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6. Insights on the UV-Screening Potential of Marine-Inspired Thiol Compounds.

Author

Luccarini, Alessia, Zuccarotto, Annalisa, Galeazzi, Roberta, Morresi, Camilla, Masullo, Mariorosario, Castellano, Immacolata, and Damiani, Elisabetta

Abstract

One of the major threats to skin aging and the risk of developing skin cancer is excessive exposure to the sun's ultraviolet radiation (UVR). The use of sunscreens containing different synthetic, organic, and inorganic UVR filters is one of the most widespread defensive measures. However, increasing evidence suggests that some of these compounds are potentially eco-toxic, causing subtle damage to the environment and to marine ecosystems. Resorting to natural products produced in a wide range of marine species to counteract UVR-mediated damage could be an alternative strategy. The present work investigates marine-inspired thiol compounds, derivatives of ovothiol A, isolated from marine invertebrates and known to exhibit unique antioxidant properties. However, their potential use as photoprotective molecules for biocompatible sunscreens and anti-photo aging formulations has not yet been investigated. Here, we report on the UVR absorption properties, photostability, and in vitro UVA shielding activities of two synthetic ovothiol derivatives, 5-thiohistidine and iso-ovothiol A, by spectrophotometric and fluorimetric analysis. We found that the UVA properties of these compounds increase upon exposure to UVA and that their absorption activity is able to screen UVA rays, thus reducing the oxidative damage induced to proteins and lipids. The results of this work demonstrate that these novel marine-inspired compounds could represent an alternative eco-friendly approach for UVR skin protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Published
2024
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7. Supplementary Data of the article First evidence of dermo-protective activity of marine sulfur-containing histidine compounds

Author

Castellano, Immacolata [immacolata.castellano@unina.it], Brancaccio, Mariarita, Milito, Alfonsina, Viegas, Carla Alexandra, Palumbo, Anna, Simes, Dina C., Castellano, Immacolata, Castellano, Immacolata [immacolata.castellano@unina.it], Brancaccio, Mariarita, Milito, Alfonsina, Viegas, Carla Alexandra, Palumbo, Anna, Simes, Dina C., and Castellano, Immacolata

Published
2022

17. Molecular response of Sargassum vulgare to acidification at volcanic CO₂ vents : insights from proteomic and metabolite analyses

Author

Kumar, Amit, Nonnis, Simona, Castellano, Immacolata, Abd Elgawad, Hamada, Beemster, Gerrit, Buia, Maria Cristina, Maffioli, Elisa, Tedeschi, Gabriella, and Palumbo, Anna

Subjects
Chemistry, Biology
Abstract

Ocean acidification is impacting marine life all over the world. Understanding how species can cope with the changes in seawater carbonate chemistry represents a challenging issue. We addressed this topic using underwater CO2 vents that naturally acidify some marine areas off the island of Ischia. In the most acidified area of the vents, having a mean pH value of 6.7, comparable to far-future predicted acidification scenarios (by 2300), the biomass is dominated by the brown alga Sargassum vulgare. The novelty of the present study is the characterization of the S. vulgare proteome together with metabolite analyses to identify the key proteins, metabolites, and pathways affected by ocean acidification. A total of 367 and 387 proteins were identified in populations grown at pH that approximates the current global average (8.1) and acidified sites, respectively. Analysis of their relative abundance revealed that 304 proteins are present in samples from both sites: 111 proteins are either higher or exclusively present under acidified conditions, whereas 120 proteins are either lower or present only under control conditions. Functionally, under acidification, a decrease in proteins related to translation and post-translational processes and an increase of proteins involved in photosynthesis, glycolysis, oxidation-reduction processes, and protein folding were observed. In addition, small-molecule metabolism was affected, leading to a decrease of some fatty acids and antioxidant compounds under acidification. Overall, the results obtained by proteins and metabolites analyses, integrated with previous transcriptomic, physiological, and biochemical studies, allowed us to delineate the molecular strategies adopted by S. vulgare to grow in future acidified environments, including an increase of proteins involved in energetic metabolism, oxidation-reduction processes, and protein folding at the expense of proteins involved in translation and post-translational processes.

Published
2022

23. From sea to skin: Is there a future for natural photoprotectants?

Author

Milito, Alfonsina, Castellano, Immacolata, Damiani, Elisabetta, Milito, Alfonsina, Castellano, Immacolata, and Damiani, Elisabetta

Abstract

In the last few decades, the thinning of the ozone layer due to increased atmospheric pollution has exacerbated the negative effects of excessive exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR), and skin cancer has become a major public health concern. In order to prevent skin damage, public health advice mainly focuses on the use of sunscreens, along with wearing protective clothing and avoiding sun exposure during peak hours. Sunscreens present on the market are topical formulations that contain a number of different synthetic, organic, and inorganic UVR filters with different absorbance profiles, which, when combined, provide broad UVR spectrum protection. However, increased evidence suggests that some of these compounds cause subtle damage to marine ecosystems. One alternative may be the use of natural products that are produced in a wide range of marine species and are mainly thought to act as a defense against UVR-mediated damage. However, their potential for human photoprotection is largely under-investigated. In this review, attention has been placed on the molecular strategies adopted by marine organisms to counteract UVR-induced negative effects and we provide a broad portrayal of the recent literature concerning marine-derived natural products having potential as natural sunscreens/photoprotectants for human skin. Their chemical structure, UVR absorption properties, and their pleiotropic role as bioactive molecules are discussed. Most studies strongly suggest that these natural products could be promising for use in biocompatible sunscreens and may represent an alternative eco-friendly approach to protect humans against UV-induced skin damage.

Published
2021

27. Molecular response of Sargassum vulgare to acidification at volcanic CO2 vents: Insights from proteomic and metabolite analyses.

Author

Kumar, Amit, Nonnis, Simona, Castellano, Immacolata, AbdElgawad, Hamada, Beemster, Gerrit T. S., Buia, Maria Cristina, Maffioli, Elisa, Tedeschi, Gabriella, and Palumbo, Anna

Subjects
PROTEOMICS, SARGASSUM, OCEAN acidification, ACIDIFICATION, PROTEIN folding, ACID-sensing ion channels
Abstract

Ocean acidification is impacting marine life all over the world. Understanding how species can cope with the changes in seawater carbonate chemistry represents a challenging issue. We addressed this topic using underwater CO2 vents that naturally acidify some marine areas off the island of Ischia. In the most acidified area of the vents, having a mean pH value of 6.7, comparable to far‐future predicted acidification scenarios (by 2300), the biomass is dominated by the brown alga Sargassum vulgare. The novelty of the present study is the characterization of the S. vulgare proteome together with metabolite analyses to identify the key proteins, metabolites, and pathways affected by ocean acidification. A total of 367 and 387 proteins were identified in populations grown at pH that approximates the current global average (8.1) and acidified sites, respectively. Analysis of their relative abundance revealed that 304 proteins are present in samples from both sites: 111 proteins are either higher or exclusively present under acidified conditions, whereas 120 proteins are either lower or present only under control conditions. Functionally, under acidification, a decrease in proteins related to translation and post‐translational processes and an increase of proteins involved in photosynthesis, glycolysis, oxidation–reduction processes, and protein folding were observed. In addition, small‐molecule metabolism was affected, leading to a decrease of some fatty acids and antioxidant compounds under acidification. Overall, the results obtained by proteins and metabolites analyses, integrated with previous transcriptomic, physiological, and biochemical studies, allowed us to delineate the molecular strategies adopted by S. vulgare to grow in future acidified environments, including an increase of proteins involved in energetic metabolism, oxidation–reduction processes, and protein folding at the expense of proteins involved in translation and post‐translational processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Published
2022
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28. Insights into the light response of skeletonema marinoi : Involvement of ovothiol

Author

Milito, Alfonsina, Orefice, Ida, Smerilli, Arianna, Castellano, Immacolata, Napolitano, Alessandra, Brunet, Christophe, Palumbo, Anna, Milito, Alfonsina, Orefice, Ida, Smerilli, Arianna, Castellano, Immacolata, Napolitano, Alessandra, Brunet, Christophe, and Palumbo, Anna

Abstract

Diatoms are one of the most widespread groups of microalgae on Earth. They possess extraordinary metabolic capabilities, including a great ability to adapt to different light conditions. Recently, we have discovered that the diatom Skeletonema marinoi produces the natural antioxidant ovothiol B, until then identified only in clams. In this study, we investigated the light-dependent modulation of ovothiol biosynthesis in S. marinoi. Diatoms were exposed to different light conditions, ranging from prolonged darkness to low or high light, also differing in the velocity of intensity increase (sinusoidal versus square-wave distribution). The expression of the gene encoding the key ovothiol biosynthetic enzyme, ovoA, was upregulated by high sinusoidal light mimicking natural conditions. Under this situation higher levels of reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide as well as ovothiol and glutathione increase were detected. No ovoA modulation was observed under prolonged darkness nor low sinusoidal light. Unnatural conditions such as continuous square-wave light induced a very high oxidative stress leading to a drop in cell growth, without enhancing ovoA gene expression. Only one of the inducible forms of nitric oxide synthase, nos2, was upregulated by light with consequent production of NO under sinusoidal light and darkness conditions. Our data suggest that ovothiol biosynthesis is triggered by a combined light stress caused by natural distribution and increased photon flux density, with no influence from the daily light dose. These results open new perspectives for the biotechnological production of ovothiols, which are receiving a great interest for their biological activities in human model systems.

