Open AccessThe biosynthetic genes for clavulanic acid and cephamycin production occur as a ‘super‐cluster’ in three Streptomyces
Author(s) -
Ward Judith M.,
Hodgson John E.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1993.tb06326.x
Subject(s) - streptomyces clavuligerus , cosmid , clavulanic acid , gene cluster , biology , streptomyces , gene , genetics , cloning (programming) , restriction map , actinomycetales , antibiotics , plasmid , bacteria , amoxicillin , computer science , programming language
The cosmid cloning vector pHC79 has been used to clone fragments of chromosomal DNA from the Streptomyces: S. clavuligerus, S. jumonjinensis and S. katsurahamanus . These strains all produce both the β‐lactam antibiotic, cephamycin and the β‐lactamase inhibitor, clavulanic acid. Although structurally related these two β‐lactams are known to be derived from different biosynthetic precursors. Hybridisation studies and restriction mapping have shown that the gene clusters encoding the two biosynthetic pathways are chromosomally adjacent in these strains, thus creating a ‘super‐cluster’ of genes involved in both the production and enhancement of activity of a β‐lactam antibiotic.