Following the tracks of an extremely adaptive bacterium
Investigations of the genome of Pseudomonas syringae reveal unique natural products: New perspectives for biotechnology
A recent study by an interdisciplinary research team shows how a soil bacterium can become a source of inspiration in the search of new active substances. Genomic analyses of the plant pathogen Pseudomonas syringae shed light on its chemical diversity. Two newly discovered families of natural products, the syrilipamides and secimides, are – in combination – particularly harmful to amoebae and the secimides are also active against fungi.
Pangenome analysis of Pseudomonas syringae strains (center) has made it possible to find new compounds (outside).
Copyright: Luo Yu, Leibniz-HKI
Diversity in the genome reflects adaptability
The plant pathogen Pseudomonas syringae causes major damage in agriculture. However, it also produces a large number of biologically active natural products. These could help the bacterium to adapt to changing environmental conditions and displace competitors. In a comprehensive genomic analysis, the researchers examined 18 representative strains of the bacterial species and analyzed their genetic potential to produce natural products using state-of-the-art bioinformatics methods.
They were able to identify a total of 231 so-called biosynthetic gene clusters. These gene clusters contain enzyme-coding genes that are responsible for the synthesis of natural products. Genes for nonribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPS) were particularly abundant. NRPS produce natural products that, for example, help the bacterium to assert itself against competitors and adapt to its environment.
Natural products with special properties
Through a combination of bioinformatic analyses, chemical structure determination and biological activity tests, two new families of natural products were identified and characterized: the syrilipamides and the secimides. Both are low molecular weight compounds produced by Pseudomonas syringae. These molecules show remarkable toxicity towards competing microorganisms, especially against fungi and also amoebae. Their selective effect could be used in the future for the protection of plants or as a starting point for the development of new bioactive substances.
SecA enzyme expands chemical repertoire
“We have also discovered a previously unknown enzyme: SecA,” says Shuaibing Zhang, first author of the study. “SecA adds chlorine atoms to specific organic compounds, which increases the structural complexity and activity of the resulting compounds,” adds Pierre Stallforth, head of the project. He is a professor at the University of Jena and head of department at the Leibniz-HKI. Such chlorinated natural products play an important role in pharmaceutical research and could be used in the future for the development of new antibiotics, cancer therapies or plant protection products.
New perspectives for biotechnology
With their effect against amoebae and fungi, the newly discovered natural products could be of interest to both agriculture and pharmaceutical research. First of all, however, the team was interested in the ecological function of these molecules. They help Pseudomonas syringae, a versatile bacterium, plant pathogen, and producer of bioactive compounds, to defend itself against predators and competition and to adapt to niches in its natural habitat. The formation of microbial consortia in nature and the function of the natural products involved contribute to the understanding of the complex ecological interactions in our environment and are the research focus of the Jena Cluster of Excellence “Balance of the Microverse”. Scientists from the Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology – Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI) and the Friedrich Schiller University Jena were involved in the work.
Original publication
Shuaibing Zhang, Ying Huang, Raed Nachawati, Philipp Huber, Grit Walther, Lucas Gregor, Ivan Vilotijević, Pierre Stallforth; "Pangenome Analysis of the Plant Pathogen Pseudomonas syringae Reveals Unique Natural Products for Niche Adaptation"; Angewandte Chemie International Edition, Volume 64, 2025-5-2
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