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Roncero-Ramos B, Savaglia V, Durieu B, Van de Vreken I, Richel A, Wilmotte A. Ecophysiological and genomic approaches to cyanobacterial hardening for restoration. JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY 2024; 60:465-482. [PMID: 38373045 DOI: 10.1111/jpy.13436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
Cyanobacteria inhabit extreme environments, including drylands, providing multiple benefits to the ecosystem. Soil degradation in warm drylands is increasing due to land use intensification. Restoration methods adapted to the extreme stress in drylands are being developed, such as cyanobacteria inoculation to recover biocrusts. For this type of restoration method to be a success, it is crucial to optimize the survival of inoculated cyanobacteria in the field. One strategy is to harden them to be acclimated to stressful conditions after laboratory culturing. Here, we analyzed the genome and ecophysiological response to osmotic desiccation and UVR stresses of an Antarctic cyanobacterium, Stenomitos frigidus ULC029, which is closely related to other cyanobacteria from warm and cold dryland soils. Chlorophyll a concentrations showed that preculturing ULC029 under moderate osmotic stress improved its survival during an assay of desiccation plus rehydration under UVR. Additionally, its sequential exposure to these stress factors increased the production of exopolysaccharides, carotenoids, and scytonemin. Desiccation, but not osmotic stress, increased the concentrations of the osmoprotectants trehalose and sucrose. However, osmotic stress might induce the production of other osmoprotectants, for which the complete pathways were observed in the ULC029 genome. In total, 140 genes known to be involved in stress resistance were annotated. Here, we confirm that the sequential application of moderate osmotic stress and dehydration could improve cyanobacterial hardening for soil restoration by inducing several resistance mechanisms. We provide a high-quality genome of ULC029 and a description of the main resistance mechanisms (i.e., production of exopolysaccharides, osmoprotectants, chlorophyll, and carotenoids; DNA repair; and oxidative stress protection).
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Roncero-Ramos
- InBios-Molecular Diversity and Ecology of Cyanobacteria, University of Liège, Liege, Belgium
- Departamento de Biología Vegetal y Ecología, Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Valentina Savaglia
- InBios-Molecular Diversity and Ecology of Cyanobacteria, University of Liège, Liege, Belgium
- Laboratory of Protistology & Aquatic Ecology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Benoit Durieu
- InBios-Molecular Diversity and Ecology of Cyanobacteria, University of Liège, Liege, Belgium
| | | | - Aurore Richel
- TERRA-Biomass and Green Technologies, University of Liège, Gembloux, Belgium
| | - Annick Wilmotte
- InBios-Molecular Diversity and Ecology of Cyanobacteria, University of Liège, Liege, Belgium
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2
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Cao K, Cui Y, Sun F, Zhang H, Fan J, Ge B, Cao Y, Wang X, Zhu X, Wei Z, Yao Q, Ma J, Wang Y, Meng C, Gao Z. Metabolic engineering and synthetic biology strategies for producing high-value natural pigments in Microalgae. Biotechnol Adv 2023; 68:108236. [PMID: 37586543 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2023.108236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2023] [Revised: 07/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
Abstract
Microalgae are microorganisms capable of producing bioactive compounds using photosynthesis. Microalgae contain a variety of high value-added natural pigments such as carotenoids, phycobilins, and chlorophylls. These pigments play an important role in many areas such as food, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. Natural pigments have a health value that is unmatched by synthetic pigments. However, the current commercial production of natural pigments from microalgae is not able to meet the growing market demand. The use of metabolic engineering and synthetic biological strategies to improve the production performance of microalgal cell factories is essential to promote the large-scale production of high-value pigments from microalgae. This paper reviews the health and economic values, the applications, and the synthesis pathways of microalgal pigments. Overall, this review aims to highlight the latest research progress in metabolic engineering and synthetic biology in constructing engineered strains of microalgae with high-value pigments and the application of CRISPR technology and multi-omics in this context. Finally, we conclude with a discussion on the bottlenecks and challenges of microalgal pigment production and their future development prospects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Cao
- School of Pharmacy, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai 264003, China; School of Life Sciences and medicine, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo 255049, China
| | - Yulin Cui
- School of Pharmacy, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai 264003, China
| | - Fengjie Sun
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Science and Technology, Georgia Gwinnett College, Lawrenceville, GA 30043, USA
| | - Hao Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai 264003, China
| | - Jianhua Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Baosheng Ge
- State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing and Center for Bioengineering and Biotechnology, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao 266580, China
| | - Yujiao Cao
- School of Foreign Languages, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo 255090, China
| | - Xiaodong Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai 264003, China
| | - Xiangyu Zhu
- School of Pharmacy, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai 264003, China; School of Life Sciences and medicine, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo 255049, China
| | - Zuoxi Wei
- School of Life Sciences and medicine, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo 255049, China
| | - Qingshou Yao
- School of Pharmacy, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai 264003, China
| | - Jinju Ma
- School of Pharmacy, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai 264003, China
| | - Yu Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai 264003, China
| | - Chunxiao Meng
- School of Pharmacy, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai 264003, China.
