Mycosporine-like Amino Acids Research Articles

Bromoform, mycosporine-like amino acids and phycobiliprotein content and stability in Asparagopsis armata during long-term indoor cultivation

As the commercial use of seaweed for natural product extraction calls for abundant, uniform biomass, this study focused on the production and the variability of the harvested biomass of valuable compounds produced by a commercially relevant red algal species, Asparagopsis armata. Its tetrasporophyte stage was retrieved from two Irish localities and grown for over 2 years in indoor cultures at 13 °C and 17 °C, and bromoform, mycosporine-like amino acids and phycobiliprotein contents were monitored over time. Growth rates at different temperatures were specific to isolates, and one isolate failed to grow at 17 °C. All compounds of interest were detected by the end of the 2-year cultivation period, and most of them were produced at an exponential rate at 13 °C but not at the higher temperature. At 13 °C, bromoform reached concentrations of 10.00 ± 0.55 mg g−1, total mycosporine-like amino acids of 2.65 ± 0.10 mg g−1, phycoerythrin of 11.46 ± 0.35 mg g−1 and phycocyanin of 72.13 ± 1.74 mg g−1 in Irish isolates. The observed variability in compound content was statistically significant but not large enough to impede commercial utilization. Bromoform content in cultivated samples was almost 6-fold higher than in field-collected samples though natural bromoform variability remains to be elucidated. Our findings suggest that the tetrasporophytic phase of A. armata is a suitable candidate for indoor cultivation; abundant and homogeneous biomass composition can be obtained which can be further optimized by growth temperature.

Algae: Study of Edible and Biologically Active Fractions, Their Properties and Applications

The beneficial properties of algae make them perfect functional ingredients for food products. Algae have a high energy value and are a source of biologically active substances, proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and macro- and microelements. They are also rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, proteins, mycosporine-like amino acids, polysaccharides, polyphenols, carotenoids, sterols, steroids, lectins, halogenated compounds, polyketides, alkaloids, and carrageenans. Different extraction parameters are used depending on the purpose and the substances to be isolated. In this study, the following parameters were used: hydromodule 1:10 and an extraction duration of 1–2 h at the extraction temperature of 25–40 °C. A 30–50% solution of ethanol in water was used as an extractant. Algae extracts can be considered as potential natural sources of biologically active compounds with antimicrobial activity and antiviral properties. The content of crude protein, crude fat, and carbohydrates in U. Prolifera, C. racemosa var. peltata (Chlorophyta), S. oligocystum and S. fusiforme (SF-1) was studied. It was found that C. muelleri (Bacillariophyta), I. galbana (Haptophyta), and T. weissflogii (Bacillariophyta) contain about 1.9 times more omega-3 than omega-6 fatty acids. N. gaditana (Ochrophyta), D. salina (Chlorophyta), P. tricornutum (Bacillaryophyta) and I. galbana (Haptophyta) extracts showed inhibitory activity of varying intensities against E. coli or P. aeruginosa. In addition, algae and algae-derived compounds have been proposed to offer attractive possibilities in the food industry, especially in the meat sector, to evolve functional foods with myriad functionalities. Algae can increase the biological activity of food products, while the further study of the structure of compounds found in algae can broaden their future application possibilities.

Occurrence of Mycosporine-like Amino Acids (MAAs) from the Bloom-Forming Cyanobacteria Aphanizomenon Strains.

Mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) are widespread in various microbes and protect them against harsh environments. Here, four different Aphanizomenon species were isolated from severely eutrophic waterbodies, Lake Dianchi and the Guanqiao fishpond. Morphological characters and molecular phylogenetic analysis verified that the CHAB5919, 5921, and 5926 strains belonged to the Aphanizomenon flos-aquae clade while Guanqiao01 belonged to the Aphanizomenon gracile clade. Full wavelength scanning proved that there was obvious maximal absorption at 334 nm through purified methanol extraction, and these substances were further analyzed by HPLC and UPLC-MS-MS. The results showed that two kinds of MAAs were discovered in the cultured Aphanizomenon strains. One molecular weight was 333.28 and the other was 347.25, and the daughter fragment patterns were in accordance with the previously articles reported shinorine and porphyra-334 ion characters. The concentration of the MAAs was calibrated from semi-prepared MAAs standards from dry cells of Microcystis aeruginosa PCC7806 algal powder, and the purity of shinorine and porphyra-334 were 90.2% and 85.4%, respectively. The average concentrations of shinorine and porphyra-334 were 0.307–0.385 µg/mg and 0.111–0.136 µg/mg in Aphanizomenon flos-aquae species, respectively. And there was only one kind of MAAs (shinorine) in Aphanizomenon gracile species.,with a content of 0.003–0.049 µg/mg dry weight among all Aphanizomenon gracile strains. The shinorine concentration in Aphanizomenon flos-aquae was higher than that in Aphanizomenon gracile strains. The total MAAs production can be ranked as Aphanizomenon flos-aquae > Aphanizomenon gracile.

Molecular Design Learned from the Natural Product Porphyra-334: Molecular Generation via Chemical Variational Autoencoder versus Database Mining via Similarity Search, A Comparative Study.

A comparative study is presented. The method via chemical variational autoencoder (VAE) and the method via similarity search are compared, focusing on their generation ability for new functional molecular design. Focusing on the natural porphyra-334 as a model molecule, we generated three groups: molecules of mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) as seeds (GSEEDS), molecules generated via chemical VAE (GVAE) and molecules gathered via similarity search (GSIM). The number of molecules that satisfy the condition for the light absorption ability of porphyra-334 in GSEEDS, GVAE, and GSIM are 52, 138, and 6, respectively. The method via chemical VAE shows a promising potential for future molecular design. By using quantum chemistry wave function properties for chemical VAE, we find new molecules that are comparable to porphyra-334, including some with unexpected geometries. At the end, we show a group of molecules found with this method.

Characterization of Antioxidant Activity of Heated Mycosporine-like Amino Acids from Red Alga Dulse Palmaria palmata in Japan.

We recently demonstrated the monthly variation and antioxidant activity of mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) from red alga dulse in Japan. The antioxidant activity of MAAs in acidic conditions was low compared to that in neutral and alkali conditions, but we found strong antioxidant activity from the heated crude MAA fraction in acidic conditions. In this study, we identified and characterized the key compounds involved in the antioxidant activity of this fraction. We first isolated two MAAs, palythine, and porphyra-334, from the fraction and evaluated the activities of the two MAAs when heated. MAAs possess absorption maxima at around 330 nm, while the heated MAAs lost this absorption. The heated MAAs showed a high ABTS radical scavenging activity at pH 5.8–8.0. We then determined the structure of heated palythine via ESI-MS and NMR analyses and speculated about the putative antioxidant mechanism. Finally, a suitable production condition of the heated compounds was determined at 120 °C for 30 min at pH 8.0. We revealed compounds from red algae with antioxidant activities at a wide range of pH values, and this information will be useful for the functional processing of food.

Triplet-Energy Quenching Functions of Antioxidant Molecules.

UV-like DNA damage is created in the dark by chemiexcitation, in which UV-activated enzymes generate reactive oxygen and nitrogen species that create a dioxetane on melanin. Thermal cleavage creates an electronically excited triplet-state carbonyl whose high energy transfers to DNA. Screening natural compounds for the ability to quench this energy identified polyenes, polyphenols, mycosporine-like amino acids, and related compounds better known as antioxidants. To eliminate false positives such as ROS and RNS scavengers, we then used the generator of triplet-state acetone, tetramethyl-1,2-dioxetane (TMD), to excite the triplet-energy reporter 9,10-dibromoanthracene-2-sulfonate (DBAS). Quenching measured as reduction in DBAS luminescence revealed three clusters of 50% inhibitory concentration, ~50 μM, 200–500 μM, and >600 μM, with the former including sorbate, ferulic acid, and resveratrol. Representative triplet-state quenchers prevented chemiexcitation-induced “dark” cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (dCPD) in DNA and in UVA-irradiated melanocytes. We conclude that (i) the delocalized pi electron cloud that stabilizes the electron-donating activity of many common antioxidants allows the same molecule to prevent an electronically excited species from transferring its triplet-state energy to targets such as DNA and (ii) the most effective class of triplet-state quenchers appear to operate by energy diversion instead of electron donation and dissipate that energy by isomerization.

