Expression of novobiocin resistance genes in the novobiocin-producing organism Streptomyces niveus.

RNA isolated at intervals during fermentation from the novobiocin-producing wild-type strain of Streptomyces niveus and from a series of novobiocin-non-producing (Nov-) mutants was hybridized to DNA probes containing sequences which specify novobiocin resistance. The probes were made from inserts contained in the clones pGL101 and pGL103 which increase the level of novobiocin resistance of S. lividans transformants from 10 micrograms ml-1 to 50 micrograms ml-1 and 150 micrograms ml-1, respectively. No hybridization was detected with the pGL101 probe. The pGL103 probe hybridized to RNA extracted during the later stages of growth--a pattern corresponding to the transition from low to high level novobiocin resistance during growth of S. niveus wild-type cultures. Neither probe hybridized to RNA extracted from four Nov- mutants. These mutants showed variable levels of novobiocin resistance but none expressed the high wild-type levels. The authors conclude that expression of the DNA sequence in pGL103 is associated with high level novobiocin resistance.

Induction of resistance to novobiocin in the novobiocin-producing organism Streptomyces niveus.

During growth of Streptomyces niveus wild-type in the novobiocin production medium CDM the resistance of mycelia to novobiocin rises from about 25 micrograms/ml to over 200 micrograms/ml. (S. lividans, a novobiocin-sensitive strain, is resistant to approx. 10 micrograms/ml novobiocin.) The initial period of low level resistance extends from the time of inoculation of the culture until approx. 70 h when the culture is still in the growth phase. High level resistance is initiated before the start of novobiocin production and rises rapidly to a maximum level beyond the end of the growth phase. The rise in pH of the unbuffered CDM medium which occurs during S. niveus fermentation was shown not to be the cause of the change in novobiocin resistance. However, mycelia-free CDM from S. niveus cultures expressing high level novobiocin resistance was shown to contain a factor which induced high level novobiocin resistance in germinating S. niveus spores. Kinetic studies revealed that the inducer first appears in the culture medium before the switch to high level resistance begins and reaches its highest concentration before resistance reaches its maximum level.