Cyanobacteria are incredibly versatile and morphologically the most diverse prokaryotic organisms across the globe. Cyanobacteria are capable of synthesizing their own protective metabolites in any harsh environmental condition. Moreover, anthropogenic-induced depletion of the ozone layer has consistently increased UV radiation intensity on the Earth surface. In response to solar radiation, cyanobacteria synthesize photoprotective compounds, including mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs), which provide active protection against solar radiation. In this study, cyanobacteria from diverse habitats, including rice-fields, hot-springs, monuments, rocks, and tree barks, were sampled and isolated. A total of nine cyanobacteria were selected from habitats which have shown different pigment compositions (Chl a, carotenoids, and PBPs), and enzymatic (SOD, POD, and CAT) antioxidant profiles based on their native habitats. The non-enzymatic UV-absorbing pigment, MAAs, were extracted using 100% methanol and partially purified through high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The preliminary acquired data revealed that screened MAAs were MAAs-334 (λmax = 334 nm), MAAs-310a, b (λmax = 310 nm), MAAs-331 (λmax = 331 nm), MAAs-320a, b, c, d (λmax = 320), MAAs-321 (λmax = 321), and MAAs-322 (λmax = 322 nm). In addition, six peaks (λmax = 275, 277, 290, 296, 313, 319 nm) were detected. These results were utilized for isolation of novel MAAs and advancement of production at a large scale from diverse habitats of cyanobacteria. Furthermore, UV-absorbing MAAs may have future potential for application in sunscreen formulations.
Citation: Ram Lal, Megha Jaiswal, Nasreen Amin, Vinod K. Kannaujiya. Ecological screening and functional analysis of pigments, antioxidants and potent sunscreen compounds in cyanobacteria inhabiting diverse habitats[J]. AIMS Molecular Science, 2025, 12(3): 272-291. doi: 10.3934/molsci.2025017
Cyanobacteria are incredibly versatile and morphologically the most diverse prokaryotic organisms across the globe. Cyanobacteria are capable of synthesizing their own protective metabolites in any harsh environmental condition. Moreover, anthropogenic-induced depletion of the ozone layer has consistently increased UV radiation intensity on the Earth surface. In response to solar radiation, cyanobacteria synthesize photoprotective compounds, including mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs), which provide active protection against solar radiation. In this study, cyanobacteria from diverse habitats, including rice-fields, hot-springs, monuments, rocks, and tree barks, were sampled and isolated. A total of nine cyanobacteria were selected from habitats which have shown different pigment compositions (Chl a, carotenoids, and PBPs), and enzymatic (SOD, POD, and CAT) antioxidant profiles based on their native habitats. The non-enzymatic UV-absorbing pigment, MAAs, were extracted using 100% methanol and partially purified through high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The preliminary acquired data revealed that screened MAAs were MAAs-334 (λmax = 334 nm), MAAs-310a, b (λmax = 310 nm), MAAs-331 (λmax = 331 nm), MAAs-320a, b, c, d (λmax = 320), MAAs-321 (λmax = 321), and MAAs-322 (λmax = 322 nm). In addition, six peaks (λmax = 275, 277, 290, 296, 313, 319 nm) were detected. These results were utilized for isolation of novel MAAs and advancement of production at a large scale from diverse habitats of cyanobacteria. Furthermore, UV-absorbing MAAs may have future potential for application in sunscreen formulations.
