Susana P. Gaudêncio
Wasu Pathom-aree- 1Associate Laboratory i4HB, Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, NOVA Faculty of Sciences and Technology, NOVA University of Lisbon, Caparica, Portugal
- 2UCIBIO, Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Chemistry Department, NOVA Faculty of Sciences and Technology, NOVA University of Lisbon, Caparica, Portugal
- 3Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Editorial on the Research Topic
Actinomycete natural products: isolation, structure elucidation, biological activity, biosynthesis, and yield improvement
Introduction
Natural products from Actinobacteria,Hsi commonly known as actinomycetes, have historically provided humans with numerous antibiotics (e.g., streptomycin, gentamicin, and vancomycin) (Schatz et al., 1944; Cooper and Yudis, 1967; Rake et al., 1986), anticancer agents (e.g., doxorubicin, bleomycin, and calicheamicins) (Shastri et al., 1971; Maiese et al., 1989), and agrochemicals (e.g., avermectin and spinosad) (West, 1996; Molinari et al., 2010). It should be highlighted that approximately two-thirds of all approved antibiotics are derived from actinomycetes, predominantly by Streptomyces species, underscoring the importance of these microorganisms (Barka et al., 2016).
The discovery and biological evaluation of new natural products from actinomycetes is an endless frontier in the post-genomic era, primarily driven by advances in microbial genomics and synthetic biology. Understanding the biosynthesis of actinomycete natural products not only elucidates how nature constructs these complex molecules from small building blocks, such as amino acids and acyl-CoA, but also provides a basis for improving their yields for industrial development. Some natural products feature unprecedented structural scaffolds and impressive biological activities, inspiring synthetic and medicinal chemists to design and synthesize the next-generation of medicines. Additionally, actinomycetes have the advantage of enabling the retrieval of natural products through fermentation techniques.
The Research Topic “Actinomycete natural products: isolation, structure elucidation, biological activity, biosynthesis, and yield improvement” includes five articles reporting original research. The research contributions span from exploring diverse actinomycete origins, such as ocean sediments and atmospheric-derived actinomycetes, to the characterization and identification of actinomycete isolates and the dereplication, isolation, structural elucidation and configuration determination, bioactivity testing and toxicity evaluation of novel secondary metabolites, as well as biosynthetic pathway analysis. The five contributions are described below by publication date.
2 Natural products, including a new caboxamycin, from streptomyces and other actinobacteria isolated in Spain from storm clouds transported by northern winds of arctic origin
Atmospheric-derived actinomycetes represent a novel and promising source for drug discovery, traditionally focused on terrestrial and marine environments. The isolation of 18 bioactive actinomycete strains from storm clouds over Northern Spain highlights an innovative perspective on their natural habitat and dispersal. Air masses traced to the Arctic Ocean, Canada, Greenland, and Europe suggest that atmospheric pathways significantly influence microbial distribution and diversity. Detection of 94 secondary metabolites, including 69 known and 25 novel compounds, underscores the chemical diversity and potential biological activities of these microorganisms. The pioneering isolation and structural determination of caboxamycin B from Streptomyces sp. A-177 marks the first novel natural product from an atmospheric Streptomyces. This study emphasizes the importance of bioprospecting atmospheric environments to discover new bioactive compounds with significant pharmaceutical applications, broadening our understanding of microbial ecology and enhancing prospects for innovative drug development.
3 Crystal structure of the α-ketoglutarate-dependent non-heme iron oxygenase CmnC in capreomycin biosynthesis and its engineering to catalyze hydroxylation of the substrate enantiomer
The study delves into α-KG-dependent non-heme iron oxygenases, focusing on CmnC in antibiotic biosynthesis. Comparing CmnC with VioC and OrfP reveals conservation in substrate binding despite differing substrate specificities, particularly in hydroxylating d-Arg. Identification of critical residues (Leu136, Ser138, Asp249) in CmnC, distinct from OrfP, enhances understanding of enzyme-substrate interactions. Engineering CmnC to favor d-Arg with the triple mutant CmnCL136Q, S138G, D249Y showcases potential for tailored enzyme activity via mutagenesis. These findings extend to biocatalysis and drug development, facilitating the design of novel biocatalysts for chiral compound synthesis and antibiotic production. Insights into biosynthetic enzyme nuances like CmnC also inform strategies for discovering and optimizing therapeutic agents.
4 An in-cluster Sfp-type phosphopantetheinyl transferase instead of the holo-ACP synthase activates the granaticin biosynthesis under natural physiological conditions
This study enhances understanding of polyketide biosynthesis, focusing on acyl carrier protein (ACP) activation by phosphopantetheinyl transferases (PPTases). Gra-ORF32 in Streptomyces vietnamensis is identified as a dedicated PPTase for granaticin biosynthesis, featuring a crucial Arg- and Pro-rich N terminus that underscores its functional separation from fatty acid biosynthesis. Various endogenous and exogenous PPTases demonstrate broad substrate recognition, albeit with differing efficiencies, highlighting the enzymes’ evolutionary flexibility. Crosstalk between the granaticin and kinamycin-like pathways on ISP2 plates illustrates pathway complexity and potential for enhancing secondary metabolite production through engineering. The strict regulation of host FAS ACPS and its inability to replace Gra-ORF32 under natural conditions reveals precise control mechanisms in polyketide biosynthesis, crucial for type II PKS reconstitution in heterologous hosts like E. coli. This research contributes significantly to natural product biosynthesis and metabolic engineering by elucidating PPTase roles and regulatory mechanisms, offering insights for pathway optimization and the development of new antibiotics and therapeutics amid increasing antimicrobial resistance.
