G. Kerr   Department of Chemistry, and Department of Biomedical Sciences, Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island     Mailing address: Russell Kerr University of Prince Edward Island Duffy Research Center (NRC-INH) 550 University Avenue Charlottetown, PEI, C1A 4P3 Canada   Contacts: Email: rkerr@upei.ca Phone:  (902) 566-0565  Fax: (902) 566-7445 Office: Duffy Research Center (NRC-INH) Rom 531

Biographical Information   B.Sc. University of Calgary 1982 Ph.D. University of Calgary 1987 Postdoctoral Fellow Stanford Univeristy (with C. Djerassi) 1987 - 1991 Academic Appointments: 1991-1996 Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry, Florida Atlantic University. 1996-1998 Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry, Florida Atlantic University. 1998-2006 Professor, Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Florida Atlantic University. 1999-2006 Professor of Biomedical Sciences, Florida Atlantic University. 2000-2006 Director of Graduate Studies, Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Florida Atlantic University. 2003-2006 Director, Center of Excellence in Biomedical and Marine Biotechnology, Florida Atlantic University 2006- Professor & Canada Research Chair, Dept. of Chemistry, UPEI 2006- Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Atlantic Veterinary College, UPEI Awards: 2010 Lévesque Chair in Nutrisciences and Health 2006 Canada Research Chair (Tier 1) in Marine Natural Products 2004 Researcher of the Year, Florida Atlantic University 2003 Admitted to “Who's Who in Sciences Higher Education (WWSHE)” 2000 President’s Research Development Award (FAU) 2000 Elected as “Young Observer” for the U.S. National Committee for the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) 1999 Cancer Drug Discovery study section, American Cancer Society (1999-2003) 1998 Charles Schmidt College of Science Distinguished Teacher of the Year 1997 Elected to Sigma Xi 1997 Phi Kappa Phi faculty award (FAU) 1997 Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Award, Florida Atlantic University 1996 Henry Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award 1996 Researcher of the Year Award (Assistant Prof. level), FAU 1995 Teaching Incentive Program Award, FAU 1992 American Society of Pharmacognosy Research Initiation Award Scientific Affiliations: Chemical Institute of Canada American Chemical Society American Association for the Advancement of Science American Society of Pharmacognosy American Association for Cancer Research Editorial Boards: Letters in Organic Chemistry Marine Drugs The Open Organic Chemistry Journal Research Letters in Organic Chemistry

Current Projects

Pseudopterosins

The pseudopterosins are a family of diterpene glycosides isolated from the gorgonian Pseudopterogorgia elisabethae. To date, 26 derivatives have been identified (PsA – PsZ) and in most cases, pseudopterosins represent 2-5% of the crude extract. The pseudopterosins are anti-inflammatory and analgesic agents with potencies superior to that of existing drugs such as indomethacin in mouse ear models. They are not active against PLA₂, cyclooxygenase and cytokine release or as regulators of adhesion molecules. Evidence suggests the pseudopterosins block eicosanoid release rather than biosynthesis in murine macrophages. Recent data from the Jacobs laboratory (UCSB) indicates that pseudopterosins inhibit inflammation by a novel mechanism suggesting that these metabolites represent a novel class of anti-inflammatory agent. Importantly, one of the pseudopterosins has a substantial commercial market as an additive in personal care products and a simple derivative of pseudopterosin A, methopterosin, has successfully completed a Phase II clinical trial as a topical anti-inflammatory agent.

 

We have a long-standing interest in the biosynthesis of these marine metabolites. We have elucidated the biosynthetic origin of pseudopterosins from geranylgeranyl diphosphate through a series of radiolabeling experiments as well as detailed NMR-directed investigations (Coleman and Kerr 2000, Kohl and Kerr 2003, Ferns and Kerr 2005a, Ferns and Kerr 2005b, Kerr et al. 2006). One of the key steps in the production of the pseudopterosins (and all terpenes) is the cyclization of the appropriate polyprenyl diphosphate. Knowledge of the structure of the cyclase product involved in pseudopterosin biosynthesis provided us with an assay to purify the enzyme responsible for this transformation. This enzyme (elisabethatriene synthase) has been purified to homogeneity (Kohl and Kerr 2004, Brueck and Kerr 2006). A biosynthetic question that is currently under investigation is whether pseudopterosins are produced by the invertebrate host or an associated microbe.

