Photosynthetic directed endosymbiosis to investigate the role of bioenergetics in chloroplast function and evolution.

Cyanobacterial photosynthesis (to produce ATP and NADPH) might have played a pivotal role in the endosymbiotic evolution to chloroplast. However, rather than meeting the ATP requirements of the host cell, the modern-day land plant chloroplasts are suggested to utilize photosynthesized ATP predominantly for carbon assimilation. This is further highlighted by the fact that the plastidic ADP/ATP carrier translocases from land plants preferentially import ATP.

Bioinformatic Approaches Identify Hybrid Antibiotics against Tuberculosis via d-Amino Acid-Activating Adenylation Domains from .

The development of tuberculosis (TB) therapy has been marked by the discovery of natural-product-derived streptomycin, followed by the introduction of NP-derived rifampicin, representing a significant milestone in the history of TB management. However, TB remains a global challenge, with the emergence of multidrug-resistant highlighting the need for novel therapeutic agents. In this study, a bioinformatic approach was employed to investigate d-amino acid-activating adenylation domains, leading to the identification of cordysetin A (), a novel -decalin tetramic acid antibiotic from the ascomycete fungi .

Introducing carbon assimilation in yeasts using photosynthetic directed endosymbiosis.

Conversion of heterotrophic organisms into partially or completely autotrophic organisms is primarily accomplished by extensive metabolic engineering and laboratory evolution efforts that channel CO into central carbon metabolism. Here, we develop a directed endosymbiosis approach to introduce carbon assimilation in budding yeasts. Particularly, we engineer carbon assimilating and sugar-secreting photosynthetic cyanobacterial endosymbionts within the yeast cells, which results in the generation of yeast/cyanobacteria chimeras that propagate under photosynthetic conditions in the presence of CO and in the absence of feedstock carbon sources like glucose or glycerol.

Transcriptome analysis of malate-induced sp. FJU-512 reveals a novel pathway for biosynthesis of docosahexaenoic acid with enhanced expression of genes responsible for acetyl-CoA and NADPH accumulation.

is one of the few oleaginous microalgae that produce docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)-rich lipids. In this study, global changes in gene expression levels of sp. FJU-512 cultured with malate in a 15 l-bioreactor was analyzed using comparative transcriptomics.

Engineering artificial photosynthetic life-forms through endosymbiosis.

The evolutionary origin of the photosynthetic eukaryotes drastically altered the evolution of complex lifeforms and impacted global ecology. The endosymbiotic theory suggests that photosynthetic eukaryotes evolved due to endosymbiosis between non-photosynthetic eukaryotic host cells and photosynthetic cyanobacterial or algal endosymbionts. The photosynthetic endosymbionts, propagating within the cytoplasm of the host cells, evolved, and eventually transformed into chloroplasts.

Heterologous Expression of Macrollins from Phytopathogenic Revealed a Cytochrome P450 Mono-oxygenase in the Biosynthesis of β-Hydroxyl Tetramic Acid.

() is a crucial pathogenic fungus that can cause severe charcoal rot in economic crops and other plants. In this study, four new natural products, macrollins A-D, were discovered from by the strategy of heterologous expression. To our knowledge, macrollins are the first reported polyketide-amino acid hybrids from the plant pathogen.

Heterologous expression of a natural product biosynthetic gene cluster from Cordyceps militaris.

Cordyceps is a genus of ascomycete fungi widely used in old Chinese medicine, and many investigations have focus on uncovering their biological activities. Until now, only a few compounds have been identified from Cordyceps, mainly due to their poor yield. So as to make full use of Cordyceps, we used the strategy of genome mining and heterologous expression to discover natural products (NPs) from Cordyceps militaris.

Structural Insights into the -Acting Enoyl Reductase in the Biosynthesis of Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in .

Two long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), play vital roles in human health. Similarly, two biosynthetic pathways, based on desaturase/elongase and polyketide synthase, have been implicated in the synthesis of microbial LC-PUFA. Up to now, only several microalgae, no bacteria, have been used in the commercial production of oils rich in DHA and/or EPA.

Genome mining and biosynthesis of the Acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase inhibitor beauveriolide I and III in Cordyceps militaris.

Ascomycete fungi Cordyceps are widely used in traditional Chinese medicine, and numerous investigations have been carried out to uncover their biological activities. However, primary researches on the physiological effects of Cordyceps were committed using crude extracts. At present, there are only a few compounds which were comprehensively characterized from Cordyceps, partial owing to the low production.

Isolation and characterization of a new cytotoxic polyketide-amino acid hybrid from ATCC 42464.

Fungi are a rich source of novel anticancer compounds. Bioassay-guided isolation has led to the isolation of four polyketide-amino acid hybrid compounds with -fused decalin system from the fungus ATCC 42464 (= ATCC 42464): myceliothermophins A, B, E and F (-). The structure of the new compound (myceliothermophin F, compound ) was clearly determined by a combination of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis and high-resolution electrospray ionisation mass spectroscopy (HRESIMS).