{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,18]],"date-time":"2026-01-18T05:21:01Z","timestamp":1768713661503,"version":"3.49.0"},"reference-count":46,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"8","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2015,7,24]],"date-time":"2015-07-24T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1437696000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Toxins"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Effective and ecofriendly antifouling (AF) compounds have been arising from naturally produced chemicals. The objective of this study is to use cyanobacteria-derived agents to investigate the role of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity as an effect and\/or mode of action of promising AF compounds, since AChE inhibitors were found to inhibit invertebrate larval settlement. To pursue this objective, in vitro quantification of AChE activity under the effect of several cyanobacterial strain extracts as potential AF agents was performed along with in vivo AF (anti-settlement) screening tests. Pre-characterization of different cholinesterases (ChEs) forms present in selected tissues of important biofouling species was performed to confirm the predominance of AChE, and an in vitro AF test using pure AChE activity was developed. Eighteen cyanobacteria strains were tested as source of potential AF and AChE inhibitor agents. Results showed effectiveness in selecting promising eco-friendly AF agents, allowing the understanding of the AF biochemical mode of action induced by different compounds. This study also highlights the potential of cyanobacteria as source of AF agents towards invertebrate macrofouling species.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/toxins7082739","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2015,7,24]],"date-time":"2015-07-24T10:44:26Z","timestamp":1437734666000},"page":"2739-2756","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":24,"title":["Acetylcholinesterase in Biofouling Species: Characterization and Mode of Action of Cyanobacteria-Derived Antifouling Agents"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"7","author":[{"given":"Joana","family":"Almeida","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"CIIMAR\/CIMAR\u2014Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research,  University of Porto, Rua dos Bragas 289, Porto P 4050-123, Portugal"}]},{"given":"Micaela","family":"Freitas","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"CIIMAR\/CIMAR\u2014Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research,  University of Porto, Rua dos Bragas 289, Porto P 4050-123, Portugal"},{"name":"Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre,  Porto P 4069-007, Portugal"}]},{"given":"Susana","family":"Cruz","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"CIIMAR\/CIMAR\u2014Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research,  University of Porto, Rua dos Bragas 289, Porto P 4050-123, Portugal"}]},{"given":"Pedro","family":"Le\u00e3o","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"CIIMAR\/CIMAR\u2014Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research,  University of Porto, Rua dos Bragas 289, Porto P 4050-123, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3585-2417","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Vitor","family":"Vasconcelos","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"CIIMAR\/CIMAR\u2014Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research,  University of Porto, Rua dos Bragas 289, Porto P 4050-123, Portugal"},{"name":"Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre,  Porto P 4069-007, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6149-9840","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Isabel","family":"Cunha","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"CIIMAR\/CIMAR\u2014Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research,  University of Porto, Rua dos Bragas 289, Porto P 4050-123, Portugal"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2015,7,24]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","first-page":"10","article-title":"Marine biofouling: A sticky problem","volume":"49","author":"Callow","year":"2002","journal-title":"Biologist"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"87","DOI":"10.1080\/08927014.2010.542809","article-title":"Economic impact of biofouling on a naval surface ship","volume":"27","author":"Schultz","year":"2011","journal-title":"Biofouling"},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"75","DOI":"10.1016\/j.porgcoat.2003.06.001","article-title":"Antifouling technology\u2014Past, present and future steps towards efficient and environmentally friendly antifouling coatings","volume":"50","author":"Yebra","year":"2004","journal-title":"Prog. 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