What is it about?

This paper describes using genetic engineering to improve the production of antibiotic albomycin by a Streptomyces griseus strain. A sulfur-containing amino acid and a key albomycin biosynthetic enzyme were shown to be the factors controlling albomycin biosynthesis.

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Why is it important?

Streptomyces griseus is one of the early representatives of the genus Streptomyces. Streptomycin is the first and one of the most important antibiotics contributed by the soil-dwelling bacteria. Albomycin, also known as grisein, is the most potent antibiotic against pathogens ever discovered in nature. We presented a preliminary genomic and metabolomic study of the strain, and summarized current progress of genetic manipulation of antibiotic biosynthesis in the S. griseus.

Perspectives

The albomycin-producing S. griseus could provide a metabolic and genetic model for studying the industrial microbiology of Streptomyces. Rational metabolic engineering of S. griseus for improved production of albomycin will help bring albomycin or its derivatives into clinic to benefit patients.

Shawn Chen
Ohio University

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This page is a summary of: A Branch Point of Streptomyces Sulfur Amino Acid Metabolism Controls the Production of Albomycin, Applied and Environmental Microbiology, October 2015, ASM Journals,
DOI: 10.1128/aem.02517-15.
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