Projects

Find the the last data on your favorite Projects...

1

The advancements on the main project in the KerrLab are summarized here. Find the the last data on your favorite Projects: EC, Chem_lab, Synthesis, PE, Microbial diversity, and Microbial Drug Discovery.

 

Eleutherobin

 

                                                          

Erythropodium caribaeorum	Erythropodium caribaeorum (polyps open)

 

Eleutherobin is a diterpene glycoside that has been shown to be a potent cancer cell inhibitor with an IC₅₀ similar to that of paclitaxel (Taxol^®). Assays in the National Cancer Institute’s 60 cell line panel showed a 100-fold greater potency over the mean cytotoxicity towards breast, renal, ovarian and lung cancer cell lines. It has also been demonstrated that eleutherobin is active in paclitaxel-resistant cancer cell lines. Significantly, eleutherobin was found to stabilize microtubules by competing for the paclitaxel binding site. The initial discovery of eleutherobin was from an examination of the soft coral Eleutherobia sp. however, development of this drug was severely hampered as no further samples of the coral could be obtained. Eleutherobin and a series of related compounds were subsequently isolated from the Caribbean gorgonian coral Erythropodium caribaeorum.

The sarcodictyins are diterpenes that are closely related to eleutherobin and have been isolated from a number of corals including: Eleutherobia aurea from South Africa, Bellonella albiflora from Japan, Sarcodictyon roseum from the Mediterranean, as well as E. caribaeorum from the Caribbean. The sarcodictyins have been shown to exhibit significant cytotoxicity to various cancer cell lines yet not at the levels of eleutherobin.

A current project in our research group is focused on elucidating the biosynthetic origin of the eleutherobin family of diterpenes. Within our microbiology program, we are also using a variety of culture dependent and culture independent methods to assess the microbial diversity in Erythropodium caribaeorum.

Microbial Diversity Studies

 

We have a variety of ongoing projects aimed at describing the microbial diversity in gorgonians and unusual marine sediments. Culture-dependent and culture-independent techniques are both being employed.

 

 

 

Field Work

2010 Expedition to Barbados

Februrary 2010 Trip to Barbados Jennifer Cuillerier, Rebecca Pike, Beth Pearce (grad students) Brad Haltli, and Russ Kerr spent a week in Barbados to conduct field work. We were joined by two graduate students in Dr. Tinto’s group – Ann Seebaran and Troy Cumberbatch. Collections of invertebrates were conducted for the purpose of isolating microbes for drug discovery projects, and Jenn, Becca and Beth conducted field work for a Marine Natural Products course.

 

Beach across the road from rental house.

Becca, Russ, Jenn and Winston.

 

Becca, Beth and Jenn.	Ann, Troy and Jenn outside the dive shop.
Becca and Jenn getting ready for a dive.	Jenn, Russ, Ann, Troy, Brad, Becca and Beth
	Renatta Goodridge, local sponge taxonomist (UWI) joined us for a few dives.
Stacie – our adopted cinematographer for the week.	Jenn recording data
	Beth underwater! (she’s a non-diver)
	Capt’n Brad!
One of the colourful dive boats that we used.

 

2009 Expedition to Barbados

November 2009 Collection Trip to Barbados      Fabrice Berrue, David Overy and Russ Kerr traveled to Barbados to initiate a collaboration with Dr. Winston Tinto (University of West Indies, Cave Hill). Collections were focused on the south coast of the island using the services of EcoDivers. The goals of the trip were to collect invertebrates and algae and also to isolate microbes from selected invertebrate samples.
Most of the reefs were in excellent condition with good diversity of sponges.