| | - Zhengquan Gao
- School of Pharmacy, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai 264003, China.
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Davies KM, Landi M, van Klink JW, Schwinn KE, Brummell DA, Albert NW, Chagné D, Jibran R, Kulshrestha S, Zhou Y, Bowman JL. Evolution and function of red pigmentation in land plants. ANNALS OF BOTANY 2022; 130:613-636. [PMID: 36070407 PMCID: PMC9670752 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcac109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Land plants commonly produce red pigmentation as a response to environmental stressors, both abiotic and biotic. The type of pigment produced varies among different land plant lineages. In the majority of species they are flavonoids, a large branch of the phenylpropanoid pathway. Flavonoids that can confer red colours include 3-hydroxyanthocyanins, 3-deoxyanthocyanins, sphagnorubins and auronidins, which are the predominant red pigments in flowering plants, ferns, mosses and liverworts, respectively. However, some flowering plants have lost the capacity for anthocyanin biosynthesis and produce nitrogen-containing betalain pigments instead. Some terrestrial algal species also produce red pigmentation as an abiotic stress response, and these include both carotenoid and phenolic pigments. SCOPE In this review, we examine: which environmental triggers induce red pigmentation in non-reproductive tissues; theories on the functions of stress-induced pigmentation; the evolution of the biosynthetic pathways; and structure-function aspects of different pigment types. We also compare data on stress-induced pigmentation in land plants with those for terrestrial algae, and discuss possible explanations for the lack of red pigmentation in the hornwort lineage of land plants. CONCLUSIONS The evidence suggests that pigment biosynthetic pathways have evolved numerous times in land plants to provide compounds that have red colour to screen damaging photosynthetically active radiation but that also have secondary functions that provide specific benefits to the particular land plant lineage.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marco Landi
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, Italy
| | - John W van Klink
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited, Department of Chemistry, Otago University, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Kathy E Schwinn
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited, Private Bag 11600, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand
| | - David A Brummell
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited, Private Bag 11600, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand
| | - Nick W Albert
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited, Private Bag 11600, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand
| | - David Chagné
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited, Private Bag 11600, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand
| | - Rubina Jibran
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited, Private Bag 92169, Auckland Mail Centre, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
| | - Samarth Kulshrestha
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited, Private Bag 11600, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand
| | - Yanfei Zhou
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited, Private Bag 11600, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand
| | - John L Bowman
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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Tamre E, Fournier GP. Inferred ancestry of scytonemin biosynthesis proteins in cyanobacteria indicates a response to Paleoproterozoic oxygenation. GEOBIOLOGY 2022; 20:764-775. [PMID: 35851984 PMCID: PMC9796282 DOI: 10.1111/gbi.12514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Revised: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Protection from radiation damage is an important adaptation for phototrophic microbes. Living in surface, shallow water, and peritidal environments, cyanobacteria are especially exposed to long-wavelength ultraviolet (UVA) radiation. Several groups of cyanobacteria within these environments are protected from UVA damage by the production of the pigment scytonemin. Paleontological evidence of cyanobacteria in UVA-exposed environments from the Proterozoic, and possibly as early as the Archaean, suggests a long evolutionary history of radiation protection within this group. We show that phylogenetic analyses of enzymes in the scytonemin biosynthesis pathway support this hypothesis and reveal a deep history of vertical inheritance of this pathway within extant cyanobacterial diversity. Referencing this phylogeny to cyanobacterial molecular clocks suggests that scytonemin production likely appeared during the early Proterozoic, soon after the Great Oxygenation Event. This timing is consistent with an adaptive scenario for the evolution of scytonemin production, wherein the threat of UVA-generated reactive oxygen species becomes significantly greater once molecular oxygen is more pervasive across photosynthetic environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik Tamre
- Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary SciencesMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyCambridgeMassachusettsUSA
| | - Gregory P. Fournier
- Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary SciencesMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyCambridgeMassachusettsUSA
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5
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Characterization of UV-screening pigment scytonemin from cyanobacteria inhabiting diverse habitats of Varanasi, India. Biologia (Bratisl) 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s11756-022-01190-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
