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Mycosporine-Like Amino Acids as Multifunctional Secondary Metabolites in Cyanobacteria: From Biochemical to Application Aspects. STUDIES IN NATURAL PRODUCTS CHEMISTRY 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-444-64179-3.00005-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
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Bito T, Teng F, Watanabe F. Bioactive Compounds of Edible Purple Laver Porphyra sp. (Nori). JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2017; 65:10685-10692. [PMID: 29161815 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.7b04688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Porphyra sp. (nori) is widely cultivated as an important marine crop. Dried nori contains numerous nutrients, including vitamin B12, which is the only vitamin absent from plant-derived food sources. Vegetarian diets are low in iron and vitamin B12; depletion of both causes severe anemia. Nori also contains large amounts of iron compared with other plant-derived foods and eicosapentaenoic acid, which is an important fatty acid found in fish oils. In nori, there are also many bioactive compounds that exhibit various pharmacological activities, such as immunomodulation, anticancer, antihyperlipidemic, and antioxidative activities, indicating that consumption of nori is beneficial to human health. However, Porphyra sp. contains toxic metals (arsenic and cadmiun) and/or amphipod allergens, the levels of which vary significantly among nori products. Further evidence from human studies of such beneficial or adverse effects of nori consumption is required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomohiro Bito
- Department of Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Tottori University , Tottori 680-8553, Japan
| | - Fei Teng
- Department of Food Quality and Safety, College of Food Science, Northeast Agricultural University , Harbin 150030, China
| | - Fumio Watanabe
- Department of Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Tottori University , Tottori 680-8553, Japan
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High altitude, hyper-arid soils of the Central-Andes harbor mega-diverse communities of actinobacteria. Extremophiles 2017; 22:47-57. [PMID: 29101684 PMCID: PMC5770506 DOI: 10.1007/s00792-017-0976-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2017] [Accepted: 10/24/2017] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The data reported in this paper are among the first relating to the microbiology of hyper-arid, very high altitude deserts and they provide base line information on the structure of actinobacterial communities. The high mountain Cerro Chajnantor landscape of the Central Andes in northern Chile is exposed to the world’s most intense levels of solar radiation and its impoverished soils are severely desiccated. The purpose of this research was to define the actinobacterial community structures in soils at altitudes ranging from 3000 to 5000 m above sea level. Pyrosequencing surveys have revealed an extraordinary degree of microbial dark matter at these elevations that includes novel candidate actinobacterial classes, orders and families. Ultraviolet-B irradiance and a range of edaphic factors were found to be highly significant in determining community compositions at family and genus levels of diversity.
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54
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Osborn AR, Kean KM, Karplus PA, Mahmud T. The sedoheptulose 7-phosphate cyclases and their emerging roles in biology and ecology. Nat Prod Rep 2017; 34:945-956. [PMID: 28497152 DOI: 10.1039/c7np00017k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Covering up to: 1999-2016This highlight covers a family of enzymes of growing importance, the sedoheptulose 7-phosphate cyclases, initially of interest due to their involvement in the biosynthesis of pharmaceutically relevant secondary metabolites. More recently, these enzymes have been found throughout Prokarya and Eukarya, suggesting their broad potential biological roles in nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew R Osborn
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331-3507, USA.
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Marine Microbial-Derived Molecules and Their Potential Use in Cosmeceutical and Cosmetic Products. Mar Drugs 2017; 15:md15040118. [PMID: 28417932 PMCID: PMC5408264 DOI: 10.3390/md15040118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2017] [Revised: 03/30/2017] [Accepted: 04/05/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The oceans encompass a wide range of habitats and environmental conditions, which host a huge microbial biodiversity. The unique characteristics of several marine systems have driven a variety of biological adaptations, leading to the production of a large spectrum of bioactive molecules. Fungi, fungi-like protists (such as thraustochytrids) and bacteria are among the marine organisms with the highest potential of producing bioactive compounds, which can be exploited for several commercial purposes, including cosmetic and cosmeceutical ones. Mycosporines and mycosporine-like amino acids, carotenoids, exopolysaccharides, fatty acids, chitosan and other compounds from these microorganisms might represent a sustainable, low-cost and fast-production alternative to other natural molecules used in photo-protective, anti-aging and skin-whitening products for face, body and hair care. Here, we review the existing knowledge of these compounds produced by marine microorganisms, highlighting the marine habitats where such compounds are preferentially produced and their potential application in cosmetic and cosmeceutical fields.
