Antifungal activity improved by coproduction of cyclodextrins and anabaenolysins in Cyanobacteria

Tania K. Shishido , Jouni Jokela, Clara-Theresia Kolehmainen, David P. Fewer, Matti Wahlsten, Hao Wang, Leo Rouhiainen, Ermanno Rizzi, Gianluca De Bellis, Perttu Permi, Kaarina Sivonen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleScientificpeer-review

Abstract

Cyclodextrins are cyclic oligosaccharides widely used in the pharmaceutical industry to improve drug delivery and to increase the solubility of hydrophobic compounds. Anabaenolysins are lipopeptides produced by cyanobacteria with potent lytic activity in cholesterol-containing membranes. Here, we identified the 23- to 24-kb gene clusters responsible for the production of the lipopeptide anabaenolysin. The hybrid nonribosomal peptide synthetase and polyketide synthase biosynthetic gene cluster is encoded in the genomes of three anabaenolysin-producing strains of Anabaena. We detected previously unidentified strains producing known anabaenolysins A and B and discovered the production of new variants of anabaenolysins C and D. Bioassays demonstrated that anabaenolysins have weak antifungal activity against Candida albicans. Surprisingly, addition of the hydrophilic fraction of the whole-cell extracts increased the antifungal activity of the hydrophobic anabaenolysins. The fraction contained compounds identified by NMR as α-, β-, and γ-cyclodextrins, which undergo acetylation. Cyclodextrins have been used for decades to improve the solubility and bioavailability of many drugs including antifungal compounds. This study shows a natural example of cyclodextrins improving the solubility and efficacy of an antifungal compound in an ancient lineage of photosynthetic bacteria.
Original languageEnglish
JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume112
Issue number44
Pages (from-to)13669-13674
Number of pages6
ISSN0027-8424
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2015
MoE publication typeA1 Journal article-refereed

Fields of Science

  • 1183 Plant biology, microbiology, virology

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