5 Nocaviogua A and B: two lipolanthines from root-nodule-associated Nocardia sp.
The discovery of Nocaviogua A and B expands the known diversity of natural products, particularly within the emerging class of lipolanthines. These compounds, featuring a non-canonical avionin (Avi)-containing macrocycle and a long acyl chain, were isolated from a mutualistic actinomycete associated with sea buckthorn root nodules in Tibet. This context highlights the importance of exploring unique ecological niches for novel bioactive compounds. The structural elucidation of Nocaviogua A and B, including their absolute configurations, marks the first comprehensive characterization of this family of lipolanthines. This finding adds to the chemical diversity known from natural sources and provides a basis for future chemical and biological studies. Although Nocaviogua A exhibited only weak cytotoxicity against the tested cancer cell lines, this initial assessment is crucial for understanding the biological potential of lipolanthines.
6 Novel metabolite madeirone and neomarinone extracted from Streptomyces aculeoletus as marine antibiofilm and antifouling agents
Madeirone and neomarinone, identified from Streptomyces aculeoletus, offer promising solutions to marine biofouling, a pervasive challenge affecting industries such as shipping and aquaculture. With the global ban on organotin compounds used as antifouling agents, there is a critical need for environmentally friendly alternatives. These compounds exhibit potent antibiofilm activity against marine fouling bacteria and effectively prevent the settlement of marine larvae without harming bacterial viability. In silico toxicity predictions and in vivo ecotoxicity studies on marine organisms support their potential as safe antifouling agents. The study also suggests avenues for exploring their biosynthetic pathways, modes of action, and potential modifications to enhance efficacy and safety. Furthermore, this research underscores the importance of investigating marine microorganisms for development of novel antifouling strategies, contributing to sustainable solutions for biofouling management.
Author contributions
SG: Conceptualization, Data curation, Funding acquisition, Project administration, Validation, Visualization, Writing–original draft, Writing–review and editing. WP-a: Validation, Visualization, Writing–review and editing, Writing–original draft.
Funding
The author(s) declare that financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. This work is financed by national funds from FCT—Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P., in the scope of the project UIDP/04378/2020 of the Research Unit on Applied Molecular Biosciences—UCIBIO, the project LA/P/0140/2020 of the Associate Laboratory Institute for Health and Bioeconomy—i4HB.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
Publisher’s note
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
References
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Cooper, D., and Yudis, M. (1967). The gentamicin antibiotics. Isolation and characterisation of methyl garosaminide, a novel aminohexopyranoside. Chem. Commun. Lond. 16, 821–822. doi:10.1039/c19670000821
Maiese, W., Lechevalier, M., Lechevalier, H., Korshalla, J., Kuck, N., Fantini, A., et al. (1989). Calicheamicins, a novel family of antitumor antibiotics. Taxonomy, fermentation and biological properties. J. Antibiot. 42, 558–563. doi:10.7164/antibiotics.42.558
Molinari, G., Soloneski, S., and Larramendy, M. L. (2010). New Ventures in the Genotoxic and cytotoxic effects of macrocyclic lactones, abamectin and ivermectin. Cytogenet Genome Res. 128, 37–45. doi:10.1159/000293923
Rake, J., Gerber, R., Mehta, R., Newman, D., Oh, Y., Phelen, C., et al. (1986). Glycopeptide antibiotics: a mechanism-based screen employing a bacterial cell wall receptor mimetic. J. Antibiot. 39, 58–67. doi:10.7164/antibiotics.39.58
Schatz, A., Bugle, E., and Waksman, S. (1944). Streptomycin, a substance exhibiting antibiotic activity against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Exp. Biol. Med. 55, 66–69. doi:10.3181/00379727-55-14461
Shastri, S., Slayton, R., Wolter, J., Perlia, C., and Taylor, S. (1971). Clinical study with bleomycin. Cancer 28, 1142–1146. doi:10.1002/1097-0142(1971)28:5<1142::aid-cncr2820280509>3.0.co;2-a
Keywords: actinobacteria, natural products, isolation and structure elucidation, drug discovery, biotechnological applications, blue biotechnology
Citation: Gaudêncio SP and Pathom-aree W (2024) Editorial: Actinomycete natural products: isolation, structure elucidation, biological activity, biosynthesis, and yield improvement. Front. Chem. 12:1471029. doi: 10.3389/fchem.2024.1471029
Received: 26 July 2024; Accepted: 02 August 2024;
Published: 09 August 2024.
Edited and reviewed by:
John D. Wade, University of Melbourne, AustraliaCopyright © 2024 Gaudêncio and Pathom-aree. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Susana P. Gaudêncio, s.gaudencio@fct.unl.pt