Antioxidant potential of two Brazilian seaweeds in response to temperature: Pyropia spiralis (red alga) and Sargassum stenophyllum (brown alga)

Natural antioxidants found in macroalgae represent a significant protective role against oxidative damage. The antioxidant capacity responses to abiotic stresses allow understanding the tolerance and sensitivity of the species. Pyropia and Sargassum inhabiting the intertidal zone exhibit several antioxidant mechanisms against oxidative stress stimulated by environmental factors, such as thermal stress. In this study, we evaluated the antioxidant capacity under different temperatures of the red macroalga Pyropia spiralis and the brown macroalga Sargassum stenophyllum, associated with the composition of mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) and phenolic compounds. Antioxidant capacity was determined by four antioxidant assays (ABTS: 2,2-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid); DPPH: 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl; FRAP: ferric reducing antioxidant power, and metal chelating). Phenolic compounds content was assessed using Folin-Ciocalteau reagent and HPLC, and MAAs using HPLC. In both species, the ABTS assay was the most sensitive antioxidant assay. At low temperature (15 °C), P. spiralis exhibited the lowest EC50 (half maximal effective concentration) in the ABTS assay, the highest total antioxidant capacity index, and high content of MAAs (porphyra-334, shinorine, and palythine). For S. stenophyllum, the lowest EC50 value for ABTS assay was registered at 15 °C, and the lowest total antioxidant capacity index at 30 °C with high content of phlorotannins, probably phloroethols. The information provided by this research may be useful for the study of thermal tolerance and sensitivity in marine macroalgae as well as a template for further investigations of designing phytochemicals in marine macroalgae.

Potential metal chelating ability of mycosporine-like amino acids: a computational research

Potential metal chelating ability of mycosporine-like amino acids: a computational research

Efficient Isolation of Mycosporine-Like Amino Acids from Marine Red Algae by Fast Centrifugal Partition Chromatography.

Marine rhodophyta are known to synthesize specific secondary metabolites, mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs), to protect themselves from harmful UV-radiation. Shinorine and porphyra-334 are among the most abundant representatives of this compound class. In the present work, a novel approach for their isolation is described. As a first step, a fast centrifugal partition chromatography method, with an aqueous two-phase system comprising water, ethanol, ammonium sulfate and methanol in ascending mode, was developed to isolate the two MAAs from crude aqueous-methanolic extracts of three algal species within 90 min. The compounds could be isolated when just one of them was present in a sample or also both at the same time. By employing solid phase extraction as a second purification step, the individual MAAs were obtained in high purity and good quantity within a much shorter time frame than the established purification protocols, e.g., semi-preparative HPLC. For example, from 4 g Porphyra sp. (Nori) crude extract, 15.7 mg shinorine and 36.2 mg porphyra-334 were isolated. Both were highly pure, as confirmed by TLC, HPLC-MS and NMR analyses.

Seaweed-Derived Proteins and Peptides: Promising Marine Bioactives.

Seaweeds are a typical food of East-Asian cuisine, to which are alleged several beneficial health effects have been attributed. Their availability and their nutritional and chemical composition have favored the increase in its consumption worldwide, as well as a focus of research due to their bioactive properties. In this regard, seaweed proteins are nutritionally valuable and comprise several specific enzymes, glycoproteins, cell wall-attached proteins, red algae phycobiliproteins, lectins, peptides, or mycosporine-like amino acids. This great extent of molecules has been reported to exert significant antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antihypertensive, antidiabetic, or antitumoral properties. Hence, knowledge on algae proteins and derived compounds have gained special interest for the potential nutraceutical, cosmetic or pharmaceutical industries based on these bioactivities. Although several molecular mechanisms of action on how these proteins and peptides exert biological activities have been described, many gaps in knowledge still need to be filled. Updating the current knowledge related to seaweed proteins and peptides is of interest to further asses their potential health benefits. This review addresses the characteristics of seaweed protein and protein-derived molecules, their natural occurrence, their studied bioactive properties, and their described potential mechanisms of action.

UV-induced physiological changes and biochemical characterization of mycosporine-like amino acid in a rice-field cyanobacterium Fischerella sp. strain HKAR-13

Mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) are valuable secondary metabolite with notable photoprotective potential. The present study investigateS the imрасts of рhоtоsynthetiс асtive rаdiаtiоn (РАR) and ultraviolet radiation (UVR) on various physiological processes in the cyanobacterium Fischerella sp. strain HKAR-13. Cell viability was reduced by 36 and 65% after 72h of exроsure to РАR+UV-А (PA) and РАR+UV-А+UV-B (PAB) radiations respectively. Significant decline in Chl a content was observed during PA and PAB exposure after 36h. Carotenoid content increased significantly after 48h of exposure, thereafter began to decline. Cultures exposed to PAB showed maximum detrimental effect on protein synthesis. In PAB and PA, the levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) increased significantly. Fluorescence microscopic images of cyanobacteria revealed generation of ROS in UVR as indicated by increase in green fluorescence. Besides, Fischerella sp. strain HKAR-13 was also tested for the рresenсe of MААs and their induction under UVR. UV-Vis spectrophotometry and high-рerfоrmаnсe liquid сhrоmаtоgrарhy аnаlyses revealed the рresenсe of a MAA having absorption maxima λmax 334 nm and retention time of 1.5 min. Maximum induction of MAA was found in samples exposed to PAB followed by PA. Based on electrospray ionization-mass sрeсtrоsсорy (m/z: 333+1), fourier transform infrared and nuclear magnetic resоnаnсe sрeсtrоsсорy, the MAA was identified as shinorine. Shinorine was found to be highly stable under some abiotic stress factors such as UV-B, temperature and H2O2. It also showed efficient antioxidant activity in a dose-dependent manner as depicted by in vitro antioxidant assays.

Bioprospecção de macroalgas, invertebrados marinhos e terrestres e microbiota associada

Abstract The present review aims the discussion of the impact of the bioprospection initiative developed by the projects associated to BIOprospecTA, a subprogram of the program BIOTA, supported by FAPESP. This review brings a summary of the main results produced by the projects investigating natural products (NPs) from non-plants organisms, as examples of the success of this initiative, focusing on the progresses achieved by the projects related to NPs from macroalgae, marine invertebrates, arthropods and associated microorganisms. Macroalgae are one of the most studied groups in Brazil with the isolation of many bioactive compounds including lipids, carotenoids, phycocolloids, lectins, mycosporine-like amino acids and halogenated compounds. Marine invertebrates and associated microorganisms have been more systematically studied in the last thirty years, revealing unique compounds, with potent biological activities. The venoms of Hymenopteran insects were also extensively studied, resulting in the identification of hundreds of peptides, which were used to create a chemical library that contributed for the identification of leader models for the development of antifungal, antiparasitic, and anticancer compounds. The built knowledge of Hymenopteran venoms permitted the development of an equine hyperimmune serum anti honeybee venom. Amongst the microorganisms associated with insects the bioprospecting strategy was to understand the molecular basis of intra- and interspecies interactions (Chemical Ecology), translating this knowledge to possible biotechnological applications. The results discussed here reinforce the importance of BIOprospecTA program on the development of research with highly innovative potential in Brazil.

Separating and Purifying Mycosporine-Like Amino Acids from Cyanobacteria for Application in Commercial Sunscreen Formulations

Separating and Purifying Mycosporine-Like Amino Acids from Cyanobacteria for Application in Commercial Sunscreen Formulations

Ambient ultraviolet B radiation induced valve behavioral acclimation of Pacific oyster which resulted from the different response strategies of smooth and striated adductor muscles

Light not only conveys image-forming vision but also has an impact on various physiological functions. In particular, ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation has the closest relationship with living organisms. For Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas), alteration of valve behavior is one of the most important ways responding to ambient UVB. In the present study, the response of adult C. gigas to sunlight (especially UVB) was evaluated by monitoring valve activity and further elucidated at the physiological and metabolomic levels. After exposure, the valve activity of C. gigas demonstrated flexible acclimation to the ambient conditions. The potential adjustment of osmoregulation and oxidative stress might be related to ambient UVB radiation. Mycosporine-like amino acids might contribute to the protection of C. gigas against UVB, while precursors of β-alanine and degradation products of 5-hydroxytryptamine might adjust the contraction of the adductor muscles. The different responses of the adductor muscles (smooth and striated) were manifested in signal transduction and metabolisms of energy and nucleotide. This study not only indicated the correlation between the valve behavioral changes in oysters and light radiation, especially UVB, but illustrated the acclimation strategies of oysters to ambient light (UVB) environment.

