Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Siobhan J. Peters, Kenneth J. Rodgers, Simon M. Mitrovic, David P. Bishop
Summary: This study utilized modern analytical techniques to monitor the concentrations of BMAA and its isomers during a cyanobacteria bloom event, revealing a decreasing trend in BMAA concentration as the bloom progressed, while its isomers did not follow the same decreasing pattern.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Chao Wang, Chen Yan, Jiangbing Qiu, Chao Liu, Yeju Yan, Ying Ji, Guixiang Wang, Hongju Chen, Yang Li, Aifeng Li
Summary: The study found that BMAA was biomagnified in the food web from phytoplankton to higher trophic levels in Jiaozhou Bay, China, and BAMA was frequently detected in phytoplankton samples. Among 56 diatom strains isolated from the Chinese coast, 21 strains contained BMAA, while only DAB was detected in bacteria isolated from the gut of gastropod Neverita didyma.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sercan Pravadali-Cekic, Aleksandar Vojvodic, Jake P. Violi, Simon M. Mitrovic, Kenneth J. Rodgers, David P. Bishop
Summary: This study presents a newly developed and validated method for the detection and quantification of BMAA, its isomers, and major MCs using RP LC-MS/MS. The application of this method on a culture of Microcystis aeruginosa resulted in the simultaneous detection of 2,4-DAB and MC-YR. The study provides a unified method for the quantitative analysis of these cyanotoxins in natural environmental samples.
Article
Neurosciences
Fiona J. M. Tymm, Stephanie L. Bishop, Susan J. Murch
Summary: Beta-N-Methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) is a non-protein amino acid produced by cyanobacteria that can accumulate in ecosystems and food webs, posing a risk for neurodegenerative diseases. Various analytical methods for BMAA analysis have faced challenges in meeting validation criteria, with the ZIC-HILIC column method showing particular issues. The study demonstrates that the ZIC-HILIC column is not suitable for analyzing BMAA in cyanobacterial matrices.
NEUROTOXICITY RESEARCH
(2021)
Review
Food Science & Technology
Olga A. Koksharova, Nina A. Safronova
Summary: This review examines the connection between the non-protein amino acid BMAA and neurodegenerative diseases. It provides a detailed analysis of the molecular mechanisms underlying the toxicity of BMAA and its effects on cyanobacterial cells.
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Zi-Qian Wang, Cheng-Cai Zhang
Summary: In this study, the authors demonstrate that the system responsible for modifying ANN-decoding tRNAs is involved in the sensitivity of cyanobacteria to the environmental neurotoxin BMAA. The study also reveals that both BMAA and inactivation of the t(6)A biosynthesis pathway affect translational fidelity and ribosome assembly. BMAA-resistant mutants screening is an effective method for gaining insight into the toxic mechanisms of BMAA.
AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Safa Abbes, Sung Vo Duy, Gabriel Munoz, Quoc Tuc Dinh, Dana F. Simon, Barry Husk, Helen M. Baulch, Brigitte Vincon-Leite, Nathalie Fortin, Charles W. Greer, Megan L. Larsen, Jason J. Venkiteswaran, Felipe Fernando Martinez Jeronimo, Alessandra Giani, Chris D. Lowe, Nicolas Tromas, Sebastien Sauve
Summary: This study evaluated the impact of trichloroacetic acid on the detection of BMAA isomers in lake water samples and found that its addition significantly increased detection rates and levels. Additionally, an investigation of lakes from multiple countries revealed a higher occurrence of AEG and DAB isomers compared to BAMA and BMAA.
Review
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Audrey Courtier, Damien Potheret, Patrizia Giannoni
Summary: This review discusses the role of environmental bacteria in brain diseases, focusing on the impact of environmental bacterial compounds and toxicity related to bacterial infections. Findings reveal that environmental bacteria can cause brain damage through multiple toxicological pathways, emphasizing the need for further research to clarify cocktail effects and potential new intervention targets.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Jake P. Violi, Lisa Pu, Sercan Pravadali-Cekic, David P. Bishop, Connor R. Phillips, Kenneth J. Rodgers
Summary: The cyanobacterial neurotoxin BMAA had a profound effect on intracellular amino acid levels in human neuroblastoma cells at specific time points, but homeostasis was restored in most cases. Supplementation with L-serine protected against BMAA toxicity. Amino acids potentially involved in protection against BMAA-induced oxidation were depleted in cells at later time points.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Shemil P. Macelline, Michael T. Kidd, Peter Chrystal, Mehdi Toghyani, Peter H. Selle, Sonia Y. Liu
Summary: The study investigated the influence of high and low inclusions of nonbound amino acid (NBAA) in standard and reduced-crude protein (CP), wheat-based diets on growth performance in broiler chickens. The results showed that the growth performance of broiler chickens is significantly affected by the dietary NBAA inclusions and dietary starch:protein ratios.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Bryan Burton, Kate Collins, Jordan Brooks, Karly Marx, Abigail Renner, Kaylei Wilcox, Ellie Moore, Keith Osowski, Jordan Riley, Jarron Rowe, Matthew Pawlus
Summary: Chronic exposure to BMAA, a Cyanobacteria biotoxin, has been linked to the development of ALS/PDC in certain Indigenous populations. This study provides evidence that sub-excitotoxic doses of BMAA affect the Wnt signaling pathway, leading to cellular defects in human neuroblastoma cells. Pharmacological modulators of the Wnt pathway can reverse the effects of BMAA, suggesting its therapeutic potential.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Keonhee Kim, Chae-Hong Park, Soon-Jin Hwang
Summary: This study analyzed the structure, specific proteins, and amino acid sequence of akinetes in Dolichospermum circinale isolated from the North Han River in Korea. The akinete protein had a mass of 110 kDa and showed low homology with known proteins, indicating its unique composition. This is the first report on the akinete protein and its amino acid sequence in D. circinale, providing preliminary information for their practical application in detecting akinetes in freshwater systems.
Review
Microbiology
Srdjan Lopicic, Zorica Svircev, Tamara Palanacki Malesevic, Aleksandar Kopitovic, Aleksandra Ivanovska, Jussi Meriluoto
Summary: In this review, we have discussed the occurrence of beta-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) and its natural isomers, as well as the detection of the toxin(s) in organisms and sample types. We have also examined the general pathogenic mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases and how BMAA fits into those mechanisms. Furthermore, we have presented the biogeography of BMAA occurrence, which can contribute to epidemiological research, and analyzed the potential significance of BMAA as well as identified gaps in our understanding. Overall, this review provides a basis for discussing the potential role of BMAA in neurodegenerative diseases, guiding further research, and outlining possible research directions.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Elizabeth A. King, Emily M. Peairs, Diya M. Uthappa, Jordan K. Villa, Cameron M. Goff, Naya K. Burrow, Rebecca T. Deitch, Anna K. Martin, Douglas D. Young
Summary: Protein methyltransferases play a vital role in the epigenetic modification of gene expression, making understanding and controlling their regulation significant for the study and treatment of numerous diseases. By cageing PRMT1 at a specific residue and restoring its activity with UV light, spatial and temporal control of the protein's activity can be achieved, leading to a better understanding of its mechanism of action and potential regulation of its epigenetic impacts.
Article
Plant Sciences
Akito Machida, Kumiko Kondo, Ken-ichi Wakabayashi, Kan Tanaka, Toru Hisabori
Summary: In this study, the importance of the amino acid at position 252 across cyanobacteria was elucidated by introducing amino acid substitutions in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. The results showed that the specific volume of this amino acid is crucial for maintaining cell growth and is related to enzyme complex formation.
