Algicide production by the filamentous cyanobacterium Fischerella sp CENA 19

The biosynthesis of algicides produced by a novel Fischerella strain was investigated. Two allelochemicals were identified, the aminoacylpolyketide fischerellin A (FsA) and the alkaloid 12-epi-hapalindole F (HapF). Based on the structure of FsA, genes that could be involved in its biosynthesis, including those encoding nonribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs) and a polyketide synthase (PKS), were identified by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). By showing that the expression of NRPSs and PKSs is concomitant with algicide production we suggest that the identified genes may be involved in algicide biosynthesis. Analysis of an algicide preparation of the Brazilian-Amazonian strain Fischerella sp. CENA 19 revealed the production of FsA, m/z 409 (MH+), HapF, m/z 370 (MH+), and other potential isoforms of the latter compounds, which were identified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and matrix-assisted laser-desorption ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass-spectrometry. The production of HapF was confirmed after purification by HPLC, analysis by NMR, and high-resolution mass-spectrometry (HRMS). Two-NRPS and a PKS gene were identified after specific amplification using a degenerate PCR. The expression of these synthetases was confirmed by Western blot analysis employing enzyme family-specific antibodies. These analyses revealed the presence of three NRPSs and a single PKS in Fischerella sp. CENA 19. The structure of FsA indicates both aminoacyl- and polyketide moeities, suggesting that its biosynthesis may require an integrated NRPS/PKS enzyme system, possibly involving the genes and the synthetases identified.