Article
Environmental Sciences
Robert Konkel, Michal Grabski, Marta Ceglowska, Ewa Wieczerzak, Grzegorz Wegrzyn, Hanna Mazur-Marzec
Summary: Cyanobacteria of the Nostoc genus are prolific sources of bioactive metabolites, and previous studies have documented the presence of cyanopeptolins and nostocyclopeptides in Nostoc edaphicum strain CCNP1411. This study investigates the production of anabaenopeptins (APs) by the strain using genetic and chemical methods. The results show that the identified APs are structurally compatible with the analysis of the apt gene cluster, and three APs, including two new variants, were isolated and tested against various enzymes. The in vitro assays confirm the pharmaceutical potential of anabaenopeptins, especially against carboxypeptidase A.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Jingqiu Dai, Casey S. Philbin, Clay Wakano, Wesley Y. Yoshida, Philip G. Williams
Summary: Six new nostocyclophanes and four known compounds have been isolated from Nostoc linckia (Nostocaceae) cyanobacterial strain UTEX B1932. The new compounds were characterized by NMR and MS techniques. These compounds demonstrated moderate to weak growth inhibition against MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
David L. Niquille, Ines B. Folger, Sophie Basler, Donald Hilvert
Summary: This study demonstrates a minimally invasive strategy for efficient functionalization of NRPs on the pathway level through selective incorporation of different functional groups by single point mutations. The approach allows site-selective fluorescent labeling of NRPs and holds great potential for NRP isolation, molecular target elucidation, and combinatorial optimization of NRP therapeutics by combining synthetic biology with bioorthogonal chemistry.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2021)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Panpan Han, Aijin Ma, Yawei Ning, Zhou Chen, Yangliu Liu, Zhuo Liu, Siting Li, Yingmin Jia
Summary: A global gene mining strategy was used to evaluate bacterial genomes and it was found that certain bacteria, such as Bacillus subtilis group, Paenibacillus polymyxa, Brevibacillus laterosporus, and Brevibacillus brevis, have the potential to produce a larger number and greater variety of antimicrobial peptides. Specifically, brevilaterins from Brevibacillus laterosporus demonstrated exceptional antimicrobial activity against various microbial contaminations.
LWT-FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Organic
Liujuan Zheng, Haowen Wang, Lena Ludwig-Radtke, Shu-Ming Li
Summary: In this study, the biosynthetic pathway of oxepinamide D in Aspergillus ustus was elucidated through gene deletion, heterologous expression, feeding experiments, and enzyme assays. It was demonstrated that cytochrome P450 enzymes catalyze highly specific and stereoselective oxepin ring formation.
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Robert Konkel, Marta Ceglowska, Karolina Szubert, Ewa Wieczerzak, Sofia Iliakopoulou, Triantafyllos Kaloudis, Hanna Mazur-Marzec
Summary: This study investigated the structural diversity of cyanopeptolins produced by Nostoc edaphicum and identified the highest number of cyanopeptides found in one strain. The biological assays confirmed the significance of certain cyanopeptides on the activity against protease and cancer cells.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Dmitry N. Konanov, Danil Krivonos, Elena N. Ilina, Vladislav V. Babenko
Summary: This study developed a tool called BioCAT for finding biosynthetic gene clusters that may produce nonribosomal peptides. By implementing a position-specific score matrix, the method increased alignment sensitivity and was validated on a curated database and other examples.
