Current Knowledge on Microviridin from Cyanobacteria

Abstract

Cyanobacteria are a rich source of secondary metabolites with a vast biotechnological potential. These compounds have intrigued the scientific community due their uniqueness and diversity, which is guaranteed by a rich enzymatic apparatus. The ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs) are among the most promising metabolite groups derived from cyanobacteria. They are interested in numerous biological and ecological processes, many of which are entirely unknown. Microviridins are among the most recognized class of ribosomal peptides formed by cyanobacteria. These oligopeptides are potent inhibitors of protease; thus, they can be used for drug development and the control of mosquitoes. They also play a key ecological role in the defense of cyanobacteria against microcrustaceans. The purpose of this review is to systematically identify the key characteristics of microviridins, including its chemical structure and biosynthesis, as well as its biotechnological and ecological significance.

Algal Toxic Compounds and Their Aeroterrestrial, Airborne and other Extremophilic Producers with Attention to Soil and Plant Contamination: A Review

“…To date, most research has focused on the evaluation of environmental conditions that trigger toxin production and its dynamics, which can be essential for understanding of the toxicity and its predicting [ 31 ]. Although the role of environmental factors is not sufficiently understood and the results were widely disputed, many physiological studies demonstrated the influence of light, nutrient availability, temperature, pH and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) on enhancing or suppressing the production of different toxic compounds [ 88 , 96 , 97 , 111 , 118 , 119 , 120 , 121 ]. Evidence suggested that generally increased temperatures and light favor the growth of toxin producers and can enhance the toxin production [ 83 , 88 , 122 ], but at times, as for other factors, conflict results.…”

“…The hypotheses of physiological aide of toxins in relation with cell signaling were connected with experiments on cultivation conditions for studying the effects regulated by quorum sensing [ 120 ]. Although some contrasting results were reported, the impact of high cell density (HD) cultivation on the production of secondary metabolites in two terrestrial Nostoc strains revealed the importance of cell density and cell-type specific expression [ 103 , 107 ].…”

“…Besides all mentioned above NRPs, Nostoc can produce some ribosomal peptides, which inhibit proteases and elastase and have been found also in other cyanoprokaryotes [ 59 , 120 ]. Such example for ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs) is the unique 16-membered family of the toxins microviridins (MVs), named after their first discovered producer—the aquatic toxic Microcystis viridis (strain NIES-102) [ 181 , 182 ].…”

“…Such example for ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs) is the unique 16-membered family of the toxins microviridins (MVs), named after their first discovered producer—the aquatic toxic Microcystis viridis (strain NIES-102) [ 181 , 182 ]. Later, more variants and MVs were found in Microcystis and in other bloom-forming species from the genera Planktothrix , Anabaena and Nodularia and in more structural variants in other bacterial groups [ 120 , 183 , 184 , 185 , 186 , 187 , 188 , 189 , 190 ]. In aeroterrestrial algae, MVs were reported from Nostoc minutum NIES-26 [ 191 ] and N. punctiform e PCC73102, in which Nos and Aps were also found [ 103 ].…”

“…In aeroterrestrial algae, MVs were reported from Nostoc minutum NIES-26 [ 191 ] and N. punctiform e PCC73102, in which Nos and Aps were also found [ 103 ]. Although these oligopeptides are largely studied, their low yield is considered one of the bottlenecks for their production and evaluation in cyanoprokaryotes [ 120 ].…”