Investigating the biosynthesis of cytochalasans from the marine-derived fungus Peroneutypa sp. M16

• Grant number: 22/15570-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• Start date: April 01, 2023
• End date: March 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Roberto Gomes de Souza Berlinck
• Grantee: Marcelo Rodrigues de Amorim
• Supervisor: Elizabeth Skellam
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química de São Carlos (IQSC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: University of North Texas, United States
• Associated to the scholarship: 20/01229-5 - Bioactive metabolites of bacterial flora microorganisms from non-filtering marine animals, BP.PD

Abstract

Chemical study of the liquid media culture produced by a marine-derived fungus Peroneutypa sp. M16, a symbiont from a sea cucumber, resulted in the isolation of a couple of metabolites belong to cytochalasan class. This class of natural products has a wide range of important biological activities. This project aims to sequence the genome of the Peroneutypa sp. M16 using bioinformatics, as well as to investigate the biosynthesis of cytochalasan produced by it using gene knock-out. We also intend to identify biosynthetic intermediates by comparing the chemical profile of the wild-type and mutant strains using LC-PDA-ELSD-MS analysis. We hope to contribute to the knowledge on the biosynthesis of cytochalasan, including the cleavage of the macrocycle biosynthetic steps that was not previously reported, indicating potentially unusual chemistry in Peroneutypa sp. M16. (AU)