Metagenomic discovery of polybrominated diphenyl ether biosynthesis by marine sponges.
Naturally produced polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) pervade the marine environment and structurally resemble toxic man-made brominated flame retardants. PBDEs bioaccumulate in marine animals and are likely transferred to the human food chain. However, the biogenic basis for PBDE production in one of their most prolific sources, marine sponges of the order Dysideidae, remains unidentified. Here, we report the discovery of PBDE biosynthetic gene clusters within sponge-microbiome-associated cyanobacterial endosymbionts through the use of an unbiased metagenome-mining approach. Using expression of PBDE biosynthetic genes in heterologous cyanobacterial hosts, we correlate the structural diversity of naturally produced PBDEs to modifications within PBDE biosynthetic gene clusters in multiple sponge holobionts. Our results establish the genetic and molecular foundation for the production of PBDEs in one of the most abundant natural sources of these molecules, further setting the stage for a metagenomic-based inventory of other PBDE sources in the marine environment.
Center for Oceans and Human Health, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego.
Vinayak
V
Agarwal
Center for Oceans and Human Health, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego.|Center for Marine Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego.
Jessica M
JM
Blanton
Center for Oceans and Human Health, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego.|Center for Marine Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego.
Sheila
S
Podell
Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego.
Arnaud
A
Taton
Center for Oceans and Human Health, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego.|Center for Marine Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego.
Michelle A
MA
Schorn
Center for Oceans and Human Health, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego.|Center for Marine Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego.
Julia
J
Busch
Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City.
Zhenjian
Z
Lin
Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City.
Eric W
EW
Schmidt
Center for Oceans and Human Health, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego.|Center for Marine Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego.
Paul R
PR
Jensen
Smithsonian Marine Station at Ft Pierce, Florida.
Valerie J
VJ
Paul
University of Guam Marine Laboratory, UoG Station, Guam.
Jason S
JS
Biggs
Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego.
James W
JW
Golden
Center for Oceans and Human Health, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego.|Center for Marine Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego.|Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego.
Eric E
EE
Allen
Center for Oceans and Human Health, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego.|Center for Marine Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego.|Skaggs School for Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego.
Bradley S
BS
Moore
D000818:Animals; D001688:Biological Products / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D056186:Metagenomics; D015394:Molecular Structure; D011161:Porifera / Q000378:metabolism*
D001688:Biological Products; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers