Phosphate repression of cephamycin and clavulanic acid production by Streptomyces clavuligerus

Redox-active antibiotics enhance phosphorus bioavailability

Microbial production of antibiotics is common, but our understanding of their roles in the environment is limited. In this study, we explore long-standing observations that microbes increase the production of redox-active antibiotics under phosphorus limitation. The availability of phosphorus, a nutrient required by all life on Earth and essential for agriculture, can be controlled by adsorption to and release from iron minerals by means of redox cycling. Using phenazine antibiotic production by pseudomonads as a case study, we show that phenazines are regulated by phosphorus, solubilize phosphorus through reductive dissolution of iron oxides in the lab and field, and increase phosphorus-limited microbial growth. Phenazines are just one of many examples of phosphorus-regulated antibiotics. Our work suggests a widespread but previously unappreciated role for redox-active antibiotics in phosphorus acquisition and cycling.

Proteomics analysis of global regulatory cascades involved in clavulanic acid production and morphological development in Streptomyces clavuligerus

The genus Streptomyces comprises bacteria that undergo a complex developmental life cycle and produce many metabolites of importance to industry and medicine. Streptomyces clavuligerus produces the β-lactamase inhibitor clavulanic acid, which is used in combination with β-lactam antibiotics to treat certain β-lactam resistant bacterial infections. Many aspects of how clavulanic acid production is globally regulated in S. clavuligerus still remains unknown. We conducted comparative proteomics analysis using the wild type strain of S. clavuligerus and two mutants (ΔbldA and ΔbldG), which are defective in global regulators and vary in their ability to produce clavulanic acid. Approximately 33.5 % of the predicted S. clavuligerus proteome was detected and 192 known or putative regulatory proteins showed statistically differential expression levels in pairwise comparisons. Interestingly, the expression of many proteins whose corresponding genes contain TTA codons (predicted to require the bldA tRNA for translation) was unaffected in the bldA mutant.

A non-polyenic antifungal produced by a Streptomyces yatensis strain isolated from Mellah Lake in El Kala, North-East of Algeria

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed at describing one actinomycete strain E65 that was isolated from the water of Mellah Lake in El Kala, North-East of Algeria that produces a non-polyenic antifungal.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Actinomycetes were isolated from Mellah Lake water and screened for antimicrobial activity. Antimicrobial assays were performed on ISP2 agar. The taxonomic position of the strain E65 was determined regarding phenotypic and 16S DNA sequences features. Time course of antifungal metabolites production was evaluated against Candida albicans on ISP2, ISP1 and GYEA broth. The active antifungal compound was extracted using dichloromethane and revealed by a thin layer of chromatography, chemical reagents, UV-visible and infrared spectroscopy.

RESULTS

A total of 104 actinomycetes were isolated and screened for antimicrobial activity; 21 strains were active against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans. The strain E65 showed a high in vitro activity against S. aureus and C. albicans and a good antifungal activity against a clinical C. albicans strain resistant to 5-fluorocytosine. Its 16S rRNA sequence shared 99% similarity with the Streptomyces yatensis type strain within the Streptomyces violaceusniger subclade of the Streptomyces hygroscopicus clade. It produced a non-polyenic antifungal, the IR spectrum of the antifungal extract corresponded to none of the antimicrobials compounds known to be produced by actinomycete of the S. hygroscopicus clade.

CONCLUSION

The wetlands of El Kala, Algeria are a potential source of bioactive actinomycete that deserves to be explored and exploited. The Streptomyces yatensis E65 strain isolated from Mellah Lake brackish water produces a remarkable antifungal compound which original non-polyenic structure warrants further characterization.

Optimization of nutritional requirements and feeding strategies for clavulanic acid production by Streptomyces clavuligerus

The present work reports the nutritional requirements and environmental conditions for submerged culture of Streptomyces clavuligerus for clavulanic acid production using orthogonal matrix method (Taguchi L(16) design) and also fed-batch fermentation for clavulanic acid production by feeding glycerol, arginine and threonoine to the fermentation medium intermittently. Clavulanic acid production was increased by 18% with the span of feeding glycerol and reached a maximum at 1.30mg/ml with 120h glycerol feeding as compared to 1.10mg/ml in the control. The production also increased with the span of feeding amino acids and reached a maximum of 1.31 and 1.86mg/ml with feeding arginine and threonine, respectively in 120h. There was an overall increase of 18% and 9% in clavulanic acid production with arginine and threonine feeding as compared to the respective controls (1.10 and 1.70mg/ml, respectively).

