Behera Akshaya Kumar, Parida Sudhamayee, Mandal Amiya Kumar, Patra Srimanta, Jena Mrutyunjay
Algal Biotechnology and Molecular Systematic Laboratory, Post Graduate Department of Botany, Berhampur University, Bhanja Bihar, Berhampur, 760007, Odisha, India.
Arch Microbiol. 2025 Sep 16;207(11):265. doi: 10.1007/s00203-025-04462-5.
A pigment called scytonemin is produced by cyanobacteria under stress conditions. It is a lipid-soluble, yellow-brown indole-alkaloid pigment that is mostly found in the extracellular polysaccharide (EPS) sheaths or capsules of certain cyanobacteria. During radiation exposure, it has the potential to protect cyanobacteria from damaging UV rays due to its photoprotective properties. Because of its stability and durability, scytonemin is a good option for sunscreen compositions. Additionally, the antioxidant properties possessed by this compound help in scavenging reactive oxygen species, which is beneficial in creating medications to treat diseases linked to oxidative stress. Its stability makes it a promising biomarker for palaeoclimatological reconstructions and highlights its importance as a biosignature in astrobiology. Furthermore, its recently revealed anti-inflammatory and powerful antiproliferative capabilities, particularly the suppression of cell cycle-regulating kinases, make it an attractive pharmacophore for creating innovative therapies for hyperproliferative illnesses such as cancer. Its durability and distinct spectroscopic signal highlight its importance as a biosignature in astrobiology. Continued study into its biosynthesis, various functions, and scalable manufacturing methods is critical for its future commercialization and wider application in human welfare. This review discusses a brief overview of the biochemistry and biosynthesis of scytonemin, focusing on the biomedical, industrial, and environmental applications.
一种名为scytonemin的色素由蓝细菌在应激条件下产生。它是一种脂溶性的黄棕色吲哚生物碱色素，主要存在于某些蓝细菌的细胞外多糖（EPS）鞘或荚膜中。在辐射暴露期间，由于其光保护特性，它有潜力保护蓝细菌免受紫外线的伤害。由于其稳定性和耐久性，scytonemin是防晒组合物的一个不错选择。此外，这种化合物具有的抗氧化特性有助于清除活性氧，这对于研发治疗与氧化应激相关疾病的药物是有益的。它的稳定性使其成为古气候重建中有前景的生物标志物，并突出了其作为天体生物学中生物特征的重要性。此外，它最近揭示的抗炎和强大的抗增殖能力，特别是对细胞周期调节激酶的抑制，使其成为开发针对癌症等过度增殖性疾病的创新疗法的有吸引力的药效基团。它的耐久性和独特的光谱信号突出了其作为天体生物学中生物特征的重要性。持续研究其生物合成、各种功能和可扩展的制造方法对于其未来商业化以及在人类福祉中的更广泛应用至关重要。本综述讨论了scytonemin的生物化学和生物合成的简要概述，重点关注其生物医学、工业和环境应用。
