scholarly journals Characterization of the Role of para-Aminobenzoic Acid Biosynthesis in Folate Production by Lactococcus lactis

2007 ◽  
Vol 73 (8) ◽  
pp. 2673-2681 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arno Wegkamp ◽  
Wietske van Oorschot ◽  
Willem M. de Vos ◽  
Eddy J. Smid
Keyword(s):  
Gene Cluster ◽  
Lactococcus Lactis ◽  
Gene Clusters ◽  
Defined Medium ◽  
Biosynthesis Pathway ◽  
Chemically Defined Medium ◽  
Aminobenzoic Acid ◽  
Biosynthesis Gene Cluster ◽  
Gene Coding ◽  
Aba Biosynthesis

ABSTRACT The pab genes for para-aminobenzoic acid (pABA) biosynthesis in Lactococcus lactis were identified and characterized. In L. lactis NZ9000, only two of the three genes needed for pABA production were initially found. No gene coding for 4-amino-4-deoxychorismate lyase (pabC) was initially annotated, but detailed analysis revealed that pabC was fused with the 3′ end of the gene coding for chorismate synthetase component II (pabB). Therefore, we hypothesize that all three enzyme activities needed for pABA production are present in L. lactis, allowing for the production of pABA. Indeed, the overexpression of the pABA gene cluster in L. lactis resulted in elevated pABA pools, demonstrating that the genes are involved in the biosynthesis of pABA. Moreover, a pABA knockout (KO) strain lacking pabA and pabB C was constructed and shown to be unable to produce folate when cultivated in the absence of pABA. This KO strain was unable to grow in chemically defined medium lacking glycine, serine, nucleobases/nucleosides, and pABA. The addition of the purine guanine, adenine, xanthine, or inosine restored growth but not the production of folate. This suggests that, in the presence of purines, folate is not essential for the growth of L. lactis. It also shows that folate is not strictly required for the pyrimidine biosynthesis pathway. L. lactis strain NZ7024, overexpressing both the folate and pABA gene clusters, was found to produce 2.7 mg of folate/liter per optical density unit at 600 nm when the strain was grown on chemically defined medium without pABA. This is in sharp contrast to L. lactis strains overexpressing only one of the two gene clusters. Therefore, we conclude that elevated folate levels can be obtained only by the overexpression of folate combined with the overexpression of the pABA biosynthesis gene cluster, suggesting the need for a balanced carbon flux through the folate and pABA biosynthesis pathway in the wild-type strain.

scholarly journals Overproduction of Ristomycin A by Activation of a Silent Gene Cluster in Amycolatopsis japonicum MG417-CF17

2014 ◽  
Vol 58 (10) ◽  
pp. 6185-6196 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marius Spohn ◽  
Norbert Kirchner ◽  
Andreas Kulik ◽  
Angelika Jochim ◽  
Felix Wolf ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Gene Cluster ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Genome Mining ◽  
Gene Clusters ◽  
Von Willebrand Disease ◽  
Biosynthesis Gene Cluster ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Bioinformatic Tools

ABSTRACTThe emergence of antibiotic-resistant pathogenic bacteria within the last decades is one reason for the urgent need for new antibacterial agents. A strategy to discover new anti-infective compounds is the evaluation of the genetic capacity of secondary metabolite producers and the activation of cryptic gene clusters (genome mining). One genus known for its potential to synthesize medically important products isAmycolatopsis. However,Amycolatopsis japonicumdoes not produce an antibiotic under standard laboratory conditions. In contrast to mostAmycolatopsisstrains,A. japonicumis genetically tractable with different methods. In order to activate a possible silent glycopeptide cluster, we introduced a gene encoding the transcriptional activator of balhimycin biosynthesis, thebbrgene fromAmycolatopsis balhimycina(bbrAba), intoA. japonicum. This resulted in the production of an antibiotically active compound. Following whole-genome sequencing ofA. japonicum, 29 cryptic gene clusters were identified by genome mining. One of these gene clusters is a putative glycopeptide biosynthesis gene cluster. Using bioinformatic tools, ristomycin (syn. ristocetin), a type III glycopeptide, which has antibacterial activity and which is used for the diagnosis of von Willebrand disease and Bernard-Soulier syndrome, was deduced as a possible product of the gene cluster. Chemical analyses by high-performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS), tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy confirmed thein silicoprediction that the recombinantA. japonicum/pRM4-bbrAbasynthesizes ristomycin A.