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56
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Nah HJ, Pyeon HR, Kang SH, Choi SS, Kim ES. Cloning and Heterologous Expression of a Large-sized Natural Product Biosynthetic Gene Cluster in Streptomyces Species. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:394. [PMID: 28360891 PMCID: PMC5350119 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.00394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2016] [Accepted: 02/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Actinomycetes family including Streptomyces species have been a major source for the discovery of novel natural products (NPs) in the last several decades thanks to their structural novelty, diversity and complexity. Moreover, recent genome mining approach has provided an attractive tool to screen potentially valuable NP biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) present in the actinomycetes genomes. Since many of these NP BGCs are silent or cryptic in the original actinomycetes, various techniques have been employed to activate these NP BGCs. Heterologous expression of BGCs has become a useful strategy to produce, reactivate, improve, and modify the pathways of NPs present at minute quantities in the original actinomycetes isolates. However, cloning and efficient overexpression of an entire NP BGC, often as large as over 100 kb, remain challenging due to the ineffectiveness of current genetic systems in manipulating large NP BGCs. This mini review describes examples of actinomycetes NP production through BGC heterologous expression systems as well as recent strategies specialized for the large-sized NP BGCs in Streptomyces heterologous hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hee-Ju Nah
- Department of Biological Engineering, Inha University Incheon, South Korea
| | - Hye-Rim Pyeon
- Department of Biological Engineering, Inha University Incheon, South Korea
| | - Seung-Hoon Kang
- Department of Biological Engineering, Inha University Incheon, South Korea
| | - Si-Sun Choi
- Department of Biological Engineering, Inha University Incheon, South Korea
| | - Eung-Soo Kim
- Department of Biological Engineering, Inha University Incheon, South Korea
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Abstract
Many Fungi have a well-developed secondary metabolism. The diversity of fungal species and the diversification of biosynthetic gene clusters underscores a nearly limitless potential for metabolic variation and an untapped resource for drug discovery and synthetic biology. Much of the ecological success of the filamentous fungi in colonizing the planet is owed to their ability to deploy their secondary metabolites in concert with their penetrative and absorptive mode of life. Fungal secondary metabolites exhibit biological activities that have been developed into life-saving medicines and agrochemicals. Toxic metabolites, known as mycotoxins, contaminate human and livestock food and indoor environments. Secondary metabolites are determinants of fungal diseases of humans, animals, and plants. Secondary metabolites exhibit a staggering variation in chemical structures and biological activities, yet their biosynthetic pathways share a number of key characteristics. The genes encoding cooperative steps of a biosynthetic pathway tend to be located contiguously on the chromosome in coregulated gene clusters. Advances in genome sequencing, computational tools, and analytical chemistry are enabling the rapid connection of gene clusters with their metabolic products. At least three fungal drug precursors, penicillin K and V, mycophenolic acid, and pleuromutilin, have been produced by synthetic reconstruction and expression of respective gene clusters in heterologous hosts. This review summarizes general aspects of fungal secondary metabolism and recent developments in our understanding of how and why fungi make secondary metabolites, how these molecules are produced, and how their biosynthetic genes are distributed across the Fungi. The breadth of fungal secondary metabolite diversity is highlighted by recent information on the biosynthesis of important fungus-derived metabolites that have contributed to human health and agriculture and that have negatively impacted crops, food distribution, and human environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerald F Bills
- Texas Therapeutics Institute, The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77054
| | - James B Gloer
- Department of Chemistry, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52245
