Isolation and molecular characterization of metabolites produced by an Antarctic fungal strain

Antarctica's microbial diversity is largely unexplored, but its microorganisms, adapted to extreme conditions, hold great potential for biotechnological applications. These extremophiles have evolved unique strategies, including changes in gene regulation and metabolic pathways, making them a valuable source of bioactive molecules. Extremolytes and secondary metabolites produced by Antarctic fungi are noteworthy for their anticancer, neuroprotective, and antioxidant properties. This work deals with fungal strains isolated in Antarctica, which have demonstrated potential for therapeutic applications. These microorganisms, that were initially studied as a source of phenols and other antioxidant molecules, manifested their ability to inhibit the formation of amyloid fibrils of α-synuclein involved in the development of Parkinson’s disease. Therefore, we decided to focus on the isolation and characterization of these molecules responsible for this activity. By using chromatography techniques coupled with mass spectrometry, some products were extracted and tested in vitro and in cell systems in comparison to other molecules for of in-depth structure-activity relationship. Due to the critical demand for alternative treatments of neurodegenerative disease, natural products could offer essential starting points for the generation of novel pharmaceuticals. In fact, these molecules, for their inherent bioactivity and structural diversity, could be used as natural scaffolds as promising candidates for the development of innovative treatments for Parkinson's disease.