The biosynthetic mechanism of mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) has
been roughly elucidated. In 2010, the genes responsible for MAA biosynthesis were
identified in cyanobacteria. In this chapter, first, we will describe the reaction
mechanisms responsible for the biosynthetic pathways of MAAs, mainly based on
results from cyanobacteria. Next, as a regulatory mechanism for MAA biosynthesis,
the response patterns of MAA accumulation in response to abiotic stresses, such as UV
irradiation, salt, and osmotic pressure, will be explained. There are many points to be
clarified regarding the detailed regulatory mechanisms, and further analyses are
awaited in the future. Because MAAs have useful activities in addition to UV
absorption, they are substances that are expected to be used in cosmetics and
pharmaceuticals. This chapter also includes discussions from the perspective of future
industrial production.
Keywords: ATP-grasp enzyme, Biosynthetic pathways of MAAs, D-Ala-D-Ala ligase, Gene resources, Nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS), Localization, Osmotic stress, Pentose phosphate pathway, Shikimate pathway, Regulatory mechanism, Substrate specificity, Salt stress, Temperature, UV irradiation, 4- deoxygadusol, 3-dehydroquinate synthase (DHQS), O–methyltransferase (O–MT), 2-epi-5-epi-valiolone synthase (EVS).