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Heterologous Production of Cyanobacterial Mycosporine-Like Amino Acids Mycosporine-Ornithine and Mycosporine-Lysine in Escherichia coli. Appl Environ Microbiol 2016; 82:6167-6173. [PMID: 27520810 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01632-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2016] [Accepted: 08/04/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) are an important class of secondary metabolites known for their protection against UV radiation and other stress factors. Cyanobacteria produce a variety of MAAs, including shinorine, the active ingredient in many sunscreen creams. Bioinformatic analysis of the genome of the soil-dwelling cyanobacterium Cylindrospermum stagnale PCC 7417 revealed a new gene cluster with homology to MAA synthase from Nostoc punctiforme This newly identified gene cluster is unusual because it has five biosynthesis genes (mylA to mylE), compared to the four found in other MAA gene clusters. Heterologous expression of mylA to mylE in Escherichia coli resulted in the production of mycosporine-lysine and the novel compound mycosporine-ornithine. To our knowledge, this is the first time these compounds have been heterologously produced in E. coli and structurally characterized via direct spectral guidance. This study offers insight into the diversity, biosynthesis, and structure of cyanobacterial MAAs and highlights their amenability to heterologous production methods. IMPORTANCE Mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) are significant from an environmental microbiological perspective as they offer microbes protection against a variety of stress factors, including UV radiation. The heterologous expression of MAAs in E. coli is also significant from a biotechnological perspective as MAAs are the active ingredient in next-generation sunscreens.
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Comparative Profiling and Discovery of Novel Glycosylated Mycosporine-Like Amino Acids in Two Strains of the Cyanobacterium Scytonema cf. crispum. Appl Environ Microbiol 2016; 82:5951-9. [PMID: 27474710 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01633-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2016] [Accepted: 07/19/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED The mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) are a group of small molecules with a diverse ecological distribution among microorganisms. MAAs have a range of physiological functions, including protection against UV radiation, making them important from a biotechnological perspective. In the present study, we identified a putative MAA (mys) gene cluster in two New Zealand isolates of Scytonema cf. crispum (UCFS10 and UCFS15). Homology to "Anabaena-type" mys clusters suggested that this cluster was likely to be involved in shinorine biosynthesis. Surprisingly, high-performance liquid chromatography analysis of S cf. crispum cell extracts revealed a complex MAA profile, including shinorine, palythine-serine, and their hexose-bound variants. It was hypothesized that a short-chain dehydrogenase (UCFS15_00405) encoded by a gene adjacent to the S cf. crispum mys cluster was responsible for the conversion of shinorine to palythine-serine. Heterologous expression of MysABCE and UCFS15_00405 in Escherichia coli resulted in the exclusive production of the parent compound shinorine. Taken together, these results suggest that shinorine biosynthesis in S cf. crispum proceeds via an Anabaena-type mechanism and that the genes responsible for the production of other MAA analogues, including palythine-serine and glycosylated analogues, may be located elsewhere in the genome. IMPORTANCE Recently, New Zealand isolates of S cf. crispum were linked to the production of paralytic shellfish toxins for the first time, but no other natural products from this species have been reported. Thus, the species was screened for important natural product biosynthesis. The mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) are among the strongest absorbers of UV radiation produced in nature. The identification of novel MAAs is important from a biotechnology perspective, as these molecules are able to be utilized as sunscreens. This study has identified two novel MAAs that have provided several new avenues of future research related to MAA genetics and biosynthesis. Further, we have revealed that the genetic basis of MAA biosynthesis may not be clustered on the genome. The identification of the genes responsible for MAA biosynthesis is vital for future genetic engineering.