 

Dr. Motra-Meira’s lab (UWI) – graciously made available to us for sample processing and microbiology work.	Fabrice – ready to dive!
	Fabrice and David collecting

 

 

2009 Expedition to Newfoundland

Newfoundland August 2009
During the summer of 2009 we enjoyed various collecting trips to regions of PEI, the Bay of Fundy and Newfoundland.  Bonne Bay Marine Station provided an ideal base for our first trip to Newfoundland. Collections included invertebrates, algae and sediment as components of our growing drug discovery program.
Ian and Gavin – our young helpers for the week	Lots of great lab space at Bonne Bay.

2008 Expedition to the Bahamas

Our 2008 Collection Trip to the Bahamas
In August, we visited the Gerace Research Centre located on San Salvador in the Commonwealth of the Bahamas.  This was a highly successful trip with samples collected from a variety of habitats including reefs, caves and marine lakes.  Samples are now being processed for our drug discovery program and microbiological studies.
An aereal view of the airport on San Salvador - one of our dive sites is directly off shore from the runway.	The Gerace cafeteria.
Our dive boat for the week.	Dovi, Veronica, Fabrice, Doug and Russ
Stacey collecting	Off on the search...
	Stacey meets a very friendly grouper known by the locals as Sponge Bob!
A specimen of Pseudopterogorgia elisabethae in the ziploc bag ready for micro work back at the lab.	Collecting a gorgonian for microbiological work.
Brad and Fabrice collecting Erythropodium.	Brad - off to the lab.
Veronica and Brad processing samples for microbiological work.	Fabrice examining a gorgonian.

 

2007 Expedition to the Florida Keys

The trip to Florida was largely directed at collections of invertebrates and algae for a drug discovery program. Rather than staying on a research vessel as we have done in the past, this trip involved small boats with hotel rooms sometimes being used as a lab! Collections were made off Boca Raton, Key Largo, Marathon Key and Summerland Key. At Summerland Key, we stayed at the Mote Tropical Research Lab which is an ideal location for such field work

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Publications

Lory Z. Santiago-Vázquez, Thomas B. Brück, Wolfram M. Brück, Angela P. Duque-Alarcón, Peter J. McCarth2 and Russell G. Kerr. The diversity of the bacterial communities associated with the azooxanthellate hexacoral Cirrhipahtes lutkeni. Journal of the International Society for Microbial Ecology, in press.

Lory Z. Santiago-Vázquez, Nealie C. Newberger, and Russell G. Kerr. Cryopreservation of the dinoflagellate symbiont of the octocoral Pseudopterogorgia elisabethae. Marine Biology, in press.

Thomas Brueck, Wolfram Brueck, Lory Z. Santiago-Vázquez, Peter McCarthy and Russell G. Kerr. Diversity of the bacterial communities associated with the azooxanthellate deep water octocorals Leptogorgia minimata, Iciligorgia schrammi and Swiftia exertia. Marine Biotechnology, 9, (2007).

Xing Dai, Zhongliang Wan, Russell G. Kerr, and Huw M. L. Davies. Synthetic and isolation studies related to the marine natural products (+)-elisabethadione and (+)-elisabethamine. J. Org. Chem. 72, 1895-2000 (2007).

Lory Z. Santiago-Vázquez, Llanie K. Ranzer, and Russell G. Kerr. Comparison of two total RNA extraction protocols using the marine gorgonian coral Pseudopterogorgia elisabethae and its symbiont Symbiodinium sp. Electronic Journal of Biotechnology, 9(5), (2006).

M. Isabel Nieto, Noemi Gonzalez, Jamie Rodriguez, Russell G. Kerr and Carlos Jimenez. New cytotoxic cembranolides: isolation, biogenetic studies and synthesis of analogues. Tetrahedron 62, 11747-11754 (2006).

Nealie Newberger, Llanie Ranzer, Jennifer Boehnlein and Russell Kerr. Induction of terpene biosynthesis in the dinoflagellate symbionts of the Caribbean gorgonian corals of the genera Pseudopterogorgia and Eunicea. Phytochem. 67, 2133-2139 (2006).

