2023 review

Tolyporphins-Exotic Tetrapyrrole Pigments in a Cyanobacterium-A Review

[Review of ]. MOLECULES, 28(16).

author keywords: bacteriochlorin; bioinformatics; biosynthesis; chlorophyll; cyanobacteria; field biology; gene cluster; genomics; natural products; tolyporphins
TL;DR: The identification of putative biosynthetic gene clusters in the HT-58-2 cyanobacterial genome and accompanying studies suggest a new biosynthesis paradigm in the tetrapyrrole arena, which stands alone in the large pigments-of-life family. (via Semantic Scholar)
Source: Web Of Science
Added: October 2, 2023

Tolyporphins were discovered some 30 years ago as part of a global search for antineoplastic compounds from cyanobacteria. To date, the culture HT-58-2, comprised of a cyanobacterium–microbial consortium, is the sole known producer of tolyporphins. Eighteen tolyporphins are now known—each is a free base tetrapyrrole macrocycle with a dioxobacteriochlorin (14), oxochlorin (3), or porphyrin (1) chromophore. Each compound displays two, three, or four open β-pyrrole positions and two, one, or zero appended C-glycoside (or –OH or –OAc) groups, respectively; the appended groups form part of a geminal disubstitution motif flanking the oxo moiety in the pyrroline ring. The distinct structures and repertoire of tolyporphins stand alone in the large pigments-of-life family. Efforts to understand the cyanobacterial origin, biosynthetic pathways, structural diversity, physiological roles, and potential pharmacological properties of tolyporphins have attracted a broad spectrum of researchers from diverse scientific areas. The identification of putative biosynthetic gene clusters in the HT-58-2 cyanobacterial genome and accompanying studies suggest a new biosynthetic paradigm in the tetrapyrrole arena. The present review provides a comprehensive treatment of the rich science concerning tolyporphins.