''Scytonema'' is a genus of photosynthetic

cyanobacteria Cyanobacteria ( ) are a group of autotrophic gram-negative bacteria that can obtain biological energy via oxygenic photosynthesis. The name "cyanobacteria" () refers to their bluish green (cyan) color, which forms the basis of cyanobacteri ...

that contains over 100 species. It grows in filaments that form dark mats. Many species are aquatic and are either free-floating or grow attached to a submerged substrate, while others species grow on terrestrial rocks, wood, soil, or plants. ''Scytonema'' is a nitrogen fixer, and can provide fixed nitrogen to the leaves of plants on which it is growing. Some species of ''Scytonema'' form a

symbiotic Symbiosis (Ancient Greek : living with, companionship < : together; and ''bíōsis'': living) is any type of a close and long-term biolo ...

relationship with

fungi A fungus (: fungi , , , or ; or funguses) is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and mold (fungus), molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as one ...

to produce a

lichen A lichen ( , ) is a hybrid colony (biology), colony of algae or cyanobacteria living symbiotically among hypha, filaments of multiple fungus species, along with yeasts and bacteria embedded in the cortex or "skin", in a mutualism (biology), m ...

Scyptolins are a type of

elastase In molecular biology, elastase is an enzyme from the class of proteases (peptidases) that break down proteins, specifically one that can break down elastin. In other words, the name only refers to the substrate specificity (i.e. what proteins i ...

inhibitors isolated from some species of ''Scytonema''. A study comparing red macroalgae to ''Scytonema'' species showed their potential for cosmetical use, both for their

antioxidant Antioxidants are Chemical compound, compounds that inhibit Redox, oxidation, a chemical reaction that can produce Radical (chemistry), free radicals. Autoxidation leads to degradation of organic compounds, including living matter. Antioxidants ...

s properties and photoprotection capacities due to their compounds MAAs, and scytonemin (unique to ''Scytonema''). This study indicated that they could be used as photoprotectors absorbing both in the UV-B and UV-A.

Species

''Scytonema'' includes the following subtaxa:M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 2018. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. http://www.algaebase.org/search/genus/detail/?genus_id=Rc504974e8d4a0331; searched on 17 August 2018.

References

External links

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Scytonema
' Nostocales Cyanobacteria genera Long stubs with short prose {{cyanobacteria-stub