Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
7.5
4.2
Journals
Toxins
Special Issues
Genomics and Proteomics of Cyanotoxins
share announcement

Genomics and Proteomics of Cyanotoxins

A special issue of Toxins (ISSN 2072-6651).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2014) | Viewed by 35004

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Vitor Vasconcelos

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
2. CIIMAR, Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research of the University of Porto, 4450-208 Porto, Portugal
Interests: cyanobacteria; toxins; cyanotoxins; marine biotechnology; secondary metabolites; cyanobacterial blooms; ecotoxicology; environmental contamination
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Agostinho Antunes

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. CIIMAR/CIMAR, Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixoes, Av. General Norton de Matos, S/N, 4450-208 Porto, Portugal
2. Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
Interests: genomics (from animals to microorganisms); evolution, molecular ecology; conservation; biotechnology; bioinformatics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Alexandre M. Campos

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
CIIMAR, Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research of the University of Porto, 4450-208 Porto, Portugal
Interests: environmental toxicology; water quality; harmful algal blooms; shellfish physiology and metabolism; OMICs
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Cyanobacteria toxins have a diversity of modes of action that are only partially known. Studies on protein differential expression may help us to map new targets for some of these toxins and the pathways of their detoxication metabolism. Advances in genomic approaches have also enhanced the way we understand toxin production and regulation, including the phylogeny of cyanotoxins.

This Special Issue will cover all aspects related to genomics and proteomics approaches on the study of cyanotoxins.

Prof. Dr. Vítor Vasconcelos
Dr. Agostinho Antunes
Dr. Alexandre Campos
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a double-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Toxins is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.


Keywords

  • comparative proteomics and genomics
  • mechanisms of action of cyanotoxins and toxin–protein interactions
  • method development and identification of novel cyanotoxins
  • molecular evolution of cyanotoxins
  • de novo sequencing and posttranslational modifications of cyanotoxins
  • Cyanotoxins biosynthetic pathways
  • metagenomics of cyanotoxins
  • phylogenetics of cyanotoxins
  • molecular evolution of polyketide synthase [PKS] and nonribosomal peptide synthase [NRPS]
  • molecular diversity of cyanotoxins

Published Papers (4 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

1136 KiB  
Article
Impact of Nitrogen Sources on Gene Expression and Toxin Production in the Diazotroph Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii CS-505 and Non-Diazotroph Raphidiopsis brookii D9
by Karina Stucken, Uwe John, Allan Cembella, Katia Soto-Liebe and Mónica Vásquez
Toxins 2014, 6(6), 1896-1915; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins6061896 - 20 Jun 2014
Cited by 40 | Viewed by 7754
Abstract
Different environmental nitrogen sources play selective roles in the development of cyanobacterial blooms and noxious effects are often exacerbated when toxic cyanobacteria are dominant. Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii CS-505 (heterocystous, nitrogen fixing) and Raphidiopsis brookii D9 (non-N2 fixing) produce the nitrogenous toxins cylindrospermopsin (CYN) [...] Read more.
Different environmental nitrogen sources play selective roles in the development of cyanobacterial blooms and noxious effects are often exacerbated when toxic cyanobacteria are dominant. Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii CS-505 (heterocystous, nitrogen fixing) and Raphidiopsis brookii D9 (non-N2 fixing) produce the nitrogenous toxins cylindrospermopsin (CYN) and paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs), respectively. These toxin groups are biosynthesized constitutively by two independent putative gene clusters, whose flanking genes are target for nitrogen (N) regulation. It is not yet known how or if toxin biosynthetic genes are regulated, particularly by N-source dependency. Here we show that binding boxes for NtcA, the master regulator of N metabolism, are located within both gene clusters as potential regulators of toxin biosynthesis. Quantification of intra- and extracellular toxin content in cultures at early stages of growth under nitrate, ammonium, urea and N-free media showed that N-sources influence neither CYN nor PST production. However, CYN and PST profiles were altered under N-free medium resulting in a decrease in the predicted precursor toxins (doCYN and STX, respectively). Reduced STX amounts were also observed under growth in ammonium. Quantification of toxin biosynthesis and transport gene transcripts revealed a constitutive transcription under all tested N-sources. Our data support the hypothesis that PSTs and CYN are constitutive metabolites whose biosynthesis is correlated to cyanobacterial growth rather than directly to specific environmental conditions. Overall, the constant biosynthesis of toxins and expression of the putative toxin-biosynthesis genes supports the usage of qPCR probes in water quality monitoring of toxic cyanobacteria. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Genomics and Proteomics of Cyanotoxins)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

990 KiB  
Article
Exposure of Lycopersicon Esculentum to Microcystin-LR: Effects in the Leaf Proteome and Toxin Translocation from Water to Leaves and Fruits
by Daniel Gutiérrez-Praena, Alexandre Campos, Joana Azevedo, Joana Neves, Marisa Freitas, Remédios Guzmán-Guillén, Ana María Cameán, Jenny Renaut and Vitor Vasconcelos
Toxins 2014, 6(6), 1837-1854; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins6061837 - 11 Jun 2014
Cited by 49 | Viewed by 7208
Abstract
Natural toxins such as those produced by freshwater cyanobacteria have been regarded as an emergent environmental threat. However, the impact of these water contaminants in agriculture is not yet fully understood. The aim of this work was to investigate microcystin-LR (MC-LR) toxicity in [...] Read more.
Natural toxins such as those produced by freshwater cyanobacteria have been regarded as an emergent environmental threat. However, the impact of these water contaminants in agriculture is not yet fully understood. The aim of this work was to investigate microcystin-LR (MC-LR) toxicity in Lycopersicon esculentum and the toxin accumulation in this horticultural crop. Adult plants (2 month-old) grown in a greenhouse environment were exposed for 2 weeks to either pure MC-LR (100 μg/L) or Microcystis aeruginosa crude extracts containing 100 μg/L MC-LR. Chlorophyll fluorescence was measured, leaf proteome investigated with two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Time-of-Flight (MALDI-TOF)/TOF, and toxin bioaccumulation assessed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS)/MS. Variations in several protein markers (ATP synthase subunits, Cytochrome b6-f complex iron-sulfur, oxygen-evolving enhancer proteins) highlight the decrease of the capacity of plants to synthesize ATP and to perform photosynthesis, whereas variations in other proteins (ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase large subunit and ribose-5-phosphate isomerase) suggest an increase of carbon fixation and decrease of carbohydrate metabolism reactions in plants exposed to pure MC-LR and cyanobacterial extracts, respectively. MC-LR was found in roots (1635.21 μg/kg fw), green tomatoes (5.15–5.41 μg/kg fw), mature tomatoes (10.52–10.83 μg/kg fw), and leaves (12,298.18 μg/kg fw). The results raise concerns relative to food safety and point to the necessity of monitoring the bioaccumulation of water toxins in agricultural systems affected by cyanotoxin contamination. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Genomics and Proteomics of Cyanotoxins)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

1005 KiB  
Review
Impact of Environmental Factors on the Regulation of Cyanotoxin Production
by Thangavelu Boopathi and Jang-Seu Ki
Toxins 2014, 6(7), 1951-1978; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins6071951 - 25 Jun 2014
Cited by 126 | Viewed by 12699
Abstract
Cyanobacteria are capable of thriving in almost all environments. Recent changes in climatic conditions due to increased human activities favor the occurrence and severity of harmful cyanobacterial bloom all over the world. Knowledge of the regulation of cyanotoxins by the various environmental factors [...] Read more.
Cyanobacteria are capable of thriving in almost all environments. Recent changes in climatic conditions due to increased human activities favor the occurrence and severity of harmful cyanobacterial bloom all over the world. Knowledge of the regulation of cyanotoxins by the various environmental factors is essential for effective management of toxic cyanobacterial bloom. In recent years, progress in the field of molecular mechanisms involved in cyanotoxin production has paved the way for assessing the role of various factors on the cyanotoxin production. In this review, we present an overview of the influence of various environmental factors on the production of major group of cyanotoxins, including microcystins, nodularin, cylindrospermopsin, anatoxins and saxitoxins. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Genomics and Proteomics of Cyanotoxins)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

552 KiB  
Review
Oligopeptides as Biomarkers of Cyanobacterial Subpopulations. Toward an Understanding of Their Biological Role
by Ramsy Agha and Antonio Quesada
Toxins 2014, 6(6), 1929-1950; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins6061929 - 23 Jun 2014
Cited by 41 | Viewed by 6431
Abstract
Cyanobacterial oligopeptides comprise a wide range of bioactive and/or toxic compounds. While current research is strongly focused on exploring new oligopeptide variants and their bioactive properties, the biological role of these compounds remains elusive. Oligopeptides production abilities show a remarkably patchy distribution among [...] Read more.
Cyanobacterial oligopeptides comprise a wide range of bioactive and/or toxic compounds. While current research is strongly focused on exploring new oligopeptide variants and their bioactive properties, the biological role of these compounds remains elusive. Oligopeptides production abilities show a remarkably patchy distribution among conspecific strains. This observation has prompted alternative approaches to unveil their adaptive value, based on the use of cellular oligopeptide compositions as biomarkers of intraspecific subpopulations or chemotypes in freshwater cyanobacteria. Studies addressing the diversity, distribution, and dynamics of chemotypes in natural systems have provided important insights into the structure and ecology of cyanobacterial populations and the adaptive value of oligopeptides. This review presents an overview of the fundamentals of this emerging approach and its most relevant findings, and discusses our current understanding of the role of oligopeptides in the ecology of cyanobacteria. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Genomics and Proteomics of Cyanotoxins)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-4
Back to TopTop