Ocean climate impacts on the primary and secondary metabolites of a muricid mollusc

This study examined the consequences of ocean climate change on the production of bioactive molecules and the lipid composition of Dicathais orbita. Exposure to elevated temperature and CO₂ levels resulted in lower concentrations of the muscle relaxing choline ester murexine and the brominated indole tyrindoxyl sulphate, but higher amounts of 6-bromoisatin. The total yield of extract was not affected by elevated temperature or pCO₂ treatments, but the composition of fatty acids was impacted, with a reduction in healthy polyunsaturated fatty acids under these conditions. This has potentially important implications for the production of marine secondary metabolites and the viability of the species under future climate.