Chemists have investigated the biological function of patellamides. Patellamides were first isolated in 1981 from the ascidian Lissoclinum patella. Today, scientists know that they are produced by its symbiont, the blue-green algae Prochloron. In earlier laboratory experiments, the researchers already proved that patellamides bind two copper(II) ions to form a complex that functions, among others, as a catalyst for the absorption of carbon dioxide.