Proficient photosynthetic microalgae/cyanobacteria produce a remarkable amount of various biomolecules. Secondary metabolites (SM) represent high value products for global biotrend application. Production improvement can be achieved by nutritional, environmental, and physiological stress as a first line tools for their stimulation. In recent decade, an increasing interest in algal stress biology and omics techniques have deepened knowledge in this area. However, deep understanding and connection of specific stress elucidator are missing. Hence, the present review summarizes recent evidence with an emphasis on the carotenoids, phenolic, and less-discussed compounds (glycerol, proline, mycosporins-like amino acids). Even when they are synthesized at very low concentrations, it highlights the need to expand knowledge in this area using genome-editing tools and omics approaches.

• Klíčová slova
• Abiotic stress, Cyanobacteria, Gene editing tools, Omics approaches, Secondary metabolites, Unicellular algae,
• MeSH
• fyziologický stres MeSH
• karotenoidy metabolismus   MeSH
• mikrořasy * MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• Názvy látek
• karotenoidy MeSH

Secondary plant metabolites (SPMEs) play an important role in plant survival in the environment and serve to establish ecological relationships between plants and other organisms. Communication between plants and microorganisms via SPMEs contained in root exudates or derived from litter decomposition is an example of this phenomenon. In this review, the general aspects of rhizodeposition together with the significance of terpenes and phenolic compounds are discussed in detail. We focus specifically on the effect of SPMEs on microbial community structure and metabolic activity in environments contaminated by polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Furthermore, a section is devoted to a complex effect of plants and/or their metabolites contained in litter on bioremediation of contaminated sites. New insights are introduced from a study evaluating the effects of SPMEs derived during decomposition of grapefruit peel, lemon peel, and pears on bacterial communities and their ability to degrade PCBs in a long-term contaminated soil. The presented review supports the "secondary compound hypothesis" and demonstrates the potential of SPMEs for increasing the effectiveness of bioremediation processes.

• Klíčová slova
• bioremediation, carbon flow, community structure, secondary plant metabolites (SPMEs),
• MeSH
• Bacteria klasifikace   izolace a purifikace   metabolismus   MeSH
• biodegradace * MeSH
• látky znečišťující půdu chemie   toxicita   MeSH
• polychlorované bifenyly toxicita   MeSH
• půdní mikrobiologie * MeSH
• rostliny metabolismus   mikrobiologie   MeSH
• sekundární metabolismus MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• Názvy látek
• látky znečišťující půdu MeSH
• polychlorované bifenyly MeSH

Secondary metabolites from marine sources have a wide range of biological activity. Marine natural products are promising candidates for lead pharmacological compounds to treat diseases that plague humans, including cancer. Cancer is a life-threatening disorder that has been difficult to overcome. It is a long-term illness that affects both young and old people. In recent years, significant attempts have been made to identify new anticancer drugs, as the existing drugs have been useless due to resistance of the malignant cells. Natural products derived from marine sources have been tested for their anticancer activity using a variety of cancer cell lines derived from humans and other sources, some of which have already been approved for clinical use, while some others are still being tested. These compounds can assault cancer cells via a variety of mechanisms, but certain cancer cells are resistant to them. As a result, the goal of this review was to look into the anticancer potential of marine natural products or their derivatives that were isolated from January 2019 to March 2020, in cancer cell lines, with a focus on the class and type of isolated compounds, source and location of isolation, cancer cell line type, and potency (IC50 values) of the isolated compounds that could be a guide for drug development.

