Purification and characterization of the DNA-binding protein DnrI, a transcriptional factor of daunorubicin biosynthesis in Streptomyces peucetius

Salinomycin biosynthesis reversely regulates the β-oxidation pathway in Streptomyces albus by carrying a 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase gene in its biosynthetic gene cluster

Streptomyces is well known for synthesis of many biologically active secondary metabolites, such as polyketides and non-ribosomal peptides. Understanding the coupling mechanisms of primary and secondary metabolism can help develop strategies to improve secondary metabolite production in Streptomyces. In this work, Streptomyces albus ZD11, an oil-preferring industrial Streptomyces strain, was proved to have a remarkable capability to generate abundant acyl-CoA precursors for salinomycin biosynthesis with the aid of its enhanced β-oxidation pathway. It was found that the salinomycin biosynthetic gene cluster contains a predicted 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase (FadB3), which is the third enzyme of β-oxidation cycle. Deletion of fadB3 significantly reduced the production of salinomycin. A variety of experimental evidences showed that FadB3 was mainly involved in the β-oxidation pathway rather than ethylmalonyl-CoA biosynthesis and played a very important role in regulating the rate of β-oxidation in S. albus ZD11. Our findings elucidate an interesting coupling mechanism by which a PKS biosynthetic gene cluster could regulate the β-oxidation pathway by carrying β-oxidation genes, enabling Streptomyces to efficiently synthesize target polyketides and economically utilize environmental nutrients.

Anthracyclines: biosynthesis, engineering and clinical applications

Covering: January 1995 to June 2021Anthracyclines are glycosylated microbial natural products that harbour potent antiproliferative activities. Doxorubicin has been widely used as an anticancer agent in the clinic for several decades, but its use is restricted due to severe side-effects such as cardiotoxicity. Recent studies into the mode-of-action of anthracyclines have revealed that effective cardiotoxicity-free anthracyclines can be generated by focusing on histone eviction activity, instead of canonical topoisomerase II poisoning leading to double strand breaks in DNA. These developments have coincided with an increased understanding of the biosynthesis of anthracyclines, which has allowed generation of novel compound libraries by metabolic engineering and combinatorial biosynthesis. Coupled to the continued discovery of new congeners from rare Actinobacteria, a better understanding of the biology of Streptomyces and improved production methodologies, the stage is set for the development of novel anthracyclines that can finally surpass doxorubicin at the forefront of cancer chemotherapy.

Activation and discovery of tsukubarubicin from Streptomyces tsukubaensis through overexpressing SARPs

Genome sequencing has revealed that each Streptomyces contains a wide range of biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) and has the capability to produce more novel natural products than what is expected. However, most gene clusters for secondary metabolite biosynthesis are cryptic under normal growth conditions. In Streptomyces tsukubaensis, combining overexpression of the putative SARPs (Streptomyces antibiotic regulatory proteins) and bioactivity-guided screening, the silent gene cluster (tsu) was successfully activated and a novel bioactive anthracycline tsukubarubicin was further isolated and identified. Biological activity assays demonstrated that tsukubarubicin possessed much better antitumor bioactivities against various human cancer cell lines (especially the breast cancer cell lines) than clinically used doxorubicin. Moreover, the previously unreported gene cluster (tsu) for biosynthesis of tsukubarubicin was first characterized and detailed annotations of this gene cluster were also conducted. Our strategy presented in this work is broadly applicable in other Streptomyces and will assist in enriching the natural products for potential drug leads. KEY POINTS: • Generally scalable strategy to activate silent gene clusters by manipulating SARPs. • The novel anthracycline tsukubarubicin with potent antitumor bioactivities. • Identification and annotation of the previously uncharacterized tsu gene cluster.

Regulatory non-coding sRNAs in bacterial metabolic pathway engineering

Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are versatile and powerful controllers of gene expression that have been increasingly linked to cellular metabolism and phenotype. In bacteria, identified and characterized ncRNAs range from trans-acting, multi-target small non-coding RNAs to dynamic, cis-encoded regulatory untranslated regions and riboswitches. These native regulators have inspired the design and construction of many synthetic RNA devices. In this work, we review the design, characterization, and impact of ncRNAs in engineering both native and exogenous metabolic pathways in bacteria. We also consider the opportunities afforded by recent high-throughput approaches for characterizing sRNA regulators and their corresponding networks to showcase their potential applications and impact in engineering bacterial metabolism.

DnrI of Streptomyces peucetius binds to the resistance genes, drrAB and drrC but is activated by daunorubicin

The master regulator, DnrI of Streptomyces peucetius is a member of the family of transcriptional activator, Streptomyces antibiotic regulatory proteins (SARP), which controls the biosynthesis of antitumor anthracycline, daunorubicin (DNR) and doxorubicin (DXR). The binding of DnrI to the heptameric repeat sequence found within the -35 promoter region of biosynthetic gene, dpsE activates it. To combat the increased level of intracellular DNR, the cell has developed self resistance mechanism mediated by drrAB and drrC genes which are regulated by regulatory genes. We find that a drug non-producing mutant, ΔdpsA, showed sensitive phenotype in plate assay along with an increased level of dnrI transcript. Whereas the mutant grown in the presence of DNR showed a resistant phenotype with a six and eight folds increase in drrAB and drrC transcripts respectively. Computational studies followed by molecular docking showed that DnrI bound as a monomer to a slightly modified heptameric DNA motif, 5'-ACACGCA in drrA and 5'-ACAACCT in drrC which was also proved by electrophoretic mobility shift assay. These findings confirm that DnrI belongs to winged helix-turn-helix DNA-binding protein with Tetratricopeptide Repeat domain. The transcriptional regulator DnrI binds to the resistance genes at specific sites but they are activated only when an increased load of intracellular DNR is sensed.

One-Pot Combinatorial Biosynthesis of Glycosylated Anthracyclines by Cocultivation of Streptomyces Strains Producing Aglycones and Nucleotide Deoxysugars

Anthracyclines, such as doxorubicin, are effective anticancer drugs composed of a tetracyclic polyketide aglycone and one or more deoxysugar moieties, which play a critical role in their biological activity. A facile one-pot combinatorial biosynthetic system was developed for the generation of a range of glycosylated derivatives of anthracyclines. Cocultivation of Streptomyces venezuelae mutants producing two anthracycline aglycones with eight different nucleotide deoxysugar-producing S. venezuelae mutants that coexpress a substrate-flexible glycosyltransferase led to the generation of 16 aklavinone or ε-rhodomycinone glycosides containing diverse deoxysugar moieties, seven of which are new. This demonstrates the potential of the one-pot combinatorial biosynthetic system based on cocultivation as a facile biological tool capable of combining diverse aglycones and deoxysugars to generate structurally diverse polyketides carrying engineered sugars for drug discovery and development.

A Complex Signaling Cascade Governs Pristinamycin Biosynthesis in Streptomyces pristinaespiralis

Pristinamycin production in Streptomyces pristinaespiralis Pr11 is tightly regulated by an interplay between different repressors and activators. A γ-butyrolactone receptor gene (spbR), two TetR repressor genes (papR3 and papR5), three SARP (Streptomyces antibiotic regulatory protein) genes (papR1, papR2, and papR4), and a response regulator gene (papR6) are carried on the large 210-kb pristinamycin biosynthetic gene region of Streptomyces pristinaespiralis Pr11. A detailed investigation of all pristinamycin regulators revealed insight into a complex signaling cascade, which is responsible for the fine-tuned regulation of pristinamycin production in S. pristinaespiralis.

Identification and biotechnological application of novel regulatory genes involved in Streptomyces polyketide overproduction through reverse engineering strategy

Polyketide belongs to a family of abundant natural products typically produced by the filamentous soil bacteria Streptomyces. Similar to the biosynthesis of most secondary metabolites produced in the Streptomyces species, polyketide compounds are synthesized through tight regulatory networks in the cell, and thus extremely low levels of polyketides are typically observed in wild-type strains. Although many Streptomyces polyketides and their derivatives have potential to be used as clinically important pharmaceutical drugs, traditional strain improvement strategies such as random recursive mutagenesis have long been practiced with little understanding of the molecular basis underlying enhanced polyketide production. Recently, identifying, understanding, and applying a novel polyketide regulatory system identified from various Omics approaches, has become an important tool for rational Streptomyces strain improvement. In this paper, DNA microarray-driven reverse engineering efforts for improving titers of polyketides are briefly summarized, primarily focusing on our recent results of identification and application of novel global regulatory genes such as wblA, SCO1712, and SCO5426 in Streptomyces species. Sequential targeted gene manipulation involved in polyketide biosynthetic reguation synergistically provided an efficient and rational strategy for Streptomyces strain improvement. Moreover, the engineered regulation-optimized Streptomyces mutant strain was further used as a surrogate host for heterologous expression of polyketide pathway.

Molecular regulation of antibiotic biosynthesis in streptomyces

Streptomycetes are the most abundant source of antibiotics. Typically, each species produces several antibiotics, with the profile being species specific. Streptomyces coelicolor, the model species, produces at least five different antibiotics. We review the regulation of antibiotic biosynthesis in S. coelicolor and other, nonmodel streptomycetes in the light of recent studies. The biosynthesis of each antibiotic is specified by a large gene cluster, usually including regulatory genes (cluster-situated regulators [CSRs]). These are the main point of connection with a plethora of generally conserved regulatory systems that monitor the organism's physiology, developmental state, population density, and environment to determine the onset and level of production of each antibiotic. Some CSRs may also be sensitive to the levels of different kinds of ligands, including products of the pathway itself, products of other antibiotic pathways in the same organism, and specialized regulatory small molecules such as gamma-butyrolactones. These interactions can result in self-reinforcing feed-forward circuitry and complex cross talk between pathways. The physiological signals and regulatory mechanisms may be of practical importance for the activation of the many cryptic secondary metabolic gene cluster pathways revealed by recent sequencing of numerous Streptomyces genomes.

Hierarchical control on polyene macrolide biosynthesis: PimR modulates pimaricin production via the PAS-LuxR transcriptional activator PimM

Control of polyene macrolide production in Streptomyces natalensis is mediated by the transcriptional activator PimR. This regulator combines an N-terminal domain corresponding to the Streptomyces antibiotic regulatory protein (SARP) family of transcriptional activators with a C-terminal half homologous to guanylate cyclases and large ATP-binding regulators of the LuxR family. The PimR SARP domain (PimR(SARP)) was expressed in Escherichia coli as a glutathione S-transferase (GST)-fused protein. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays showed that GST-PimR(SARP) binds a single target, the intergenic region between the regulatory genes pimR and pimMs in the pimaricin cluster. The PimR(SARP)-binding site was investigated by DNaseI protection studies, revealing that it contains three heptameric direct repeats adjusting to the consensus 5'-CGGCAAG-3'. Transcription start points of pimM and pimR promoters were identified by 5'-RACE, revealing that unlike other SARPs, PimR(SARP) does not interact with the -35 region of its target promoter. Quantitative transcriptional analysis of these regulatory genes on mutants on each of them has allowed the identification of the pimM promoter as the transcriptional target for PimR. Furthermore, the constitutive expression of pimM restored pimaricin production in a pimaricin-deficient strain carrying a deletion mutant of pimR. These results reveal that PimR exerts its positive effect on pimaricin production by controlling pimM expression level, a regulator whose gene product activates transcription from eight different promoters of pimaricin structural genes directly.

The regulation of the secondary metabolism of Streptomyces: new links and experimental advances

Streptomycetes and other actinobacteria are renowned as a rich source of natural products of clinical, agricultural and biotechnological value. They are being mined with renewed vigour, supported by genome sequencing efforts, which have revealed a coding capacity for secondary metabolites in vast excess of expectations that were based on the detection of antibiotic activities under standard laboratory conditions. Here we review what is known about the control of production of so-called secondary metabolites in streptomycetes, with an emphasis on examples where details of the underlying regulatory mechanisms are known. Intriguing links between nutritional regulators, primary and secondary metabolism and morphological development are discussed, and new data are included on the carbon control of development and antibiotic production, and on aspects of the regulation of the biosynthesis of microbial hormones. Given the tide of antibiotic resistance emerging in pathogens, this review is peppered with approaches that may expand the screening of streptomycetes for new antibiotics by awakening expression of cryptic antibiotic biosynthetic genes. New technologies are also described that have potential to greatly further our understanding of gene regulation in what is an area fertile for discovery and exploitation

Identification and characterization of wblA-dependent tmcT regulation during tautomycetin biosynthesis in Streptomyces sp. CK4412

Tautomycetin (TMC) is an unusual linear polyketide compound esterified with a cyclic anhydride. It exhibits novel activated T cell-specific immunosuppressant as well as anti-cancer activities. Previously, we isolated and characterized the entire TMC biosynthetic gene cluster from Streptomyces sp. CK4412, including a TMC pathway-specific gene, tmcN, the over-expression of which led to a significant increase in TMC productivity. In addition, we also reported that WblA acts as a global down-regulator of antibiotic biosynthesis through pathway-specific regulation in Streptomyces species. Here, we confirm that TmcT acts as another TMC pathway-specific regulator within the TMC biosynthetic cluster. Specifically, tmcT deletion resulted in the complete loss of TMC production, whereas complementation with a tmcT-carrying integrative plasmid significantly restored TMC biosynthesis. We also identified a 0.39kb wblA ortholog (named wblA(tmc)) from Streptomyces sp. CK4412 via genomic DNA library screening that showed 96% amino acid identity compared to a previously-known S. coelicolor wblA. Targeted gene disruption of wblA(tmc) in Streptomyces sp. CK4412 exhibited approximately 3-fold higher TMC productivity than that in the wild-type strain. Moreover, transcription analyses of the TMC biosynthetic and regulatory genes revealed that the expression of tmcT was strongly down-regulated by wblA(tmc). These results imply that the TMC biosynthetic regulation network is controlled by two pathway-specific positive regulator, WblA(tmc)-dependent TmcT as well as WblA(tmc)-independent TmcN in Streptomyces sp. CK4412.

Improvement of antibiotic productivity by knock-out of dauW in Streptomyces coeruleobidus

Daunorubicin (DNR) is an important anthracycline antibiotic. Its biosynthesis pathway has been well understood, however, the regulation of DNR biosynthesis needs further investigations. An ORF cloned between drrB and dnrX from the genome of a DNR producer, Streptomyces coeruleobidus DM, was named dauW and designated as an orthologous gene with dnrW and drrD. Several plasmids were constructed for over-expression and/or disruption of dauW in DM. Complete disruption of dauW can significantly increase the yield of DNR. We also found that the transcription level of dnrI, a major regulatory protein in the biosynthesis of DNR, and the self-resistance level were improved in dauW knock-out mutant. These results suggested that dauW may be a down-regulatory gene for DNR biosynthesis. Antibiotics productivity in S. coeruleobidus could be improved via regulation of the transcription of dnrI, a SARP regulator. The production of DNR in a high-producer and the yield of epi-DNR in an engineering strain were also increased by disruption of dauW.

Biotechnological doxorubicin production: pathway and regulation engineering of strains for enhanced production

Doxorubicin (DXR) is an anthracycline-type polyketide, typically produced by Streptomyces peucetius ATCC 27952. Like the biosynthesis of other secondary metabolites in Streptomyces species, DXR biosynthesis is tightly regulated, and a very low level of DXR production is maintained in the wild-type strain. Despite that DXR is one of the most broadly used and clinically important anticancer drugs, a traditional strain improvement strategy has long been practiced via recursive random mutagenesis, with little understanding of the molecular genetic basis underlying such enhanced DXR production. Since DXR titer enhancement is imperative in the fermentation industry, attaining a comprehensive understanding and its application of the specific regulatory systems that govern secondary metabolite production is an important aspect of metabolic engineering that can efficiently improve fermentation titers. In this mini-review, various efforts to improve the titers of DXR have been summarized based on biosynthetic and regulatory studies including transcriptional and product analyses.

SanG, a transcriptional activator, controls nikkomycin biosynthesis through binding to the sanN–sanO intergenic region in Streptomyces ansochromogenes

Streptomyces ansochromogenes SanG is a pathway-specific regulator that mainly controls the transcription of two transcriptional units involved in nikkomycin biosynthesis. SanG consists of three major functional domains: an N-terminal Streptomyces antibiotic regulatory protein (SARP) domain, a central ATPase domain, and a C-terminal half homologous to guanylate cyclases belonging to the LuxR family. SanG was expressed in Escherichia coli as a C-terminally His6-tagged protein. The purified SanG-His6 was shown to be a dimer in solution by dynamic light scattering. An electrophoretic mobility-shift assay showed that the purified SanG protein could bind to the DNA fragment containing the bidirectional sanN–sanO promoter region. The SanG-binding sites within the bidirectional sanN–sanO promoter region were determined by footprinting analysis and identified a consensus-directed repeat sequence 5′-CGGCAAG-3′. SanG showed significant ATPase/GTPase activity in vitro, and addition of ATP/GTP enhanced the affinity of SanG for target DNA, but ATP/GTP hydrolysis was not essential for SanG binding to the target DNA. However, real-time reverse transcription PCR showed that mutation of the ATPase/GTPase domain of SanG significantly decreased the transcriptional level of sanN–I and sanO–V. These results indicated that the ATPase/GTPase activity of SanG modulated the transcriptional activation of SanG target genes during nikkomycin biosynthesis.

The activator/repressor protein DnrO of Streptomyces peucetius binds to DNA without changing its topology

Regulatory proteins that bind to upstream un-translated region often control transcription of prokaryotic genes. Many of these proteins bend or distort their DNA binding sites, and the induced DNA curvature facilitates protein-protein or protein-DNA contacts essential for transcriptional regulation. DnrO is an essential transcription regulator of Streptomyces peucetius that activates daunorubicin biosynthetic pathway. It binds to a specific sequence adjacent to dnrN promoter to activate transcription. The same binding event represses its own transcription. DNA binding domain of DnrO is within 60 aa from N-terminal end of the 340 aa protein. Helix-turn-helix motif in DnrO is similar to BirA repressor of E. coli. In this study, we show that this dual functional protein does not cause any localized bending of DNA as observed by circular permutation gel shift assay. This observation complements the functional role of DnrO as an activator/repressor, since the change in DNA topology might impede the activation or repression function if this protein. This is in variance with DNA bending property of BirA repressor and many other transcription factors. The possibility of G+C rich sequences in the target DNA not favoring distortion of major groove upon protein binding is discussed.

Limitations in doxorubicin production from Streptomyces peucetius

Doxorubicin (DXR), produced by Streptomyces peucetius ATCC 27952, exhibits potent antitumor activity against various cancer cell lines. Considerable time has lapsed since the biosynthesis of DXR and its overproduction was first summarized. Based on biosynthetic studies and product analysis, various factors affecting its production by the parental strain, S. peucetius ATCC 27952, are reviewed to better circumvent any bottlenecks in DXR production, thereby providing ideas to genetically engineered industrial strains of S. peucetius.

Improvement of secondary metabolite production in Streptomyces by manipulating pathway regulation

Titer improvement is a constant requirement in the fermentation industry. The traditional method of "random mutation and screening" has been very effective despite the considerable amount of time and resources it demands. Rational metabolic engineering, with the use of recombinant DNA technology, provides a novel, alternative strategy for titer improvement that complements the empirical method used in industry. Manipulation of the specific regulatory systems that govern secondary metabolite production is an important aspect of metabolic engineering that can efficiently improve fermentation titers. In this review, we use examples from Streptomyces secondary metabolism, the most prolific source of clinically used drugs, to demonstrate the power and utility of exploiting natural regulatory networks, in particular pathway-specific regulators, for titer improvement. Efforts to improve the titers of fredericamycin, C-1027, platensimycin, and platencin in our lab are highlighted.

Isolation and genetic manipulation of the antibiotic down-regulatory gene, wblA ortholog for doxorubicin-producing Streptomyces strain improvement

Cross-genome comparative transcriptome analyses were previously conducted using the sequenced Streptomyces coelicolor genome microarrays to understand the genetic nature of doxorubicin (DXR) and daunorubicin (DNR) overproducing industrial mutant (OIM) of Streptomyces peucetius. In this previous work, a whiB-like putative transcription factor (wblA ( sco )) was identified as a global antibiotic down-regulator in S. coelicolor (Kang et al., J Bacteriol 189:4315-4319, 2007). In this study, a total genomic DNA library of a DXR/DNR-overproducing S. peucetius OIM was constructed and screened using wblA ( sco ) as a probe, resulting in the isolation of a wblA ortholog (wblA ( spe )) that had 95% amino acid identity to wblA ( sco ). Gene disruption of wblA ( spe ) from the S. peucetius OIM resulted in an approximately 70% increase in DXR/DNR productivity, implying that the DXR/DNR production in the S. peucetius OIM could be further improved via comparative transcriptomics-guided target gene manipulation. Furthermore, several putative wblA ( spe ) -dependent genes were also identified using S. coelicolor interspecies DNA microarray analysis between the S. peucetius OIM and wblA ( spe )-disrupted S. peucetius OIM. Among the genes whose expressions were significantly stimulated in the absence of wblA ( spe ), the overexpression of a conserved hypothetical protein (SCO4967) further stimulated the total production of DXR/DNR/akavinone by 1.3-fold in the wblA ( spe )-disrupted S. peucetius OIM, implying that the sequential genetic manipulation of target genes identified from interspecies comparative microarray analysis could provide an efficient and rational strategy for Streptomyces strain improvement.

Regulation of valanimycin biosynthesis in Streptomyces viridifaciens: characterization of VlmI as a Streptomyces antibiotic regulatory protein (SARP)

Streptomyces antibiotic regulatory proteins (SARPs) have been shown to activate transcription by binding to a tandemly arrayed set of heptameric direct repeats located around the -35 region of their cognate promoters. Experimental evidence is presented here showing that vlmI is a regulatory gene in the valanimycin biosynthetic gene cluster of Streptomyces viridifaciens and encodes a protein belonging to the SARP family. The organization of the valanimycin biosynthetic gene cluster suggests that the valanimycin biosynthetic genes are located on three potential transcripts, vlmHORBCD, vlmJKL and vlmA. Disruption of vlmI abolished valanimycin biosynthesis. Western blot analyses showed that VlmR and VlmA are absent from the vlmI mutant and that the production of VlmK is severely diminished. These results demonstrate that the expression of these genes from the three potential transcripts is under the positive control of VlmI. The vlmA-vlmH and vlmI-vlmJ intergenic regions both exhibit a pattern of heptameric direct repeats. Gel shift assays with VlmI overproduced in Escherichia coli as a C-terminal FLAG-tagged protein clearly demonstrated that VlmI binds to DNA fragments from both regions that contain these heptameric repeats. When a high-copy-number vlmI expression plasmid was introduced into Streptomyces coelicolor M512, which contains mutations in the undecylprodigiosin and actinorhodin activators redD and actII-orf4, undecylprodigiosin production was restored, showing that vlmI can complement a redD mutation. Introduction of the same vlmI expression plasmid into an S. viridifaciens vlmI mutant restored valanimycin production to wild-type levels.

iso-Migrastatin, migrastatin, and dorrigocin production in Streptomyces platensis NRRL 18993 is governed by a single biosynthetic machinery featuring an acyltransferase-less type I polyketide synthase

iso-Migrastatin and related glutarimide-containing polyketides are potent inhibitors of tumor cell migration and their implied potential as antimetastatic agents for human cancers has garnered significant attention. Genome scanning of Streptomyces platensis NRRL 18993 unveiled two candidate gene clusters (088D and mgs); each encodes acyltransferase-less type I polyketide synthases commensurate with iso-migrastatin biosynthesis. Both clusters were inactivated by lambda-RED-mediated PCR-targeting mutagenesis in S. platensis; iso-migrastatin production was completely abolished in the DeltamgsF mutant SB11012 strain, whereas inactivation of 088D-orf7 yielded the SB11006 strain that exhibited no discernible change in iso-migrastatin biosynthesis. These data indicate that iso-migrastatin production is governed by the mgs cluster. Systematic gene inactivation allowed determination of the precise boundaries of the mgs cluster and the essentiality of the genes within the mgs cluster in iso-migrastatin production. The mgs cluster consists of 11 open reading frames that encode three acyltransferase-less type I polyketide synthases (MgsEFG), one discrete acyltransferase (MgsH), a type II thioesterase (MgsB), three post-PKS tailoring enzymes (MgsIJK), two glutarimide biosynthesis enzymes (MgsCD), and one regulatory protein (MgsA). A model for iso-migrastatin biosynthesis is proposed based on functional assignments derived from bioinformatics and is further supported by the results of in vivo gene inactivation experiments.

A novel protein that binds to dnrN-dnrO intergenic region of Streptomyces peucetius purified by DNA affinity capture has dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase activity

An antitumour chemotherapeutic, daunorubicin (DNR), produced by Streptomyces peucetius exhibits cytotoxic activity through topoisomerase-mediated interaction with DNA, thereby inhibiting DNA replication and repair and RNA and protein synthesis. It is synthesized by the type II polyketide pathway. Understanding molecular mechanisms that drive expression of antibiotic biosynthetic genes in response to diverse signals and chemical inducers is of considerable interest. Intergenic DNA between regulatory genes dnrN and dnrO of DNR biosynthesis pathway in S. peucetius has a promoter for transcription of dnrN in one strand and three promoters in the opposite strand for dnrO. Studies have shown that DnrO binds to a specific sequence in this region to activate transcription of dnrN. In the present study, using biotinylated intergenic DNA in combination with streptavidin magnetic beads, we have purified a protein that binds to this target sequence. The protein has been characterized by nano LC ESI MS/MS mass spectrometry. Sequence similarity searches for effective identification of protein by genome databases comparisons led to identification of a sequence-specific DNA binding protein that exhibits dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase (DLDH) activity suggesting that this protein may be involved in regulation of DNR biosynthesis.

Identification and characterization of NocR as a positive transcriptional regulator of the beta-lactam nocardicin A in Nocardia uniformis

Nocardicin A is a monocyclic beta-lactam isolated from the actinomycete Nocardia uniformis, which shows moderate activity against a broad spectrum of gram-negative bacteria. Within the biosynthetic gene cluster of nocardicin A, nocR encodes a 583-amino-acid protein with high similarity to a class of transcriptional regulators known as streptomyces antibiotic regulatory proteins. Insertional inactivation of this gene resulted in a mutant showing morphology and growth characteristics similar to the wild type, but one that did not produce detectable levels of nocardicin A or the early precursor p-hydroxybenzoyl formate. Similar disruptions of nocD, nocE, and nocO yielded mutants that maintained production of nocardicin A at levels similar to the wild-type strain. In trans complementation of the nocR::apr mutant partially restored the wild-type phenotype. Transcriptional analysis of the nocR::apr mutant using reverse transcription-PCR found an absence of mRNA transcripts for the early-stage nocardicin A biosynthetic genes. In addition, transcription of the genes responsible for the biosynthesis of the nonproteinogenic p-hydroxyphenylglycine (pHPG) precursor was attenuated on the nocR disruption mutant. NocR was heterologously expressed and purified from Escherichia coli as an N-terminal maltose binding protein-tagged fusion protein. DNA binding assays demonstrated that NocR is a DNA binding protein, targeting the 126-bp intergenic region between nocF and nocA. Within this intergenic region is the likely binding motif, a direct hexameric repeat, TGATAA, with a 5-bp spacer. These experiments establish NocR as a positive transcriptional regulator of the nocardicin A biosynthetic pathway, coordinating the initial steps of nocardicin A biosynthesis to the production of its pHPG precursor.

Identification and utility of FdmR1 as a Streptomyces antibiotic regulatory protein activator for fredericamycin production in Streptomyces griseus ATCC 49344 and heterologous hosts

The fredericamycin (FDM) A biosynthetic gene cluster, cloned previously from Streptomyces griseus ATCC 49344, contains three putative regulatory genes, fdmR, fdmR1, and fdmR2. Their deduced gene products show high similarity to members of the Streptomyces antibiotic regulatory protein (SARP) family (FdmR1) or to MarR-like regulators (FdmR and FdmR2). Here we provide experimental data supporting FdmR1 as a SARP-type activator. Inactivation of fdmR1 abolished FDM biosynthesis, and FDM production could be restored to the fdmR1::aac(3)IV mutant by expressing fdmR1 in trans. Reverse transcription-PCR transcriptional analyses revealed that up to 26 of the 28 genes within the fdm gene cluster, with the exception of fdmR and fdmT2, were under the positive control of FdmR1, directly or indirectly. Overexpression of fdmR1 in S. griseus improved the FDM titer 5.6-fold (to about 1.36 g/liter) relative to that of wild-type S. griseus. Cloning of the complete fdm cluster into an integrative plasmid and subsequent expression in heterologous hosts revealed that considerable amounts of FDMs could be produced in Streptomyces albus but not in Streptomyces lividans. However, the S. lividans host could be engineered to produce FDMs via constitutive expression of fdmR1; FDM production in S. lividans could be enhanced further by overexpressing fdmC, encoding a putative ketoreductase, concomitantly with fdmR1. Taken together, these studies demonstrate the viability of engineering FDM biosynthesis and improving FDM titers in both the native producer S. griseus and heterologous hosts, such as S. albus and S. lividans. The approach taken capitalizes on FdmR1, a key activator of the FDM biosynthetic machinery.

Function of lanI in regulation of landomycin A biosynthesis in Streptomyces cyanogenus S136 and cross-complementation studies with Streptomyces antibiotic regulatory proteins encoding genes

The transcriptional regulator of landomycin A biosynthesis encoded by lanI gene has been inactivated within the chromosome of Streptomyces cyanogenus S136. The obtained mutant strain did not produce landomycin A and its known intermediates. Loss of landomycin A production caused significant changes in morphology of the lanI deficient strain. RT-PCR analysis confirmed complete cessation of transcription of certain lan genes, including lanJ (encoding putative proton dependent transporter) and lanK (presumably involved in lanJ expression regulation). Introduction of either lanI or lndI [lanI homologue controlling landomycin E biosynthesis in Streptomyces globisporus 1912, both encoding Streptomyces antibiotic regulatory proteins (SARPs)] restored landomycin A production in the mutant strain. Chimeric constructs ladI and ladR were generated by exchanging the DNA sequences corresponding to N- and C-terminal parts of LndI and LanI. None of these genes were able to activate the production of landomycins in regulatory mutants of S. cyanogenus and S. globisporus. Nevertheless, the production of novel unidentified compound was observed in the case of S. cyanogenus harboring ladI gene. Various genes encoding SARPs have been expressed in S. globisporus and S. cyanogenus regulatory mutants and the results of these complementation experiments are discussed.

Type II polyketide synthases: gaining a deeper insight into enzymatic teamwork

This review covers advances in understanding of the biosynthesis of polyketides produced by type II PKS systems at the genetic, biochemical and structural levels.

Regulation of tylosin biosynthesis involving 'SARP-helper' activity

Tylosin production in Streptomyces fradiae is regulated via interplay between a repressor, TylQ, and an activator of the SARP family, TylS, during regulation of tylR. The latter encodes the pathway-specific activator of the tylosin-biosynthetic (tyl) genes. Also controlled by TylS is a hitherto unassigned gene, tylU, whose product is shown here to be important for tylosin production. Thus, targeted disruption of tylU reduced tylosin yields by about 80% and bioconversion analysis with the resultant strain revealed defects in both polyketide metabolism and deoxyhexose biosynthesis. Such defects were completely eliminated by engineered overexpression of tylR (but not tylS) and Western analysis revealed significantly reduced levels of TylR in the tylU-disrupted strain. These results are consistent with a model in which TylS and TylU act in concert to facilitate expression of tylR, for which TylU (but not TylS) is nonessential. Activator proteins of the SARP family, such as TylS, are widespread among Streptomyces spp. and are important regulators of antibiotic production. Their action has been widely studied with no prior indication of associated 'helper' activity, the prevalence of which now remains to be established.

Feedback regulation of doxorubicin biosynthesis in Streptomyces peucetius

DnrO, one of three DNA binding regulatory proteins involved in daunorubicin biosynthesis in Streptomyces peucetius, has been purified as a maltose-binding protein-DnrO (MBP-DnrO) fusion protein. Gel mobility shift assays showed that it specifically bound to a DNA fragment containing both dnrN and dnrO promoters. In the presence of some low-molecular-weight compounds from the daunorubicin biosynthetic pathway, the DNA binding ability of MBP-DnrO was affected. Melanin production assays showed that both DnrO and DnrN were required for the increased activity of the dnrI promoter. Rhodomycin D (RHOD), one of the intermediates in the DNR and DXR biosynthetic pathways, had a positive effect on dnrI promoter activity only in the presence of both DnrO and DnrN proteins. The promoter activity of dnrO gene decreased in the presence of the DnrO protein, suggesting that dnrO gene was autoregulated. Repression could be relieved when RHOD was present in the culture, indicating that RHOD might directly interact with the DnrO protein.

Isolation, characterization, and heterologous expression of the biosynthesis gene cluster for the antitumor anthracycline steffimycin

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.

Antibiotic production by actinomycetes: the Janus faces of regulation

This manuscript reviews some of the common regulatory mechanisms that control antibiotic production in actinomycetes. These ubiquitous bacteria, collectively responsible for the earthy smell of soil, are prolific producers of antibiotics and other secondary metabolites. The content of this review is biased towards the author's current research interests, concerning the action of regulatory gene products that control transcription of antibiotic-biosynthetic genes and the associated involvement of low molecular weight signalling molecules of the gamma-butyrolactone family. As a result, much fertile ground remains unturned particularly in the area of environmental monitoring and responses of actinomycetes to stimuli so perceived. Reviews casting a broader net are cited in the text.

A pathway-specific transcriptional regulatory gene for nikkomycin biosynthesis inStreptomyces ansochromogenesthat also influences colony development

DNA sequence analysis of a 7.5 kb XhoI DNA fragment from the region flanking the nikkomycin biosynthesis gene cluster in Streptomyces ansochromogenes revealed one 3.3 kb open reading frame (ORF), designated sanG. The deduced product of sanG (1061 amino acids), which is similar to PimR of Streptomyces natalensis, contains an OmpR-like DNA binding domain in its N-terminal portion and A- and B-type nucleotide binding motifs in the middle of the protein. Disruption of sanG abolished nikkomycin biosynthesis, reduced sporulation and led to brown pigment accumulation. All aspects of this complex phenotype were complemented by a single copy sanG which was integrated into the chromosome. The introduction of multiple copies of sanG resulted in increased nikkomycin production. S1 mapping results indicated that sanG is transcribed from at least three promoters (P1, P2 and P3), P1 being strongly upregulated when production of nikkomycins starts. Two putative transcription units for nikkomycin biosynthesis, starting from sanN and sanO, are dependent on the expression of sanG, whereas a putative transcription unit starting from sanF was not regulated by sanG. These results suggested that sanG encodes a transcriptional activator important for nikkomycin biosynthesis that, unusually, also has pleiotropic effects on secondary metabolism and development.

DNA-binding activity of LndI protein and temporal expression of the gene that upregulates landomycin E production in Streptomyces globisporus 1912

The gene lndI is involved in the pathway-specific positive regulation of biosynthesis of the antitumour polyketide landomycin E in Streptomyces globisporus 1912. LndI was overexpressed in Escherichia coli as a protein C-terminally fused to the intein-chitin-binding-domain tag and purified in a one-step column procedure. Results of in vivo LndI titration, DNA gel mobility-shift assays and promoter-probing experiments indicate that LndI is an autoregulatory DNA-binding protein that binds to its own gene promoter and to the promoter of the structural gene lndE. Enhanced green fluorescent protein was used as a reporter to study the temporal and spatial pattern of lndI transcription. Expression of lndI started before cells entered mid-exponential phase and peak expression coincided with maximal accumulation of landomycin E and biomass. In solid-phase analysis, lndI expression was evident in substrate mycelia but was absent from aerial hyphae and spores.

Identification of PimR as a positive regulator of pimaricin biosynthesis in Streptomyces natalensis

Sequencing of the DNA region on the left fringe of the pimaricin gene cluster revealed the presence of a 3.6-kb gene, pimR, whose deduced product (1,198 amino acid residues) was found to have amino acid sequence homology with bacterial regulatory proteins. Database comparisons revealed that PimR represents the archetype of a new class of regulators, combining a Streptomyces antibiotic regulatory protein (SARP)-like N-terminal section with a C-terminal half homologous to guanylate cyclases and large ATP-binding regulators of the LuxR family. Gene replacement of pimR from Streptomyces natalensis chromosome results in a complete loss of pimaricin production, suggesting that PimR is a positive regulator of pimaricin biosynthesis. Gene expression analysis by reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) of the pimaricin gene cluster revealed that S. natalensis DeltaPimR shows no expression at all of the cholesterol oxidase-encoding gene pimE, and very low level transcription of the remaining genes of the cluster except for the mutant pimR gene, thus demonstrating that this regulator activates the transcription of all the genes belonging to the pimaricin gene cluster but not its own transcription.

In vivo analysis of the regulatory genes in the nystatin biosynthetic gene cluster of Streptomyces noursei ATCC 11455 reveals their differential control over antibiotic biosynthesis

Six putative regulatory genes are located at the flank of the nystatin biosynthetic gene cluster in Streptomyces noursei ATCC 11455. Gene inactivation and complementation experiments revealed that nysRI, nysRII, nysRIII, and nysRIV are necessary for efficient nystatin production, whereas no significant roles could be demonstrated for the other two regulatory genes. To determine the in vivo targets for the NysR regulators, chromosomal integration vectors with the xylE reporter gene under the control of seven putative promoter regions upstream of the nystatin structural and regulatory genes were constructed. Expression analyses of the resulting vectors in the S. noursei wild-type strain and regulatory mutants revealed that the four regulators differentially affect certain promoters. According to these analyses, genes responsible for initiation of nystatin biosynthesis and antibiotic transport were the major targets for regulation. Data from cross-complementation experiments showed that nysR genes could in some cases substitute for each other, suggesting a functional hierarchy of the regulators and implying a cascade-like mechanism of regulation of nystatin biosynthesis.

CcaR is an autoregulatory protein that binds to the ccaR and cefD-cmcI promoters of the cephamycin C-clavulanic acid cluster in Streptomyces clavuligerus

The putative regulatory CcaR protein, which is encoded in the beta-lactam supercluster of Streptomyces clavuligerus, has been partially purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation and heparin affinity chromatography. In addition, it was expressed in Escherichia coli, purified as a His-tagged recombinant protein (rCcaR), and used to raise anti-rCcaR antibodies. The partially purified CcaR protein from S. clavuligerus was able to bind DNA fragments containing the promoter regions of the ccaR gene itself and the bidirectional cefD-cmcI promoter region. In contrast, CcaR did not bind to DNA fragments with the promoter regions of other genes of the cephamycin-clavulanic acid supercluster including lat, blp, claR, car-cyp, and the unlinked argR gene. The DNA shifts obtained with CcaR were prevented by anti-rCcaR immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies but not by anti-rabbit IgG antibodies. ccaR and the bidirectional cefD-cmcI promoter region were fused to the xylE reporter gene and expressed in Streptomyces lividans and S. clavuligerus. These constructs produced low catechol dioxygenase activity in the absence of CcaR; activity was increased 1.7- to 4.6-fold in cultures expressing CcaR. Amplification of the ccaR promoter region lacking its coding sequence in a high-copy-number plasmid in S. clavuligerus ATCC 27064 resulted in a reduced production of cephamycin C and clavulanic acid, by 12 to 20% and 40 to 60%, respectively, due to titration of the CcaR regulator. These findings confirm that CcaR is a positively acting autoregulatory protein able to bind to its own promoter as well as to the cefD-cmcI bidirectional promoter region.

Mapping the DNA-binding domain and target sequences of the Streptomyces peucetius daunorubicin biosynthesis regulatory protein, DnrI

Streptomyces antibiotic regulatory proteins (SARPs) constitute a novel family of transcriptional activators that control the expression of several diverse anti-biotic biosynthetic gene clusters. The Streptomyces peucetius DnrI protein, one of only a handful of these proteins yet discovered, controls the biosynthesis of the polyketide antitumour antibiotics daunorubicin and doxorubicin. Recently, comparative analyses have revealed significant similarities among the predicted DNA-binding domains of the SARPs and the C-terminal DNA-binding domain of the OmpR family of regulatory proteins. Using the crystal structure of the OmpR-binding domain as a template, DnrI was mapped by truncation and site-directed mutagenesis. Several highly conserved residues within the N-terminus are crucial for DNA binding and protein function. Tandemly arranged heptameric imperfect repeat sequences are found within the -35 promoter regions of target genes. Substitutions for each nucleotide within the repeats of the dnrG-dpsABCD promoter were performed by site-directed mutagenesis. The mutant promoter fragments were found to have modified binding characteristics in gel mobility shift assays. The spacing between the repeat target sequences is also critical for successful occupation by DnrI and, therefore, competent transcriptional activation of the dnrG-dpsABCD operon.

afsS is a target of AfsR, a transcriptional factor with ATPase activity that globally controls secondary metabolism in Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2)

AfsR is a pleiotropic, global regulator that controls the production of actinorhodin, undecylprodigiosin and calcium-dependent antibiotic in Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2). AfsR, with 993 amino acids, is phosphorylated on serine and threonine residues by a protein serine/threonine kinase AfsK and contains an OmpR-like DNA-binding fold at its N-terminal portion and A- and B-type nucleotide-binding motifs in the middle of the protein. The DNA-binding domain, in-dependently of the nucleotide-binding domain, contributed the binding of AfsR to the upstream region of afsS that locates immediately 3' to afsR and encodes a 63-amino-acid protein. No transcription of afsS in the DeltaafsR background and restoration of afsS transcription by afsR on a plasmid in the same genetic background indicated that afsR served as a transcriptional activator for afsS. Interestingly, the AfsR binding site overlapped the promoter of afsS, as determined by DNase I protection assay and high-resolution S1 nuclease mapping. The nucleotide-binding domain contributed distinct ATPase and GTPase activity. The phosphorylation of AfsR by AfsK greatly enhanced the DNA-binding activity and modulated the ATPase activity. The DNA-binding ability of AfsR was independent of the ATPase activity. However, the ATPase activity was essential for transcriptional activation of afsS, probably because the energy available from ATP hydrolysis is required for the isomerization of the closed complex between AfsR and RNA polymerase to a transcriptionally competent open complex. Thus, AfsR turns out to be a unique transcriptional factor, in that it is modular, in which DNA-binding and ATPase activities are physically separable, and the two functions are modulated by phosphorylation on serine and threonine residues.

Process development and metabolic engineering for the overproduction of natural and unnatural polyketides

Polyketide natural products are a rich source of bioactive substances that have found considerable use in human health and agriculture. Their complex structures require that they be produced via fermentation processes. This review describes the strategies and challenges used to develop practical fermentation strains and processes for polyketide production. Classical strain improvement procedures, process development methods, and metabolic engineering approaches are described. The elucidation of molecular mechanisms that underlie polyketide biosynthesis has played an important role in each of these areas over the past few years.

Differential roles of two SARP-encoding regulatory genes during tylosin biosynthesis

The tylosin biosynthetic gene cluster of Streptomyces fradiae is remarkable in harbouring at least five regulatory genes, two of which (tylS and tylT) encode proteins of the Streptomyces antibiotic regulatory protein (SARP) family. The aim of the present work was to assess the respective contributions of TylS and TylT to tylosin production. A combination of targeted gene disruption, fermentation studies and gene expression analysis via reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) suggests that tylS is essential for tylosin production and controls the expression of tylR (previously shown to be a global activator of the biosynthetic pathway) plus at least one other gene involved in polyketide metabolism or regulation thereof. This is the first demonstration of a SARP acting to control another regulatory gene during antibiotic biosynthesis. In contrast, tylT is not essential for tylosin production.

Analysis of temporal and spatial expression of the CcaR regulatory element in the cephamycin C biosynthetic pathway using green fluorescent protein

The DNA-binding capability of a key secondary metabolite regulatory element (CcaR) in the Streptomyces clavuligerus cephamycin C pathway was investigated by gel mobility retardation and DNase I footprinting analysis. These results revealed that CcaR specifically binds to the promoter region of the lysine-epsilon-aminotransferase gene (lat). Green fluorescent protein (GFP) was subsequently used as a reporter to analyse in vivo expression of CcaR. The corresponding isogenic strain containing ccaR:gfp in the chromosome produced cephamycin C at levels similar to those of wild-type S. clavuligerus. Confocal laser scanning microscopy revealed that expression of CcaR in liquid culture was temporally dynamic and spatially heterogeneous in S. clavuligerus mycelia. The highly fluorescent seed culture mycelia quickly lost fluorescence upon inoculation into fresh culture medium. The characteristic green colour reappeared in a small portion of mycelia during mid-exponential growth phase. As the culture aged, the population expressing CcaR expanded, and the expression level increased. This was followed by a reduction in the CcaR-expressing population towards the end of the culture period. During peak expression, CcaR was distributed uniformly in mycelia, but became localized distal to the chromosome when the culture entered stationary phase. In solid phase analysis, abundant CcaR expression was evident in the substrate mycelia, but was completely absent in aerial hyphae. These results show regulatory linkage between ccaR and lat, whose expression profile showed a similar spatial decoupling between morphogenesis and antibiotic production. In addition, visualizing CcaR within S. clavuligerus mycelia demonstrates a distinct pattern of localization over the course of physiological differentiation.

Expansion of the clavulanic acid gene cluster: identification and in vivo functional analysis of three new genes required for biosynthesis of clavulanic acid by Streptomyces clavuligerus

Clavulanic acid is a potent inhibitor of beta-lactamase enzymes and is of demonstrated value in the treatment of infections by beta-lactam-resistant bacteria. Previously, it was thought that eight contiguous genes within the genome of the producing strain Streptomyces clavuligerus were sufficient for clavulanic acid biosynthesis, because they allowed production of the antibiotic in a heterologous host (K. A. Aidoo, A. S. Paradkar, D. C. Alexander, and S. E. Jensen, p. 219-236, In V. P. Gullo et al., ed., Development in industrial microbiology series, 1993). In contrast, we report the identification of three new genes, orf10 (cyp), orf11 (fd), and orf12, that are required for clavulanic acid biosynthesis as indicated by gene replacement and trans-complementation analysis in S. clavuligerus. These genes are contained within a 3.4-kb DNA fragment located directly downstream of orf9 (cad) in the clavulanic acid cluster. While the orf10 (cyp) and orf11 (fd) proteins show homologies to other known CYP-150 cytochrome P-450 and [3Fe-4S] ferredoxin enzymes and may be responsible for an oxidative reaction late in the pathway, the protein encoded by orf12 shows no significant similarity to any known protein. The results of this study extend the biosynthetic gene cluster for clavulanic acid and attest to the importance of analyzing biosynthetic genes in the context of their natural host. Potential functional roles for these proteins are proposed.