Iron availability affects mcyD expression and microcystin-LR synthesis in Microcystis aeruginosa PCC7806

Microcystins are toxins produced by cyanobacteria that entail serious health and environmental problems. They are cyclic heptapeptides synthesized via a mixed polyketide synthase/non-ribosomal peptide synthetase system called microcystin synthetase. Environmental and nutritional factors that trigger...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental microbiology 2008-10, Vol.10 (10), p.2476-2483
Main Authors: Sevilla, Emma, Martin-Luna, Beatriz, Vela, Laura, Bes, M. Teresa, Fillat, Maria F, Peleato, M. Luisa
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bacterial Proteins - biosynthesis
Base Sequence
Cyanobacteria
Cyanophyta
Gene Expression Profiling
Iron - metabolism
Microcystins - biosynthesis
Microcystis - genetics
Microcystis - metabolism
Microcystis aeruginosa
Molecular Sequence Data
Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
Transcription Initiation Site
Transcription, Genetic
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Summary:Microcystins are toxins produced by cyanobacteria that entail serious health and environmental problems. They are cyclic heptapeptides synthesized via a mixed polyketide synthase/non-ribosomal peptide synthetase system called microcystin synthetase. Environmental and nutritional factors that trigger microcystin synthesis are still debated and this work deals with the study of the influence of iron nutritional status on the microcystin synthesis. The results indicate that iron deficiency could be one of the inducing factors of the microcystin synthesis. For the first time, increased transcription of an essential mcy gene and correlative microcystin synthesis has been established. Real-time PCR analysis of mcyD, and microcystin-LR synthesis were studied on Microcystis aeruginosa PCC7806 grown in iron-replete and iron-deplete media. Iron starvation causes an increase of mcyD transcription, correlative to the increase of microcystin-LR levels. Four transcription start points were identified for mcyD and two for mcyA, and they are not changed as a consequence of iron deficiency.
ISSN:1462-2912
1462-2920
DOI:10.1111/j.1462-2920.2008.01663.x