• Klíčová slova
• cancer, cancer cell line, drug development, lead optimization, marine secondary metabolites,
• MeSH
• antitumorózní látky chemie   farmakologie   terapeutické užití   MeSH
• biologické přípravky chemie   farmakologie   terapeutické užití   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• nádorové buněčné linie MeSH
• nádory farmakoterapie   MeSH
• proliferace buněk účinky léků   MeSH
• sekundární metabolismus MeSH
• viabilita buněk účinky léků   MeSH
• vodní organismy chemie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• Názvy látek
• antitumorózní látky MeSH
• biologické přípravky MeSH

In plants, secondary metabolites change in response to environmental conditions. These changes co-regulate resilience to stressful environmental conditions, plant growth and development, and interactions between plants and the wider ecosystem, while also affecting soil carbon storage and atmospheric and climatic conditions. The objective of this study was to determine the association between UV exposure and the contents of key metabolites, including amino acids, phenolics, flavonoids, terpenoids, carotenoids, tocopherols, and phytosterols. Mentha spicata plantlets were grown in tissue culture boxes for 30 days and then exposed to a low dose of broadband UV-B (291-315 nm; 2.8 kJm-2 biologically effective UV) enriched light for eight days. Metabolite contents were quantified either immediately after the final UV exposure, or after seven days of recovery under photosynthetically active radiation. It was found that UV promoted the production of flavonoids (1.8-fold) ahead of phenolic acids (unchanged). Furthermore, the majority of monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes, constituents of valuable mint essential oil, were significantly increased through UV treatment (up to 90-fold for α-linalool). In contrast, the contents of carotenoids and tocopherols did not increase following UV exposure. A comparison between plants sampled immediately after UV exposure and after seven days of recovery showed that there was an overall increase in the content of carotenoids, mono- and sesquiterpenes, phenolics, and amino acids following recovery, while the contents of sterols and tocopherols decreased. These UV-induced changes in metabolite profile may have important consequences for agriculture, ecology, and even the global climate, and they also provide an exciting opportunity to enhance crop value, facilitating the development of improved products with higher levels of essential oils and added benefits of enhanced flavour, colour, and bioactive content.

• Klíčová slova
• Mentha spicata, UV-B, essential oil, flavonoid, photoprotection, secondary metabolites, terpenoid, tocopherol,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Research groups have put significant emphasis on the evaluation of nutritional, health-promoting, and other biological activities of secondary metabolites from buckwheat. Among these phytochemicals, phenolic and lipophilic antioxidants, particularly, phenolic acids, flavonoids, and tocopherols, have been the focus of the latest studies since antioxidant activity has recently been associated with the possibility of inhibiting fungal growth and mycotoxin biosynthesis. The mycotoxin contamination of cereal and pseudocereal grains caused primarily by Fusarium, Penicillium, and Aspergillus species poses a significant hazard to human health. Therefore, efforts to examine the involvement of plant antioxidants in the biosynthesis of mycotoxins at the transcriptional level have emerged. In addition, hydrophobic interactions of buckwheat phenolics with cell membranes could also explain their capacity to reduce fungal development. Eventually, possibilities of enhancing the biological activity of cereal and pseudocereal phytochemicals have been studied, and sourdough fermentation has been proposed as an efficient method to increase antioxidant activities. This effect could result in an increased antifungal effects of sourdough and bakery products. This review reports the main advances in research on buckwheat phenolics and other antioxidant phytochemicals, highlighting possible mechanisms of action and processes that could improve their biological activities.

• Klíčová slova
• antifungal activity, buckwheat, lactic acid bacteria, mycotoxin, phenolic compounds,
• MeSH
• Fagopyrum chemie   metabolismus   MeSH
• fenoly chemie   metabolismus   farmakologie   MeSH
• fungicidy průmyslové chemie   metabolismus   farmakologie   MeSH
• houby účinky léků   růst a vývoj   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• nemoci rostlin mikrobiologie   MeSH
• rostlinné extrakty chemie   metabolismus   farmakologie   MeSH
• sekundární metabolismus MeSH
• semena rostlinná chemie   metabolismus   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• Názvy látek
• fenoly MeSH
• fungicidy průmyslové MeSH
• rostlinné extrakty MeSH