Sunscreen Effect Exerted by Secondary Carotenoids and Mycosporine-like Amino Acids in the Aeroterrestrial Chlorophyte Coelastrella rubescens under High Light and UV-A Irradiation.

The microalga Coelastrella rubescens dwells in habitats with excessive solar irradiation; consequently, it must accumulate diverse compounds to protect itself. We characterized the array of photoprotective compounds in C. rubescens. Toward this goal, we exposed the cells to high fluxes of visible light and UV-A and analyzed the ability of hydrophilic and hydrophobic extracts from the cells to absorb radiation. Potential light-screening compounds were profiled by thin layer chromatography and UPLC-MS. Coelastrella accumulated diverse carotenoids that absorbed visible light in the blue–green part of the spectrum and mycosporine-like amino acids (MAA) that absorbed the UV-A. It is the first report on the occurrence of MAA in Coelastrella. Two new MAA, named coelastrin A and coelastrin B, were identified. Transmission electron microscopy revealed the development of hydrophobic subcompartments under the high light and UV-A exposition. We also evaluate and discuss sporopollenin-like compounds in the cell wall and autophagy-like processes as the possible reason for the decrease in sunlight absorption by cells, in addition to inducible sunscreen accumulation. The results suggested that C. rubescens NAMSU R1 accumulates a broad range of valuable photoprotective compounds in response to UV-A and visible light irradiation, which indicates this strain as a potential producer for biotechnology.

Gene clusters for biosynthesis of mycosporine-like amino acids in dinoflagellate nuclear genomes: Possible recent horizontal gene transfer between species of Symbiodiniaceae (Dinophyceae).

Global warming increases the temperature of the ocean surface, which can disrupt dinoflagellate‐coral symbioses and result in coral bleaching. Photosynthetic dinoflagellates of the family Symbiodiniaceae include bleaching‐tolerant and bleaching‐sensitive coral symbionts. Therefore, understanding the molecular mechanisms for changing symbiont diversity is potentially useful to assist recovery of coral holobionts (corals and their associated microbes, including multiple species of Symbiodiniaceae), although sexual reproduction has not been observed in the Symbiodiniaceae. Recent molecular phylogenetic analyses estimate that the Symbiodiniaceae appeared 160 million years ago and diversified into 15 groups, five genera of which now have available draft genomes (i.e., Symbiodinium, Durusdinium, Breviolum, Fugacium, and Cladocopium). Comparative genomic analyses have suggested that crown groups have fewer gene families than early‐diverging groups, although many genes that were probably acquired via gene duplications and horizontal gene transfers (HGTs) have been found in each decoded genome. Because UV stress is likely a contributor to coral bleaching, and because the highly conserved gene cluster for mycosporine‐like amino acid (MAA) biosynthesis has been found in thermal‐tolerant symbiont genomes, I reviewed genomic features of the Symbiodiniaceae, focusing on possible acquisition of a biosynthetic gene cluster for MAAs, which absorb UV radiation. On the basis of highly conserved noncoding sequences, I hypothesized that HGTs have occurred among members of the Symbiodiniaceae and have contributed to the diversification of Symbiodiniaceae–host relationships. Finally, I proposed that bleaching tolerance may be strengthened by multiple MAAs from both symbiotic dinoflagellates and corals.

Monthly Variation and Ultraviolet Stability of Mycosporine-like Amino Acids from Red Alga Dulse Palmaria palmata in Japan

Mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) are the natural ultraviolet (UV)-absorbing compounds from micro- and macro-algae. The MAAs in algae change with the environmental conditions and seasons. We previously determined an efficient extraction method of MAAs from red alga dulse in Usujiri (Hokkaido, Japan) and revealed monthly variation of MAA in 2019. Dulse samples in 2019 for MAA preparation were suitable from late February to April. In this study, to confirm the suitable timings to extract MAAs from Usujiri dulse, we also investigated the monthly (from January to May) variation of MAA content in 2020. There were the most MAAs in the sample on 18 March (6.696 µmol g−1 dry weight) among the samples from January to May 2020. From two years of investigation, we deduce that samples of Usujiri dulse from late February to early April were suitable for MAA preparation. The UV stability of the two major purified MAAs in Usujiri dulse—palythine and porphyra-334—was tested. The two MAAs and 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone were stable for up to 12 h under a 312 nm lamp at 200 µW cm−2, but 2-ethylhexyl-4-methoxycinnamate formed a cis/trans-mixture in a short time. The data in this study show the suitable sampling period for Usujiri dulse and the possible application for UV protection from food and cosmetics.