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6
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He Y, Suyama TL, Kim H, Glukhov E, Gerwick WH. Discovery of Novel Tyrosinase Inhibitors From Marine Cyanobacteria. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:912621. [PMID: 35910604 PMCID: PMC9329053 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.912621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 06/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Tyrosinase, an important oxidase involved in the primary immune response in humans, can sometimes become problematic as it can catalyze undesirable oxidation reactions. Therefore, for decades there has been a strong pharmaceutical interest in the discovery of novel inhibitors of this enzyme. Recent studies have also indicated that tyrosinase inhibitors can potentially be used in the treatment of melanoma cancer. Over the years, many new tyrosinase inhibitors have been discovered from various natural sources; however, marine natural products (MNPs) have contributed only a small number of promising candidates. Therefore, in this study we focused on the discovery of new MNP tyrosinase inhibitors of marine cyanobacterial and algal origins. A colorimetric tyrosinase inhibitory assay was used to screen over 4,500 marine extracts against mushroom tyrosinase (A. bisporus). Our results revealed that scytonemin monomer (ScyM), a pure compound from our compound library and also the monomeric last-step precursor in the biosynthesis of the well-known cyanobacterial sunscreen pigment “scytonemin,” consistently showed the highest tyrosinase inhibitory score. Determination of the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) further indicated that ScyM is more potent than the commonly used commercial inhibitor standard “kojic acid” (KA; IC50 of ScyM: 4.90 μM vs. IC50 of KA: 11.31 μM). After a scaled-up chemical synthesis of ScyM as well as its O-methyl analog (ScyM-OMe), we conducted a series of follow-up studies on their structures, inhibitory properties, and mode of inhibition. Our results supported ScyM as the second case ever of a novel tyrosinase inhibitory compound based on a marine cyanobacterial natural product. The excellent in vitro performance of ScyM makes it a promising candidate for applications such as a skin-whitening agent or an adjuvant therapy for melanoma cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifan He
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
- *Correspondence: Yifan He,
| | - Takashi L. Suyama
- Department of Chemistry and Forensic Science, Waynesburg University, Waynesburg, PA, United States
- Takashi L. Suyama,
| | - Hyunwoo Kim
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
- College of Pharmacy, Dongguk University, Goyang, South Korea
| | - Evgenia Glukhov
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - William H. Gerwick
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
- William H. Gerwick,
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7
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Klicki K, Ferreira D, Risser D, Garcia-Pichel F. A Regulatory Linkage Between Scytonemin Production and Hormogonia Differentiation in Nostoc punctiforme. iScience 2022; 25:104361. [PMID: 35620423 PMCID: PMC9127174 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Revised: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacteria sometimes hedge their survival bets by concurrently activating response circuits leading to different phenotypes in isogenic populations. We show that the cyanobacterium Nostoc punctiforme responds to UV-A by concurrently producing the sunscreen scytonemin and differentiating into motile hormogonia but segregating the responses at the filament level. Mutational studies show that a four-gene partner-switching regulatory system (hcyA-D) orchestrates the cross-talk between the respective regulatory circuitries. Transcription of hormogonium genes and hcyA-D is upregulated by UVA through the scytonemin two-component regulator (scyTCR), hcyA-D being directly involved in signal transduction into the hormogonium response and its modulation by visible light. The sigma factor cascade that regulates developmental commitment to hormogonia also upregulates hcyA-D transcription and strongly suppresses scytonemin synthesis through downregulation of the scyTCR itself. Through this complex bidirectional mechanism, Nostoc can concurrently deploy two fundamentally different UV stress mitigation strategies, either hunker down or flee, in a single population. Nostoc responds to UV-A by both producing sunscreen and differentiating hormogonia The responses are, however, mutually exclusive at the single filament level A novel 4-gene system (hcyA-D) orchestrates the regulation between the two responses This affords Nostoc a bet-hedging means to both hunker down and flee UV-A stress
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Klicki
- Center for Fundamental and Applied Microbiomics, Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, AZ 95281, USA
| | - Daniela Ferreira
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, AZ 95281, USA
| | - Douglas Risser
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA 95211, USA
| | - Ferran Garcia-Pichel
- Center for Fundamental and Applied Microbiomics, Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, AZ 95281, USA
- Corresponding author
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8
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Bennett J, Soule T. Expression of Scytonemin Biosynthesis Genes under Alternative Stress Conditions in the Cyanobacterium Nostoc punctiforme. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10020427. [PMID: 35208882 PMCID: PMC8879130 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10020427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2021] [Revised: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The indole-alkaloid scytonemin is a sunscreen pigment that is widely produced among cyanobacteria as an ultraviolet radiation (UVR) survival strategy. Scytonemin biosynthesis is encoded by two gene clusters that are known to be induced by long-wavelength radiation (UVA). Previous studies have characterized the transcriptome of cyanobacteria in response to a wide range of conditions, but the effect on the expression of scytonemin biosynthesis genes has not been specifically targeted. Therefore, the aim of this study is to determine the variable response of scytonemin biosynthesis genes to a variety of environmental conditions. Cells were acclimated to white light before supplementation with UVA, UVB, high light, or osmotic stress for 48 h. The presence of scytonemin was determined by absorbance spectroscopy and gene expression of representative scytonemin biosynthesis genes was measured using quantitative PCR. Scytonemin genes were up-regulated in UVA, UVB, and high light, although the scytonemin pigment was not detected under high light. There was no scytonemin or upregulation of these genes under osmotic stress. The lack of pigment production under high light, despite increased gene expression, suggests a time-dependent delay for pigment production or additional mechanisms or genes that may be involved in scytonemin production beyond those currently known.
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9
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Gao X, Jing X, Liu X, Lindblad P. Biotechnological Production of the Sunscreen Pigment Scytonemin in Cyanobacteria: Progress and Strategy. Mar Drugs 2021; 19:129. [PMID: 33673485 PMCID: PMC7997468 DOI: 10.3390/md19030129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Revised: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Scytonemin is a promising UV-screen and antioxidant small molecule with commercial value in cosmetics and medicine. It is solely biosynthesized in some cyanobacteria. Recently, its biosynthesis mechanism has been elucidated in the model cyanobacterium Nostoc punctiforme PCC 73102. The direct precursors for scytonemin biosynthesis are tryptophan and p-hydroxyphenylpyruvate, which are generated through the shikimate and aromatic amino acid biosynthesis pathway. More upstream substrates are the central carbon metabolism intermediates phosphoenolpyruvate and erythrose-4-phosphate. Thus, it is a long route to synthesize scytonemin from the fixed atmospheric CO2 in cyanobacteria. Metabolic engineering has risen as an important biotechnological means for achieving sustainable high-efficiency and high-yield target metabolites. In this review, we summarized the biochemical properties of this molecule, its biosynthetic gene clusters and transcriptional regulations, the associated carbon flux-driving progresses, and the host selection and biosynthetic strategies, with the aim to expand our understanding on engineering suitable cyanobacteria for cost-effective production of scytonemin in future practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Gao
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi’an 710021, China;
| | - Xin Jing
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi’an 710021, China;
| | - Xufeng Liu
- Microbial Chemistry, Department of Chemistry-Ångstrom, Uppsala University, Box 523, 751 20 Uppsala, Sweden;
| | - Peter Lindblad
- Microbial Chemistry, Department of Chemistry-Ångstrom, Uppsala University, Box 523, 751 20 Uppsala, Sweden;
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10
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Amador-Castro F, Rodriguez-Martinez V, Carrillo-Nieves D. Robust natural ultraviolet filters from marine ecosystems for the formulation of environmental friendlier bio-sunscreens. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 749:141576. [PMID: 33370909 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Revised: 08/06/2020] [Accepted: 08/07/2020] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) has detrimental effects on human health. It induces oxidative stress, deregulates signaling mechanisms, and produces DNA mutations, factors that ultimately can lead to the development of skin cancer. Therefore, reducing exposure to UVR is of major importance. Among available measures to diminish exposure is the use of sunscreens. However, recent studies indicate that several of the currently used filters have adverse effects on marine ecosystems and human health. This situation leads to the search for new photoprotective compounds that, apart from offering protection, are environmentally friendly. The answer may lie in the same marine ecosystems since molecules such as mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) and scytonemin can serve as the defense system of some marine organisms against UVR. This review will discuss the harmful effects of UVR and the mechanisms that microalgae have developed to cope with it. Then it will focus on the biological distribution, characteristics, extraction, and purification methods of MAAs and scytonemin molecules to finally assess its potential as new filters for sunscreen formulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando Amador-Castro
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, Escuela de Ingenieria y Ciencias, Av. General Ramon Corona No. 2514, 45201 Zapopan, Jal., Mexico
| | - Veronica Rodriguez-Martinez
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, Escuela de Ingenieria y Ciencias, Av. General Ramon Corona No. 2514, 45201 Zapopan, Jal., Mexico
| | - Danay Carrillo-Nieves
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, Escuela de Ingenieria y Ciencias, Av. General Ramon Corona No. 2514, 45201 Zapopan, Jal., Mexico.
