Structure, Toxicity, Prevalence, and Degradation of Six Understudied Freshwater Cyanopeptides
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Anthropogenic influences have increased global warming and eutrophication, escalating the frequency and severity of harmful cyanobacterial blooms (cHABs) in freshwater ecosystems. These blooms release cyanopeptides, a diverse class of bioactive compounds with varying acute and chronic toxicities upon ingestion. To date, research has prioritized acutely toxic cyanopeptides like microcystins. As a result, significantly less is known about other freshwater cyanopeptides. This review highlights six understudied cyanopeptide classes, anabaenopeptins, cyanopeptolins, aeruginosamides, aeruginosins, microginins, and cyclamides, and provides a comprehensive overview of their molecular structures, toxicological profiles, environmental concentrations, and known degradation pathways. Given the potential toxicity, increased environmental abundance, and environmental stability of many cyanopeptides in freshwater sources, further research is needed to understand if degraded cyanopeptides are still biologically active prior to entering drinking water to ensure public health.
Source: Toxins
Authors: Blake B. Stringer, Regina G. Szlag Silva, Jeremy J. Kodanko, Judy A. Westrick
Institution: Wayne State University
Language: English
Subfield: Environmental Chemistry
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,258
Awards: G1119269578, G215843557, Great Lakes Center for Fresh Waters and Human Health, G2321842868, Center for Urban Responses to Environmental Stressors, G4972346785, G6678522797, Synthesis and quantitation of microcystins and anabaenopeptins in the Great Lakes region to establish human exposure risks via ingestion and inhalation, G9000166376
OpenAlex ID: W4410213327