What is it about?
The β-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) has been hypothesized as the environmental factor linking to human neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease. Here, we report the prevalence of BMAA synthesis in protein forms by marine diatoms and reconstruct its tentative biosynthesis pathway. Transcriptomic analyses suggest that cysteine synthase (CysK) is involved in BMAA synthesis.
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Why is it important?
This is the first time to disclose the biosynthesis pathway of BMAA toxin in marine diatoms. Meanwhile, this study provides biomarkers for further investigation of BMAA production in marine diatoms and insights for understanding the pathological mechanism for human neurodegenerative diseases.
Perspectives
It is very important for us to disclose the pathological mechanisms of human neurodegenerative diseases. Maybe it is a valuable cue for us to understand it in the future.
Dr. Aifeng Li
Ocean University of China
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Induction of a neurotoxin in diatoms by iron limitation via cysteine synthase, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, June 2025, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2424843122.
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