Exceptionally high undecylprodigiosin production
by newly isolated Streptomyces sp. JS520
V. Radulovic, N. Stankovic, B. Vasiljevic, J. Nikodinovic-Runic
University of Belgrade, Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, Belgrade, Serbia; Laboratory for Microbial Molecular Genetics and Ecology
Undecylprodigiosin - red pigment with antibacterial, antioxidative and UV protective properties
Undecylprodigiosin ((5'Z)-4'-methoxy-5''-[(5-undecyl-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)methylene]-1H,5'H-2,2'-bipyrrol) (Fig.1), also known as prodigiosin C-25,
is a dark-red bioactive pigment described as secondary metabolite in both Gram-negative (Serratia marcecens SS-1) and Gram-positive
(Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2)) bacteria (1). It has immunosuppressive and apoptosis-inducible activity as well as antibacterial,
antioxidative and UV protective properties. The role of undecylprodigiosin production in the bacteria is not understood completely but it has been,
suggested that it gives a survival advantage in competition with other microorganisms in the environment (2). Multiple ecophysiological roles of
of the pigment were revealed in this work by comparing cultures grown under pigment-producing and pigment-nonproducing conditions (3).
OMe
H
N
N
N
H
(CH2)10CH3
Figure 1. Structure of undecylprodigiosin
Figure 2. a)JS520 isolate grown on mannitol soy agar; b) MSY broth
c) methanolic extracts of mycelium grown in different media; TSB (Tryptone Soy Broth)
NB (Nutrient broth), GYM (glucose-yeast-medium), MSY (maltose-soy-broth)
Undecylprodigiosin - production by Streptomyces sp. JS520
In this work we have isolated a new Streptomyces strain designated JS520 with the
ability to produce exceptionally high quantities of undecylprodigiosin (3). The JS520 isolate
was grown in MSY medium in shaken flask for 7 days (Fig. 2b) during which time biomass
and undecylprodigiosin production were monitored (Fig. 3). The production of the pigment
was tested in different kind of media where the highest production was observed in MSY
medium (66 mg/l) and no pigment was detected in TSB medium. This is the highest reported
amount of undecylprodigiosin for any member of Streptomyces or any other genus of
Actinobacteria (3).
a)
Figure 3. Undecylprodigiosin (filled diamonds) and biomass
concentration (cell dry weight; empty diamonds) in
Streptomyces sp. JS520 cultures.
b)
The ecophysiological roles of the pigment (UV and antioxidative and protection
against and antimicrobial agents-tetracycline, kanamycin and chloramphenicol) were
studied from the comparison of pigmented and nonpigmented JS520 cells (Fig. 4).
The zone of clearing are 3- and 2.3-fold smaller when 100 and 200 mM H2O2 were
applied on pigmented JS520 cells indicating that these cells could tolerate presence
of hydrogen peroxide. It is observed that these cells are also less susceptible to
tetracycline, kanamycin, chloramphenicol and 8-hydroxyquinoline since when
exposed to different concentrations of antibiotics and 8-hydroxyquinoline the zones of
clearing are smaller in comparison to undecylprodigiosin-nonproducing cells.
Figure 4. Sensitivity of Streptomyces sp. JS520 cells grown under
pigment-producing (black bars) and pigment-nonproducing conditions
(white bars) to: a) H2O2 and b) antibiotics
Future prospects
Streptomyces sp. JS520, as a new isolate with the exceptional ability to produce undecylprodigiosin and should be further exploited in the
biotechnological and bioprocess optimization studies in the light of potential commercial values. Due to its antioxidative, antimicrobial and
UV-protective properties undecylprodigiosin has a potential to be further exploited for various applications in pharmaceutical industry as a
potent anticancer drug but as well in food and textile industries since the microbial pigment production is one of the emerging fields of
research to demonstrate its potential for different applications.
References:
1. Furstner A (2003) Chemistry and biology of roseophilin and the prodigiosin alkaloids: a survey of the last 2500 years. Angew Chem 42: 3582-3603
2. Staric N, Danevcic T, Stopar D (2010) Vibrio sp. DSM 14379 pigment production- a competitive advantage in the environment. Micro Ecol 60: 592-598
3. Stankovic N, Radulovic V, Petkovic M, Vuckovic I, Jadranin M, Vasiljevic B, Nikodinovic-Runic J (2012) Streptomyces sp. JS520 produces exceptionally
high quantities of undecylprodigiosin with antibacterial, antioxidative and UV-protective properties. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol [DOI:10.1007/s00253-012-4237-3]
correspondence: [email protected]; [email protected]