Biotechnological Applications of Scyphomedusae
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marine drugs Review Biotechnological Applications of Scyphomedusae Louise Merquiol 1, Giovanna Romano 2 , Adrianna Ianora 2 and Isabella D’Ambra 1,* 1 Integrative Marine Ecology Department, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121 Napoli, Italy; [email protected] 2 Marine Biotechnology Department, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121 Napoli, Italy; [email protected] (G.R.); [email protected] (A.I.) * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +39-081-5833201 Received: 14 October 2019; Accepted: 21 October 2019; Published: 24 October 2019 Abstract: As people across the world live longer, chronic illness and diminished well-being are becoming major global public health challenges. Marine biotechnology may help overcome some of these challenges by developing new products and know-how derived from marine organisms. While some products from marine organisms such as microalgae, sponges, and fish have already found biotechnological applications, jellyfish have received little attention as a potential source of bioactive compounds. Nevertheless, recent studies have highlighted that scyphomedusae (Cnidaria, Scyphozoa) synthesise at least three main categories of compounds that may find biotechnological applications: collagen, fatty acids and components of crude venom. We review what is known about these compounds in scyphomedusae and their current biotechnological applications, which falls mainly into four categories of products: nutraceuticals, cosmeceuticals, biomedicals, and biomaterials. By defining the state of the art of biotechnological applications in scyphomedusae, we intend to promote the use of these bioactive compounds to increase the health and well-being of future societies. Keywords: collagen; fatty acids; crude venom; bioactive compounds; nutraceuticals; cosmeceuticals; biomedicals; biomaterials 1. Introduction By definition, biotechnology is ‘the application of biological knowledge and techniques to develop products and other benefits for humans’ [1]. Currently, biotechnology includes production processes and techniques as well as cutting-edge molecular and genomic biological applications. Since terrestrial habitats are generally overexploited, research in the last two decades has focused on marine organisms as they have been found to possess or synthesise bioactive compounds that often have no terrestrial counterparts and which may, therefore, find new biotechnological applications in different fields. The ocean is an almost unexploited source of biological and chemical diversity. It covers more than 70% of the Earth’s surface and is inhabited by more than 194,000 described species of bacteria, plants and animals [2]. However, only a relatively small number of marine organisms have been exploited until now, providing about 9000 novel natural products between 2011 and 2017 [3–11] (Figure1). Cnidaria have been relatively under-exploited to obtain natural products compared to other taxa (Figure1). Most of the natural products extracted from Cnidaria derive from benthic cnidarians, while a limited number of bioactive compounds have been extracted from pelagic cnidarians (hydromedusae and scyphomedusae) [3–11]. Nevertheless, the natural products synthesised by pelagic cnidarians may find several important applications for humans. Mar. Drugs 2019, 17, 604; doi:10.3390/md17110604 www.mdpi.com/journal/marinedrugs Mar.Mar. Drugs Drugs20192019, 17, ,17 604, 604 2 of 226 of 26 Kingdom Bacteria Fungi Chromista Plantae Animalia Phylum Figure 1. New natural products extracted from marine organisms between 2011 and 2017. Figure 1. New natural products extracted from marine organisms between 2011 and 2017. The green fluorescent protein (GFP) is likely the most famous jellyfish-derived compound that is findingThe several green applications fluorescent inprotein the biomedical (GFP) is likely field. the The most hydromedusa famous jellyfish-derivedAequorea victoria compound(Murbach that and Sheareris finding 1902), several which applications was described in the biomedical in the waters field. of The Victoria hydromedusa (Canada), Aequorea appears victoria colourless (Murbach and transparent;and Shearer nevertheless, 1902), which itwas produces described bright in the green waters flashes of Victoria along (Canada), the edge appears of its colourless bell using and GFPs, transparent; nevertheless, it produces bright green flashes along the edge of its bell using GFPs, which which extend the wavelength of the emitted light to the green spectrum. The ecological and evolutionary extend the wavelength of the emitted light to the green spectrum. The ecological and evolutionary significance of the processes leading to light production in the ocean are