scholarly journals Evolution of the Ergot Alkaloid Biosynthetic Gene Cluster Results in Divergent Mycotoxin Profiles in Claviceps purpurea Sclerotia

Toxins ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 861
Author(s):  
Carmen Hicks ◽  
Thomas E. Witte ◽  
Amanda Sproule ◽  
Tiah Lee ◽  
Parivash Shoukouhi ◽  
...  

Research into ergot alkaloid production in major cereal cash crops is crucial for furthering our understanding of the potential toxicological impacts of Claviceps purpurea upon Canadian agriculture and to ensure consumer safety. An untargeted metabolomics approach profiling extracts of C. purpurea sclerotia from four different grain crops separated the C. purpurea strains into two distinct metabolomic classes based on ergot alkaloid content. Variances in C. purpurea alkaloid profiles were correlated to genetic differences within the lpsA gene of the ergot alkaloid biosynthetic gene cluster from previously published genomes and from newly sequenced, long-read genome assemblies of Canadian strains. Based on gene cluster composition and unique polymorphisms, we hypothesize that the alkaloid content of C. purpurea sclerotia is currently undergoing adaptation. The patterns of lpsA gene diversity described in this small subset of Canadian strains provides a remarkable framework for understanding accelerated evolution of ergot alkaloid production in Claviceps purpurea.

Author(s):  
Joana Martins ◽  
Niina Leikoski ◽  
Matti Wahlsten ◽  
Joana Azevedo ◽  
Jorge Antunes ◽  
...  

Cyanobactins are a family of linear and cyclic peptides produced through the post-translational modification of short precursor peptides. Anacyclamides are macrocyclic cyanobactins with a highly diverse sequence that are common in the genus <i>Anabaena</i>. A mass spectrometry-based screening of potential cyanobactin producers led to the discovery of a new prenylated member of this family of compounds, anacyclamide D8P (<b>1</b>), from <i>Sphaerospermopsis</i> sp. LEGE 00249. The anacyclamide biosynthetic gene cluster (<i>acy</i>) encoding the novel macrocyclic prenylated cyanobactin, was sequenced. Heterologous expression of the acy gene cluster in <i>Escherichia</i> <i>coli</i> established the connection between genomic and mass spectrometric data. Unambiguous establishment of the type and site of prenylation required the full structural elucidation of <b>1</b> using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), which demonstrated that a forward prenylation occurred on the tyrosine residue. Compound <b>1</b> was tested in pharmacologically or ecologically relevant biological assays and revealed moderate antimicrobial activity towards the fouling bacterium <i>Halomonas aquamarina</i> CECT 5000.<br>


ChemBioChem ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 13 (13) ◽  
pp. 1946-1952 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoying Bian ◽  
Fan Huang ◽  
Francis A. Stewart ◽  
Liqiu Xia ◽  
Youming Zhang ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 85 (3) ◽  
pp. 714-721
Author(s):  
Risa Takao ◽  
Katsuyuki Sakai ◽  
Hiroyuki Koshino ◽  
Hiroyuki Osada ◽  
Shunji Takahashi

ABSTRACT Recent advances in genome sequencing have revealed a variety of secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters in actinomycetes. Understanding the biosynthetic mechanism controlling secondary metabolite production is important for utilizing these gene clusters. In this study, we focused on the kinanthraquinone biosynthetic gene cluster, which has not been identified yet in Streptomyces sp. SN-593. Based on chemical structure, 5 type II polyketide synthase gene clusters were listed from the genome sequence of Streptomyces sp. SN-593. Among them, a candidate gene cluster was selected by comparing the gene organization with grincamycin, which is synthesized through an intermediate similar to kinanthraquinone. We initially utilized a BAC library for subcloning the kiq gene cluster, performed heterologous expression in Streptomyces lividans TK23, and identified the production of kinanthraquinone and kinanthraquinone B. We also found that heterologous expression of kiqA, which belongs to the DNA-binding response regulator OmpR family, dramatically enhanced the production of kinanthraquinones.


Life ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 758
Author(s):  
Xiaohe Jin ◽  
Yunlong Zhang ◽  
Ran Zhang ◽  
Kathy-Uyen Nguyen ◽  
Jonathan S. Lindsey ◽  
...  

Tolyporphins A–R are unusual tetrapyrrole macrocycles produced by the non-axenic filamentous cyanobacterium HT-58-2. A putative biosynthetic gene cluster for biosynthesis of tolyporphins (here termed BGC-1) was previously identified in the genome of HT-58-2. Here, homology searching of BGC-1 in HT-58-2 led to identification of similar BGCs in seven other filamentous cyanobacteria, including strains Nostoc sp. 106C, Nostoc sp. RF31YmG, Nostoc sp. FACHB-892, Brasilonema octagenarum UFV-OR1, Brasilonema octagenarum UFV-E1, Brasilonema sennae CENA114 and Oculatella sp. LEGE 06141, suggesting their potential for tolyporphins production. A similar gene cluster (BGC-2) also was identified unexpectedly in HT-58-2. Tolyporphins BGCs were not identified in unicellular cyanobacteria. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA and a common component of the BGCs, TolD, points to a close evolutionary history between each strain and their respective tolyporphins BGC. Though identified with putative tolyporphins BGCs, examination of pigments extracted from three cyanobacteria has not revealed the presence of tolyporphins. Overall, the identification of BGCs and potential producers of tolyporphins presents a collection of candidate cyanobacteria for genetic and biochemical analysis pertaining to these unusual tetrapyrrole macrocycles.


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