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UV-A Irradiation Increases Scytonemin Biosynthesis in Cyanobacteria Inhabiting Halites at Salar Grande, Atacama Desert. Microorganisms 2020; 8:microorganisms8111690. [PMID: 33142998 PMCID: PMC7692114 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8111690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2020] [Revised: 09/05/2020] [Accepted: 09/12/2020] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Microbial consortia inhabiting evaporitic salt nodules at the Atacama Desert are dominated by unculturable cyanobacteria from the genus Halothece. Halite nodules provide transparency to photosynthetically active radiation and diminish photochemically damaging UV light. Atacama cyanobacteria synthesize scytonemin, a heterocyclic dimer, lipid soluble, UV-filtering pigment (in vivo absorption maximum at 370 nm) that accumulates at the extracellular sheath. Our goal was to demonstrate if UV-A irradiations modulate scytonemin biosynthesis in ground halites containing uncultured Halothece sp. cyanobacteria. Pulverized halite nodules with endolithic colonization were incubated under continuous UV-A radiation (3.6 W/m2) for 96 h, at 67% relative humidity, mimicking their natural habitat. Scytonemin content and relative transcription levels of scyB gene (a key gene in the biosynthesis of scytonemin) were evaluated by spectrophotometry and quantitative RT-PCR, respectively. After 48 h under these experimental conditions, the ratio scytonemin/chlorophyll a and the transcription of scyB gene increased to a maximal 1.7-fold value. Therefore, endolithic Halothece cyanobacteria in halites are metabolically active and UV radiation is an environmental stressor with a positive influence on scyB gene transcription and scytonemin biosynthesis. Endolithobiontic cyanobacteria in Atacama show a resilient evolutive and adaptive strategy to survive in one of the most extreme environments on Earth.
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12
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A symbiotic nutrient exchange within the cyanosphere microbiome of the biocrust cyanobacterium, Microcoleus vaginatus. ISME JOURNAL 2020; 15:282-292. [PMID: 32968213 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-020-00781-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Revised: 08/26/2020] [Accepted: 09/10/2020] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Microcoleus vaginatus plays a prominent role as both primary producer and pioneer in biocrust communities from dryland soils. And yet, it cannot fix dinitrogen, essential in often nitrogen-limited drylands. But a diazotroph-rich "cyanosphere" has been described in M. vaginatus, hinting that there exists a C for N exchange between the photoautotroph and heterotrophic diazotrophs. We provide evidence for this by establishing such a symbiosis in culture and by showing that it is selective and dependent on nitrogen availability. In natural populations, provision of nitrogen resulted in loss of diazotrophs from the cyanosphere of M. vaginatus compared to controls, but provision of phosphorus did not. Co-culturing of pedigreed cyanosphere diazotroph isolates with axenic M. vaginatus resulted in copious growth in C and N-free medium, but co-culture with non-cyanosphere diazotrophs or other heterotrophs did not. Unexpectedly, bundle formation in M. vaginatus, diacritical to the genus but not seen in axenic culture, was restored in vitro by imposed nitrogen limitation or, even more strongly, by co-culture with diazotrophic partners, implicating this trait in the symbiosis. Our findings provide direct evidence for a symbiotic relationship between M. vaginatus and its cyanosphere and help explain how it can be a global pioneer in spite of its genetic shortcomings.
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13
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Resilience and self-regulation processes of microalgae under UV radiation stress. JOURNAL OF PHOTOCHEMISTRY AND PHOTOBIOLOGY C: PHOTOCHEMISTRY REVIEWS 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jphotochemrev.2019.100322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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14
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Giraldo‐Silva A, Nelson C, Penfold C, Barger NN, Garcia‐Pichel F. Effect of preconditioning to the soil environment on the performance of 20 cyanobacterial strains used as inoculum for biocrust restoration. Restor Ecol 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.13048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ana Giraldo‐Silva
- School of Life SciencesArizona State University Tempe AZ 85287 U.S.A
- Center for Fundamental and Applied Microbiomics, Biodesign InstituteArizona State University Tempe AZ 85287 U.S.A
| | - Corey Nelson
- School of Life SciencesArizona State University Tempe AZ 85287 U.S.A
- Center for Fundamental and Applied Microbiomics, Biodesign InstituteArizona State University Tempe AZ 85287 U.S.A
| | - Cory Penfold
- School of Life SciencesArizona State University Tempe AZ 85287 U.S.A
| | - Nichole N. Barger
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyUniversity of Colorado Boulder CO 80309 U.S.A
| | - Ferran Garcia‐Pichel
- School of Life SciencesArizona State University Tempe AZ 85287 U.S.A
- Center for Fundamental and Applied Microbiomics, Biodesign InstituteArizona State University Tempe AZ 85287 U.S.A
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Pathak J, Pandey A, Maurya PK, Rajneesh R, Sinha RP, Singh SP. Cyanobacterial Secondary Metabolite Scytonemin: A Potential Photoprotective and Pharmaceutical Compound. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s40011-019-01134-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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Timing the Evolutionary Advent of Cyanobacteria and the Later Great Oxidation Event Using Gene Phylogenies of a Sunscreen. mBio 2019; 10:mBio.00561-19. [PMID: 31113897 PMCID: PMC6529634 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00561-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The biosynthesis of the unique cyanobacterial (oxyphotobacterial) indole-phenolic UVA sunscreen, scytonemin, is coded for in a conserved operon that contains both core metabolic genes and accessory, aromatic amino acid biosynthesis genes dedicated to supplying scytonemin's precursors. Comparative genomics shows conservation of this operon in many, but not all, cyanobacterial lineages. Phylogenetic analyses of the operon's aromatic amino acid genes indicate that five of them were recruited into the operon after duplication events of their respective housekeeping cyanobacterial cognates. We combined the fossil record of cyanobacteria and relaxed molecular clock models to obtain multiple estimates of these duplication events, setting a minimum age for the evolutionary advent of scytonemin at 2.1 ± 0.3 billion years. The same analyses were used to estimate the advent of cyanobacteria as a group (and thus the appearance of oxygenic photosynthesis), at 3.6 ± 0.2 billion years before present. Post hoc interpretation of 16S rRNA-based Bayesian analyses was consistent with these estimates. Because of physiological constraints on the use of UVA sunscreens in general, and the biochemical constraints of scytonemin in particular, scytonemin's age must postdate the time when Earth's atmosphere turned oxic, known as the Great Oxidation Event (GOE). Indeed, our biological estimate is in agreement with independent geochemical estimates for the GOE. The difference between the estimated ages of oxygenic photosynthesis and the GOE indicates the long span (on the order of a billion years) of the era of "oxygen oases," when oxygen was available locally but not globally.IMPORTANCE The advent of cyanobacteria, with their invention of oxygenic photosynthesis, and the Great Oxidation Event are arguably among the most important events in the evolutionary history of life on Earth. Oxygen is a significant toxicant to all life, but its accumulation in the atmosphere also enabled the successful development and proliferation of many aerobic organisms, especially metazoans. The currently favored dating of the Great Oxidation Event is based on the geochemical rock record. Similarly, the advent of cyanobacteria is also often drawn from the same estimates because in older rocks paleontological evidence is scarce or has been discredited. Efforts to obtain molecular evolutionary alternatives have offered widely divergent estimates. Our analyses provide a novel means to circumvent these limitations and allow us to estimate the large time gap between the two events.
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Shang JL, Chen M, Hou S, Li T, Yang YW, Li Q, Jiang HB, Dai GZ, Zhang ZC, Hess WR, Qiu BS. Genomic and transcriptomic insights into the survival of the subaerial cyanobacterium Nostoc flagelliforme
in arid and exposed habitats. Environ Microbiol 2019; 21:845-863. [DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.14521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2018] [Accepted: 01/05/2019] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jin-Long Shang
- School of Life Sciences, and Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology; Central China Normal University; Hubei 430079 People's Republic of China
| | - Min Chen
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences; University of Sydney; Sydney New South Wales 2006 Australia
| | - Shengwei Hou
- Genetics and Experimental Bioinformatics, Institute of Biology III, Faculty of Biology; University of Freiburg; Freiburg 79104 Germany
| | - Tao Li
- Key Laboratory of Algal Biology; Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Science; Hubei 430072 People's Republic of China
| | - Yi-Wen Yang
- School of Life Sciences, and Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology; Central China Normal University; Hubei 430079 People's Republic of China
| | - Qi Li
- Key Laboratory of Algal Biology; Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Science; Hubei 430072 People's Republic of China
| | - Hai-Bo Jiang
- School of Life Sciences, and Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology; Central China Normal University; Hubei 430079 People's Republic of China
| | - Guo-Zheng Dai
- School of Life Sciences, and Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology; Central China Normal University; Hubei 430079 People's Republic of China
| | - Zhong-Chun Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, and Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology; Central China Normal University; Hubei 430079 People's Republic of China
| | - Wolfgang R. Hess
- Genetics and Experimental Bioinformatics, Institute of Biology III, Faculty of Biology; University of Freiburg; Freiburg 79104 Germany
| | - Bao-Sheng Qiu
- School of Life Sciences, and Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology; Central China Normal University; Hubei 430079 People's Republic of China
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D'Agostino PM, Woodhouse JN, Liew HT, Sehnal L, Pickford R, Wong HL, Burns BP, Neilan BA. Bioinformatic, phylogenetic and chemical analysis of the UV‐absorbing compounds scytonemin and mycosporine‐like amino acids from the microbial mat communities of Shark Bay, Australia. Environ Microbiol 2019; 21:702-715. [DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.14517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2018] [Revised: 12/20/2018] [Accepted: 12/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Paul M. D'Agostino
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences University of New South Wales Sydney New South Wales Australia
- Biosystems Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Center for Integrated Protein Science Munich (CIPSM) Technische Universität München Garching Germany
| | - Jason N. Woodhouse
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences University of New South Wales Sydney New South Wales Australia
- Department of Experimental Limnology Leibniz‐Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries Stechlin Germany
| | - Heng Tai Liew
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences University of New South Wales Sydney New South Wales Australia
- School of Biological Sciences Nanyang Technological University 60 Nanyang Drive Singapore
| | - Luděk Sehnal
- Research Centre for Toxic Compounds in the Environment, Faculty of Science Masaryk University Kamenice 5, 625 00, Brno Czech Republic
| | - Russel Pickford
- Bioanalytical Mass Spectrometry Facility, Mark Wainwright Analytical Centre University of New South Wales Sydney New South Wales Australia
| | - Hon Lun Wong
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences University of New South Wales Sydney New South Wales Australia
| | - Brendan P. Burns
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences University of New South Wales Sydney New South Wales Australia
| | - Brett A. Neilan
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences University of New South Wales Sydney New South Wales Australia
- School of Environmental and Life Sciences University of Newcastle Newcastle New South Wales Australia