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Baroncelli R, Amby DB, Zapparata A, Sarrocco S, Vannacci G, Le Floch G, Harrison RJ, Holub E, Sukno SA, Sreenivasaprasad S, Thon MR. Gene family expansions and contractions are associated with host range in plant pathogens of the genus Colletotrichum. BMC Genomics 2016; 17:555. [PMID: 27496087 PMCID: PMC4974774 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-016-2917-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2016] [Accepted: 07/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Many species belonging to the genus Colletotrichum cause anthracnose disease on a wide range of plant species. In addition to their economic impact, the genus Colletotrichum is a useful model for the study of the evolution of host specificity, speciation and reproductive behaviors. Genome projects of Colletotrichum species have already opened a new era for studying the evolution of pathogenesis in fungi. RESULTS We sequenced and annotated the genomes of four strains in the Colletotrichum acutatum species complex (CAsc), a clade of broad host range pathogens within the genus. The four CAsc proteomes and secretomes along with those representing an additional 13 species (six Colletotrichum spp. and seven other Sordariomycetes) were classified into protein families using a variety of tools. Hierarchical clustering of gene family and functional domain assignments, and phylogenetic analyses revealed lineage specific losses of carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) and proteases encoding genes in Colletotrichum species that have narrow host range as well as duplications of these families in the CAsc. We also found a lineage specific expansion of necrosis and ethylene-inducing peptide 1 (Nep1)-like protein (NLPs) families within the CAsc. CONCLUSIONS This study illustrates the plasticity of Colletotrichum genomes, and shows that major changes in host range are associated with relatively recent changes in gene content.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riccardo Baroncelli
- Laboratoire Universitaire de Biodiversité et Ecologie Microbienne (LUBEM), University of Western Brittany, Technopôle Brest-Iroise, 29280 Plouzané, France
| | - Daniel Buchvaldt Amby
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences and Copenhagen Plant Science Centre, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871 Frb. C, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Antonio Zapparata
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Sabrina Sarrocco
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Giovanni Vannacci
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Gaétan Le Floch
- Laboratoire Universitaire de Biodiversité et Ecologie Microbienne (LUBEM), University of Western Brittany, Technopôle Brest-Iroise, 29280 Plouzané, France
| | | | - Eric Holub
- School of Life Sciences, Warwick Crop Centre, University of Warwick, Wellesbourne, Warwickshire CV35 9EF UK
| | - Serenella A. Sukno
- Instituto Hispano-Luso de Investigaciones Agrarias (CIALE), University of Salamanca, Campus de Villamayor, C/Del Duero, 12, 37185 Villamayor Salamanca, Spain
| | - Surapareddy Sreenivasaprasad
- Institute of Biomedical and Environmental Science and Technology (iBEST), University of Bedfordshire, University Square, Luton, Bedfordshire LU1 3JU UK
| | - Michael R. Thon
- Instituto Hispano-Luso de Investigaciones Agrarias (CIALE), University of Salamanca, Campus de Villamayor, C/Del Duero, 12, 37185 Villamayor Salamanca, Spain
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Bekiesch P, Basitta P, Apel AK. Challenges in the Heterologous Production of Antibiotics inStreptomyces. Arch Pharm (Weinheim) 2016; 349:594-601. [DOI: 10.1002/ardp.201600058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2016] [Revised: 04/27/2016] [Accepted: 05/06/2016] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Paulina Bekiesch
- Pharmaceutical Biology; Pharmaceutical Institute; Eberhard-Karls-Universität Tübingen; Tübingen Germany
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF); Partner Site Tübingen; Tübingen Germany
| | - Patrick Basitta
- Pharmaceutical Biology; Pharmaceutical Institute; Eberhard-Karls-Universität Tübingen; Tübingen Germany
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF); Partner Site Tübingen; Tübingen Germany
| | - Alexander K. Apel
- Pharmaceutical Biology; Pharmaceutical Institute; Eberhard-Karls-Universität Tübingen; Tübingen Germany
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF); Partner Site Tübingen; Tübingen Germany
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Matsuyama K, Matsumoto J, Yamamoto S, Nagasaki K, Inoue Y, Nishijima M, Mori T. pH-Independent Charge Resonance Mechanism for UV Protective Functions of Shinorine and Related Mycosporine-like Amino Acids. J Phys Chem A 2015; 119:12722-9. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.5b09988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Keisuke Matsuyama
- Nagase R&D Center, Nagase & Co., Ltd., 2-2-3 Murotani, Nishi-Ku, Kobe 651-2241, Japan
| | - Jun Matsumoto
- Nagase R&D Center, Nagase & Co., Ltd., 2-2-3 Murotani, Nishi-Ku, Kobe 651-2241, Japan
| | - Shogo Yamamoto
- Nagase R&D Center, Nagase & Co., Ltd., 2-2-3 Murotani, Nishi-Ku, Kobe 651-2241, Japan
| | - Keisuke Nagasaki
- Department
of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, 2-1
Yamada-oka, Suita 565-0871, Japan
