A bacterial source for mollusk pyrone polyketides.
In the oceans, secondary metabolites often protect otherwise poorly defended invertebrates, such as shell-less mollusks, from predation. The origins of these metabolites are largely unknown, but many of them are thought to be made by symbiotic bacteria. In contrast, mollusks with thick shells and toxic venoms are thought to lack these secondary metabolites because of reduced defensive needs. Here, we show that heavily defended cone snails also occasionally contain abundant secondary metabolites, γ-pyrones known as nocapyrones, which are synthesized by symbiotic bacteria. The bacteria, Nocardiopsis alba CR167, are related to widespread actinomycetes that we propose to be casual symbionts of invertebrates on land and in the sea. The natural roles of nocapyrones are unknown, but they are active in neurological assays, revealing that mollusks with external shells are an overlooked source of secondary metabolite diversity.
Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA.
Zhenjian
Z
Lin
Joshua P
JP
Torres
Mary Anne
MA
Ammon
Lenny
L
Marett
Russell W
RW
Teichert
Christopher A
CA
Reilly
Jason C
JC
Kwan
Ronald W
RW
Hughen
Malem
M
Flores
Ma Diarey
MD
Tianero
Olivier
O
Peraud
James E
JE
Cox
Alan R
AR
Light
Aaron Joseph L
AJ
Villaraza
Margo G
MG
Haygood
Gisela P
GP
Concepcion
Baldomero M
BM
Olivera
Eric W
EW
Schmidt
D039903:Actinobacteria / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D008974:Mollusca / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000502:physiology*; D061065:Polyketides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D011753:Pyrones / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D013559:Symbiosis
D061065:Polyketides; D011753:Pyrones