still debated and little known. significance of the processes leading to light production in the ocean are still debated and little However, after their first extraction in 1962 [12], GFPs have found large applications in oncology known. However, after their first extraction in 1962 [12], GFPs have found large applications in andoncology nerve cell and development nerve cell development due to their due ability to their to abi taglity cells. to tag The cells. importance The importance of this of discovery this discovery and its applicationsand its applications led O. Shimomura, led O. Shimomura, M. Chalfie M. and Chalfie R. Tsien and toR. theTsien award to the of award the Nobel of the Prize Nobel in Prize Chemistry in in 2008.Chemistry in 2008. In additionIn addition to GFPs,to GFPs, O. Shimomura O. Shimomura isolated isolated another another calcium-activated calcium-activated photoprotein photoprotein in A. in victoria A. , aequorin,victoria, which, aequorin, like which, GFPs, like is responsible GFPs, is responsible for light emission for light byemission this hydromedusa. by this hydromedusa. However, However, while GFPs emitwhile light GFPs in the emit green light spectrum, in the emissionsgreen spectrum, mediated emissions by aequorin mediated are in theby blueaequorin wavelength. are in the A sub-unitblue of aequorin,wavelength. apoaequorin, A sub-unit of is aequorin the main, componentapoaequorin, of is an the integrator main compon usedent to enhanceof an integrator neuronal used activity to andenhance memory neuronal (www.prevagen.com activity and memory). (www.prevagen.com). JellyfishJellyfish (hydromedusae, (hydromedusae, scyphomedusae scyphomedusae andand ctenop ctenophores)hores) have have been been considered considered as asa nuisance a nuisance or aor “pest” a “pest” for for their their interference interference with with humanhuman activitiesactivities at at sea sea (tourism, (tourism, fishery, fishery, farming, farming, industries) industries) andand a deada dead end end in in marine marine food food webs webs forfor a a longlong time, but but their their role role in in marine marine ecosystems ecosystems has has been been recentlyrecently re-evaluated re-evaluated [13 [13].]. In In recent recent decades, decades, the the abundance abundance ofof jellyfishjellyfish appears to to have have increased increased at at a a global scale [14–16]. The general increase and its potential causes are still under discussion due to global scale [14–16]. The general increase and its potential causes are still under discussion due to the lack of regular monitoring of jellyfish abundance [17]. Several human-driven activities have been the lack of regular monitoring of jellyfish abundance [17]. Several human-driven activities have been indicated to favour the increase of jellyfish, such as overfishing [18], eutrophication of coastal areas indicated to favour the increase of jellyfish, such as overfishing [18], eutrophication of coastal areas [19], [19], and climate change [20], but it is likely that a combination of these has acted in concomitance andwith climate local changepatterns [20 [21].], but Jellyfish it is likely are often that aan combination undesired by-catch of these resulting has acted from in concomitance regular fishing with localactivities, patterns because [21]. Jellyfish they damage are often and anbreak undesired the nets by-catchin which resultingthey are accidentally from regular caught. fishing This activities, by- becausecatch, theyhowever, damage could and ensure break thean netsabundant in which and theyregular are accidentallyavailability of caught. these organisms This by-catch, in certain however, couldcoastal ensure marine an abundant areas that andcould regular be exploited availability for several of these biotechnological organisms in applications. certain coastal marine areas that could be exploited for several biotechnological applications. 2. Organic Content of Scyphomedusae 2. Organic Content of Scyphomedusae Scyphomedusae have been found to possess mainly three categories of compounds that may findScyphomedusae biotechnological have applications: been found collagen, to possess fatty acids mainly and threebioactive categories compounds of compounds extracted from that the may findcrude biotechnological venom of their applications: nematocysts. collagen, Scyphomedusae fatty acids contain and abioactive large volume compounds of water (>95%, extracted [22]). from The the crudequantity venom of organic of their matter, nematocysts. therefore, Scyphomedusae is reduced compared contain to water a large and volume varies greatly of water across (>95%, species [22 ]). The quantity of organic matter, therefore, is reduced compared to water and varies greatly across species [22]. Scyphomedusae may have different salt content depending on seawater