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Subcellular Localization of Toxin production

Subcellular Localization of Toxin production

Rainer Kurmayer (ORCID: 0000-0002-2100-9616)
  • Grant DOI 10.55776/P32193
  • Funding program Principal Investigator Projects
  • Status ended
  • Start October 1, 2019
  • End March 31, 2024
  • Funding amount € 402,017
  • Project website
  • E-mail

Disciplines

Biology (80%); Chemistry (20%)

Keywords

    Harmful Algal Bloom, Anabaenopeptins, Cyanotoxins, Peptide Labeling, Click Chemistry, Microcystins

Abstract

Content: Harmful algal blooms formed by cyanobacteria (cyanoHABs) not only deteriorate ecosystem services, but cause significant economic losses because of managing and treating drinking water and food supplies. Among toxins produced by cyanobacteria, most prominent are the microcystins (MCs) and related peptides, the anabaenopeptins (APs) inhibiting eukaryotic protein phosphatases of higher organisms. Intracellular toxic peptides can be released into the surrounding environment either through cell lysis or through active transport out of the cell. In general ecophysiological variation in cyanotoxin peptide production has been studied in the field and in the laboratory by calculating average contents from a large number of cells. This approach ignores the variability on the individual cell level which is induced, for example, by transposable elements. One possibility to investigate cyanotoxins on the individual cell level is the so-called bioorthogonal labeling. Labeling of cyanotoxins/peptides in real time is based on the discovery of unspecific key enzymes involved in the synthesis pathway of those compounds which also can use non-natural functional groups as precursors. The resulting modified molecule is subsequently labeled by a fluorophore through a so-called click chemistry reaction. Hypotheses: In this project we aim to localize toxic peptides in the cells to investigate the underlying peptide storage and transport mechanism: (1) localize peptides intracellularly and identify the responsible cellular compartments, (2) describe the intercellular variability in peptide synthesis as a result of spontaneous mutations (e.g. transposases), (3) find out whether genotype-dependent release of peptides can explain the large variability in extracellular toxin contents, and (4) analyze the influence of physiological stress conditions on peptide storage and release. Methods: We will perform real time cyanotoxin/peptide labeling and high resolution imaging to localize, quantify and reveal inter/intracellular peptide storage and release using various isolates varying substantially in intra- and extracellular toxic peptide content (0-60% of the total content). Labeled peptides will be quantified by advanced imaging as well as flow cytometry taking into account genetic factors causing intercellular variation as well as physiological factors causing intra- and extracellular variation. Pulsed feeding experiments will be used to understand the fate of labeled peptides over time under both maximum growth rate and physiological stress conditions which will lead to an increased understanding on MC and AP peptide storage in the cells. Innovation: For the first time we will localize cyanotoxins/peptides using the advanced techniques of molecule imaging in real time at the single cell level. This exciting approach has the potential to change our view on driving forces for toxic peptides release into the environment and to offer a new perspective on future water management for toxic cyanobacterial blooming.

Research institution(s)
  • Medizinische Universität Innsbruck - 3%
  • Universität Innsbruck - 97%
Project participants
  • Martin Offterdinger, Medizinische Universität Innsbruck , associated research partner
International project participants
  • Dan Kramer, Cyanobiotech GmbH - Germany
  • Andrea Rentmeister, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität - Germany

Research Output

  • 87 Citations
  • 22 Publications
  • 2 Policies
  • 1 Methods & Materials
  • 5 Datasets & models
  • 4 Disseminations
  • 2 Scientific Awards
  • 1 Fundings
Publications
  • 2024
    Title Distribution of toxigenic cyanobacteria in Alpine lakes and rivers as revealed by molecular screening
    DOI 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121783
    Type Journal Article
    Author Jablonska M
    Journal Water Research
    Pages 121783
    Link Publication
  • 2024
    Title Towards an understanding of secondary metabolite diversity among the algal-bloom forming cyanobacterium Planktothrix
    Type PhD Thesis
    Author Elisabeth Entfellner
    Link Publication
  • 2024
    Title Real-Time Observation of Clickable Cyanotoxin Synthesis in Bloom-Forming Cyanobacteria Microcystis aeruginosa and Planktothrix agardhii
    DOI 10.3390/toxins16120526
    Type Journal Article
    Author Kurmayer R
    Journal Toxins
    Pages 526
    Link Publication
  • 2025
    Title Time-Resolved Visualization of Cyanotoxin Synthesis via Labeling by the Click Reaction in the Bloom-Forming Cyanobacteria Microcystis aeruginosa and Planktothrix agardhii
    DOI 10.3390/toxins17060278
    Type Journal Article
    Author Kurmayer R
    Journal Toxins
    Pages 278
    Link Publication
  • 2024
    Title Real-Time Observation of Clickable Cyanotoxin Synthesis in Bloom-Forming Cyanobacteria Microcystis aeruginosa and Planktothrix agardhii
    Type Journal Article
    Author Kurmayer
    Journal MDPI Toxins
    Pages 19
    Link Publication
  • 2024
    Title Deciphering the production variation and localization of non-ribosomal peptides in Cyanobacteria using Click chemistry, Master 2 Graduate program Evolutionary Biology, Internship report, Univ. of Lille
    Type Other
    Author Loay Hussein
  • 2024
    Title Subzelluläre Lokalisierung der Toxinproduktion in Cyanobakterien: Eine umfassende Analyse der Signalintensität und Signalverteilung in der Zelle bei Microcystis aeruginosa und Planktothrix agardhii. Msc thesis, Univ. of Innsbruck
    Type Other
    Author Kristin Barbara Kuntz
  • 2022
    Title Correction: Morón-Asensio et al. Differential Labeling of Chemically Modified Peptides and Lipids among Cyanobacteria Planktothrix and Microcystis. Microorganisms 2021, 9, 1578
    DOI 10.3390/microorganisms10040695
    Type Journal Article
    Author Morón-Asensio R
    Journal Microorganisms
    Pages 695
    Link Publication
  • 2021
    Title The effects of hydrological changes on the spatial phytoplankton composition and cyanotoxin concentrations in Nyanza Gulf, Lake Victoria, Kenya
    Type PhD Thesis
    Author Benard Mucholwa Simiyu
    Link Publication
  • 2020
    Title Toward Disentangling the Multiple Nutritional Constraints Imposed by Planktothrix: The Significance of Harmful Secondary Metabolites and Sterol Limitation
    DOI 10.3389/fmicb.2020.586120
    Type Journal Article
    Author Schwarzenberger A
    Journal Frontiers in Microbiology
    Pages 586120
    Link Publication
  • 2023
    Title High Structural Diversity of Aeruginosins in Bloom-Forming Cyanobacteria of the Genus Planktothrix as a Consequence of Multiple Recombination Events
    DOI 10.3390/md21120638
    Type Journal Article
    Author Entfellner E
    Journal Marine Drugs
    Pages 638
    Link Publication
  • 2022
    Title Response of planktonic diatoms to eutrophication in Nyanza Gulf of Lake Victoria, Kenya
    DOI 10.1016/j.limno.2022.125958
    Type Journal Article
    Author Simiyu B
    Journal Limnologica
    Pages 125958
    Link Publication
  • 2022
    Title Interannual variability of water quality conditions in the Nyanza Gulf of Lake Victoria, Kenya
    DOI 10.1016/j.jglr.2021.10.017
    Type Journal Article
    Author Simiyu B
    Journal Journal of Great Lakes Research
    Pages 97-109
    Link Publication
  • 2022
    Title Click labelling and In Vitro clicking (CuAAC) of the widespread cyanotoxin Microcystin and the bioactive peptide Anabaenopeptin from cyanobacteria, MSc thesis, Univ. orf Innsbruck
    Type Other
    Author Kotzorek
    Link Publication
  • 2022
    Title Click labelling and In Vitro clicking (CuAAC) of the widespread cyanotoxin Microcystin and the bioactive peptide Anabaenopeptin from cyanobacteria, MSc thesis, Univ. of Innsbruck
    Type Other
    Author Kotzorek
    Link Publication
  • 2021
    Title Contrasting endolithic habitats for cyanobacteria in spring calcites of the European Alps.
    DOI 10.1127/nova_hedwigia/2021/0615
    Type Journal Article
    Author Rott E
    Journal Nova Hedwigia
    Pages 17-48
    Link Publication
  • 2022
    Title Toxic/Bioactive Peptide Synthesis Genes Rearranged by Insertion Sequence Elements Among the Bloom-Forming Cyanobacteria Planktothrix
    DOI 10.3389/fmicb.2022.901762
    Type Journal Article
    Author Entfellner E
    Journal Frontiers in Microbiology
    Pages 901762
    Link Publication
  • 2021
    Title Differential Labeling of Chemically Modified Peptides and Lipids among Cyanobacteria Planktothrix and Microcystis
    DOI 10.3390/microorganisms9081578
    Type Journal Article
    Author Morón-Asensio R
    Journal Microorganisms
    Pages 1578
    Link Publication
  • 2020
    Title Chemically labeled toxins or bioactive peptides show a heterogeneous intracellular distribution and low spatial overlap with autofluorescence in bloom-forming cyanobacteria
    DOI 10.1038/s41598-020-59381-w
    Type Journal Article
    Author Kurmayer R
    Journal Scientific Reports
    Pages 2781
    Link Publication
  • 2023
    Title Quantitative relationships among high-throughput sequencing, cyanobacteria toxigenic genotype abundance and microcystin occurrence in bathing waters
    DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165934
    Type Journal Article
    Author Purker M
    Journal Science of The Total Environment
    Pages 165934
    Link Publication
  • 0
    Title Real time observation and modelling of heterogenous cyanopeptide synthesis as revealed by chemical labeling
    Type Journal Article
    Author Morón-Asensio
    Journal t.b.a.
  • 0
    Title Real-time observation of cyanopeptide synthesis in bloom-forming cyanobacteria Microcystis and Planktothrix
    Type Journal Article
    Author Kurmayer
    Journal MDPI Toxins
Policies
  • 2023 Link
    Title Andor BC43 Bench-Top spinning disk & Imaris v10 demonstration
    Type Influenced training of practitioners or researchers
    Link Link
  • 2022 Link
    Title White paper invited by state government Upper Austria
    Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
    Link Link
Methods & Materials
  • 2022 Link
    Title ÖWAV Arbeitsbehelf 52, Band 2 "Mikrobiologie und Wasser" (Fallstudien)
    Type Biological samples
    Public Access
    Link Link
Datasets & models
  • 2024 Link
    Title Real-time observation of clickable cyanotoxin synthesis in bloom-forming cyanobacteria Planktothrix agardhii
    DOI 10.6019/s-bsst1681
    Type Database/Collection of data
    Public Access
    Link Link
  • 2024 Link
    Title Real-time observation of clickable cyanotoxin synthesis in bloom-forming cyanobacteria Microcystis aeruginosa
    DOI 10.6019/s-bsst1672
    Type Database/Collection of data
    Public Access
    Link Link
  • 2024 Link
    Title Differential Labeling of Chemically Modified Peptides and Lipids
    Type Database/Collection of data
    Public Access
    Link Link
  • 2020 Link
    Title Chemically labeled toxins or bioactive peptides show a heterogeneous intracellular distribution
    Type Database/Collection of data
    Public Access
    Link Link
  • 2020 Link
    Title Data management plan
    Type Database/Collection of data
    Public Access
    Link Link
Disseminations
  • 2022 Link
    Title Session (Workshop) at SIL 100 conference Berlin, 7-10 Aug 2022
    Type Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
    Link Link
  • 2020 Link
    Title SLOT project website
    Type Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
    Link Link
  • 2021 Link
    Title Radioserie "Vom Leben der Natur" auf Ö1 zum Thema Algen in den Alpenseen. Die Serie läuft an den folgenden Tagen mit weiterführenden Algenthemen 2.8.-6.8.2021, https://oe1.orf.at/vomlebendernatur
    Type A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
    Link Link
  • 2024 Link
    Title Long Night of Research (Lange Nacht der Forschung), 24 May 2024
    Type Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution
    Link Link
Scientific Awards
  • 2024
    Title 5 months Internship
    Type Attracted visiting staff or user to your research group
    Level of Recognition Continental/International
  • 2019
    Title Localization of Microcystin and Anabaenopeptin Peptides on a Subcellular Level in the Cyanobacteria
    Type Personally asked as a key note speaker to a conference
    Level of Recognition Continental/International
Fundings
  • 2024
    Title Targeting Routes of Exposure for clickable Microcystins in Daphnia sp
    Type Research grant (including intramural programme)
    Start of Funding 2024
    Funder Tiroler Nachwuchsforscher*innenförderung Amt d. Tiroler Landesreg., Eduard-Wallnöfer-Platz 3, 6020 Innsbruck, Österreich

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office(at)fwf.ac.at
+43 1 505 67 40

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