MIBiG 4.0: advancing biosynthetic gene cluster curation through global collaboration.

Specialized or secondary metabolites are small molecules of biological origin, often showing potent biological activities with applications in agriculture, engineering and medicine. Usually, the biosynthesis of these natural products is governed by sets of co-regulated and physically clustered genes known as biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs). To share information about BGCs in a standardized and machine-readable way, the Minimum Information about a Biosynthetic Gene cluster (MIBiG) data standard and repository was initiated in 2015.

Volatile sensation: The chemical ecology of the earthy odorant geosmin.

Geosmin may be the most familiar volatile compound, as it lends the earthy smell to soil. The compound is a member of the largest family of natural products, the terpenoids. The broad distribution of geosmin among bacteria in both terrestrial and aquatic environments suggests that this compound has an important ecological function, for example, as a signal (attractant or repellent) or as a protective specialized metabolite against biotic and abiotic stresses.

Terpene Synthase Gene Amplicons from Subseafloor Sediment.

In this announcement, we present the set of putative terpene synthase (TS) gene fragments detected in a subseafloor sediment sample collected off Shimokita Peninsula, Japan. This data set contains sequences with 72 to 100% identity to TS from actinobacteria and cyanobacteria.

Draft Genome Sequence of sp. Strain G-5, Isolated from Marine Sponge, Kochi Prefecture, Japan.

Actinomycetes isolated from the marine environment often require the presence of seawater for their growth and/or morphological development. Here, we report the isolation and genome sequencing of marine sponge-derived sp. strain G-5 with such a seawater requirement.

Microbial Metabolites Beneficial to Plant Hosts Across Ecosystems.

Plants are intimately connected with their associated microorganisms. Chemical interactions via natural products between plants and their microbial symbionts form an important aspect in host health and development, both in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. These interactions range from negative to beneficial for microbial symbionts as well as their hosts.