Characterization and regulation of new secondary metabolites from Aspergillus ochraceus M18 obtained by UV mutagenesis

UV irradiation of Aspergillus ochraceus NRRL 3174 conidia led to stable mutations in ochratoxin and penicillic-acid pathways. These mutants, especially M18, produced an unexpectedly large number of new metabolites. Two new compounds were purified by TLC and HPLC and their chemical structures were determined. They are 2,10-dimethyl 4-hydroxy-6-oxo-4-undecen-7-yne (1) and 4-(3-methyl-2- butenyl) oxy 1-phenyl acetic acid (2). Compound 1 is very active against Gram-positive bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis, but inactive against Gram-negative bacteria, fungi, and yeasts. However, compound 2 has no antibiotic activity. The production of 1 was generally associated with growth, whereas that of compound 2 was dissociated from growth. The biosynthesis of these 2 metabolites was influenced by the sources of carbon and nitrogen.

Overproduction of microbial products--facts and ideas

Overproduction of microbial metabolites is related to developmental phases of microorganisms. Inducers, effectors, inhibitors and various signal molecules play a role in different types of overproduction. Primary and secondary metabolism are interconnected. Biosynthesis of enzymes catalyzing metabolic reactions in microbial cells is controlled by well-known positive and negative mechanisms, e.g. induction, repression, catabolite repression, mechanisms controlling enzyme activity include isosteric and allosteric interactions, e.g. competitive and non-competitive inhibition, allosteric effects, molecular conversion etc. Biosynthesis of secondary metabolites is catalyzed by unaltered enzymes of primary metabolism, by altered enzymes of primary metabolism and by specific enzymes of secondary metabolism. In addition to classical mutagenesis and selection of suitable microbial cells, methods of molecular genetics are used in the overproduction of microbial products.

Modulation of lipid metabolism and spiramycin biosynthesis in Streptomyces ambofaciens unstable mutants

Streptomyces ambofaciens is prone to genetic instability involving genomic rearrangements at the extremities of the chromosomal DNA. An amplified DNA sequence (ADS205), including an open reading frame (orfPS), is responsible for the reversible loss of spiramycin production in the mutant strain NSA205 (ADS205(+) Spi-). The product of orfPS is homologous to polyketide synthase systems (PKSs) involved in the biosynthesis of erythromycin and rapamycin and is overexpressed in strain NSA205 compared with the parental strain RP181110. As PKSs and fatty acid synthase systems have the same precursors, we tested the possibility that overexpression of orfPS also affects lipid metabolism in strain NSA205. This report focuses on comparative analysis of lipids in strain RP181110, the mutant strain NSA205, and a derivative, NSA228 (ADS205(-) Spi+). NSA205 showed a dramatically depressed lipid content consisting predominantly of phospholipids and triacylglycerols. This lipid content was globally restored in strain NSA228, which had lost ADS205. Furthermore, strains RP181110 and NSA205 presented similar phospholipid and triacylglycerol compositions. No abnormal fatty acids were detected in NSA205.

Simultaneous production and decomposition of clavulanic acid during Streptomyces clavuligerus cultivations

Clavulanic acid (CA) was produced by Streptomyces clavuligerus in medium containing glycerol and soy meal or soy meal extract. With regard to growth and CA productivity, the microorganism showed significant differences if solid soy meal as such or its extract were applied as the major nitrogen source. If the extract is used, growth and CA production take place simultaneously and in the stationary phase the CA concentration is stagnant or reduces. If soy meal is used, growth is threefold faster and CA is only generated in the stationary phase. In the case of using the soy meal extract, the decrease of the CA concentration is mainly due to decomposition or re-metabolisation of CA in the presence of the microorganism. This conclusion is supported by in vivo and in vitro data on CA decomposition.

Dependence of nitrogen- and phosphorus-regulation of beta-lactam antibiotic production by Streptomyces clavuligerus on aeration level

Interference with beta-lactam production in Streptomyces clavuligerus by ammonium and phosphate ions, normally observed with optimum levels of aeration, was eliminated by restriction of the air supply. Under such a restriction, ammonium slightly stimulated and phosphate markedly stimulated beta-lactam antibiotic production. These are rare examples of 'regulation reversal' by an environmental modification.