Published
2020

29. Insights into the light response of Skeletonema marinoi: Involvement of ovothiol

Author

Open University, Milito, Alfonsina, Orefice, Ida, Smerilli, Arianna, Castellano, Immacolata, Napolitano, Alessandra, Brunet, Christophe, Palumbo, Anna, Open University, Milito, Alfonsina, Orefice, Ida, Smerilli, Arianna, Castellano, Immacolata, Napolitano, Alessandra, Brunet, Christophe, and Palumbo, Anna

Abstract

Diatoms are one of the most widespread groups of microalgae on Earth. They possess extraordinary metabolic capabilities, including a great ability to adapt to different light conditions. Recently, we have discovered that the diatom Skeletonema marinoi produces the natural antioxidant ovothiol B, until then identified only in clams. In this study, we investigated the light-dependent modulation of ovothiol biosynthesis in S. marinoi. Diatoms were exposed to different light conditions, ranging from prolonged darkness to low or high light, also differing in the velocity of intensity increase (sinusoidal versus square-wave distribution). The expression of the gene encoding the key ovothiol biosynthetic enzyme, ovoA, was upregulated by high sinusoidal light mimicking natural conditions. Under this situation higher levels of reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide as well as ovothiol and glutathione increase were detected. No ovoA modulation was observed under prolonged darkness nor low sinusoidal light. Unnatural conditions such as continuous square-wave light induced a very high oxidative stress leading to a drop in cell growth, without enhancing ovoA gene expression. Only one of the inducible forms of nitric oxide synthase, nos2, was upregulated by light with consequent production of NO under sinusoidal light and darkness conditions. Our data suggest that ovothiol biosynthesis is triggered by a combined light stress caused by natural distribution and increased photon flux density, with no influence from the daily light dose. These results open new perspectives for the biotechnological production of ovothiols, which are receiving a great interest for their biological activities in human model systems.

Published
2020

50. Superoxide dismutase from the psychrophilic Antarctic eubacterium Pseudoalteromonas haloplanktis

Author

CASTELLANO, IMMACOLATA, RUOCCO, MARIA ROSARIA, DE VENDITTIS, EMMANUELE, MASULLO M, DI MARO A, CHAMBERY A, Castellano, I, Ruocco, Mr, Masullo, M, DI MARO, Antimo, Chambery, Angela, De Vendittis, E., Castellano, I., Ruocco, MARIA ROSARIA, Masullo, M., Di Maro, A., Chambery, A., DE VENDITTIS, Emmanuele, Castellano, Immacolata, DI MARO, A, and Chambery, A

Subjects
Pseudoalteromonas haloplanktis, psychrophile, Superoxide dismutase
Abstract

The antioxidant function of Fe- and Mn-containing superoxide dismutases (SOD) observed under constraints from extreme rather than mild cellular conditions could reflect an adaptive evolution to oxygen tolerance in the structural organisation of this class of enzymes. For instance, the mitochondrial human Mn-SOD and the hyperthermophilic archaeal Fe-SOD from Sulfolobus solfataricus (SsSOD) share a similar structural organisation. Further studies on members of this ubiquitous enzyme isolated from differently adapted micro–organisms could give useful information on possible adaptive mechanisms in the structure-function relationships of this SOD family. For this reason, this enzyme has been purified and characterised from Pseudoalteromonas haloplanktis, a psychrophilic eubacterium isolated from marine Antarctic sediments. Two chromatographic steps on DEAE-Sepharose and HTP allowed to purify SOD from P. haloplanktis (PhSOD) to homogeneity. The relative molecular weight of the purified enzyme estimated by SDS-PAGE is about 20,000. As SsSOD, also PhSOD shows a homotetrameric structure, as determined by gel filtration. PhSOD has an unusual thermal stability for a psycrophilic enzyme, as evaluated by its half-life of 10 min at 52°C. Similar results were obtained by UV-melting curves. Enzymatic assays showed that PhSOD has a specific activity of 6500 U/mg. The enzyme is inactivated by hydrogen peroxide and it is inhibited by sodium azide, whereas PMSF, a specific inactivator of the archaeal SsSOD, has no effect. Future research plan includes the determination of the metal content and the cloning of the gene encoding PhSOD. To this aim, a molecular probe has been designed on the basis of the amino acid sequence of some fragments of the purified protein.

Published
2005

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