Biosynthesis of Guanitoxin Enables Global Environmental Detection in Freshwater Cyanobacteria

Author(s):Show less -

Lima, Stella T. ; Fallon, Timothy R. ; Cordoza, Jennifer L. ; Chekan, Jonathan R. ; Delbaje, Endrews ; Hopiavuori, Austin R. ; Alvarenga, Danillo O. ; Wood, Steffaney M. ; Luhavaya, Hanna ; Baumgartner, Jackson T. ; Dorr, Felipe A. ; Etchegaray, Augusto ; Pinto, Ernani ; McKinnie, Shaun M. K. ; Fiore, Marli F. ; Moore, Bradley S.

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Journal of the American Chemical Society; v. N/A, p. 8-pg., 2022-05-18.

Abstract

Harmful cyanobacterial blooms (cyanoHABs) cause recurrent toxic events in global watersheds. Although public health agencies monitor the causal toxins of most cyanoHABs and scientists in the field continue developing precise detection and prediction tools, the potent anticholinesterase neurotoxin, guanitoxin, is not presently environ-mentally monitored. This is largely due to its incompatibility with widely employed analytical methods and instability in the environment, despite guanitoxin being among the most lethal cyanotoxins. Here, we describe the guanitoxin biosynthesis gene cluster and its rigorously characterized nine-step metabolic pathway from L-arginine in the cyanobacterium Sphaerospermopsis torques-reginae ITEP-024. Through environmental sequencing data sets, guanitoxin (gnt) biosynthetic genes are repeatedly detected and expressed in municipal freshwater bodies that have undergone past toxic events. Knowledge of the genetic basis of guanitoxin biosynthesis now allows for environmental, biosynthetic gene monitoring to establish the global scope of this neurotoxic organophosphate. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 11/08092-6 - Genome sequencing of the cyanobacterium Nostoc sp. CENA67 and anotation of secondary metabolism genes
• Grantee: Danillo Oliveira de Alvarenga
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 13/50425-8 - Biodiversity of cyanobacteria and their bioactive compounds from under-explored Brazilian habitats
• Grantee: Marli de Fátima Fiore
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 17/06869-0 - Heterologous expression, purification and characterization of enzymes involved in the biosynthetic pathway of the cyanobacterial neurotoxin anatoxin-a(s)
• Grantee: Stella de Lima Camargo
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate