Genome Mining Reveals Pathways for Terpene Production in Aerobic Endospore-Forming Bacteria Isolated from Brazilian Soils

Terpenes are the largest category of specialized metabolites. Aerobic endospore-forming bacteria (AEFB), a diverse group of microorganisms, can thrive in various habitats and produce specialized metabolites, including terpenes. This study investigates the potential for terpene biosynthesis in 10 AEFB strain whole-genome sequences by performing bioinformatics analyses to identify genes associated with these isoprene biosynthesis pathways. Specifically, we focused on the sequences coding for enzymes in the methylerythritol-phosphate (MEP) pathway and the polyprenyl synthase family, which play crucial roles in synthesizing terpene precursors together with terpene synthases. Comparative analysis revealed a unique genetic architecture of these biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs). Our results indicated that some strains possessed the complete genetic machinery required to produce terpenes such as squalene, hopanoids, and carotenoids. We also reconstructed phylogenetic trees based on the amino acid sequences of terpene synthases, which aligned with the phylogenetic relationships inferred from the whole-genome sequences, suggesting the production of terpenes is an ancestor property in AEFB. Our findings highlight the importance of genome mining as a powerful tool for discovering new biological activities. Furthermore, this research lays the groundwork for future investigations to enhance our understanding of terpene biosynthesis in AEFB and the potential applications of these Brazilian environmental strains.