| | - Yoshihisa Inoue
- Department
of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, 2-1
Yamada-oka, Suita 565-0871, Japan
| | - Masaki Nishijima
- Office
for University-Industry Collaboration, Osaka University, 2-8 Yamada-oka, Suita 565-0871, Japan
| | - Tadashi Mori
- Department
of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, 2-1
Yamada-oka, Suita 565-0871, Japan
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63
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Schulze CJ, Donia MS, Siqueira-Neto JL, Ray D, Raskatov JA, Green RE, McKerrow JH, Fischbach MA, Linington RG. Genome-Directed Lead Discovery: Biosynthesis, Structure Elucidation, and Biological Evaluation of Two Families of Polyene Macrolactams against Trypanosoma brucei. ACS Chem Biol 2015; 10:2373-81. [PMID: 26270237 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.5b00308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Marine natural products are an important source of lead compounds against many pathogenic targets. Herein, we report the discovery of lobosamides A-C from a marine actinobacterium, Micromonospora sp., representing three new members of a small but growing family of bacterially produced polyene macrolactams. The lobosamides display growth inhibitory activity against the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma brucei (lobosamide A IC50 = 0.8 μM), the causative agent of human African trypanosomiasis (HAT). The biosynthetic gene cluster of the lobosamides was sequenced and suggests a conserved cluster organization among the 26-membered macrolactams. While determination of the relative and absolute configurations of many members of this family is lacking, the absolute configurations of the lobosamides were deduced using a combination of chemical modification, detailed spectroscopic analysis, and bioinformatics. We implemented a "molecules-to-genes-to-molecules" approach to determine the prevalence of similar clusters in other bacteria, which led to the discovery of two additional macrolactams, mirilactams A and B from Actinosynnema mirum. These additional analogs have allowed us to identify specific structure-activity relationships that contribute to the antitrypanosomal activity of this class. This approach illustrates the power of combining chemical analysis and genomics in the discovery and characterization of natural products as new lead compounds for neglected disease targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher J. Schulze
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa
Cruz, California 95064, United States
| | - Mohamed S. Donia
- Department
of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences and the California Institute
for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California San Francisco, San
Francisco, California 94158, United States
| | - Jair L. Siqueira-Neto
- Skaggs
School of Pharmacy, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California 92093, United States
| | - Debalina Ray
- Department
of Pathology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94158, United States
| | - Jevgenij A. Raskatov
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa
Cruz, California 95064, United States
| | - Richard E. Green
- Department
of Biomolecular Engineering, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa
Cruz, California 95064, United States
| | - James H. McKerrow
- Skaggs
School of Pharmacy, University of California San Diego, San Diego, California 92093, United States
| | - Michael A. Fischbach
- Department
of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences and the California Institute
for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California San Francisco, San
Francisco, California 94158, United States
| | - Roger G. Linington
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa
Cruz, California 95064, United States
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Beites T, Mendes MV. Chassis optimization as a cornerstone for the application of synthetic biology based strategies in microbial secondary metabolism. Front Microbiol 2015; 6:906. [PMID: 26441855 PMCID: PMC4563238 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2015.00906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2015] [Accepted: 08/19/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The increased number of bacterial genome sequencing projects has generated over the last years a large reservoir of genomic information. In silico analysis of this genomic data has renewed the interest in bacterial bioprospecting for bioactive compounds by unveiling novel biosynthetic gene clusters of unknown or uncharacterized metabolites. However, only a small fraction of those metabolites is produced under laboratory-controlled conditions; the remaining clusters represent a pool of novel metabolites that are waiting to be “awaken”. Activation of the biosynthetic gene clusters that present reduced or no expression (known as cryptic or silent clusters) by heterologous expression has emerged as a strategy for the identification and production of novel bioactive molecules. Synthetic biology, with engineering principles at its core, provides an excellent framework for the development of efficient heterologous systems for the expression of biosynthetic gene clusters. However, a common problem in its application is the host-interference problem, i.e., the unpredictable interactions between the device and the host that can hamper the desired output. Although an effort has been made to develop orthogonal devices, the most proficient way to overcome the host-interference problem is through genome simplification. In this review we present an overview on the strategies and tools used in the development of hosts/chassis for the heterologous expression of specialized metabolites biosynthetic gene clusters. Finally, we introduce the concept of specialized host as the next step of development of expression hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiago Beites
