Natural Abenquines and Their Synthetic Analogues Exert Algicidal Activity against Bloom-Forming Cyanobacteria

Natural algicidal compounds: Strategies for controlling harmful algae and application

The expanding impact of algal blooms on marine areas poses a severe threat to the sustainable development of aquaculture, human health, and the ecological safety of coastal areas. To address this issue, the exploration of natural algicidal compounds with high efficiency, selectivity, and environmental friendliness has gained attention as potential substances for algae removal. However, the integration of related work still needs to be improved. Therefore, an in-depth study of algicidal strategies and applications of algicidal compounds for biodiversity has become crucial. Here, we aim to consolidate the current advancements in research on the sources and types of algicidal compounds. We also delve into various algicidal strategies, including the damage inflicted on algal structures, inhibition of photosynthesis, effects on oxidative damage, and impacts on gene expression. Additionally, we highlight practical applications of algicidal compounds, taking into account their specificities and limitations. This review contributes to the protection of marine biodiversity and the promotion of sustainable environmental development. Furthermore, we provide recommendations for future research on algicidal compounds to overcome existing barriers. By doing so, we hope to offer valuable references for researchers engaged in further studies on managing algal outbreaks.

Herbicidal Secondary Metabolites from Actinomycetes: Structure Diversity, Modes of Action, and Their Roles in the Development of Herbicides

Weeds had caused significant loss for crop production in the process of agriculture. Herbicides have played an important role in securing crop production. However, the high reliance on herbicides has led to environmental issues as well as the evolution of herbicide resistance. Thus, there is an urgent need for new herbicides with safer toxicological profiles and novel modes of action. Actinomycetes produce very diverse bioactive compounds, of which some show potent biopesticidal activity. The herbicidal secondary metabolites from actinomycetes can be classified into several groups, such as amino acids, peptides, nucleosides, macrolides, lactones, amide, amines, etc., some of which have been successfully developed as commercial herbicides. The structure diversity and evolved biological activity of secondary metabolites from actinomycetes can offer opportunities for the development of both directly used bioherbicides and synthetic herbicides with new target sites, and thus, this review focuses on the structure, herbicidal activity, and modes of action of secondary metabolites from actinomycetes.

Metabolic Profiling of Water-Soluble Compounds from the Extracts of Dark Septate Endophytic Fungi (DSE) Isolated from Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) Seedlings Using UPLC-Orbitrap-MS

Endophytes are microorganisms living inside plant hosts and are known to be beneficial for the host plant vitality. In this study, we isolated three endophytic fungus species from the roots of Scots pine seedlings growing on Finnish drained peatland setting. The isolated fungi belonged to dark septate endophytes (DSE). The metabolic profiles of the hot water extracts of the fungi were investigated using Ultrahigh Performance Liquid Chromatography with Diode Array Detection and Electron Spray Ionization source Mass Spectrometry with Orbitrap analyzer (UPLC-DAD-ESI-MS-Orbitrap). Out of 318 metabolites, we were able to identify 220, of which a majority was amino acids and peptides. Additionally, opine amino acids, amino acid quinones, Amadori compounds, cholines, nucleobases, nucleosides, nucleotides, siderophores, sugars, sugar alcohols and disaccharides were found, as well as other previously reported metabolites from plants or endophytes. Some differences of the metabolic profiles, regarding the amount and identity of the found metabolites, were observed even though the fungi were isolated from the same host. Many of the discovered metabolites have been described possessing biological activities and properties, which may make a favorable contribution to the host plant nutrient availability or abiotic and biotic stress tolerance.

Tailoring Natural Abenquines To Inhibit the Photosynthetic Electron Transport through Interaction with the D1 Protein in Photosystem II

Abenquines are natural N-acetylaminobenzoquinones bearing amino acid residues, which act as weak inhibitors of the photosynthetic electron transport chain. Aiming to exploit the abenquine scaffold as a model for the synthesis of new herbicides targeting photosynthesis, 14 new analogues were prepared by replacing the amino acid residue with benzylamines and the acetyl with different acyl groups. The synthesis was accomplished in three steps with a 68-95% overall yield from readily available 2,5-dimethoxyaniline, acyl chlorides, and benzyl amines. Key steps include (i) acylation of the aniline, (ii) oxidation, and (iii) oxidative addition of the benzylamino moiety. The compounds were assayed for their activity as Hill inhibitors, under basal, uncoupled, or phosphorylating conditions, or excluding photosystem I. Four analogues showed high effectiveness (IC₅₀ = 0.1-0.4 μM), comparable with the commercial herbicide diuron (IC₅₀ = 0.3 μM). The data suggest that this class of compounds interfere at the reducing side of photosystem II, having protein D1 as the most probable target. Molecular docking studies with the plastoquinone binding site of Spinacia oleracea further strengthened this proposal.