Influence of growth rate and precursor availability on spiramycin production inStreptomyces ambofaciens

The development of a culture medium in which the growth rate was limited by initial phosphate concentration permitted spiramycin production during the growth phase. The influence of the growth rate on spiramycin production in this medium was studied. Addition of glycerol before spiramycin production increased the growth rate by 100% and spiramycin production began at a low rate. Spiramycin production yield was decreased by 50%. Addition of fatty acids such as hexanoate before spiramycin production increased the global yield of spiramycin by 47% and a high level of acetate excretion was observed just before spiramycin production. The development of a biphasic growth medium increased the spiramycin global yield. In this biphasic growth medium, in the first phase there was fast growth during which no acetate was excreted and no spiramycin was detected. During a second phase of slow growth, acetate excretion preceded spiramycin production and the spiramycin biosynthetic rate was maintained at a high level.Key words: Streptomyces ambofaciens, spiramycin, electrophoresis, nitrogen source, regulation.

Effect of ammonium ions on spiramycin biosynthesis in Streptomyces ambofaciens

The effect of ammonium on growth and spiramycin biosynthesis in Streptomyces ambofaciens cultured on a chemically defined medium was studied. Spiramycin biosynthesis was better in the presence of valine and isoleucine than in the presence of ammonium. This production was reduced in the presence of excess ammonium (100 mM). The addition of catabolic intermediates of valine and isoleucine reserved the negative effect of ammonium. Valine dehydrogenase (VDH), the enzyme responsible for valine, leucine and isoleucine catabolism, was repressed when excess ammonium was present in the medium. This repression was approximately 25% when the ammonium concentration was increased from 50 to 100 mM. In addition to the repression of VDH biosynthesis, ammonium inhibited the activity of this enzyme. This inhibition was 45 and 65% in the presence of 50 and 100 mM ammonium, respectively.

Regulation of ACV synthetase in penicillin- and cephalosporin-producing microorganisms

ACV synthetase is the first enzyme in the biosynthetic pathway for all natural penicillins and cephalosporins. Its activity catalyzes the possible rate-limiting step and is subject to various regulatory controls. In both the fungus Cephalosporium acremonium and the actinomycete Streptomyces clavuligerus, formation of the enzyme is repressed by ammonium and phosphate ions, but not by easily-utilized carbon sources; it is induced by methionine in C. acremonium. The action of the crude enzyme is indirectly inhibited in vitro by sugars such as glucose and by the carbon source metabolite glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate (G3P). Sugars are not inhibitory to the purified enzyme activity but G3P is inhibitory. The sugar inhibition is reversed by ATP and the G3P inhibition by L-cysteine (L-cys). Addition of L-cys to fermentation media increases beta-lactam production by both microorganisms. Phosphate and ferrous ions inhibit enzyme activity. Dissolved oxygen levels do not affect enzyme formation. Regulation of ACVS formation most likely occurs at the transcriptional level.

Biosynthesis and control of β-lactam antibiotics: The early steps in the “classical” tripeptide pathway

The interaction between growth and secondary metabolism develops from physiological responses of the producer organism to its environment. Nutrients are channelled into primary growth processes or into secondary processes such as antibiotic biosynthesis by a variety of metabolic controls, the nature of which has been extensively studied in organisms producing beta-lactam antibiotics via the tripeptide, delta-(L-alpha-aminoadipyl)-L-cysteinyl-D-valine. In the following article we review the early stages of beta-lactam biosynthesis in fungi and actinomycetes, keeping in mind the regulation of primary pathways that provide the amino acid precursors of this group of antibiotics, as well as the regulation of the secondary pathway itself. Of special importance to organisms engaging in secondary metabolism are the control mechanisms that suppress the nonessential process during rapid growth but allow secondary metabolic genes to be expressed and resources to be diverted when environmental factors generate the appropriate biochemical signals.

Phosphate regulation of ACV synthetase and cephalosporin biosynthesis in Streptomyces clavuligerus

Cephalosporin production by Streptomyces clavuligerus was reduced sharply by 60 mM phosphate added to a chemically-defined medium. All the four synthetases in the pathway examined, i.e., ACV synthetase, cyclase, epimerase and expandase, were repressed by phosphate, with ACV synthetase being the main repression target and expandase the next. ACV synthetase activity was inhibited by phosphate to a lesser extent than expandase and cyclase, and this inhibition could be reversed by adding Fe2+. Fe2+ itself was inhibitory to ACV synthetase action.

The effect of inorganic phosphate on the production of avermectin in Streptomyces avermitilis

The effect of phosphate on the production of avermectin B1a, growth and utilization of glucose in the course of cultivation of Streptomyces avermitilis on a complex and chemically defined medium has been studied. Phosphate added at the beginning of cultivation at 1-20 mmol/l did not distinctly affect the production of secondary metabolite. From the results it follows that the biosynthesis of avermectin tolerates high concentrations of phosphate in the medium.