PLANT AND CELL PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Fisheries
F. Sheldon, D. Barma, L. J. Baumgartner, N. Bond, S. M. Mitrovic, R. Vertessy
Summary: The study examined three significant fish death events that occurred in the Lower Darling River, Australia, from late 2018 to early 2019, attributing the causes to extreme hot and dry climate conditions, stratification and hypoxia in weir pools, and broader climatic, hydrological, and basin management contexts. The observations have implications for future river management, with suggestions made for policy makers and river operators to minimize fish death risks.
MARINE AND FRESHWATER RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
J. E. Ruprecht, I. P. King, K. A. Dafforn, S. M. Mitrovic, A. J. Harrison, S. C. Birrer, S. L. Crane, W. C. Glamore
Summary: Widespread wastewater pollution poses a major obstacle to the sustainable management of freshwater and coastal marine ecosystems. The study emphasizes the importance of calibrating aquatic ecosystem response models with net growth rates of biological functional groups. Improved data collection and modeling efforts are needed to better address the release of nutrients into the natural environment.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
J. E. Ruprecht, I. P. King, S. M. Mitrovic, K. A. Dafforn, B. M. Miller, M. Deiber, D. P. Westhorpe, J. N. Hitchcock, A. J. Harrison, W. C. Glamore
Summary: Eutrophication caused by excessive anthropogenic nutrients in waterways is a global issue, and the response of waterways to nutrient loading is influenced by hydrodynamics and microbial processing. This paper presents a coupled hydrodynamic and aquatic ecosystem response model, validated using a unique long-term water quality dataset in southeastern Australia. The results show that explicit time-varying bacterial mineralisation rates improve the understanding of aquatic ecosystem response, and the model is sensitive to boundary conditions and the presence of a microbial loop.
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Jordan A. Facey, Laura E. Michie, Josh J. King, James N. Hitchcock, Simon C. Apte, Simon M. Mitrovic
Summary: This study found that thermal stratification and nitrogen availability are the primary drivers of changes in cyanobacterial community structure in Mannus Lake, Australia. The initial dominance of Chrysosporum ovalisporum blooms may be due to nitrogen limitation and persistent thermal stratification. However, mixing events caused the senescence of the C. ovalisporum bloom and promoted the growth of non-diazotrophic cyanobacteria, although at lower biovolumes.
Article
Ecology
Lloyd P. Werry, Mirco Bundschuh, Simon M. Mitrovic, Richard P. Lim, Ben J. Kefford
Summary: This study investigated the rate of leaf litter breakdown in alpine streams and how temperature and other factors influenced this process. The results showed that water temperature had a significant impact on the rate of leaf litter breakdown, with higher rates observed during warmer deployment periods and at lower elevations. Additionally, both microbial and macroinvertebrate activities were equally important in leaf litter breakdown.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Jordan A. Facey, Jake P. Violi, Josh J. King, Chowdhury Sarowar, Simon C. Apte, Simon M. Mitrovic
Summary: Microcystis aeruginosa, a widespread cyanobacteria, exhibits growth limitation when iron, cobalt, and manganese are excluded from the growth media. Intracellular iron concentrations are notably higher in treatments grown in cobalt-deplete media compared to other treatments.
Article
Ecology
Matthew J. Balzer, James N. Hitchcock, Wade L. Hadwen, Tsuyoshi Kobayashi, Douglas P. Westhorpe, Craig Boys, Simon M. Mitrovic
Summary: There is ongoing debate about the importance of allochthonous dissolved organic matter (DOM) during large flow events in riverine food webs. A mesocosm experiment was conducted to examine the effects of floodplain DOM on the lower food web in an Australian lowland river. The results showed that the addition of tDOM led to increases in zooplankton and mixotrophic algae, and mixotrophs played a significant role in driving changes in primary consumer growth and supporting secondary production.
FRESHWATER BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jordan Allan Piper, Nour Al Hammouri, Margo Iris Jansen, Kenneth J. Rodgers, Giuseppe Musumeci, Amolika Dhungana, Sahar Masoumeh Ghorbanpour, Laura A. Bradfield, Alessandro Castorina
Summary: L-Azetidine-2-carboxylic acid (AZE) is a non-protein amino acid that can be misincorporated in place of L-proline, leading to toxicity. This study investigated the effects of AZE on BV2 microglial cells and found that it induced ER stress, M1 phenotypic marker changes, and reduced cell viability and NO secretion. Co-administration of L-proline prevented these detrimental effects. The study also showed an increase in AZE-bound proteins after AZE treatment, which was reduced by L-proline co-supplementation.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ellery B. B. Johnson, Craig Boys, James Hitchcock, Wade Hadwen, Stewart Fielder, Jordan A. A. Facey, Simon M. M. Mitrovic
Summary: Freshwater inflows play a role in fish abundance and catch rates in estuaries. This study investigated the impact of terrestrial dissolved organic matter (tDOM) on the growth of juvenile Australian bass. The addition of tDOM at higher concentrations resulted in significant improvements in the length parameters of the fish, indicating that tDOM can contribute to their growth and development. These findings suggest that freshwater inflows delivering terrestrial resources are important for estuarine fish.
Article
Ecology
Lauren O'Brien, Nachshon Siboni, Justin R. Seymour, Matthew Balzer, Simon Mitrovic
Summary: Inflows from unregulated tributaries have a significant impact on microbial community structure and function in regulated rivers. This study investigated the effects of tributary inflows on bacterial community composition and bacterial carbon production (BCP) in the Lachlan River of eastern Australia. The results showed that increased inflows led to a more diverse bacterial community in the regulated mainstem, with a shift towards bacterial groups that prefer humic substances and a decrease in a group that metabolizes algal exudates. Orthophosphate and river discharge were identified as major drivers for the community change. BCP initially decreased with tributary inflows, but increased significantly due to increased water volume. Dissolved organic carbon, water temperature, and conductivity were the key factors driving BCP. Notably, BCP was not influenced by bacterial diversity or community composition. These findings highlight the importance of tributary inflows in shaping the bacterial community and carbon assimilation in riverine ecosystems.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sercan Pravadali-Cekic, Aleksandar Vojvodic, Jake P. Violi, Simon M. Mitrovic, Kenneth J. Rodgers, David P. Bishop
Summary: This study presents a newly developed and validated method for the detection and quantification of BMAA, its isomers, and major MCs using RP LC-MS/MS. The application of this method on a culture of Microcystis aeruginosa resulted in the simultaneous detection of 2,4-DAB and MC-YR. The study provides a unified method for the quantitative analysis of these cyanotoxins in natural environmental samples.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Jake P. Violi, Lisa Pu, Sercan Pravadali-Cekic, David P. Bishop, Connor R. Phillips, Kenneth J. Rodgers
Summary: The cyanobacterial neurotoxin BMAA had a profound effect on intracellular amino acid levels in human neuroblastoma cells at specific time points, but homeostasis was restored in most cases. Supplementation with L-serine protected against BMAA toxicity. Amino acids potentially involved in protection against BMAA-induced oxidation were depleted in cells at later time points.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jordan Allan Piper, Margo Iris Jansen, Sarah Thomas Broome, Kenneth J. Rodgers, Giuseppe Musumeci, Alessandro Castorina
Summary: This study found that AZE can trigger pro-inflammatory and pro-apoptotic responses in BV2 microglial cells, leading to cell death. It increases nitric oxide release and the expression of pro-inflammatory markers, while inducing the expression of extracellular matrix degrading enzyme and brain derived neurotrophic factor.
CURRENT ISSUES IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2022)
Correction
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Joel R. Steele, Carly J. Italiano, Connor R. Phillips, Jake P. Violi, Lisa Pu, Kenneth J. Rodgers, Matthew P. Padula
