Open AccessCharacterization of UV ‐screening compounds, mycosporine‐like amino acids, and scytonemin in the cyanobacterium L yngbya sp. CU 2555
Author(s) -
Rastogi Rajesh P.,
Incharoensakdi Aran
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
fems microbiology ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.377
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 1574-6941
pISSN - 0168-6496
DOI - 10.1111/1574-6941.12220
Subject(s) - biology , cyanobacteria , lyngbya , amino acid , botany , biochemistry , bacteria , genetics
Ultraviolet‐screening compounds from the cyanobacterium L yngbya sp. CU 2555 were partially characterized and investigated for their induction by UV radiation, stability under different abiotic factors, and free radical scavenging activity. Based on the high‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detector and ion trap liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis, the compounds were identified as palythine ( UV λ max : 319 nm; m / z : 245), asterina ( UV λ max : 330 nm; m / z : 289), scytonemin ( UV λ max : 384 nm; mw: 544), and reduced scytonemin ( UV λ max : 384 nm; m / z : 547). This is the first report for the occurrence of palythine, asterina, and an unknown mycosporine‐like amino acids ( MAA ), M ‐312 ( UV λ max : 312 ± 1 nm), in addition to scytonemin and reduced scytonemin in L yngbya strains studied so far. Induction of MAA s and scytonemin was significantly more prominent upon exposure to UV ‐ A + UV ‐ B radiation. Both MAA s and scytonemin were highly resistant to some physicochemical factors such as UV ‐ B , heat, and a strong oxidizing agent and exhibited strong antioxidant activity. These results indicate that the studied cyanobacterium may protect itself from deleterious short‐wavelength radiation by synthesizing photoprotective compounds in response to harmful UV radiation.