Cyanobacteria from coastal environment: phylogeny, gene and chemical prospecting of bioactive molecules

Author(s)

Marcelo Gomes Marçal Vieira Vaz

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: Piracicaba.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALA/BC)
• Defense date: 2014-08-05

Examining board members

Marli de Fatima Fiore; Hosana Maria Debonsi; Luiz Alberto Beraldo de Moraes; Ernani Pinto Junior; Celia Leite Sant'Anna

• Advisor: Marli de Fatima Fiore

Abstract

The phylum Cyanobacteria is a phylogenetically coherent group, although presenting great diversity, and its systematic have been constantly reviewed. These microorganisms are also targets of biotechnological studies due to the production of toxins and the search for novel substances of pharmacological interest. Among the strains analyzed in this study, sequences of the 16S rRNA gene were generated for seven and, than, analyzed with sequences previously obtained. At least two groups may represent new cyanobacterial genera, while a group of Cyanobium proves to be endemic of Brazilian mangroves. Genes of the proteases inhibitors, aeuruginosin, cyanopeptolin and microviridin, were detected and the production of aeruginosin was confirmed by LC-MS for Nostoc and Cyanobium. The amino acid sequences of microviridin precursor indicated the production of three new variants in fifteen cyanobacterial strains of the genera Cyanobium, Synechococcus, Cyanobacterium, Nostoc and Nodosilinea. The genetic potential for production of cylindrospermopsin (cyrJ) was confirmed in twenty-six strains. In five strains of the genera Nostoc and Cyanobium the mcyD, mcyE and mcyG genes, which are involved in the microcystin biosynthesis, were found. The McyG sequence of Nostoc sp. CENA175 was phylogenetically grouped with sequences of microcystin-producing strains. The sxtA and sxtI genes, from saxitoxin biosynthesis, were found in nine strains of the genera Cyanobium, Oxynema, Leptolyngbya, Nodosilinea and Nostoc. The SxtI sequence of Leptolyngbya sp. CENA134 showed similarity >= 70 % with hypothetical proteins, while the sequences of Nostoc sp. CENA159 and Nostoc sp. CENA160 showed similarity >= 82% with O-carbamoyltransferase. In the phylogenetic analysis, the SxtI sequence of Nostoc sp. CENA160 grouped with sequences of strains that produce saxitoxin. In chemical analysis, the fraction 3 of the Oxynema sp. CENA135 extract revealed a substance with poly-unsaturated fatty acids characteristics and the fraction 2 of Nostoc sp. CENA175 extract indicated an aromatic structure, attached to an aliphatic chain. Other three extracts obtained from Cyanobium sp. CENA157, Nodosilinea sp. CENA183 and Nostoc sp. CENA184 were promising for the presence of nitrogenous substances. Bioactivity assays revealed that 48 % of the methanolic extracts inhibited the growth of at least one isolate of bacteria and/or yeast. The extracts of Cyanobium sp. CENA142 and Cyanobacterium sp. CENA169 were efficient against six pathogenic bacteria. In the inhibition assays of tumor cells, the DCM extract of Cyanobium sp. CENA154 (100 mgomL-1) moderately inhibited the growth of 3LL cells. Ethanol extracts of Oxynema sp. CENA135 (20 mgomL-1) and Cyanobium sp. CENA154 (100 mgomL-1) were able to inhibit cultures of CT- 26 cells. In tests conducted with glioma cell lines (U251), breast cancer (MCF-7) and lung cancer (NCI-H460), the DCM extract of Cyanobium sp. CENA136 caused 50 % of growth inhibition, respectively, when used at concentrations of 7.8, 27.1 and 14.0 mgomL-1. Thus, besides their phylogenetically diversity, the cyanobacteria strains from marine environment of the São Paulo state are a promising source of protease inhibitors, cyanotoxins and bioactive compounds with antibacterial, antifungal and antitumor activities. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 10/18732-0 - Bioactive natural products from marine cyanobacteria
• Grantee: Marcelo Gomes Marçal Vieira Vaz
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate