menu.header.image.unacom.logo
 

Journal Articles - UP - MSI

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://repository.unesco.gov.ph/handle/123456789/50

Browse

Filters

2022 - 20232

Settings

AGROVOC Keyword: search.filters.agrovoc.isolationSDG: search.filters.sdg.SDG 14 - Life below water

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • No Thumbnail Available
    A conserved biosynthetic gene cluster is regulated by quorum sensing in a shipworm symbiont
    Robes, Jose Miguel D.; Altamia, Marvin A.; Murdock, Ethan G.; Concepcion, Gisela; Haygood, Margo G.; Puri, Aaron W. (American Society for Microbiology, 2022-06-14)
    Bacterial symbionts often provide critical functions for their hosts. For example, wood-boring bivalves called shipworms rely on cellulolytic endosymbionts for wood digestion. However, how the relationship between shipworms and their bacterial symbionts is formed and maintained remains unknown. Quorum sensing (QS) often plays an important role in regulating symbiotic relationships. We identified and characterized a QS system found in Teredinibacter sp. strain 2052S, a gill isolate of the wood-boring shipworm Bactronophorus cf. thoracites. We determined that 2052S produces the signal N-decanoyl-l-homoserine lactone (C10-HSL) and that this signal controls the activation of a biosynthetic gene cluster colocated in the symbiont genome that is conserved among all symbiotic Teredinibacter isolates. We subsequently identified extracellular metabolites associated with the QS regulon, including ones linked to the conserved biosynthetic gene cluster, using mass spectrometry-based molecular networking. Our results demonstrate that QS plays an important role in regulating secondary metabolism in this shipworm symbiont. This information provides a step toward deciphering the molecular details of the relationship between these symbionts and their hosts. Furthermore, because shipworm symbionts harbor vast yet underexplored biosynthetic potential, understanding how their secondary metabolism is regulated may aid future drug discovery efforts using these organisms.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Genistein and daidzein from a sponge-associated fungus (Family: Microstromataceae) show dose and incubation time-dependent Ca2+ influx activity variation
    Azcuna, Miguel Enrique Ma.; Acyatan, Zildjian; Manzano, Geminne; Yu, Clairecynth; Aliño, Porfirio Alexander M.; Altamia, Marvin; Salvador-Reyes, Lilibeth; Concepcion, Gisela P. (Philippine Association for the Advancement of Science and Technology, 2023-10-31)
    The compounds genistein and daidzein were obtained from the broth culture of a fungus isolated from the Philippine blue sponge Xestospongia sp. Genomic sequencing (18S rRNA) resulted in no exact hits and low sequence similarity (91%) to two species of fungi under the family Microstromataceae: Sympodiomycopsis vantaiensis and Microstromatales sp. Genistein has gained attention in recent years because of its potential to delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. This is the first report of genistein and daidzein isolated from a marine-derived fungus. Genistein and daidzein have a wide range of biological activities (e.g., neuroprotective, antimicrobial, anticancer), and this study reports a variation in intracellular [Ca2+] levels in dorsal root ganglion cells (DRGs) post-administration depending on dose and incubation time. An incubation time of 10 min resulted in a block effect, which was evidenced by decreased intracellular [Ca2+] levels. A dose-response was observed as the intensity of intracellular [Ca2+] decreased further at a higher dose. Conversely, an incubation time of 5 min resulted in an increase effect which was evidenced by decreased intracellular [Ca2+] levels. The similarity of these compounds with potent estrogens indicates that estrogen-mediated receptor signaling is the mechanism of action for the increase effect. The block effect, however, could be caused by a variety of factors, such as neurotoxicity or an ER stress response that results in the release of pro- and anti-apoptotic proteins. These findings confirm the ability of genistein to regulate [Ca2+] influx and the expression of apoptosis-related proteins. Further studies should investigate these mechanisms to understand the neuroprotective activities of genistein and daidzein.
    We thank the Drug Discovery and Health Products (DDHP) – Marine Component Project 1 for providing the sponge sample for fungal isolation. We thank Dr. Eizadora Yu of the Institute of Chemistry, University of the Philippines Diliman for providing fungal primers for DNA extraction and obtaining DNA sequences from the fungal sample.