Novel Gene Clusters for Secondary Metabolite Synthesis in Mesophotic Sponge-Associated Bacteria.

ABSTRACT: Mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCEs) host a diverse array of sponge species, which represent a promising source of bioactive compounds. Increasing evidence suggests that sponge-associated bacteria may be the primary producers of these compounds. However, cultivating these bacteria under laboratory conditions remains a significant challenge. To investigate the rich resource of bioactive compounds synthesised by mesophotic sponge-associated bacteria, we retrieved 429 metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) from 15 mesophotic sponges, revealing a strong correlation between bacterial diversity and sponge species. Furthermore, we identified 1637 secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) within these MAGs. Among the identified BGCs, terpenes were the most abundant (495), followed by 369 p

SUBMITTER: Chen N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11832590 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature