Open AccessWidespread activation of antibiotic biosynthesis by S ‐adenosylmethionine in streptomycetes
Author(s) -
Huh JungHyun,
Kim Dongjin,
Zhao XinQing,
Li Ming,
Jo YouYoung,
Yoon TaeMi,
Shin SuKyoung,
Yong JoonHyoung,
Ryu YeonWoo,
Yang YoungYell,
Suh JooWon
Publication year - 2004
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.1574-6968.2004.tb09787.x
Subject(s) - oleandomycin , biosynthesis , antibiotics , methyltransferase , methylation , biochemistry , streptomycetaceae , biology , chemistry , streptomyces , actinomycetales , enzyme , bacteria , gene , genetics , erythromycin
Abstract The effect of S ‐adenosylmethionine (SAM) on the production of various antibiotics was investigated to determine whether SAM‐dependent methylation is required in biosynthetic pathways of antibiotics. Pristinamycin II B and granaticin do not require SAM‐dependent methylation in their biosynthesis pathways, and production of these two antibiotics was increased about 2‐fold when a low concentration (50 and 10 μM, respectively) of SAM was treated; in contrast, oleandomycin and avermectin B1a require SAM as a methyl donor in their biosynthesis, and production of these two antibiotics was increased 5‐fold and 6‐fold, depending on the SAM concentration within a certain range. We also found that the transcription of a pathway‐specific regulator, gra ‐ORF9, was activated by exogenous SAM treatment. Production of oleandomycin and avermectin B1a was decreased by using a methyltransferase inhibitor, sinefungin, but the production levels of these antibiotics were restored to the control level by simultaneously adding SAM and sinefungin. Interestingly, we have found a similar stimulatory effect of S ‐adenosylhomocysteine (SAH), the methylation product of SAM, on antibiotic production in the four strains. Our results clearly demonstrate the widespread activation of antibiotic production using SAM in streptomycetes.