Small wonder: Atrop‐abyssomicin C is a small, yet complex spirotetronate (see scheme) that is active against Gram‐positive bacteria, such as MRSA. Feeding studies and genetic manipulation of its producer, Verrucosispora maris AB‐18‐032, for the first time give insight into its biosynthesis and demonstrate how closely related the members of this important class of molecules are.
BackgroundA bacterial artificial chromosomal library of Planobispora rosea, a genetically intractable actinomycete strain, was constructed using Escherichia coli-Streptomyces artificial chromosome (ESAC) and screened for the presence of genes known to be involved in the biosynthesis of antibiotics.ResultsOne clone with a 40 kb insert showed antimicrobial activity against Gram positive bacteria. Insert sequence analysis and subcloning experiments revealed that the bioactivity was due to a 3.5 kb DNA fragment containing two open reading frames. These orfs encode two proteins with high similarity to a putative membrane protein of Streptomyces coelicolor and to the nogalamycin resistance protein SnorO of Streptomyces nogalater, respectively. The role of these two Orfs is unknown in Planobispora. Disruption and complementation experiments revealed that both proteins are necessary for the antibacterial activity and chemical analysis demonstrated that the antibiotic activity was due to thiostrepton, antibiotic used as recombinant clone selection marker.ConclusionTwo Planobispora rosea orfs are responsible for increasing intracellular amounts and storage of thiostrepton in Streptomyces lividans.
Eine Tätigkeit im Wissenschaftsmanagement ist nur wenigen Chemiestudenten präsent, wenn sie an Berufseinstieg und Karriere denken. Das war bei Elvira Gottardi nicht anders. Heute unterstützt sie als wissenschaftliche Referentin den Präsidenten der Leibniz‐Gemeinschaft dabei, Strategien zu entwerfen.
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