Diversity of Nonribosomal Peptide Synthetase Genes in the Microbial Metagenomes of Marine Sponges

Sheila Marie Pimentel-Elardo,Lubomir Grozdanov,Sebastian Proksch,Ute Hentschel

doi:10.3390/md10061192

Sheila Marie Pimentel-Elardo, Lubomir Grozdanov + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/md10061192

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Journal: Marine Drugs	Publication Date: May 25, 2012
Citations: 54	License type: CC BY 3.0

Affiliation: McMaster University, University of Würzburg

Abstract

Genomic mining revealed one major nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) phylogenetic cluster in 12 marine sponge species, one ascidian, an actinobacterial isolate and seawater. Phylogenetic analysis predicts its taxonomic affiliation to the actinomycetes and hydroxy-phenyl-glycine as a likely substrate. Additionally, a phylogenetically distinct NRPS gene cluster was discovered in the microbial metagenome of the sponge Aplysina aerophoba, which shows highest similarities to NRPS genes that were previously assigned, by ways of single cell genomics, to a Chloroflexi sponge symbiont. Genomic mining studies such as the one presented here for NRPS genes, contribute to on-going efforts to characterize the genomic potential of sponge-associated microbiota for secondary metabolite biosynthesis.

Highlights

IntroductionSponges (phylum Porifera) are an extraordinarily rich source for bioactive metabolites [1]
Sponges are an extraordinarily rich source for bioactive metabolites [1]
We first aimed to investigate the nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) gene diversity in twelve marine sponge species from the Bahamas and the Mediterranean. For this purpose NRPS A domain gene fragments were amplified as previously described [25] using degenerate primers A3 and A7R

Summary

Introduction

Sponges (phylum Porifera) are an extraordinarily rich source for bioactive metabolites [1]. There is increasing evidence that important marine natural product classes, complex polyketides and nonribosomal peptides, are truly synthesized by symbiotic bacteria rather than by the sponge itself [3]. Since the vast majority of sponge symbionts, much like most environmental bacteria, are still refractory to cultivation, new experimental approaches are needed to provide information about their genomic potential for secondary metabolite biosynthesis. Methods such as metagenomics, and more recently single-cell genomics were developed to access the DNA pool of complex environmental microbial consortia in a cultivation-independent manner [4]

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