Russell G. Kerr, Amber Kohl and Tyrone Ferns. Elucidation of the biosynthetic origin of the anti-inflammatory pseudopterosins. J. Ind. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 33, 532-538 (2006).

Thomas Brueck and Russell Kerr. Purification and kinetic properties of elisabethatriene synthase from the coral Pseudopterogorgia elisabethae. Comp. Biochem. and Physiol. Part B 143, 269-278 (2006).

Tyrone Ferns and Russell Kerr. Oxidations of erogorgiaene in pseudopterosin biosynthesis. Tetrahedron 61, 12358-12365 (2005).

Jennifer Boehnlein, Lory Santiago-Vazquez and Russell Kerr. Diterpene biosynthesis by the dionflagellate symbiont of the Caribbean gorgognian Pseudopterogorgia bipinnata. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 303:105-111 (2005).

Tyrone Ferns and Russell Kerr. Identification of amphilectosins as key intermediates in pseudopterosin biosynthesis. J. Org. Chem. 70, 6152-6157 (2005).

Russell G. Kerr, Jennifer Boehnlein, Nealie Newberger and Llanie Ranzer. Concentrations of anti-inflammatory compounds increased in culture studies of coral, microalgae. Global Aquaculture Advocate, 70, (2004).

Jamie Frenz, Amber Kohl and Russell Kerr Kerr; Marine Natural Products as Therapeutic Agents – Part 2. Expert Opinion on Therpeutic Patents; 14, pp 17-33 (2004).

Amber Kohl and Russell Kerr. Identification and characterization of the pseudopterosin diterpene cyclase, elisabethatriene synthase, from the marine gorgonian, Pseudopterogorgia elisabethae. Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 424, 97-104 (2004).

Maysoon B. Saleh and Russell G. Kerr. Oxidation of Tyrosine Diketopiperazine to DOPA Diketopiperazine with Tyrosine Hydroxylase. J. Nat. Prod. 67, 1390-1391 (2004).

Amber Kohl and Russell Kerr. Pseudopterosin biosynthesis: Aromatization of the diterpene cyclase product, elisabethatriene. Marine Drugs, 1, 54-65 (2003).

Laura Mydlarz, Robert Jacobs, Jennifer Boehnlein and Russell Kerr. Evidence that the origin of pseudopterosinn biosynthesis resides in the dinoflagellate symbiont of Pseudopterogorgia elisabethae. Chemistry and Biology, 10, 1051-1056 (2003).

Amber Kohl and Russell Kerr A postulated biosynthetic origin of pseudopterosins and a proposed chemoenzymatic production method. J. Indust. Microbiol. 30, 495-499 (2003).

Athar Ata, Russell Kerr, Claudia Moya and Robert Jacobs. Identification of anti-inflammatory diterpenes from the marine gorgonian Pseudopterogorgia elisabethae. Tetrahedron. 59, 11389 (2003).

J. Cho, J. Choi, I Kong, S. Park, R. Kerr and Y. Hong. A procedure for axenic isolation of the marine microalgae Isochrysis galbana from heavily contaminated mass cultures. J. Appl. Phycol. 14, 385-390 (2002).

Noemí González, Jaime Rodríguez, Russell G. Kerr and Carlos Jiménez. Cyclobutenbriarein A, the First Diterpene with a Tricyclo[8.4.0.03,6]tetradec-4-ene Ring System from the Gorgonian Briareum asbestinium. J. Org. Chem. 67, 5117-5123, (2002).

Renee S. Thornton and Russell G. Kerr. Induction of Pseudopterosin Biosynthesis in the Gorgonian Pseudopterogorgia elisabethae. J. Chem. Ecol. 28, 2083-2090 (2002).

Jinghai Wen and Russell Kerr. Purification and Characterization of the Fatty Acid Synthase from Bugula neritina. Comp. Biochem. and Physiol. Part B, 128, 445-450 (2001).

Russell Kerr, Amber C. Kohl, Jennifer M. Boehnlein, “Bioactive Compounds from Bryozoans” in “Marine Biotechnolgy” Volume 6, Elsevier, 2001.

Russell Kerr; Biosynthesis of Marine Natural Products, in “Studies in Natural Product Chemistry”, Elsevier Science Publishers, Amsterdam; Vol. 21 pp 293-328 (2000).

Amber Coleman and Russell Kerr. Radioactivity-guided Isolation and Characterization of the Bicyclic Pseudopterosin Diterpene Cyclase Product from Pseudopterogorgia elisabethae. Tetrahedron, 56, 9569-9574 (2000).

Shanti Jeedigunta, Joann Krenisky and Russell Kerr. Diketopiperazines as advanced intermediates in the biosynthesis of ecteinascidins. Tetrahe dron 56, 3303-3307 (2000).

Athar Ata and Russell Kerr. Elisabethamine: a new diterpene alkaloid from Pseudopterogorgia elisabethae. Tetrahedron Letters 41, 5821-5825 (2000).
Samina Naz, Russell Kerr and Ramaswamy Narayanan. New antiproliferative epoxysterols from Pseudopterogorgia americana. Tetrahedron Letters 41, 6035-6040 (2000).

Athar Ata and Russell Kerr. Athar Ata and Russell Kerr. 12-Acetoxypseudopterolide: A New Diterpene from Pseudopterogorgia elisabethae. Heterocycles, 53, 717 (2000).

Amber C. Coleman, Laura Mydlarz and Russell Kerr. In Vivo and In Vitro Investigations into the Biosynthetic Relatedness of the Pseudopterosins. Organic Letters, 1, 2173-2175 (1999).

Paul Andrade, Robin Willoughby, Shirley Pomponi and Russell Kerr. Biosynthetic Studies of the Alkaloid, Stevensine, in a Cell Culture of the Marine Sponge Teichaxinella morchella. Tetrahedron Letters, 40, 4775-4778 (1999).

R.G. Kerr and S.S. Kerr; Marine Natural Products as Therapeutic Agents. Expert Opinion on Therpeutic Patents; 9, 1207-1222 (1999).

Russell Kerr, Richard Vicchiarelli and Stacey Kerr. Identification and biosynthetic origins of sterols in the marine bryozoan Bugula neritina. J. Nat. Prod. 62, 468-470, (1999).

Russell Kerr and Kathleen Kelly. An enzyme-based formaldehyde assay and its utility in a sponge sterol biosynthetic pathway. J. Nat. Prod. 62, 201-202, (1999).

Jens Knauer, Russell G.Kerr, David Lindley and Paul C. Southgate. Sterol Metabolism of Pacific Oyster (Crassostrea gigas) Spat. Comp. Biochem. and Physiol.,119B, 81 - 84 (1998).

Russell Kerr, Cathy Foss, Shigeki Matsunaga and Nobohiro Fusetani. Isolation and structure elucidationof epipolasterol and 22,23 dihydroepipolasterol from the marine sponge Epipolasis sp. Comp. Biochem. and Physiol.,117B, 5651-563 (1997).

Russell Kerr and Lesbeth Rodriguez. A chemoenzymatic production of 9(11)-secosteroids using and enzyme preparation of the gorgonian Pseudopterogorgia americana. In Vitro Cellular and Developmental Biology 33, 20A (1997).

Russell Kerr, Lesbeth Rodriguez and Jaelle Kellman. A chemoenzymatic synthesis of 9(11)-secosteroids using an enzyme extract of the marine gorgonian Pseudopterogorgia americana., Tetrahedron Letters. 37, 8301 (1996).

Russell Kerr, Joseph Lawry and Kim Gush. In vitro biosynthetic studies of the bryostatins, anti-cancer agents from the marine bryozoan Bugula neritina., Tetrahedron Letters. 37, 8305 (1996).

Xueshu Zhang, Ruiwen Zhang, Hui Zhao, Hongying Cai, Kimberly Gush, Russell Kerr, George Pettit and Andrew Kraft. Preclinical Pharmacology of the Natural Product Anticancer Agent Bryostatin 1, an Activator of Protein Kinase C. Cancer Research 56, 802 (1996).

