Prodigiosin: An In-depth Exploration of a Bioactive Compound from Serratia sp.

Background: The rising interest in natural pigments as alternatives is a result of the expanding usage of synthetic colorants and the negative consequences that go along with them. Noble natural pigments with higher stability and productivity are becoming popular in the food industry, and their diverse biological characteristics make them valuable for pharmaceutical applications. Microbes, especially gram-negative and positive bacteria, are considered attractive sources for replacing synthetic dyes. Prodigiosin, a tripyrrole red pigment produced as secondary metabolites by these bacteria, exhibits unusual properties and has potential as an effective proapoptotic agent against cancer and multi-drug resistant cells. Objective: This review aims to highlight the characteristics of prodigiosin and explore its potential applications as a therapeutic drug. Results: The review investigates the biosynthetic cluster genes of prodigiosin identified using the EZ-Tn5 transposon approach in different bacteria, including the pig gene cluster in Serratia sp., red gene cluster in S. coelicolor, and hap gene cluster in Hahella chejuensis. It is also described compound nature for producing host survival physiology. Prodigiosin has a common pyrrolylpyrromethane structure and is a member of the tripyrrole family. Numerous tri-pyrrole derivatives have been used in antibiotics and have demonstrated promise as pro-apoptotic agents against cancer and drug-resistant cells. Conclusion: Prodigiosin is an intriguing subject for investigating biosynthesis and exploitation through biotechnological methods due to its distinctive properties and potential as a medicinal medication. Future investigation and bioengineering on producing strains may synthesize functional derivatives with diverse applications.