In silico Analysis of Molecular Phylogeny of Genes Involved in the Synthesis of Bioactive Compounds in Cyanobacteria Strains Located in Tehran Cascade

Abstract

Background: Cyanobacteria is an excellent candidate for discovering bioactive compounds with applications in pharmaceutical industries. Nowadays, the major bioactive metabolites isolated from cyanobacteria are polymerized, nonribosomal peptides (NRPS), or hybrids of both. Despite numerous studies on the gene distribution of bioactive compounds, no studies have been conducted on the cyanobacteria strains found in the Tehran cascade. Objectives: This monitoring study aimed to study the secondary structure of the protein and molecular phylogeny of polypeptides synthase genes and nonribosomal peptides along with the 16S rRNA gene. Methods: In this study, 20 strains of cyanobacteria found in the Tehran Cascade were identified based on a 16rRNA gene sequence. The PCR of the nonribosomal peptides (NRPS) and polyketide synthase (PKS) genes was performed using molecular techniques to analyze the phylogenetic genes responsible for secondary metabolite production. Bioinformatics software was used to predict the composition of peptides, activated amino acids, and signature sequences of the NRPS adenylation module. Finally, the strains studied in the Alborz Herbarium Microbial Culture Collection (CCC) were kept at the Azad Islamic University, Science and Research Unit. Results: The NRPS and PKS genes were found in some strains. Furthermore, the bioinformatics analyses revealed the type of natural compound, the signature sequences, and the predication of the activated amino acid. Clustering of NRPS and PKS protein sequences showed no clear phylogenetic correlation between adenylation domains and the type of activated amino acid, indicating wide diversity within adenylation domains. Conclusions: The biological analysis of polypeptide synthase and nonribosomal peptide synthetases genes may help estimate species that produce natural products and the possible role of these enzymatic complexes in the bio-synthesis of bioactive compounds in the pharmaceutical industry.