genome mining – mycolab.ai

Fungi: Pioneers of chemical creativity – Techniques and strategies to uncover fungal chemistry

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This review explores how fungi produce remarkable chemical compounds that have been transformed into important medicines for over a century. Starting with penicillin in the 1940s, scientists have discovered dozens of fungal-derived drugs used to treat infections, prevent organ rejection, lower cholesterol, and fight cancer. Modern technology now allows researchers to discover and analyze these compounds much faster and with smaller samples than ever before.

Vinigrol Tricyclic Scaffold Biosynthesis Employs an Atypical Terpene Cyclase and a Multipotent Cyclization Cascade

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Scientists have discovered how a fungus produces vinigrol, a complex molecule with potential health benefits including lowering blood pressure and reducing inflammation. Using advanced computational tools and genetic engineering, researchers identified the specific genes and enzymes the fungus uses to build this molecule’s intricate three-ring structure. By modifying a key enzyme, they were able to create an entirely new diterpene molecule that doesn’t exist in nature, demonstrating the potential to engineer biological systems to produce novel medicinal compounds.

mGem: How many fungal secondary metabolites are produced by filamentous fungi? Conservatively, at least 1.4 million

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Scientists have discovered about 30,000 fungal compounds with useful properties, from life-saving antibiotics like penicillin to cholesterol-lowering drugs. However, new research suggests that fungi actually produce somewhere between 1.4 million and 4.3 million different chemical compounds, meaning we’ve only discovered about 1-2% of what’s out there. By studying the genomes of fungi, researchers estimate that for every fungal medicine we know about, there could be 50-100 more waiting to be discovered, representing an enormous opportunity for developing new drugs and therapies.

New bioactive secondary metabolites from fungi: 2024

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Scientists discovered 907 new compounds from fungi in 2024, with most being terpenoids and polyketides that show promise as medicines. These fungal compounds demonstrate strong activity against bacteria, fungi, and inflammation, with some showing potential against cancer and diabetes. The research uses advanced techniques like genome mining and metabolomics to find these compounds more efficiently. This accelerating discovery rate suggests fungi could be a major source for developing new drugs to treat various diseases.

Identification of a Biosynthetic Gene Cluster for the Production of the Blue-Green Pigment Xylindein by the Fungus Chlorociboria aeruginascens

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Scientists discovered the genetic instructions that allow certain fungi to produce xylindein, a beautiful blue-green pigment found in stained wood. By analyzing fungal genomes and studying gene activity, they identified nine genes working together to create this valuable compound, which has uses in textiles and electronics. While attempts to produce xylindein in laboratory yeasts were unsuccessful, their work successfully produced a related pigment and opens new pathways for understanding xylindein production.

Biodiversity-Driven Natural Products and Bioactive Metabolites

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This comprehensive review explores how diverse organisms like plants, fungi, and marine creatures produce remarkable chemical compounds for survival and defense. These natural products have inspired many modern medicines, but scientists now understand that the chemical diversity comes not just from the organisms themselves but from their ecological interactions and environmental challenges. By studying how these chemicals are made and what triggers their production, researchers can discover new drugs and medicines while protecting the ecosystems that generate them.

Genome-Mining Based Discovery of Pyrrolomycin K and L from the Termite-Associated Micromonospora sp. RB23

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Scientists discovered two new antimicrobial compounds called pyrrolomycins from bacteria living in termites using genome sequencing and chemical analysis. These compounds contain chlorine atoms and are related to known antibiotics. The research shows how the bacteria protects itself from its own antimicrobial compounds through chemical modifications, offering insights into developing new antibiotics.

Genome-Mining Based Discovery of Pyrrolomycin K and L from the Termite-Associated Micromonospora sp. RB23

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Researchers discovered two new antimicrobial compounds called pyrrolomycins from a bacterium found in termite guts using genome analysis and advanced chemistry techniques. These compounds are modified versions of known antimicrobial molecules, featuring halogenated structures. Interestingly, the bacteria appears to protect itself from its own toxic compounds through chemical modifications, a strategy that researchers believe could inform the design of new antibiotics to combat drug-resistant bacteria.

Research Keyword: genome mining