Gadusol is a secondary metabolite and natural sunscreen produced by various organisms, including marine vertebrates and invertebrates, amphibians, reptiles, and birds. It functions by absorbing ultraviolet radiation through its conjugated ring structure, blocking it from damaging biomolecules. Gladusol is closely related to the mycosporine-like amino acid family, a group of metabolites primarily produced by organisms in high-sunlight environments that absorb UV radiation. Structurally, gadusol is a substituted cyclohexenone.
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