title: Isolation and biological activities of an endophytic Mortierella alpina strain from the Antarctic moss Schistidium antarctici.
abstract: The Antarctic endophytic fungus (strain ITA1-CCMA 952) was isolated from the moss Schistidium antarctici found in Admiralty Bay, King George Island, Antarctica. Strain ITA1-CCMA 952 was assigned to the specie Mortierella alpina by phylogenetic analysis based on 18S rRNA gene sequences. This strain produces high levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), including y-(gamma) linolenic acid and arachidonic acid, which when combined represents 48.3% of the total fatty acid content. Fungal extracts demonstrated strong antioxidant activity with the EC50 value of 48.7 μg mL(-1) and also a strong antibacterial activity, mainly against the following bacteria: Escherichia coli, with a MIC of 26.9 μg mL(-1) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterococcus faecalis, both with a MIC of 107 μg mL(-1). A GC-MS analysis of the chloroform fraction obtained from the crude extract revealed the presence of potential antimicrobials (Pyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazine-1,4-dione, hexahydro-3-(2-methylpropyl) and Pyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazine-1,4-dione, hexahydro-3-(phenylmethyl)) as the major compounds. Therefore, the M. alpina strain ITA1-CCMA 952 is a promising fungus for the biotechnological production of antibiotics, antioxidant substances and PUFAs. This study highlights the need for more research in extreme environments, such as Antarctica.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Environmental Microbiology, Embrapa Environment, Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation-EMBRAPA, Rodovia SP 340, Km 127,5, P.O. Box 69, Jaguariúna, SP, 13820-000, Brazil, itamar.melo@embrapa.br.
authors.forename: Itamar S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Melo
authors.forename: Suikinai N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Luiz H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Rosa
authors.forename: Marcia M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Parma
authors.forename: Leonardo J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Sonia C N
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Queiroz
authors.forename: Vivian H
authors.initials: VH
authors.lastname: Pellizari
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000032:analysis; D019068:Bryopsida / Q000382:microbiology*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis; D020094:Mortierella / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012331:RNA, Fungal / Q000235:genetics; D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D005227:Fatty Acids; D012331:RNA, Fungal; D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S