Nucleotide sequence, transcription and deduced function of a gene involved in polyketide antibiotic synthesis in Streptomyces coelicolor.

The BamHI fragment containing the actIII gene, from the actinorhodin (Act) biosynthetic gene cluster of Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2), was sequenced. The derived amino acid sequence for the actIII gene shows homology to known oxidoreductases and the actIII product is believed to be responsible for catalysing a beta-keto reductive step during assembly of the Act polyketide chain. High resolution transcript mapping identified the transcription start point at 33 nucleotides upstream of the putative translation start codon. The transcript ends in a large invertedly repeated sequence. In vivo promoter-probe studies suggest that efficient transcription of the actIII gene requires the product of the actII gene.

Metabolic products of microorganisms. 249. Tetracenomycins B3 and D3, key intermediates of the elloramycin and tetracenomycin C biosynthesis.

Tetracenomycins B3 and D3, besides tetracenomycin D (D1), were produced by a blocked mutant of the elloramycin producer Streptomyces olivaceus TU 2353. The compounds were isolated as red powders, and their structures were elucidated by comparing their physicochemical data with those of the known tetracenomycins A2, B1, B2, D and E. Tetracenomycin B3 (2), the main compound, and tetracenomycin D (3) were antibiotically inactive against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, whereas tetracenomycin D3 (1) showed a moderate activity against Bacillus subtilis and Arthrobacter aurescens. Tetracenomycin B3 (2) is the key intermediate where the biosynthesis of the elloramycins branches off from the line leading to tetracenomycin C (5) as the final product of the tetracenomycin biosynthesis branch.

Metabolites of Dactylaria lutea. The structures of dactylariol and the antiprotozoal antibiotic dactylarin.

The metabolites of the predacious fungus Dactylaria lutea ROUTIEN include the anthraquinone macrosporin (2) and three hydroxylated 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro derivatives of this anthraquinone, altersolanol A (5), altersolanol B (4) and dactylariol (6). The structure and relative configuration of dactylariol are established from spectroscopic studies, and its absolute configuration is proposed as 1R, 2R, 3R by virtue of its co-occurrence with altersolanol B. Dactylarin, suggested by other authors to have the structure (1), is shown to be identical with altersolanol B (4).

Biosynthesis of vineomycins A1 and B2.

Biosynthetic studies of the antibacterial and antitumor antibiotics vineomycins A1 (1) and B2 (2), produced by Streptomyces matensis subsp. vineus, were carried out by labeling experiments with [1-13C]- and [1,2-18C2]sodium acetate followed by 18C NMR spectroscopy. The results show that the benz[a]anthraquinone chromophore of 1 is derived from a decacetate metabolite with decarboxylation at the carboxyl end and that 2 is formed via C-C bond cleavage of 1. Isolation of rabelomycin from the fermentation broth of the same strain suggests a close biosynthetic relationship among the simple benz[a]anthraquinone antibiotics such as rabelomycin, tetrangomycin, aquayamycin, a C-glycosylated benz[a]anthraquinone, and vineomycins. These biosynthetic data prompted us to reconsider the previously published structure of the antibiotic SS-228Y, which has not been revised.

K-259-2, a new inhibitor of Ca2+ and calmodulin-dependent cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase from Micromonospora olivasterospora.

K-259-2, a new inhibitor of Ca2+ and calmodulin-dependent cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase, was isolated from the cultured broth of Micromonospora olivasterospora K-259. K-259-2 has an anthraquinone moiety in its structure. IC50 values for the effect of K-259-2 against Ca2+ and calmodulin-stimulated activity of the enzyme preparations from bovine brain and heart were 6.6 and 2.9 microM, respectively. On the other hand, basal activity (the activity in the presence of ethylene bis(oxyethylenenitrilo)tetraacetic acid (EGTA) instead of Ca2+/calmodulin) of the bovine brain enzyme, calmodulin-independent cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase from bovine heart, and protein kinase C from rat brain were inhibited by K-259-2 to a lesser extent with IC50 values of 27.4, 40.7 and 45.8 microM, respectively.

KS-619-1, a new inhibitor of Ca2+ and calmodulin-dependent cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase from Streptomyces californicus.

KS-619-1, a new inhibitor of Ca2+ and calmodulin-dependent cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase, was isolated from the cultured broth of Streptomyces californicus. KS-619-1 has an anthraquinone moiety. IC50 values for the effect of KS-619-1 on Ca2+ and calmodulin-stimulated activity of bovine brain and heart enzymes were 2.0 and 1.5 microM, respectively. On the other hand, basal activity (the activity in the presence of ethylene bis(oxyethylenenitrilo)tetraacetic acid (EGTA) instead of Ca2+/calmodulin) of the bovine brain enzyme, calmodulin-independent cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase from bovine heart, and protein kinase C from rat brain were inhibited by KS-619-1 to a lesser extent with IC50 values; 12.3, 25.9 and 151 microM, respectively.

3-Amino-5-hydroxybenzoic acid in antibiotic biosynthesis. VI. Directed biosynthesis studies with ansamycin antibiotics.

Biosynthesis of the ansamycin antibiotic actamycin (2) was markedly increased by the addition of the precursor 3-amino-5-hydroxybenzoic acid (1) to the producing Streptomyces fermentation. Similar addition of the 4-chloro, 6-chloro, N-methyl and O-methyl analogues 4, 6, 5 and 7 of the amino acid 1 reduced actamycin production and did not yield structurally modified ansamycins. These results with the analogues 4, 5 and 7 indicate that the corresponding chlorine, N-methyl and O-methyl substituents present in the nuclei of various ansamycins are introduced at biosynthetic stages beyond the level of the amino acid 1.

Isolation of ekatetrone, a new metabolite of producing variants of Streptomyces aureofaciens.

From a mixture of substances formed by producing strains of Streptomyces aureofaciens under conditions of submerged fermentation a new metabolite, ekatetrone, was isolated. Its isolation and basic physical and chemical data are described. Ekatetrone is a quinone derivative with a carboxamide group. In tests in vitro with cells of Ehrlich's ascites tumour evidence was provided that ekatetrone inhibits proteo- and nucleosynthesis.

Biosynthesis of the antibiotic actinorhodin. Analysis of blocked mutants of Streptomyces coelicolor.

From two types of class V act mutants of Streptomyces coelicolor two monomeric precursors of actinorhodin have been isolated and their structures determined. One is the known antibiotic kalafungin and the other a new compound. Their relationship to actinorhodin biosynthesis is discussed.

Urdamycins, new angucycline antibiotics from Streptomyces fradiae. IV. Biosynthetic studies of urdamycins A-D.

The biogenetic origin of the angucycline antibiotics urdamycins A-D was studied by feeding experiments with isotope labeled precursors and by NMR analysis. Feeding experiments with [1-13C]acetate and [1,2-13C2]acetate show that the chromophores of urdamycins A and B and the angucycline 4-ring skeleton of the urdamycins C and D chromophores are formed from a single decapolyketide chain. The chromophores of the urdamycins C and D contain additional structural elements which derived from the amino acids tyrosine and tryptophan, respectively. The latter was shown by feeding deuterium-labeled tyrosine and 13C-labeled tryptophan derivatives. Feeding of [1-13C]glucose and of [U-13C3]glycerol proved that the C-glycosidic moiety and the three sugars (2 x L-rhodinose, 1 x D-olivose each) of the urdamycins arise from glucose. Experiments with 14C-labeled urdamycin A, obtained by biosynthesis from [14C]acetate, showed this compound to be a late precursor of the urdamycins C and D.

Benzanthrins A and B, a new class of quinone antibiotics. I. Discovery, fermentation and antibacterial activity.

Nocardia lurida has been shown to produce two novel quinone antibiotics, benzanthrins A and B. The antibiotics were discovered in concentrated butanol extracts of fermentation broths and were separated by TLC and HPLC. Benzanthrins A and B were produced in a fermentation medium consisting of glucose, yeast, selected peptones and CaCO3. The antibiotics were present primarily at 66 hours in shake flask fermentations and from 66 to 162 hours in 14-liter fermentors. Benzanthrins A and B inhibited a number of Gram-positive pathogenic bacteria but were inactive against Gram-negative bacteria.

Mutants of Streptomyces coeruleorubidus impaired in the biosynthesis of daunomycinone glycosides and related metabolites.

Mutants of Streptomyces coeruleorubidus, blocked in the biosynthesis of anthracycline antibiotics of the daunomycine complex, were isolated from the production strains after treatment with UV light, gamma-radiation, nitrous acid, and after natural selection; according to their different biosynthetic activity the mutants were divided into five phenotypic groups. Mutants of two of these groups produced compounds that had not yet been described in Streptomyces coeruleorubidus (aklavinone, 7-deoxyaklavinone, zeta-rhodomycinone and glycosides of epsilon-rhodomycinone). The mutants differed from the parent strains and also mutually in morphological characteristics but no direct correlation between these changes and the biosynthetic activity could be observed in most cases.

The effect of 5,5-diethylbarbituric acid on the biosynthesis of anthracyclines in Streptomyces galilaeus.

5,5-Diethylbarbituric acid (barbital) stimulates the production of anthracycline antibiotics called galirubins in Streptomyces galilaeus in dependence on the strain, concentration and cultivation conditions. The stimulation is more pronounced (up to 300%) in the low-producing strain than in the production mutant. Under conditions of limited aeration the effect of barbital is increased in both strains. In the production strain barbital narrows the spectrum of metabolites produced. Higher barbital concentrations inhibit growth of the mycelium of both strains and decrease the formation of free anthracyclinones.

Strain improvement in Streptomyces galilaeus, a producer of anthracycline antibiotics galirubins.

The production of epsilon-pyrromycinone glycosides in Streptomyces galilaeus increased 12-fold, with respect to the wild strain, as a result of a sequential procedure including both natural selection and treatment with mutagens (nitrous acid, UV light and gamma-irradiation). Nitrous acid exhibited the highest mutagenic effect, both in increasing the productivity and in inducing blocked mutants. A mutant strain blocked in the biosynthesis of glycosides and accumulating free epsilon-pyrromycinone as the principal metabolite was obtained.