The environmental fate of airborne nanoparticles and their toxicity to plants is not yet fully understood. Pot-grown barley plants with second leaves developed were therefore exposed to CdO nanoparticles (CdONPs) of ecologically relevant size (7-60 nm) and concentration (2.03 ± 0.45 × 105 particles cm-3) in air for 3 weeks. An experiment was designed to test the effects of different treatments when only leaves (T1); leaves and soil substrate (T2); and leaves, soil, and water supply were exposed to nanoparticles (T3). A fourth, control group of plants was left without treatment (T0). Although CdONPs were directly absorbed by leaves from the air, a part of leaf-allocated Cd was also transported from roots by transpiration flow. Chromatographic assays revealed that CdONPs had a significant effect on total content of primary metabolites (amino acids and saccharides) but no significant effect on total content of secondary metabolites (phenolic compounds, Krebs cycle acids, and fatty acids). In addition, the compositions of individual metabolite classes were affected by CdONP treatment. For example, tryptophan and phenylalanine were the most affected amino acids in both analysed organs, while ferulic acid and isovitexin constituted the polyphenols most affected in leaves. Even though CdONP treatment had no effect on total fatty acids content, there were significant changes in the composition of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids in both the roots and leaves of treated plants. Although the results indicate the most pronounced effect in T3 plants as compared to T1 and T2 plants, even just leaf exposure to CdONPs has the potential to induce changes in plant metabolism.

• Klíčová slova
• Barley, CdO nanoparticles, Gas chromatography, High performance liquid chromatography, Mass spectrometry, Plant metabolites,
• MeSH
• aminokyseliny metabolismus   MeSH
• apigenin metabolismus   MeSH
• fenoly metabolismus   MeSH
• ječmen (rod) účinky léků   metabolismus   MeSH
• kořeny rostlin účinky léků   metabolismus   MeSH
• kyseliny kumarové metabolismus   MeSH
• látky znečišťující půdu toxicita   MeSH
• látky znečišťující vodu toxicita   MeSH
• listy rostlin účinky léků   metabolismus   MeSH
• nanočástice toxicita   MeSH
• oxidy toxicita   MeSH
• sekundární metabolismus účinky léků   MeSH
• sloučeniny kadmia toxicita   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• aminokyseliny MeSH
• apigenin MeSH
• cadmium oxide MeSH Prohlížeč
• fenoly MeSH
• ferulic acid MeSH Prohlížeč
• isovitexin MeSH Prohlížeč
• kyseliny kumarové MeSH
• látky znečišťující půdu MeSH
• látky znečišťující vodu MeSH
• oxidy MeSH
• sloučeniny kadmia MeSH

The study used scattered literature to summarize the effects of excess Cd, As, and Pb from contaminated soils on plant secondary metabolites/bioactive compounds (non-nutrient organic substances). Hence, we provided a systematic overview involving the sources and forms of Cd, As, and Pb in soils, plant uptake, mechanisms governing the interaction of these risk elements during the formation of secondary metabolites, and subsequent effects. The biogeochemical characteristics of soils are directly responsible for the mobility and bioavailability of risk elements, which include pH, redox potential, dissolved organic carbon, clay content, Fe/Mn/Al oxides, and microbial transformations. The radial risk element flow in plant systems is restricted by the apoplastic barrier (e.g., Casparian strip) and chelation (phytochelatins and vacuole sequestration) in roots. However, bioaccumulation is primarily a function of risk element concentration and plant genotype. The translocation of risk elements to the shoot via the xylem and phloem is well-mediated by transporter proteins. Besides the dysfunction of growth, photosynthesis, and respiration, excess Cd, As, and Pb in plants trigger the production of secondary metabolites with antioxidant properties to counteract the toxic effects. Eventually, this affects the quantity and quality of secondary metabolites (including phenolics, flavonoids, and terpenes) and adversely influences their antioxidant, antiinflammatory, antidiabetic, anticoagulant, and lipid-lowering properties. The mechanisms governing the translocation of Cd, As, and Pb are vital for regulating risk element accumulation in plants and subsequent effects on secondary metabolites.

• Klíčová slova
• Antioxidant, Bioavailability, Biogeochemical property, Mobility, Risk element, Secondary metabolites, Translocation,
• MeSH
• antioxidancia MeSH
• biodegradace MeSH
• kadmium metabolismus   MeSH
• látky znečišťující půdu * analýza   MeSH
• olovo MeSH
• půda chemie   MeSH
• těžké kovy * analýza   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• systematický přehled MeSH
• Názvy látek
• antioxidancia MeSH
• kadmium MeSH
• látky znečišťující půdu * MeSH
• olovo MeSH
• půda MeSH
• těžké kovy * MeSH

Spore awakening is a series of actions that starts with purely physical processes and continues via the launching of gene expression and metabolic activities, eventually achieving a vegetative phase of growth. In spore-forming microorganisms, the germination process is controlled by intra- and inter-species communication. However, in the Streptomyces clade, which is capable of developing a plethora of valuable compounds, the chemical signals produced during germination have not been systematically studied before. Our previously published data revealed that several secondary metabolite biosynthetic genes are expressed during germination. Therefore, we focus here on the secondary metabolite production during this developmental stage. Using high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, we found that the sesquiterpenoid antibiotic albaflavenone, the polyketide germicidin A, and chalcone are produced during germination of the model streptomycete, S. coelicolor. Interestingly, the last two compounds revealed an inhibitory effect on the germination process. The secondary metabolites originating from the early stage of microbial growth may coordinate the development of the producer (quorum sensing) and/or play a role in competitive microflora repression (quorum quenching) in their nature environments.

• Klíčová slova
• Streptomyces, albaflavenone, cell signaling, chalcone, germicidin, secondary metabolism, spore germination,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Biotic stresses threaten to destabilize global food security and cause major losses to crop yield worldwide. In response to pest and pathogen attacks, plants trigger many adaptive cellular, morphological, physiological, and metabolic changes. One of the crucial stress-induced adaptive responses is the synthesis and accumulation of plant secondary metabolites (PSMs). PSMs mitigate the adverse effects of stress by maintaining the normal physiological and metabolic functioning of the plants, thereby providing stress tolerance. This differential production of PSMs is tightly orchestrated by master regulatory elements, Transcription factors (TFs) express differentially or undergo transcriptional and translational modifications during stress conditions and influence the production of PSMs. Amongst others, microRNAs, a class of small, non-coding RNA molecules that regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally, also play a vital role in controlling the expression of many such TFs. The present review summarizes the role of stress-inducible TFs in synthesizing and accumulating secondary metabolites and also highlights how miRNAs fine-tune the differential expression of various stress-responsive transcription factors during biotic stress.

• Klíčová slova
• miRNAs, pathogen infection, pest attack, plant specialized/secondary metabolites, transcription factors,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH

A combined approach, comprising PCR screening and genome mining, was used to unravel the diversity and phylogeny of genes encoding 5-aminolevulinic acid synthases (ALASs, hemA gene products) in streptomycetes-related strains. In actinomycetes, these genes were believed to be directly connected with the production of secondary metabolites carrying the C5N unit, 2-amino-3-hydroxycyclopent-2-enone, with biological activities making them attractive for future use in medicine and agriculture. Unlike "classical" primary metabolism ALAS, the C5N unit-forming cyclizing ALAS (cALAS) catalyses intramolecular cyclization of nascent 5-aminolevulinate. Specific amino acid sequence changes can be traced by comparison of "classical" ALASs against cALASs. PCR screening revealed 226 hemA gene-carrying strains from 1,500 tested, with 87% putatively encoding cALAS. Phylogenetic analysis of the hemA homologs revealed strain clustering according to putative type of metabolic product, which could be used to select producers of specific C5N compound classes. Supporting information was acquired through analysis of actinomycete genomic sequence data available in GenBank and further genetic or metabolic characterization of selected strains. Comparison of 16S rRNA taxonomic identification and BOX-PCR profiles provided evidence for numerous horizontal gene transfers of biosynthetic genes or gene clusters within actinomycete populations and even from non-actinomycete organisms. Our results underline the importance of environmental and evolutionary data in the design of efficient techniques for identification of novel producers.

• Klíčová slova
• 5-aminolevulinate synthase, C5N unit, Streptomyces, gene evolution, genetic screening, horizontal gene transfer, secondary metabolites,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH