Pseudonocardia cytotoxica sp. nov., a novel actinomycete isolated from an Arctic fjord with potential to produce cytotoxic compound

Herein we report the isolation of a novel actinomycete, strain MCCB 268(T), from the sediment sample collected from a high Arctic fjord Kongsfjorden. MCCB 268(T) showed greater than 97% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with those of Pseudonocardia konjuensis LM 157(T) (98.06%), Pseudonocardia soli NW8-21 (97.22%) Pseudonocardia endophytica YIM 56035 (97.08%) and Pseudonocardia nantongensis KLBMP 1282 (97.34%) showing that the strain should be assigned to the genus Pseudonocardia. DNA-DNA hybridization with Pseudonocardia konjuensis LM 157(T) showed only 41.5% relatedness to strain MCCB 268(T). The whole genome of the strain MCCB 268(T) was sequenced. Whole-genome average nucleotide identity, dDDH (%) and genome tree analysis demonstrated that strain significantly differed from other Pseudonocardia species. The G + C content was 70.5 mol%. MCCB 268(T) exhibited in vitro cytotoxicity and through bioassay guided fractionation followed by HPLC separation a cytotoxic compound (I) was isolated. The compound (I) was identified as 1-acetyl-beta-carboline through NMR spectra and high-resolution mass spectrometry. Compound (I) showed cytotoxicity against lung cancer cell line and mode of anticancer activity was found to be through the induction of apoptosis. Based on the genotypic and phenotypic features, MCCB 268(T) ought to be classified as a novel species under the genus Pseudonocardia for which the name Pseudonocardia cytotoxica sp. nov. is proposed (= CCUG72333(T) = JCM32718(T)).

Automated summary

A novel actinomycete strain, MCCB 268(T), was isolated from sediment samples collected from a high Arctic fjord Kongsfjorden. Through genetic and phenotypic analysis, it was identified as a new species of the genus Pseudonocardia with potential cytotoxic and anticancer activities.