<i>In Silico</i> Identification of Type III PKS Chalcone and Stilbene Synthase Homologs in Marine Photosynthetic Organisms
Marine microalgae are photosynthetic microorganisms at the base of the marine food webs. They are characterized by huge taxonomic and metabolic diversity and several species have been shown to have bioactivities useful for the treatment of human pathologies. However, the compounds and the metabolic...
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MDPI AG
2020-05-01
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| Series: | Biology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/9/5/110 |
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| author | Daniele De Luca Chiara Lauritano |
| author_facet | Daniele De Luca Chiara Lauritano |
| author_sort | Daniele De Luca |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Marine microalgae are photosynthetic microorganisms at the base of the marine food webs. They are characterized by huge taxonomic and metabolic diversity and several species have been shown to have bioactivities useful for the treatment of human pathologies. However, the compounds and the metabolic pathways responsible for bioactive compound synthesis are often still unknown. In this study, we aimed at analysing the microalgal transcriptomes available in the Marine Microbial Eukaryotic Transcriptome Sequencing Project (MMETSP) database for an <i>in silico</i> search of polyketide synthase type III homologs and, in particular, chalcone synthase (CHS) and stilbene synthase (STS), which are often referred to as the CHS/STS family. These enzymes were selected because they are known to produce compounds with biological properties useful for human health, such as cancer chemopreventive, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-angiogenic, anti-viral and anti-diabetic. In addition, we also searched for 4-Coumarate: CoA ligase, an upstream enzyme in the synthesis of chalcones and stilbenes. This study reports for the first time the occurrence of these enzymes in specific microalgal taxa, confirming the importance for microalgae of these pathways and giving new insights into microalgal physiology and possible biotechnological applications for the production of bioactive compounds. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T19:39:03Z |
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| id | doaj.art-d4ef4242a6a0413180a7a2bb7218427c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2079-7737 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T19:39:03Z |
| publishDate | 2020-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
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| spelling | doaj.art-d4ef4242a6a0413180a7a2bb7218427c2023-11-20T01:25:42ZengMDPI AGBiology2079-77372020-05-019511010.3390/biology9050110<i>In Silico</i> Identification of Type III PKS Chalcone and Stilbene Synthase Homologs in Marine Photosynthetic OrganismsDaniele De Luca0Chiara Lauritano1Department of Humanities, Università degli Studi Suor Orsola Benincasa, CAP80135 Naples, ItalyDepartment of Marine Biotechnology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, CAP80121 Naples, ItalyMarine microalgae are photosynthetic microorganisms at the base of the marine food webs. They are characterized by huge taxonomic and metabolic diversity and several species have been shown to have bioactivities useful for the treatment of human pathologies. However, the compounds and the metabolic pathways responsible for bioactive compound synthesis are often still unknown. In this study, we aimed at analysing the microalgal transcriptomes available in the Marine Microbial Eukaryotic Transcriptome Sequencing Project (MMETSP) database for an <i>in silico</i> search of polyketide synthase type III homologs and, in particular, chalcone synthase (CHS) and stilbene synthase (STS), which are often referred to as the CHS/STS family. These enzymes were selected because they are known to produce compounds with biological properties useful for human health, such as cancer chemopreventive, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-angiogenic, anti-viral and anti-diabetic. In addition, we also searched for 4-Coumarate: CoA ligase, an upstream enzyme in the synthesis of chalcones and stilbenes. This study reports for the first time the occurrence of these enzymes in specific microalgal taxa, confirming the importance for microalgae of these pathways and giving new insights into microalgal physiology and possible biotechnological applications for the production of bioactive compounds.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/9/5/110microalgaetype III polyketide synthases (PKS)chalcone synthasestilbene synthasetranscriptome analysis |
| spellingShingle | Daniele De Luca Chiara Lauritano <i>In Silico</i> Identification of Type III PKS Chalcone and Stilbene Synthase Homologs in Marine Photosynthetic Organisms Biology microalgae type III polyketide synthases (PKS) chalcone synthase stilbene synthase transcriptome analysis |
| title | <i>In Silico</i> Identification of Type III PKS Chalcone and Stilbene Synthase Homologs in Marine Photosynthetic Organisms |
| title_full | <i>In Silico</i> Identification of Type III PKS Chalcone and Stilbene Synthase Homologs in Marine Photosynthetic Organisms |
| title_fullStr | <i>In Silico</i> Identification of Type III PKS Chalcone and Stilbene Synthase Homologs in Marine Photosynthetic Organisms |
| title_full_unstemmed | <i>In Silico</i> Identification of Type III PKS Chalcone and Stilbene Synthase Homologs in Marine Photosynthetic Organisms |
| title_short | <i>In Silico</i> Identification of Type III PKS Chalcone and Stilbene Synthase Homologs in Marine Photosynthetic Organisms |
| title_sort | i in silico i identification of type iii pks chalcone and stilbene synthase homologs in marine photosynthetic organisms |
| topic | microalgae type III polyketide synthases (PKS) chalcone synthase stilbene synthase transcriptome analysis |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/9/5/110 |
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