Microbiology & Virology

Insights Into The Synthesis, Engineering, And Functions Of Microbial Pigments In Deinococcus Bacteria

By Keith Cowing
Status Report
Front Microbiol
September 23, 2024
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Insights Into The Synthesis, Engineering, And Functions Of Microbial Pigments In Deinococcus Bacteria
A transmission electron micrograph shows Deinococcus radiodurans, a bacterium that is resistant to extreme levels of ionizing radiation and desiccation. Strains were isolated from sediments collected from under a nuclear waste storage tank. Image credit: Courtesy of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

The ability of Deinococcus bacteria to survive in harsh environments, such as high radiation, extreme temperature, and dryness, is mainly attributed to the generation of unique pigments, especially carotenoids.

Although the limited number of natural pigments produced by these bacteria restricts their industrial potential, metabolic engineering and synthetic biology can significantly increase pigment yield and expand their application prospects.

In this study, we review the properties, biosynthetic pathways, and functions of key enzymes and genes related to these pigments and explore strategies for improving pigment production through gene editing and optimization of culture conditions.

Additionally, studies have highlighted the unique role of these pigments in antioxidant activity and radiation resistance, particularly emphasizing the critical functions of deinoxanthin in D. radiodurans.

In the future, Deinococcus bacterial pigments will have broad application prospects in the food industry, drug production, and space exploration, where they can serve as radiation indicators and natural antioxidants to protect astronauts’ health during long-term space flights.

IMAGE

Mechanisms of direct and indirect radiation damage in bacteria. Created with BioRender.com.

Insights into the synthesis, engineering, and functions of microbial pigments in Deinococcus bacteria, Front Microbiol. 2024; 15: 1447785. (open access) via PubMed

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