PROTEIN PHOSPHATASE INHIBITORY ACTIVITY IN EXTRACTS OF CULTURED BLUE‐GREEN ALGAE (CYANOPHYTA)¹

Abstract

ABSTRACT A large‐scale screening program was initiated to evaluate laboratory‐cultured blue‐green algae (cyanobacteria) as a source of novel compounds with inhibitory activity against certain serine/threonine protein phosphatases. Over 1600 extracts, representing 816 cyanophyte strains with broad habitat and taxonomic diversity, were screened. Inhibitors were identified in extracts produced from all orders tested except Chamaesiphonales, and the family Stigonemataceae was found to contain proportionally more inhibitors as compared to the total screen .