Search

A person's quality of life can be adversely affected by hair loss. Microalgae are widely recognized for their abundance and rich functional components. Here, we evaluated the hair growth effect of a green alga, Botryococcus terribilis (B. terribilis), in vitro using hair follicle dermal papilla cells (HFDPCs). We isolated two types of cells from B. terribilis—green and orange cells, obtained from two different culture conditions. Microarray and real time-PCR results revealed that both cell types stimulated the expression of several pathways and genes associated with different aspect of the hair follicle cycle. Additionally, we demonstrated B. terribilis' effect on collagen and keratin synthesis and inflammation reduction. We successfully isolated a novel compound, methylated-meijicoccene (me-meijicoccene), and C32 botryococcene from B. terribilis to validate their promising effects. Our study revealed that treatment with the two compounds had no cytotoxic effect on HFDPCs and significantly enhanced the gene expression levels of hair growth markers at low concentrations. Our study provides the first evidence of the underlying hair growth promoting effect of B. terribilis and its novel compound, me-meijicoccene, and C32 botryococcene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alkaline saline ponds and lakes are habitats with unique biodiversity. The green alga of the genus Botryococcus was accidentally discovered during a micro-algal survey of these habitats in Serbia. Species B. terribilis was found and identified for the first time in Serbia in the small sandpit lake of the Rusanda Nature Park. The first sampling was incomplete due to the unknown origin of the orange-red surface scum. After the identity of the species had been confirmed, three additional samplings were conducted aiming to collect phytoplankton and water samples for physical and chemical analyses. Major anions and cations were analysed in order to characterize the chemical type of sandpit lake, as well as nutrient content. Sandpit lake is an alkaline water body that belongs to sodium bicarbonate chemical type. Morphometric analysis of B. terribilis was performed using light and transmission electron microscopy. B. terribilis was found to be numerous in the phytoplankton community in late autumn and winter. Species from the genus Botryococcus are known as a rich source of different lipids and this discovery can be the first step in the further biotechnological application of this species in sustainable biofuel production.

A person’s quality of life can be adversely affected by hair loss. Microalgae are widely recognized for their abundance and rich functional components. Here, we evaluated the hair growth effect of a green alga, Botryococcus terribilis (B. terribilis), in vitro using hair follicle dermal papilla cells (HFDPCs). We isolated two types of cells from B. terribilis—green and orange cells, obtained from two different culture conditions. Microarray and real time-PCR results revealed that both cell types stimulated the expression of several pathways and genes associated with different aspect of the hair follicle cycle. Additionally, we demonstrated B. terribilis’ effect on collagen and keratin synthesis and inflammation reduction. We successfully isolated a novel compound, methylated-meijicoccene (me-meijicoccene), and C32 botryococcene from B. terribilis to validate their promising effects. Our study revealed that treatment with the two compounds had no cytotoxic effect on HFDPCs and significantly enhanced the gene expression levels of hair growth markers at low concentrations. Our study provides the first evidence of the underlying hair growth promoting effect of B. terribilis and its novel compound, me-meijicoccene, and C32 botryococcene.

The genus Botryococcus contains a small number of green, colonial algae, with some taxa still uncertain. B. braunii is the most extensively studied species of the genus because of its hydrocarbon oils which can be used as an alternative energy source. Some B. terribilis AICB strains were previously described showing their ability to synthesize C30-C32 botryococcenes similar to those produced by chemical race B of B. braunii strains. The present study aimed to investigate the structural features of SSL-1 enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of presqualene diphosphate from B. terribilis AICB 872, and its functional conservation by means of computational proteomics and molecular biology techniques. Using PCR amplification we obtained a 3811bp contig containing the sequence of SSL-1 gene. The homology modeling analysis revealed the presence of alpha helical structures and a small beta sheet which are forming the SSL-1 catalytic core. Coil structures and both N and C terminus regions of the protein are characterized by highly disordered structural fragments. Finally, our data integrated within the available information in the literature allowed us to presume that the formation of presqualene diphosphate, the first step of hydrocarbon biosynthesis in B. terribilis strain occurs in a similar fashion with that described in B. braunii. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing prevalence of mental disorders, such as depression, is currently a serious public health concern. Microalgae are a diverse group of organisms that contain many bioactive compounds such as polyunsaturated fatty acids and polyphenols. These compounds can exhibit many health benefits such as antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and anti-obesity effects. In the present study, we focused on microalgal (Botryococcus terribilis) extract (ME) rich in Me-meijicoccene (MM), a novel compound. Our results showed that pretreatment of SH-SY5Y cells with ME and MM ameliorated dexamethasone (depression-causing substance)-induced cytotoxicity. The results of the tail suspension test (TST) indicated that ME (50 mg/kg) induced antidepressant-like activity in TST-stressed mice. Our microarray analysis revealed that ME upregulated neurotransmitter-related gene (neurotransmitter secretion) expression and downregulated neuroinflammatory-related gene (chemokine-mediated signaling) expression in the cerebral cortex. ME also induced an increase in neurotransmitter and brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels, and a decrease in corticosterone and pro-inflammatory cytokine levels in the serum, cerebral cortex, and hypothalamus. Altogether, our study is the first to report that 50 mg/kg ME (not 100 mg/kg) exerts antidepressant-like effects via regulating neuroinflammation and modulating neurotransmitter systems in the mouse brain, highlighting the prospects of ME in the treatment of depressive disorders of a psychosocial nature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Botryococcus terribilis is a freshwater colonial green microalga very similar to B. braunii, due to the hydrocarbon biosynthesis and accumulation of those biosynthetic products in the extracellular matrix. The hydrocarbon biosynthesis pathway was intensively studied, especially in differents strains of B. braunii. Recent studies revealed the presence of three squalene synthase-like (SSL) enzymes involved in the last steps of hydrocarbon biosynthesis from B. braunii. The aim of the study is to identify homologous SSL enzymes to B. terribilis AICB 870, a freshwater isolate from Bihor County (Romania), based on new isolated cDNA fragments and bioinformatics analysis of sequenced fragments. Light and fluorescence microscopy observation revealed that AICB 870 strain presents features similar to a B. terribilis species, especially simple or branched mucilaginous processes and a high number of lipids vesicles. PCR primers designed using SSL nucleotide sequences from B. braunii were successfully used to amplify homologous SSL cDNA fragment in the AICB 870 strain. Bioinformatic analysis of nucleotides and translated amino acid sequences including G+C content, nucleotide frequencies, amino acids frequencies, computed Mw/pI and transmembrane motif prediction showed a high degree of similarity between the SSL identified as pertaining to Botryococcus braunii and those generated in the present work. The results of the present study pointed out for the first time the presence of three squalene synthase-like enzymes in a strain of B. terribilis species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Botryococcus braunii is a green unicellular microalga with a unique potential to produce large quantities of hydrocarbons similar to fossil fuel. Up to now, B. braunii is the most studied species of the Botryococcus genus. The taxonomic affiliation of eight different strains of the genus Botryococcus collected from freshwaters of Transylvania was investigated based on their morphological characteristics and molecular profile using small subunit (SSU) ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes and internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) sequence-structure analysis. The phylogenetic inference using ITS2 sequence-structure molecular marker, an approach addressed for the first time in the issue of Botryococcus genus phylogeny, generated similar results with the 18S rRNA gene based analysis. In both phylogenetic trees we constructed, the sequences of our strains formed an independent cluster within the B-race clade. Based on the phylogenetic data and the presence of long mucilaginous processes which emerged from the periphery of the colonies, we established the affiliation of our strains to Botryococcus terribilis species. Detailed analyses regarding the growth performances, ultrastructural characteristics, and hydrocarbon and fatty acid profiles were also included in our study. The micrographs obtained in scanning electron, transmission electron, and light microscopies showed a high degree of similarity to other strains affiliated to the B chemical race. Also, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry assay showed for the first time the ability of B. terribilis strains to synthesize C-C botryococcenes, which are known to be specific to the B-type Botryococcus strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Botryococcus comprises a group of cosmopolitan species of freshwater colonial green algae, some of which synthesize and accumulate an unusually high level (15-76%) of liquid hydrocarbons. This characteristic suggests the possibility of exploiting species from this group as renewable sources for jet fuel. An oil-rich strain of Botryococcus (Trebouxiophyceae) was isolated from a freshwater pond in the state of Bahia, Brazil, and is presently maintained under standard conditions at the Culture Collection of the Institute of Biology, Federal University of Bahia. The taxonomic classification of the species was based on light microscopy (LM); and TEM and SEM were used to better characterize its features, which have never before been described at this level. The LM characterization included the size of the colonies (35.7-157 μm) and cells (8-10 × 5-9 μm) and their connection in sub-colonies by mucilaginous strands, as well as the presence of mucilaginous processes on the periphery of some of the colonies, with most of the cells included inside the colony. Reproduction occurred through divisions into two to four autospores. These features characterized the species as Botryococcus terribilis Komárek and Marvan. The TEM study showed, in addition to the presence of starch grains, pyrenoids that are penetrated by thick thylakoids. The pyrenoid bodies appear as electron-dense protein inclusions located in the chloroplast and surrounded by a starch sheath. These structures, which contain most if not all of the Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase oxygenase in several algal species that have been studied closely, are newly discovered for this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]