COMPUTATIONAL AND STRUCTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Cora L. Dieterich, Silke Probst, Reiko Ueoka, Ioana Sandu, Daniel Schaefle, Michael Dal Molin, Hannah A. Minas, Rodrigo Costa, Annette Oxenius, Peter Sander, Joern Piel
Summary: Genome mining and bioactivity studies have identified the sponge-derived bacterium Aquimarina sp. Aq135 as a potential producer of new antibiotics, with the discovery of antibacterial peptides aquimarins. The study also showed that the chlorinations by Fe-II/alpha-ketoglutarate-dependent chlorinase AqmA may not be necessary for antibacterial activity, but can enhance cytotoxicity.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Kyle L. Dunbar, Maria Dell, Evelyn M. Molloy, Hannah Buettner, Jana Kumpfmueller, Christian Hertweck
Summary: The final steps of CTA maturation involve a surprising split-merge pathway utilizing a thiotemplated intermediate, with the involvement of an aldo-keto reductase and a transthioamidating transglutaminase. This sheds light on largely unexplored pathways for NRPS-independent peptide biosynthesis.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ana Ceniceros, Librada Canedo, Carmen Mendez, Carlos Olano, Carmen Schleissner, Carmen Cuevas, Fernando de la Calle, Jose A. Salas
Summary: Three novel lipopeptides were isolated from a marine sediment-derived Streptomyces tuirus and they exhibited cytotoxic activity against human cancer cell lines. The biosynthesis of these lipopeptides was found to be dependent on a gene cluster.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Carmencita Lavado-Meza, Leonel De la Cruz-Cerron, Carmen Lavado-Puente, Julio Angeles-Suazo, Juan Z. Davalos-Prado
Summary: A new biosorbent Nostoc commune modified with NaOH has been developed and tested for efficient removal of Pb(II) from water. The adsorption capacity of the biosorbent was found to be higher than other reported biosorbents. Structural and morphological characterization revealed that the modified biosorbent had more porous surfaces and functional adsorption groups. The optimal conditions for Pb(II) adsorption were determined to be pH 4.5 and 5.5 with a biomass dose of 0.5 g L-1. The adsorption process followed Freundlich isotherm model and pseudo-second order kinetics, indicating chemisorption on the heterogeneous surfaces of the biosorbent. The thermodynamic parameters confirmed the feasibility and spontaneity of the adsorption process. NCM showed good regeneration capability and high removal efficiency for both Pb and Ca from real wastewater.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mukesh Kumar, Kunal Seth, Sunita Choudhary, Geetanjali Kumawat, Subhasha Nigam, Garima Joshi, Vinod Saharan, Mukesh Meena, Amit Kumar Gupta, Harish
Summary: The extensive use of iron oxide nanoparticles in commercial and biomedical applications poses a potential ecotoxicological threat to aquatic ecosystems. This study aims to assess the cytotoxic effects of FeO NPs on cyanobacteria, which are primary producers in aquatic food chains. The results showed that FeO NPs had a greater impact on protein content and enzymatic activities compared to its bulk counterpart, indicating its higher toxicity. Microscopy techniques also revealed cellular damage caused by FeO NPs.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Janine Bennett, Tanya Soule
Summary: The aim of this study is to investigate the response of scytonemin biosynthesis genes to various environmental conditions. The results show that UVA, UVB, and high light can upregulate the expression of scytonemin genes, although scytonemin pigment is not produced under high light. There is no synthesis of scytonemin or upregulation of these genes under osmotic stress.
Article
Microbiology
Aileen Ute Geers, Mikael Lenz Strube, Mikkel Bentzon-Tilia
Summary: In this study, the researchers investigated the biosynthetic diversity encoded by divergent microbiomes from different ecosystems and the environmental parameters that drive this diversity. They found that microbiomes with rich and diverse bacterial communities displayed the highest biosynthetic potential. pH and salinity were significant positive factors correlated to the biosynthetic richness in soil and aquatic systems. The researchers were also able to predict the biosynthetic richness and identified grassland biomes as promising sites for the discovery of novel polyketides.
Article
Plant Sciences
Yi-Wen Yang, Ke Liu, Da Huang, Chen Yu, Si-Zhuo Chen, Min Chen, Bao-Sheng Qiu
Summary: Expanded orange carotenoid protein paralogs in subaerial Nostoc species have specialized functions as either singlet oxygen quenchers or phycobilisome fluorescence quenchers for survival in desiccation conditions. The different paralogs displayed different activities, with HCP2 being the most effective singlet oxygen quencher and OCPx1 exhibiting stronger phycobilisome fluorescence quenching compared to OCPx2. The crystal structures and mutant analysis revealed important roles for Trp111 and Met125 in OCPx2, which showed a more flexible regulation in energy quenching activities compared to OCPx1.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Ksenija Savadova-Ratkus, Hanna Mazur-Marzec, Jurate Karosiene, Jurate Kasperoviciene, Ricardas Paskauskas, Irma Vitonyte, Judita Koreiviene
Summary: The study found that the alien cyanobacteria S. aphanizomenoides had high adaptability in temperate freshwaters, while the native cyanobacteria A. gracile was able to suppress its dominance under changing conditions.
Article
Microbiology
Maria Cristina Casero, Carmen Ascaso, Antonio Quesada, Hanna Mazur-Marzec, Jacek Wierzchos
Summary: Cyanobacteria exposed to high solar radiation utilize defense mechanisms such as avoidance, antioxidant systems, and production of photoprotective compounds like scytonemin. Two cyanobacterial strains from the Atacama Desert were examined, with one strain showing lower acclimation capacity and higher accumulation of reactive oxygen species in response to light radiation compared to the other strain.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Bengt Karlson, Per Andersen, Lars Arneborg, Allan Cembella, Wenche Eikrem, Uwe John, Jennifer Joy West, Kerstin Klemm, Justyna Kobos, Sirpa Lehtinen, Nina Lundholm, Hanna Mazur-Marzec, Lars Naustvoll, Marnix Poelman, Pieter Provoost, Maarten De Rijcke, Sanna Suikkanen
Summary: Harmful algal blooms (HAB) are a recurrent and widespread issue in northern Europe, affecting aquaculture industry and socioeconomic interests. The major HAB taxa causing fish mortalities include Chrysochromulina leadbeateri, Prymnesium polylepis, Phaeocystis spp., Dinophysis spp., and Alexandrium species. Continued monitoring and understanding of these HABs is essential to prevent and mitigate their impacts.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Martin R. Jones, Ernani Pinto, Mariana A. Torres, Fabiane Dorr, Hanna Mazur-Marzec, Karolina Szubert, Luciana Tartaglione, Carmela Dell'Aversano, Christopher O. Miles, Daniel G. Beach, Pearse McCarron, Kaarina Sivonen, David P. Fewer, Jouni Jokela, Elisabeth M-L Janssen
Summary: CyanoMetDB is a curated database containing 2010 cyanobacterial metabolites, enabling research into their occurrence, functions, and toxicological risks. It facilitates the detection and dereplication of known cyanobacterial toxins, identification of novel natural products, research on biosynthesis of cyanobacterial metabolites, and investigation of their abundance, persistence, and toxicity.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Agata Blaszczyk, Kamila Siedlecka-Kroplewska, Michal Wozniak, Hanna Mazur-Marzec
Summary: The study aimed to examine the presence of BMAA in Polish waterbodies, finding that some environmental samples and isolated cyanobacterial strains contained BMAA, while it was not detected in fish tissues or mussels. BMAA demonstrated toxic effects in Daphnia magna.
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Marta Ceglowska, Patrycja Kwiecien, Karolina Szubert, Pawel Brzuzan, Maciej Florczyk, Christine Edwards, Alicja Kosakowska, Hanna Mazur-Marzec
Summary: Aeruginosamides (AEGs) are cyanobactins that are synthesized by ribosomes and have potential pharmacological value due to their cytotoxic activity and interactions with metabolic enzymes.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Sevasti-Kiriaki Zervou, Triantafyllos Kaloudis, Spyros Gkelis, Anastasia Hiskia, Hanna Mazur-Marzec
Summary: This study investigated the occurrence and structural variety of anabaenopeptins (APs) in cyanobacterial blooms and cultured strains from Greek freshwaters. The results revealed the widespread presence of APs in bloom samples, with multiple congeners co-occurring. Only one strain from the cultured samples was found to contain APs.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Sandra Lage, Hanna Mazur-Marzec, Elena Gorokhova
Summary: NRPs were involved in growth responses of both cyanobacteria and algae, but the primary driver of the growth trajectories was high pH induced by N. spumigena. Thus, the pH-mediated inhibition of eukaryotic phytoplankton may be involved in the bloom formation of N. spumigena.
APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Robert Konkel, Michal Grabski, Marta Ceglowska, Ewa Wieczerzak, Grzegorz Wegrzyn, Hanna Mazur-Marzec
Summary: Cyanobacteria of the Nostoc genus are prolific sources of bioactive metabolites, and previous studies have documented the presence of cyanopeptolins and nostocyclopeptides in Nostoc edaphicum strain CCNP1411. This study investigates the production of anabaenopeptins (APs) by the strain using genetic and chemical methods. The results show that the identified APs are structurally compatible with the analysis of the apt gene cluster, and three APs, including two new variants, were isolated and tested against various enzymes. The in vitro assays confirm the pharmaceutical potential of anabaenopeptins, especially against carboxypeptidase A.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ksenija Savadova-Ratkus, Hanna Mazur-Marzec, Jurate Karosiene, Kaarina Sivonen, Suvi Suurnakki, Jurate Kasperoviciene, Ricardas Paskauskas, Judita Koreiviene
Summary: This study investigated the seasonal changes in cyanobacteria species and cyanometabolites composition in two freshwater lakes, and found that the harmfulness of cyanobacterial blooms depended on the ability of the dominant species to synthesize cyanometabolites.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Robert Konkel, Aleksandra Milewska, Nguyen Dan Thuc Do, Emilia Barreto Duran, Artur Szczepanski, Jacek Plewka, Ewa Wieczerzak, Sofia Iliakopoulou, Triantafyllos Kaloudis, Dirk Jochmans, Johan Neyts, Krzysztof Pyrc, Hanna Mazur-Marzec
Summary: In this study, fifteen cyanopeptolins (CPs) were isolated from the Baltic cyanobacterium Nostoc edaphicum and tested for their activity against SARS-CoV-2. The results showed that the Arg-containing CP978 exhibited the strongest inhibition of Delta SARS-CoV-2 infection, possibly through direct interaction with the virus. CP978 also showed significant reduction in virus replication in human airway epithelial cells. Among the tested SARS-CoV-2 variants, CP978 had no effect on the Wuhan variant. These findings suggest that CP978 has potential as an antiviral drug candidate.
ANTIVIRAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Robert Konkel, Marta Ceglowska, Karolina Szubert, Ewa Wieczerzak, Sofia Iliakopoulou, Triantafyllos Kaloudis, Hanna Mazur-Marzec
Summary: This study investigated the structural diversity of cyanopeptolins produced by Nostoc edaphicum and identified the highest number of cyanopeptides found in one strain. The biological assays confirmed the significance of certain cyanopeptides on the activity against protease and cancer cells.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Eleni Keliri, Panayiota Adamou, Nektarios Efstathiou, Despoina Kokkinidou, Konstantinos Kapnisis, Andreas S. Anayiotos, Hanna Mazur-Marzec, Maria G. Antoniou
Summary: This study investigated the H2O2 release properties of calcium peroxide (CaO2) granules in different fabric delivery systems and evaluated their effectiveness in combating cyanobacteria. The results showed that 2.0 g/L CaO2 granules released high concentrations of H2O2, and the specific fabric delivery systems had little influence on H2O2 release. CaO2 granules enclosed in fabric significantly inhibited the photosynthetic activity of Microcystis species, indicating that these delivery systems can effectively mitigate cyanobacterial blooming and promote the circular economy through fabric recycling.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL ADVANCES
(2022)