Russell Kerr and Neil Miranda. Biosynthetic studies of ecteinascidins in the marine tunicate Ecteinascidia turbinata. J. Nat. Prod. 58, 1618 (1995).

Russell Kerr, Kathleen Kelly and Aaron Schulman. A novel biosynthetic route to pregnanes in the marine sponge Amphimedon compressa. J. Nat. Prod. 58, 1077 (1995).

Russell Kerr and Zhengjian Chen. In vivo and in vitro biosynthesis of saponins in Sea Cucumbers (Holothuroidea). J. Nat. Prod. 58, 172 (1995).

Russell Kerr and Michelle Kelly-Borges. Biochemical and morphological heterogeneity in the Caribbean sponge Xestospongia muta. Sponges in Time and Space, Proc. Int. Porifera Congress, 4th 65-73 (1994).

Russell Kerr, S.L. Kerr, Jane Formont, Martin Riddle and Peter Murphy. Chemotaxonomic relationships within, and comparisons between, the orders Haplosclerida and Petrosida (Porifera: Demospongiae) using sterol complements. Biochem. Syst. Ecol. 22, 735 - 52 (1994).

R.G. Kerr and P. Southgate; Isolation of gorgosterol from symbiont-free giant clam eggs and larvae. Comp. Biochem. and Physiol 104B, 707 (1993).

B.J. Baker and R.G. Kerr; Biosynthesis of Marine Sterols. in "Topics in Current Chemistry" 167, 1-31 (1993).

R.G. Kerr and B.J. Baker; Marine Sterols - A Review. Nat. Prod. Rep. 8, 465 (1992).

R.G. Kerr, S.L. Kerr, S. Malik and C. Djerassi; Biosynthetic Studies of Marine Lipids 38. Mechanism and Scope of Sterol Side Chain Dealkylation in Sponges; Evidence for Concurrent Alkylation and Dealkylation. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 114, 299 (1992).

R.G. Kerr, S.L. Kerr and C. Djerassi; Biosynthetic Studies of Marine Lipids 26. Elucidation of the Biosynthesis of Mutasterol, a Sponge Sterol with a Quaternary Carbon in its Side Chain. J. Org. Chem. 56, 63 (1991).

R.G. Kerr, S.L. Kerr, G.R. Pettit, D.L. Herald, T.L. Groy and C. Djerassi; Sterols of Marine Invertebrates 63. Isolation and Structure Elucidation of Sutinasterol, the Major Sterol of the Marine Sponge Xestospongia sp. J. Org. Chem. 56, 58 (1991).

R.G. Kerr, B.J. Baker, S.L. Kerr and C. Djerassi; Biosynthetic Studies of Marine Lipids 29. Demonstration of Sterol Side Chain Dealkylation Using Cell-Free Extracts of Marine Sponges. Tetrahedron Lett. 31, 5425 (1990).

R.G. Kerr, I.L. Stoilov, J.E. Thompson and C. Djerassi; Biosynthetic Studies of Marine Lipids 16. De Novo Sterol Biosynthesis in Sponges. Incorporation and Transformation of Cycloartenol and Lanosterol into Unconventional Sterols of Marine and Freshwater Sponges. Tetrahedron 45, 1893 (1989).

S. Malik, R.G. Kerr and C. Djerassi; Biosynthetic Studies of Marine Lipids 19. Dealkylation of the Sterol Side Chain in Sponges. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 110, 6895 (1988).

M.L. Cordeiro, R.G. Kerr and C. Djerassi; Biosynthetic Studies of Marine Lipids 15. Conversion of Parkeol (Lanost-9(11),24-dien-3b-ol) to 14a-methylcholest-9(11)-en-3b-ol in the Sea Cucumber Holothuria arenicola. Tetrahedron Lett. 2159 (1988).

Sponsorship

Research is currently sponsored by the following agencies.

Canada Foundation for Innovation	Canada Research Chairs       The Jeanne and J.-Louis Lévesque Foundation
University of Prince Edward Island	Tech PEI
The Atlantic Innovation Fund	NSERC