- I3S Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto Porto, Portugal ; Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto Porto, Portugal
| | - Marta V Mendes
- I3S Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto Porto, Portugal ; Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto Porto, Portugal
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Osborn AR, Almabruk KH, Holzwarth G, Asamizu S, LaDu J, Kean KM, Karplus PA, Tanguay RL, Bakalinsky AT, Mahmud T. De novo synthesis of a sunscreen compound in vertebrates. eLife 2015; 4. [PMID: 25965179 PMCID: PMC4426668 DOI: 10.7554/elife.05919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2014] [Accepted: 03/29/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Ultraviolet-protective compounds, such as mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) and related gadusols produced by some bacteria, fungi, algae, and marine invertebrates, are critical for the survival of reef-building corals and other marine organisms exposed to high-solar irradiance. These compounds have also been found in marine fish, where their accumulation is thought to be of dietary or symbiont origin. In this study, we report the unexpected discovery that fish can synthesize gadusol de novo and that the analogous pathways are also present in amphibians, reptiles, and birds. Furthermore, we demonstrate that engineered yeast containing the fish genes can produce and secrete gadusol. The discovery of the gadusol pathway in vertebrates provides a platform for understanding its role in these animals, and the possibility of engineering yeast to efficiently produce a natural sunscreen and antioxidant presents an avenue for its large-scale production for possible use in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.05919.001 Sunlight is the Earth's primary energy source and is exploited by an array of natural and man-made processes. Photosynthetic plants harness solar energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into biomass, and solar panels capture light and convert it to electricity. Sunlight is critical to life on Earth, and yet excessive exposure to sunlight can cause serious harm as it contains ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which damages the DNA of cells. In humans, this damage can lead to conditions such as cataracts and skin cancer. The marine organisms and animals that live in the upper ocean and on reefs are subject to intense and unrelenting sunlight. In their effort to protect against potentially deadly UV radiation, many small and particularly vulnerable marine organisms, such as bacteria and algae, produce UV-protective sunscreens. While UV-protective compounds have also been found in larger organisms, including fish and their eggs, the presence of these sunscreens has always been attributed to the animal sequestering the compounds from their environment or partnering with a sunscreen-producing microorganism. Now, Osborn, Almabruk, Holzwarth et al. have discovered a fish that is able to produce such a UV-protective compound completely on its own. After identifying the full set of genes—or pathway—responsible for generating the UV-protective compound, the same pathway was detected in a variety of diverse animals, including amphibians, reptiles, and birds. This opens up a new area of study, because besides providing UV protection, no one yet knows what other roles the molecule may have in these animals. Furthermore, introducing the complete pathway into yeast enabled these cells to produce the sunscreen. In the future, engineering a yeast population to produce large quantities of the natural sunscreen could lead to large-scale production of the UV-protective compound so it can be used in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.05919.002
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew R Osborn
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, United States
| | - Khaled H Almabruk
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, United States
| | - Garrett Holzwarth
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, United States
| | - Shumpei Asamizu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, United States
| | - Jane LaDu
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, United States
| | - Kelsey M Kean
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Oregon State University, Corvallis, United States
| | - P Andrew Karplus
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Oregon State University, Corvallis, United States
| | - Robert L Tanguay
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, United States
| | - Alan T Bakalinsky
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, United States
| | - Taifo Mahmud
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, United States
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