A chemically defined medium for Treponema strain PR-7 isolated from the intestine of a pig with swine dysentery

1972 ◽  
Vol 18 (7) ◽  
pp. 1073-1078 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert M. Smibert ◽  
Raymond L. Claterbaugh Jr
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Energy Source ◽  
Intestinal Tract ◽  
Defined Medium ◽  
Vitamin B ◽  
Chemically Defined Medium ◽  
Aminobenzoic Acid ◽  
Phenotypic Characteristics ◽  
Swine Dysentery ◽  
End Products

The nutrition of treponeme strain PR-7 isolated from the intestinal tract of a pig with swine dysentery was studied. The organism fermented arabinose, xylose, maltose, cellobiose, glucose, galactose, mannose, lactose, pectin, and starch. The end products of fermentation of glucose were major amounts of succinic acid, moderate amounts of acetic and formic acid, and a trace of lactic acid and ethanol.Strain PR-7 required glutamate, aspartate, proline, leucine, methionine, arginine, valine, alanine, serine, lysine, glycine, threonine, isoleucine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, histidine, tryptophan, glutamine, asparagine, and spermine. The organism also required nicotinamide, folic acid, pyridoxal, thiamine, riboflavin, pantothenate, choline, α-lipoic acid, and biotin. The fatty acids isobutyrate, n-valerate, acetate, and pyruvate were needed as well as ammonium sulfate. A fermentable energy source such as glucose was necessary for growth, as well as carbon dioxide. Heme was also required and the organism was stimulated by vitamin B12, ascorbic acid, ornithine, and para-aminobenzoic acid. Heme could be replaced by catalase, myoglobin, and peroxidase.Ten other treponemes that were isolated from the intestines of normal pigs as well as from pigs with swine dysentery and had phenotypic characteristics similar to strain PR-7 grew in the defined medium.

scholarly journals Identification and Molecular Characterization of the Chromosomal Exopolysaccharide Biosynthesis Gene Cluster from Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris SMQ-461

2005 ◽  
Vol 71 (11) ◽  
pp. 7414-7425 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Dabour ◽  
G. LaPointe
Keyword(s):  
Gene Cluster ◽  
Lactococcus Lactis ◽  
Repeat Unit ◽  
Raw Milk ◽  
Open Reading Frames ◽  
Pcr Analysis ◽  
Biosynthesis Gene Cluster ◽  
Glycosyltransferase Gene ◽  
Reverse Transcription Pcr ◽  
Exopolysaccharide Biosynthesis

ABSTRACT The exopolysaccharide (EPS) capsule-forming strain SMQ-461 of Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris, isolated from raw milk, produces EPS with an apparent molecular mass of >1.6 × 106 Da. The EPS biosynthetic genes are located on the chromosome in a 13.2-kb region consisting of 15 open reading frames. This region is flanked by three IS1077-related tnp genes (L. lactis) at the 5′ end and orfY, along with an IS981-related tnp gene, at the 3′ end. The eps genes are organized in specific regions involved in regulation, chain length determination, biosynthesis of the repeat unit, polymerization, and export. Three (epsGIK) of the six predicted glycosyltransferase gene products showed low amino acid similarity with known glycosyltransferases. The structure of the repeat unit could thus be different from those known to date for Lactococcus. Reverse transcription-PCR analysis revealed that the eps locus is transcribed as a single mRNA. The function of the eps gene cluster was confirmed by disrupting the priming glycosyltransferase gene (epsD) in Lactococcus cremoris SMQ-461, generating non-EPS-producing reversible mutants. This is the first report of a chromosomal location for EPS genetic elements in Lactococcus cremoris, with novel glycosyltransferases not encountered before in lactic acid bacteria.