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The Widely Conserved ebo Cluster Is Involved in Precursor Transport to the Periplasm during Scytonemin Synthesis in Nostoc punctiforme. mBio 2018; 9:mBio.02266-18. [PMID: 30482833 PMCID: PMC6282210 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02266-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Scytonemin is a dimeric indole-phenol sunscreen synthesized by some cyanobacteria under conditions of exposure to UVA radiation. While its biosynthetic pathway has been elucidated only partially, comparative genomics reveals that the scytonemin operon often contains a cluster of five highly conserved genes (ebo cluster) of unknown function that is widespread and conserved among several bacterial and algal phyla. We sought to elucidate the function of the ebo cluster in the cyanobacterium Nostoc punctiforme by constructing and analyzing in-frame deletion mutants (one for each ebo gene and one for the entire cluster). Under conditions of UVA induction, all ebo mutants were scytoneminless, and all accumulated a single compound, the scytonemin monomer, clearly implicating all ebo genes in scytonemin production. We showed that the scytonemin monomer also accumulated in an induced deletion mutant of scyE, a non-ebo scytonemin gene whose product is demonstrably targeted to the periplasm. Confocal autofluorescence microscopy revealed that the accumulation was confined to the cytoplasm in all ebo mutants but that that was not the case in the scyE deletion, with an intact ebo cluster, where the scytonemin monomer was also excreted to the periplasm. The results implicate the ebo cluster in the export of the scytonemin monomer to the periplasm for final oxidative dimerization by ScyE. By extension, the ebo gene cluster may play similar roles in metabolite translocation across many bacterial phyla. We discuss potential mechanisms for such a role on the basis of structural and phylogenetic considerations of the ebo proteins.IMPORTANCE Elucidating the biochemical and genetic basis of scytonemin constitutes an interesting challenge because of its unique structure and the unusual fact that it is partially synthesized in the periplasmic space. Our work points to the ebo gene cluster, associated with the scytonemin operon of cyanobacteria, as being responsible for the excretion of scytonemin intermediates from the cytoplasm into the periplasm during biosynthesis. Few conserved systems have been described that facilitate the membrane translocation of small molecules. Because the ebo cluster is well conserved among a large diversity of bacteria and algae and yet insights into its potential function are lacking, our findings suggest that translocation of small molecules across the plasma membrane may be its generic role across microbes.
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Yurchenko T, Ševčíková T, Strnad H, Butenko A, Eliáš M. The plastid genome of some eustigmatophyte algae harbours a bacteria-derived six-gene cluster for biosynthesis of a novel secondary metabolite. Open Biol 2017; 6:rsob.160249. [PMID: 27906133 PMCID: PMC5133447 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.160249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2016] [Accepted: 10/31/2016] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Acquisition of genes by plastid genomes (plastomes) via horizontal gene transfer (HGT) seems to be a rare phenomenon. Here, we report an interesting case of HGT revealed by sequencing the plastomes of the eustigmatophyte algae Monodopsis sp. MarTras21 and Vischeria sp. CAUP Q 202. These plastomes proved to harbour a unique cluster of six genes, most probably acquired from a bacterium of the phylum Bacteroidetes, with homologues in various bacteria, typically organized in a conserved uncharacterized putative operon. Sequence analyses of the six proteins encoded by the operon yielded the following annotation for them: (i) a novel family without discernible homologues; (ii) a new family within the superfamily of metallo-dependent hydrolases; (iii) a novel subgroup of the UbiA superfamily of prenyl transferases; (iv) a new clade within the sugar phosphate cyclase superfamily; (v) a new family within the xylose isomerase-like superfamily; and (vi) a hydrolase for a phosphate moiety-containing substrate. We suggest that the operon encodes enzymes of a pathway synthesizing an isoprenoid–cyclitol-derived compound, possibly an antimicrobial or other protective substance. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of an expansion of the metabolic capacity of a plastid mediated by HGT into the plastid genome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana Yurchenko
- Faculty of Science, Department of Biology and Ecology, Life Science Research Centre, University of Ostrava, Chittussiho 10, 710 00 Ostrava, Czech Republic.,Faculty of Science, Institute of Environmental Technologies, University of Ostrava, Chittussiho 10, 710 00 Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - Tereza Ševčíková
- Faculty of Science, Department of Biology and Ecology, Life Science Research Centre, University of Ostrava, Chittussiho 10, 710 00 Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - Hynek Strnad
- Institute of Molecular Genetics of the ASCR, v. v. i., Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Anzhelika Butenko
- Faculty of Science, Department of Biology and Ecology, Life Science Research Centre, University of Ostrava, Chittussiho 10, 710 00 Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - Marek Eliáš
- Faculty of Science, Department of Biology and Ecology, Life Science Research Centre, University of Ostrava, Chittussiho 10, 710 00 Ostrava, Czech Republic .,Faculty of Science, Institute of Environmental Technologies, University of Ostrava, Chittussiho 10, 710 00 Ostrava, Czech Republic
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