| [1] | Gao Q, Garcia-Pichel F (2011) Microbial ultraviolet sunscreens. Nat Rev Microbiol 9: 791-802. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrmicro2649 |
| [2] | Chrapusta E, Kaminski A, Duchnik K, et al. (2017) Mycosporine-like amino acids: Potential health and beauty ingredients. Mar Drugs 15: 326. https://doi.org/10.3390/md15100326 |
| [3] | Oren A, Gunde-Cimerman N (2007) Mycosporines and mycosporine-like amino acids: UV protectants or multipurpose secondary metabolites?. FEMS Microbiol Lett 269: 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1574-6968.2007.00650.x |
| [4] | Carreto JI, Carignan MO (2011) Mycosporine-like amino acids: Relevant secondary metabolites. Chemical and ecological aspects. Mar Drugs 9: 387-446. https://doi.org/10.3390/md9030387 |
| [5] | Singh A, Čížková M, Bišová K, et al. (2021) Exploring mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) as safe and natural protective agents against UV-induced skin damage. Antioxidants 10: 683. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox10050683 |
| [6] | Demoulin CF, Lara YJ, Cornet L, et al. (2019) Cyanobacteria evolution: Insight from the fossil record. Free Radical Biol Med 140: 206-223. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2019.05.007 |
| [7] | Stadnichuk IN, Kusnetsov VV (2021) Endosymbiotic origin of chloroplasts in plant cells' evolution. Russ J Plant Physiol 68: 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1134/S1021443721010179 |
| [8] | Shestakov SV, Karbysheva EA (2017) The origin and evolution of cyanobacteria. Biol Bull Rev 7: 259-272. https://doi.org/10.1134/S2079086417040090 |
| [9] | Singh VK, Jha S, Rana P, et al. (2023) Resilience and mitigation strategies of cyanobacteria under ultraviolet radiation stress. Int J Mol Sci 24: 12381. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241512381 |
| [10] | Jain S, Prajapat G, Abrar M, et al. (2017) Cyanobacteria as efficient producers of mycosporine-like amino acids. J Basic Microbiol 57: 715-727. https://doi.org/10.1002/jobm.201700044 |
| [11] | Rastogi RP, Madamwar D, Nakamoto H, et al. (2020) Resilience and self-regulation processes of microalgae under UV radiation stress. J Photoch Photobio C: Photochem Rev 43: 100322. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jphotochemrev.2019.100322 |
| [12] | Lichtenthaler HK, Wellburn AR (1983) Determinations of total carotenoids and chlorophylls a and b of leaf extracts in different solvents. Biochem Soc Trans 11: 591-592. https://doi.org/10.1042/bst0110591 |
| [13] | Kannaujiya VK, Sinha RP (2016) An efficient method for the separation and purification of phycobiliproteins from a rice-field cyanobacterium Nostoc sp. strain HKAR-11. Chromatographia 79: 335-343. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10337-016-3025-0 |
| [14] | Bennett A, Bogorad L (1973) Complementary chromatic adaptation in a filamentous blue-green alga. J Cell Biol 58: 419-435. https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.58.2.419 |
| [15] | Amin N, Sinha RP, Kannaujiya VK (2024) Effects of ultraviolet and photosynthetically active radiation on morphogenesis, antioxidants and photoprotective defense mechanism in a hot-spring cyanobacterium Nostoc sp. strain VKB02. Res Microbiol 175: 104180. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resmic.2024.104180 |
| [16] | Aebi H (1984) Catalase in vitro. Methods Enzymol 105: 121-126. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0076-6879(84)05016-3 |
| [17] | Britton C, Mehley AC (1955) Assay of catalase and peroxidase. Methods in enzymology . New York: Academic Press 764-775. http://doi.org/10.1016/S0076-6879(55)02300-8 |
| [18] | Beyer WF, Fridovich I (1987) Assaying for superoxide dismutase activity: Some large consequences of minor changes in conditions. Anal Biochem 161: 559-566. https://doi.org/10.1016/0003-2697(87)90489-1 |
| [19] | Desikachary TV (1959) Cyanophyta. New Delhi: ICAR. |
| [20] | Komárek J, Kaštovský J, Mareš J, et al. (2014) Taxonomic classification of cyanoprokaryotes (cyanobacterial genera) 2014, using a polyphasic approach. Preslia 86: 295-335. |
| [21] | Pathak J, Singh PR, Sinha RP, et al. (2021) Evolution and distribution of cyanobacteria. Ecophysiology and biochemistry of cyanobacteria . Springer Singapore 1-30. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-4873-1 |
| [22] | Sinha RP, Häder DP (1996) Invited review photobiology and ecophysiology of rice field cyanobacteria. Photochem Photobiol 64: 887-896. |
| [23] | Abd El-Aal AAM (2022) Anabaena-azollae, significance and agriculture application: A case study for symbiotic cyanobacterium. Microbial syntrophy-mediated eco-enterprising . Academic Press 1-14. |
| [24] | Hendrayanti D, Khoiriyah I, Fadilah N, et al. (2018) Diversity of N2-fixing cyanobacteria in organic rice field during the cycle of rice crops. AIP Conf Proc 2002: 020011. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5050107 |
| [25] | Keshari N, Adhikary SP (2014) Diversity of cyanobacteria on stone monuments and building facades of India and their phylogenetic analysis. Int Biodeter Biodegr 90: 45-51. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ibiod.2014.01.014 |
| [26] | Zhang Y, Duan P, Zhang P, et al. (2018) Variations in cyanobacterial and algal communities and soil characteristics under biocrust development under similar environmental conditions. Plant Soil 429: 241-251. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-017-3443-2 |
| [27] | Pathak J, Richa, Rajneesh, et al. (2015) Isolation and partial purification of scytonemin and mycosporine-like amino acids from biological crusts. J Chem Pharm Res 7: 362-371. |
| [28] | Rastogi RP, Kumari S, Richa, et al. (2012) Molecular characterization of hot spring cyanobacteria and evaluation of their photoprotective compounds. Can J Microbiol 58: 719-727. https://doi.org/10.1139/w2012-044 |
| [29] | Díez B, Ininbergs K (2014) Ecological importance of cyanobacteria. Cyanobacteria: An economic perspective . USA: Wiley 43-63. |
| [30] | Fernández-Valiente E, Quesada A (2004) A shallow water ecosystem: Rice-fields. The relevance of cyanobacteria in the ecosystem. Limnetica 23: 095-107. |
| [31] | Singh AP, Gupta A, Singh PR, et al. (2024) Synergistic effects of salt and ultraviolet radiation on the rice-field cyanobacterium Nostochopsis lobatus HKAR-21. Photochem Photobiol Sci 23: 285-302. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43630-023-00517-y |
| [32] | Singh A, Tyagi MB, Kumar A (2017) Cyanobacteria growing on tree barks possess high amount of sunscreen compound mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs). Plant Physiol Biochem 119: 110-120. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plaphy.2017.08.020 |
| [33] | Jaiswal TP, Chakraborty S, Sharma S, et al. (2023) Prospects of a hot spring–originated novel cyanobacterium, Scytonema ambikapurensis, for wastewater treatment and exopolysaccharide-enriched biomass production. Environ Sci Pollut Res 30: 53424-53444. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-26032-2 |
| [34] | Tang J, Du L, Li M, et al. (2022) Characterization of a novel hot-spring cyanobacterium Leptodesmis sichuanensis sp. nov. and genomic insights of molecular adaptations into its habitat. Front Microbiol 12: 739625. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2021.739625 |
| [35] | Rastogi RP, Incharoensakdi A (2014) Characterization of UV-screening compounds, mycosporine-like amino acids, and scytonemin in the cyanobacterium Lyngbya sp. CU2555. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 87: 244-256. https://doi.org/10.1111/1574-6941.12220 |
| [36] | Vega J, Schneider G, Moreira BR, et al. (2021) Mycosporine-like amino acids from red macroalgae: UV-photoprotectors with potential cosmeceutical applications. Appl Sci 11: 5112. https://doi.org/10.3390/app11115112 |
| [37] | Geraldes V, Pinto E (2021) Mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs): Biology, chemistry and identification features. Pharmaceuticals 14: 63. https://doi.org/10.3390/ph14010063 |
| [38] | Lal R, Amin N, Shrivastava UP, et al. (2025) Characterization and in silico anti-melanogenic potentials of mycosporine-like amino acids of epiphytic lichen isolated from central Nepal. Vegetos . https://doi.org/10.1007/s42535-025-01275-1 |
| [39] | Carreto JI, Carignan MO, Montoya NG (2005) A high-resolution reverse-phase liquid chromatography method for the analysis of mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) in marine organisms. Mar Biol 146: 237-252. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-004-1447-y |
| [40] | Singh SP, Sinha RP, Klisch M, et al. (2008) Mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) profile of a rice-field cyanobacterium Anabaena doliolum as influenced by PAR and UVR. Planta 229: 225-233. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-008-0822-1 |
| [41] | Kedar L, Kashman Y, Oren A (2002) Mycosporine-2-glycine is the major mycosporine-like amino acid in a unicellular cyanobacterium (Euhalothece sp.) isolated from a gypsum crust in a hypersaline saltern pond. FEMS Microbiol Lett 208: 233-237. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1574-6968.2002.tb11087.x |
| [42] | Rastogi RP, Incharoensakdi A (2014) Analysis of UV-absorbing photoprotectant mycosporine-like amino acid (MAA) in the cyanobacterium Arthrospira sp. CU2556. Photochem Photobiol Sci 13: 1016-1024. https://doi.org/10.1039/c4pp00013g |
| [43] | Waditee-Sirisattha R, Kageyama H, Sopun W, et al. (2014) Identification and upregulation of biosynthetic genes required for accumulation of mycosporine-2-glycine under salt stress conditions in the halotolerant cyanobacterium Aphanothece halophytica. Appl Environ Microbiol 80: 1763-1769. https://doi.org/10.1128/AEM.03729-13 |