scholarly journals A Pseudoalteromonas clade with remarkable biosynthetic potential

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rocky Chau ◽  
Leanne A. Pearson ◽  
Jesse Cain ◽  
John A. Kalaitzis ◽  
Brett A. Neilan
Keyword(s):  
Natural Products ◽  
Gene Cluster ◽  
Genome Mining ◽  
Gene Clusters ◽  
Average Density ◽  
Biologically Active ◽  
Biosynthesis Gene Cluster ◽  
Diverse Range ◽  
Siderophore Biosynthesis ◽  
Biosynthesis Gene

Pseudoalteromonas species produce a diverse range of biologically active compounds, including those biosynthesized by non-ribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs) and polyketide synthases (PKSs). Here we report the biochemical and genomic analysis of Pseudoalteromonas sp. HM-SA03, isolated from the blue-ringed octopus, Hapalochalaena sp. Genome mining for secondary metabolite pathways revealed seven putative NRPS/PKS biosynthesis gene clusters, including those for the biosynthesis of alterochromides, pseudoalterobactins, alteramides and four hitherto novel compounds. Among these was a novel siderophore biosynthesis gene cluster with unprecedented architecture (NRPS-PKS-NRPS-PKS-NRPS-PKS-NRPS). Alterochromide production in HM-SA03 was also confirmed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. An investigation of the biosynthetic potential of 42 publicly available Pseudoalteromonas genomes indicated that some of these gene clusters are distributed throughout the genus. Through phylogenetic analysis, a particular subset of strains formed a clade with extraordinary biosynthetic potential, with an average density of ten biosynthesis gene clusters per genome. In contrast, the majority of Pseudoalteromonas strains outside this clade contained an average of three clusters encoding complex biosynthesis. These results highlight the under-explored potential of Pseudoalteromonas as a source of new natural products. Importance This study demonstrates that the Pseudoalteromonas strain, HM-SA03, isolated from the venomous blue-ringed octopus, Hapalochalaena sp., is a biosynthetically talented organism, capable of producing alterochromides and potentially six other specialized metabolites. We have identified a pseudoalterobactin biosynthesis gene cluster and proposed a pathway for the production of the associated siderophore. A novel siderophore biosynthesis gene cluster with unprecedented architecture was also identified in the HM-SA03 genome. Finally, we have demonstrated that HM-SA03 belongs to a phylogenetic clade of strains with extraordinary biosynthetic potential. While our results do not support a role of HM-SA03 in Hapalochalaena sp. venom (tetrodotoxin) production, they emphasize the untapped potential of Pseudoalteromonas as a source of novel natural products.

scholarly journals Isolation, Characterization, and Heterologous Expression of the Biosynthesis Gene Cluster for the Antitumor Anthracycline Steffimycin

2006 ◽  
Vol 72 (6) ◽  
pp. 4172-4183 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sonia Gull�n ◽  
Carlos Olano ◽  
Mohamed S. Abdelfattah ◽  
Alfredo F. Bra�a ◽  
J�rgen Rohr ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Cluster ◽  
Biosynthetic Gene Cluster ◽  
Open Reading Frames ◽  
Biosynthetic Gene ◽  
Heterologous Host ◽  
Biosynthesis Gene Cluster ◽  
Polyketide Biosynthesis ◽  
Gene Coding ◽  
Biosynthesis Gene ◽  
Reading Frames

ABSTRACT The biosynthetic gene cluster for the aromatic polyketide steffimycin of the anthracycline family has been cloned and characterized from “Streptomyces steffisburgensis” NRRL 3193. Sequence analysis of a 42.8-kbp DNA region revealed the presence of 36 open reading frames (ORFs) (one of them incomplete), 24 of which, spanning 26.5 kb, are probably involved in steffimycin biosynthesis. They code for all the activities required for polyketide biosynthesis, tailoring, regulation, and resistance but show no evidence of genes involved in l-rhamnose biosynthesis. The involvement of the cluster in steffimycin biosynthesis was confirmed by expression of a region of about 15 kb containing 15 ORFS, 11 of them forming part of the cluster, in the heterologous host Streptomyces albus, allowing the isolation of a biosynthetic intermediate. In addition, the expression in S. albus of the entire cluster, contained in a region of 34.8 kb, combined with the expression of plasmid pRHAM, directing the biosynthesis of l-rhamnose, led to the production of steffimycin. Inactivation of the stfX gene, coding for a putative cyclase, revealed that this enzymatic activity participates in the cyclization of the fourth ring, making the final steps in the biosynthesis of the steffimycin aglycon similar to those in the biosynthesis of jadomycin or rabelomycin. Inactivation of the stfG gene, coding for a putative glycosyltransferase involved in the attachment of l-rhamnose, allowed the production of a new compound corresponding to the steffimycin aglycon compound also observed in S. albus upon expression of the entire cluster.

scholarly journals The Swinholide Biosynthesis Gene Cluster from a Terrestrial Cyanobacterium, Nostoc sp. Strain UHCC 0450

2017 ◽  
Vol 84 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anu Humisto ◽  
Jouni Jokela ◽  
Liwei Liu ◽  
Matti Wahlsten ◽  
Hao Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Natural Products ◽  
Actin Cytoskeleton ◽  
Gene Cluster ◽  
Marine Sponge ◽  
Gene Clusters ◽  
Fold Axis ◽  
Biosynthesis Gene Cluster ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Biosynthesis Gene ◽  
Axis Of Symmetry

ABSTRACT Swinholides are 42-carbon ring polyketides with a 2-fold axis of symmetry. They are potent cytotoxins that disrupt the actin cytoskeleton. Swinholides were discovered from the marine sponge Theonella sp. and were long suspected to be produced by symbiotic bacteria. Misakinolide, a structural variant of swinholide, was recently demonstrated to be the product of a symbiotic heterotrophic proteobacterium. Here, we report the production of swinholide A by an axenic strain of the terrestrial cyanobacterium Nostoc sp. strain UHCC 0450. We located the 85-kb trans -AT polyketide synthase (PKS) swinholide biosynthesis gene cluster from a draft genome of Nostoc sp. UHCC 0450. The swinholide and misakinolide biosynthesis gene clusters share an almost identical order of catalytic domains, with 85% nucleotide sequence identity, and they group together in phylogenetic analysis. Our results resolve speculation around the true producer of swinholides and demonstrate that bacteria belonging to two distantly related phyla both produce structural variants of the same natural product. In addition, we described a biosynthesis cluster from Anabaena sp. strain UHCC 0451 for the synthesis of the cytotoxic and antifungal scytophycin. All of these biosynthesis gene clusters were closely related to each other and created a group of cytotoxic macrolide compounds produced by trans -AT PKSs of cyanobacteria and proteobacteria. IMPORTANCE Many of the drugs in use today originate from natural products. New candidate compounds for drug development are needed due to increased drug resistance. An increased knowledge of the biosynthesis of bioactive compounds can be used to aid chemical synthesis to produce novel drugs. Here, we show that a terrestrial axenic culture of Nostoc cyanobacterium produces swinholides, which have been previously found only from marine sponge or samples related to them. Swinholides are polyketides with a 2-fold axis of symmetry, and they are potent cytotoxins that disrupt the actin cytoskeleton. We describe the biosynthesis gene clusters of swinholide from Nostoc cyanobacteria, as well as the related cytotoxic and antifungal scytophycin from Anabaena cyanobacteria, and we study the evolution of their trans -AT polyketide synthases. Interestingly, swinholide is closely related to misakinolide produced by a symbiotic heterotrophic proteobacterium, demonstrating that bacteria belonging to two distantly related phyla and different habitats can produce similar natural products.

scholarly journals Identification of a Polyketide Synthase Gene Responsible for Ascochitine Biosynthesis in Ascochyta fabae and Its Abrogation in Sister Taxa

mSphere ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wonyong Kim ◽  
Judith Lichtenzveig ◽  
Robert A. Syme ◽  
Angela H. Williams ◽  
Tobin L. Peever ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Cluster ◽  
Secondary Metabolite ◽  
Polyketide Synthase ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Gene Clusters ◽  
Biosynthesis Gene Cluster ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Pathogenicity Factor ◽  
Biosynthesis Gene ◽  
Ascochyta Fabae

ABSTRACT The polyketide-derived secondary metabolite ascochitine is produced by species in the Didymellaceae family, including but not restricted to Ascochyta species pathogens of cool-season food legumes. Ascochitine is structurally similar to the well-known mycotoxin citrinin and exhibits broad-spectrum phytotoxicity and antimicrobial activities. Here, we identified a polyketide synthase (PKS) gene (denoted pksAC) responsible for ascochitine production in the filamentous fungus Ascochyta fabae. Deletion of the pksAC prevented production of ascochitine and its derivative ascochital in A. fabae. The putative ascochitine biosynthesis gene cluster comprises 11 genes that have undergone rearrangement and gain-and-loss events relative to the citrinin biosynthesis gene cluster in Monascus ruber. Interestingly, we also identified pksAC homologs in two recently diverged species, A. lentis and A. lentis var. lathyri, that are sister taxa closely related to ascochitine producers such as A. fabae and A. viciae-villosae. However, nonsense mutations have been independently introduced in coding sequences of the pksAC homologs of A. lentis and A. lentis var. lathyri that resulted in loss of ascochitine production. Despite its reported phytotoxicity, ascochitine was not a pathogenicity factor in A. fabae infection and colonization of faba bean (Vicia faba L.). Ascochitine was mainly produced from mature hyphae at the site of pycnidial formation, suggesting a possible protective role of the compound against other microbial competitors in nature. This report highlights the evolution of gene clusters harnessing the structural diversity of polyketides and a mechanism with the potential to alter secondary metabolite profiles via single nucleotide polymorphisms in closely related fungal species. IMPORTANCE Fungi produce a diverse array of secondary metabolites, many of which are of pharmacological importance whereas many others are noted for mycotoxins, such as aflatoxin and citrinin, that can threaten human and animal health. The polyketide-derived compound ascochitine, which is structurally similar to citrinin mycotoxin, has been considered to be important for pathogenicity of legume-associated Ascochyta species. Here, we identified the ascochitine polyketide synthase (PKS) gene in Ascochyta fabae and its neighboring genes that may be involved in ascochitine biosynthesis. Interestingly, the ascochitine PKS genes in other legume-associated Ascochyta species have been mutated, encoding truncated PKSs. This indicated that point mutations may have contributed to genetic diversity for secondary metabolite production in these fungi. We also demonstrated that ascochitine is not a pathogenicity factor in A. fabae. The antifungal activities and production of ascochitine during sporulation suggested that it may play a role in competition with other saprobic fungi in nature.

scholarly journals High Level of Spinosad Production in the Heterologous Host Saccharopolyspora erythraea

2016 ◽  
Vol 82 (18) ◽  
pp. 5603-5611 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun Huang ◽  
Zhen Yu ◽  
Mei-Hong Li ◽  
Ji-Dong Wang ◽  
Hua Bai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heterologous Expression ◽  
Gene Cluster ◽  
Gene Clusters ◽  
Industrial Applications ◽  
Global Market ◽  
Saccharopolyspora Erythraea ◽  
Market Demand ◽  
Saccharopolyspora Spinosa ◽  
Biosynthesis Gene Cluster ◽  
Content Type

ABSTRACTSpinosad, a highly effective insecticide, has an excellent environmental and mammalian toxicological profile. Global market demand for spinosad is huge and growing. However, after much effort, there has been almost no improvement in the spinosad yield from the original producer,Saccharopolyspora spinosa. Here, we report the heterologous expression of spinosad usingSaccharopolyspora erythraeaas a host. The native erythromycin polyketide synthase (PKS) genes inS. erythraeawere replaced by the assembled spinosad gene cluster through iterative recombination. The production of spinosad could be detected in the recombinant strains containing the whole biosynthesis gene cluster. Both metabolic engineering and UV mutagenesis were applied to further improve the yield of spinosad. The final strain, AT-ES04PS-3007, which could produce spinosad with a titer of 830 mg/liter, has significant potential in industrial applications.IMPORTANCEThis work provides an innovative and promising way to improve the industrial production of spinosad. At the same time, it also describes a successful method of heterologous expression for target metabolites of interest by replacing large gene clusters.

scholarly journals Genomic and Chemical Investigation of Bioactive Secondary Metabolites From a Marine-Derived Fungus Penicillium steckii P2648

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guangshan Yao ◽  
Xiaofeng Chen ◽  
Huawei Zheng ◽  
Danhua Liao ◽  
Zhi Yu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Metabolites ◽  
Gene Cluster ◽  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Biological Activities ◽  
Gene Clusters ◽  
Ionization Mass ◽  
Structural Determination ◽  
Isoquinoline Alkaloids ◽  
Biosynthesis Gene Cluster ◽  
Strong Activity

Marine fungi of the genus Penicillium are rich resources of secondary metabolites, showing a variety of biological activities. Our anti-bacterial screening revealed that the crude extract from a coral-derived fungus Penicillium steckii P2648 showed strong activity against some pathogenic bacteria. Genome sequencing and mining uncovered that there are 28 secondary metabolite gene clusters in P2648, potentially involved in the biosynthesis of antibacterial compounds. Chemical isolation and structural determination suggested citrinin is the dominant component of the crude extracts of P2648, and our further tests confirmed that citrinin showed excellent activities against various pathogenic bacteria. Moreover, the gene cluster containing a homolog of the polyketide synthase CitS was identified as the citrinin biosynthesis gene cluster through genetic analysis. Interestingly, three isoquinoline alkaloids were unexpectedly activated and isolated from the Δcits mutant and structural determination by using high-resolution electron spray ionization mass spectroscopy (HRESIMS), 1D, and 2D NMR. Further antibacterial assays displayed that compounds 1 and 2, but not compound 3, showed moderate activities against two antibiotic-resistant pathogenic bacteria with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 16–32 μg/ml. In conclusion, our results demonstrated that citrinin and isoquinoline alkaloids represent as the major antibacterial agents in the coral-associated fungus P. steckii P2648, and our genomic and chemical analyses present evidence in support of P. steckii P2648 as a potent natural products source for anti-bacterial drug discovery.

A STUDY OF THE NUTRITIONAL REQUIREMENTS AND TOXIN PRODUCTION OF CLOSTRIDIUM BOTULINUM TYPE F

1965 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1009-1019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lillian V. Holdeman ◽  
Louis Ds. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Clostridium Botulinum ◽  
Synthetic Medium ◽  
Toxin Production ◽  
Defined Medium ◽  
Inorganic Salts ◽  
Nutritional Requirements ◽  
Chemically Defined Medium ◽  
Aminobenzoic Acid ◽  
Botulinum Type

Clostridium botulinum type F was grown in a chemically defined medium containing 17 amino acids, 11 vitamins, glucose, and inorganic salts. The nutritional requirements were determined using single-omission test media. Arginine, tryptophan, tyrosine, valine, biotin, thiamin, and possibly methionine were essential nutrients. Growth was stimulated by glycine, isoleucine, phenylalanine, and para-aminobenzoic acid. Toxin was present in supernatant fluids from all synthetic medium cultures in which there was marked growth. In general, toxicity of synthetic medium cultures was about 1/10 that of complex medium cultures.Toxin and precursor appear to be formed intracellularly, for both were released by rupturing young cells with sonic vibration. Protoxin could be activated by treatment with trypsin.

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