Biosynthetic pathway of mycosporines (mycosporine-like amino acids) in the cyanobacterium Chlorogloeopsis sp. strain PCC 6912

We used metabolic inhibitors and radiolabelled tracers to investigate the biosynthetic pathway for mycosporines (mycosporine-like amino acids) in the facultatively heterotrophic cyanobacterium (blue-green alga) Chlorogloeopsis sp. strain PCC 6912. 14C-pyruvate was taken up and resulted in labelling of the core cyclohexenone, whereas feeding with 14C-acetate did not label cyclohexenone, in spite of strong cellular uptake. In addition, mycosporine synthesis was depressed in the presence of externally administered tyrosine (5 mM), a known feedback inhibitor of the shikimic acid pathway in cyanobacteria. We thus conclude that the mycosporine core cyclohexenone in cyanobacteria is derived from the shikimate pathway,...

Categories: Publication; Types: Citation, Journal Citation; Tags: International Phycological Society, Phycologia