| [44] | Bandaranayake WM (1998) Mycosporines: Are they nature's sunscreens?. Nat Prod Rep 15: 159-172. |
| [45] | Whitehead K, Karentz D, Hedges J (2001) Mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) in phytoplankton, a herbivorous pteropod (Limacina helicina), and its pteropod predator (Clione antarctica) in McMurdo Bay, Antarctica. Mar Biol 139: 1013-1019. https://doi.org/10.1007/s002270100654 |
| [46] | Zhang H, Jiang Y, Zhou C, et al. (2022) Occurrence of mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) from the bloom-forming cyanobacteria Aphanizomenon strains. Molecules 27: 1734. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27051734 |
| [47] | Nazifi E, Wada N, Yamaba M, et al. (2013) Glycosylated Porphyra-334 and Palythine-Threonine from the terrestrial cyanobacterium Nostoc commune. Mar Drugs 11: 3124-3154. https://doi.org/10.3390/md11093124 |
| [48] | Sinha RP, Ambasht NK, Sinha JP, et al. (2003) UV-B-induced synthesis of mycosporine-like amino acids in three strains of Nodularia (cyanobacteria). J Photochem Photobiol B 71: 51-58. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2003.07.003 |
| [49] | Torres A, Enk CD, Hochberg M, et al. (2006) Porphyra-334, a potential natural source for UVA protective sunscreens. Photochem Photobiol Sci 5: 432-435. https://doi.org/10.1039/b517330m |
| [50] | Kageyama H, Waditee-Sirisattha R (2019) Antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-aging properties of mycosporine-like amino acids: Molecular and cellular mechanisms in the protection of skin-aging. Mar Drugs 17: 222. https://doi.org/10.3390/md17040222 |
| [51] | Arsın S, Pollari M, Delbaje E, et al. (2024) A refactored biosynthetic pathway for the production of glycosylated microbial sunscreens. RSC Chem Biol 5: 1035-1044. https://doi.org/10.1039/d4cb00128a |
| [52] | Boucar MCM, Shen LQ, Wang K, et al. (2021) UV-B irradiation enhances the production of unique mycosporine-like amino acids and carotenoids in the subaerial cyanobacterium Pseudanabaena sp. CCNU1. Eur J Phycol 56: 316-323. |
| [53] | Pandey A, Amin N, Kannaujiya VK, et al. (2024) Extraction, characterization and antioxidative potentials of UV-screening compound, mycosporine-like amino acids from epilithic cyanobacterium Lyngbya sp. HKAR–15. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 40: 378. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11274-024-04184-8 |
| [54] | Kokabi M, Yousefzadi M, Ebrahimi SN, et al. (2022) Evaluating the photoprotective potential of Leptolyngbya sp. Acta Physiol Plant 44: 94. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-022-03416-4 |
| [55] | Geraldes V, Jacinavicius FR, Genuário DB, et al. (2019) Identification and distribution of mycosporine-like amino acids in Brazilian cyanobacteria using ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection coupled to quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Rapid Commun Mass Spectrom 34: e8634. https://doi.org/10.1002/rcm.8634 |
| [56] | Sun Y, Zhang N, Zhou J, et al. (2020) Distribution, contents, and types of mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) in marine macroalgae and a database for MAAs based on these characteristics. Mar Drugs 18: 43. https://doi.org/10.3390/md18010043 |
| [57] | Sinha RP, Singh SP, Häder DP (2007) Database on mycosporines and mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) in fungi, cyanobacteria, macroalgae, phytoplankton and animals. J Photochem Photobiol B 89: 29-35. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2007.07.006 |
| [58] | Bufka J, Vaňková L, Sýkora J, et al. (2024) Exploring carotenoids: Metabolism, antioxidants, and impacts on human health. J Funct Foods 118: 106284. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jff.2024.106284 |
| [59] | Kokabi M, Yousefzadi M, Soltani M, et al. (2019) Effects of different UV radiation on photoprotective pigments and antioxidant activity of the hot-spring cyanobacterium Leptolyngbya cf. fragilis. Phycol Res 67: 215-220. https://doi.org/10.1111/pre.12374 |
| [60] | Sonani RR, Singh NK, Kumar J, et al. (2014) Concurrent purification and antioxidant activity of phycobiliproteins from Lyngbya sp. A09DM: An antioxidant and anti-aging potential of phycoerythrin in Caenorhabditis elegans. Process Biochem 49: 1757-1766. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procbio.2014.06.022 |
Figures(5) / Tables(3)
Ram Lal, Megha Jaiswal, Nasreen Amin, Vinod K. Kannaujiya. Ecological screening and functional analysis of pigments, antioxidants and potent sunscreen compounds in cyanobacteria inhabiting diverse habitats[J]. AIMS Molecular Science, 2025, 12(3): 272-291. doi: 10.3934/molsci.2025017
DownLoad: