title: Identification of teratogenic polymethoxy-1-alkenes fromCylindrospermopsis raciborskii, and taxonomically diverse freshwater cyanobacteria and green algae.
abstract: Cylindrospermopsis raciborskiiis among the most commonly recognized toxigenic cyanobacteria associated with harmful algal blooms (HAB) in freshwater systems, and specifically associated with multiple water-soluble toxins. Lipophilic metabolites fromC. raciborskii, however, were previously shown to exert teratogenicity (i.e. inhibition of vertebrate development) in the zebrafish (Daniorerio) embryo model, specifically suggesting the presence of additional bioactive compounds unrelated to the currently known toxins. In the present study, a series of known teratogenic polymethoxy-1-alkenes (PMA) were identified, purified and chemically characterized from an otherwise well-characterized strain of toxigenicC. raciborskii. Although PMA have been previously identified in other cyanobacteria, this is the first time they have been identified from this recognized HAB species. Following their identification fromC. raciborskii, the taxonomic distribution of the PMA was additionally investigated by chemical screening of a freshwater algal (i.e. cyanobacteria, green algal) culture collection. Screening suggests that these compounds are distributed among phylogenetically diverse taxa. Furthermore, parallel screening of the algal culture collection, using the zebrafish embryo model of teratogenicity, the presence of PMA was found to closely correlate with developmental toxicity of these diverse algal isolates. Taken together, the data suggest PMA contribute to the toxicity ofC. raciborskii,as well as apparently several other taxonomically disparate cyanobacterial and green algal genera, and may, accordingly, contribute to the toxicity of diverse freshwater HAB.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Marine Science Program, Florida International University, 3000 NE 151 Street, North Miami, FL 33181 U.S.A.
authors.forename: Asha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jaja-Chimedza
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Marine Science Program, Florida International University, 3000 NE 151 Street, North Miami, FL 33181 U.S.A.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Saez
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8 Street, Miami, FL 33199 U.S.A.
authors.forename: Kristel
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sanchez
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8 Street, Miami, FL 33199 U.S.A.
authors.forename: Miroslav
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gantar
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Marine Science Program, Florida International University, 3000 NE 151 Street, North Miami, FL 33181 U.S.A.
authors.forename: John P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Berry
keywords: Cyanobacteria; Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii; Green algae (Chlorophyta); Polymethoxy-1-alkenes; Teratogenicity; Zebrafish embryo