Genome Mining, Microbial Interactions, and Molecular Networking Reveals New Dibromoalterochromides from Strains of Pseudoalteromonas of Coiba National Park-Panama

Researchers have identified two new dibromoalterochromides, compounds with potential antimicrobial properties, produced by strains of the marine bacterium Pseudoalteromonas found in Coiba National Park and its Special Zone of Marine Protection. The study employed genome mining, microbial interaction analyses, and molecular networking to uncover these novel molecules. By sequencing the genomes of six Pseudoalteromonas strains—three pigmented and three non-pigmented—the team discovered that pigmentation correlates with a higher diversity of biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs), particularly those encoding nonribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPS) and polyketide synthases (PKS). These findings suggest that pigmented strains may possess greater metabolic versatility, offering new avenues for discovering bioactive compounds from marine microbial communities.

Atencio, L. A., Boya P., C. A., Martin H., C., Mejía, L. C., Dorrestein, P. C., & Gutiérrez, M. (2020). Genome Mining, Microbial Interactions, and Molecular Networking Reveals New Dibromoalterochromides from Strains of Pseudoalteromonas of Coiba National Park-Panama. Marine Drugs, 18(9), 456. https://doi.org/10.3390/md18090456