Microalgae as a Source of Mycosporine-like Amino Acids (MAAs); Advances and Future Prospects.

Mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs), are secondary metabolites, first reported in 1960 and found to be associated with the light-stimulated sporulation in terrestrial fungi. MAAs are nitrogenous, low molecular weight, water soluble compounds, which are highly stable with cyclohexenone or cycloheximine rings to store the free radicals. Microalgae are considered as a good source of different kinds of MAAs, which in turn, has its own applications in various industries due to its UV absorbing, anti-oxidant and therapeutic properties. Microalgae can be easily cultivated and requires a very short generation time, which makes them environment friendly source of biomolecules such as mycosporine-like amino acids. Modifying the cultural conditions along withmanipulation of genes associated with mycosporine-like amino acids biosynthesis can help to enhance MAAs synthesis and, in turn, can make microalgae suitable bio-refinery for large scale MAAs production. This review focuses on properties and therapeutic applications of mycosporine like amino acids derived from microalgae. Further attention is drawn on various culture and genetic engineering approaches to enhance the MAAs production in microalgae.

Macro- and micro-scale adaptations allow distinct Stylophora pistillata-symbiodiniaceae holobionts to optimize performance across a broad light habitat.

In sessile organisms, phenotypic plasticity represents an important strategy for dealing with environmental variability. Here we test if phenotypic plasticity enables the common coral Stylophora pistillata to occupy a broad niche. We find clear differences in the photo-physiology of four putative species of photosynthetic dinoflagellate symbionts associated with the coral S. pistillata, namely, Cladocopium 'C35a', 'C79', 'C78a' and 'C8a'. Coral phenotypic responses were also tightly linked to symbiont identity. Corals with Cladocopium 'C8a' have more "open" macro-morphology compared to colonies associating with depth-restricted Cladocopium 'C35a' or 'C78a' in the same shallow water habitat. Corals with Cladocopium 'C8a' had 40 to 60% lower symbiont cell densities compared to other holobionts but were more efficient at acclimating over a range of light levels, with clear mechanisms to dissipate excess light energy. This holobiont contains host-based green fluorescent pigments, increased concentrations of symbiont-based mycosporine amino acids, and xanthophyll cycling in high light habitats. Photosynthetic efficiency was also adjusted over the light habitat. In contrast, limited micro-scale responses were observed between three depth-restricted symbionts: Cladocopium 'C79', 'C35a', and 'C78a'. To optimize light levels reaching the photosynthetic unit, these colonies rely on a more closed macro-morphology under high light levels, which reduces incident light levels by up to 43%, and higher symbiont densities . Our results show that distinct macro- and micro-scale adaptations lead to functional differences between four distinct S. pistillata holobionts, allowing them to co-exist by filling specific niches on a small, but environmentally diverse, spatial scale. Key index words: Light, Symbiodiniaceae, coral, pigments, Stylophora pistillata, ITS2, phenotypic plasticity, niche diversification.

Mycosporine-alanine, an oxo-mycosporine, protect Hassallia byssoidea from high UV and solar irradiation on the stone monument of Konark.

Mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) are small natural molecules having potent UV-absorbing and antioxidant properties. Hassallia byssoidea is one dominant cyanobacterium found all over the Konark stone monument, a UNESCO World Heritage site. We characterized mycosporine-alanine for the first time from H. byssoidea and studied its biosynthetic pathway from the whole genome data. We found D-alanyl-D-alanine carboxypeptidase, which might convert mycosporine-glycine to mycosporine-alanine by replacing glycine with alanine or by separate methylation, the mycosporine-glycine is converted to mycosporine-alanine. Our in vitro UV-B exposure experiment and exposure of H. byssoidea to natural sunlight show an increase in biosynthesis of mycosporine-alanine with 12h of UV-B irradiation and high natural sunlight. We also found mycosporine-alanine to have good free radical scavenging activity with an IC50 value of 1.98mg/ml. Our results show due to the presence of mycosporine-alanine H. byssoidea probably tolerate the UV and high solar radiation and continue to colonize on the Konark stone monument as a dominant cyanobacterium.