Regulation of antibiotic production in Actinobacteria: new perspectives from the post-genomic era

Influence of Cluster-Situated Regulator PteF in Filipin Biosynthetic Cluster on Avermectin Biosynthesis in Streptomyces avermitilis

Crosstalk regulation is widespread in Streptomyces species. Elucidating the influence of a specific regulator on target biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) and cell metabolism is crucial for strain improvement through regulatory protein engineering. PteF and PteR are two regulators that control the biosynthesis of filipin, which competes for building blocks with avermectins in Streptomyces avermitilis. However, little is known about the effects of PteF and PteR on avermectin biosynthesis. In this study, we investigated their impact on avermectin biosynthesis and global cell metabolism. The deletion of pteF resulted in a 55.49% avermectin titer improvement, which was 23.08% higher than that observed from pteR deletion, suggesting that PteF plays a more significant role in regulating avermectin biosynthesis, while PteF hardly influences the transcription level of genes in avermectin and other polyketide BGCs. Transcriptome data revealed that PteF exhibited a global regulatory effect. Avermectin production enhancement could be attributed to the repression of the tricarboxylic acid cycle and fatty acid biosynthetic pathway, as well as the enhancement of pathways supplying acyl-CoA precursors. These findings provide new insights into the role of PteF on avermectin biosynthesis and cell metabolism, offering important clues for designing and building efficient metabolic pathways to develop high-yield avermectin-producing strains.

Effect of composting and storage on the microbiome and resistome of cattle manure from a commercial dairy farm in Poland

Manure from food-producing animals, rich in antibiotic-resistant bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), poses significant environmental and healthcare risks. Despite global efforts, most manure is not adequately processed before use on fields, escalating the spread of antimicrobial resistance. This study examined how different cattle manure treatments, including composting and storage, affect its microbiome and resistome. The changes occurring in the microbiome and resistome of the treated manure samples were compared with those of raw samples by high-throughput qPCR for ARGs tracking and sequencing of the V3-V4 variable region of the 16S rRNA gene to indicate bacterial community composition. We identified 203 ARGs and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) in raw manure. Post-treatment reduced these to 76 in composted and 51 in stored samples. Notably, beta-lactam, cross-resistance to macrolides, lincosamides and streptogramin B (MLSB), and vancomycin resistance genes decreased, while genes linked to MGEs, integrons, and sulfonamide resistance increased after composting. Overall, total resistance gene abundance significantly dropped with both treatments. During composting, the relative abundance of genes was lower midway than at the end. Moreover, higher biodiversity was observed in samples after composting than storage. Our current research shows that both composting and storage effectively reduce ARGs in cattle manure. However, it is challenging to determine which method is superior, as different groups of resistance genes react differently to each treatment, even though a notable overall reduction in ARGs is observed.

An overview of the two-component system GarR/GarS role on antibiotic production in Streptomyces coelicolor

The Streptomyces genus comprises Gram-positive bacteria known to produce over two-thirds of the antibiotics used in medical practice. The biosynthesis of these secondary metabolites is highly regulated and influenced by a range of nutrients present in the growth medium. In Streptomyces coelicolor, glucose inhibits the production of actinorhodin (ACT) and undecylprodigiosin (RED) by a process known as carbon catabolite repression (CCR). However, the mechanism mediated by this carbon source still needs to be understood. It has been observed that glucose alters the transcriptomic profile of this actinobacteria, modifying different transcriptional regulators, including some of the one- and two-component systems (TCSs). Under glucose repression, the expression of one of these TCSs SCO6162/SCO6163 was negatively affected. We aimed to study the role of this TCS on secondary metabolite formation to define its influence in this general regulatory process and likely establish its relationship with other transcriptional regulators affecting antibiotic biosynthesis in the Streptomyces genus. In this work, in silico predictions suggested that this TCS can regulate the production of the secondary metabolites ACT and RED by transcriptional regulation and protein-protein interactions of the transcriptional factors (TFs) with other TCSs. These predictions were supported by experimental procedures such as deletion and complementation of the TFs and qPCR experiments. Our results suggest that in the presence of glucose, the TCS SCO6162/SCO6163, named GarR/GarS, is an important negative regulator of the ACT and RED production in S. coelicolor. KEY POINTS: • GarR/GarS is a TCS with domains for signal transduction and response regulation • GarR/GarS is an essential negative regulator of the ACT and RED production • GarR/GarS putatively interacts with and regulates activators of ACT and RED.

Utilization of carbon catabolite repression for efficiently biotransformation of anthraquinone O-glucuronides by Streptomyces coeruleorubidus DM

Carbon catabolite repression (CCR) is a highly conserved mechanism that regulates carbon source utilization in Streptomyces. CCR has a negative impact on secondary metabolite fermentation, both in industrial and research settings. In this study, CCR was observed in the daunorubicin (DNR)-producing strain Streptomyces coeruleorubidus DM, which was cultivated in high concentration of carbohydrates. Unexpectedly, DM exhibited a high ability for anthraquinone glucuronidation biotransformation under CCR conditions with a maximum bioconversion rate of 95% achieved at pH 6, 30°C for 24 h. The co-utilization of glucose and sucrose resulted in the highest biotransformation rate compared to other carbon source combinations. Three novel anthraquinone glucuronides were obtained, with purpurin-O-glucuronide showing significantly improved water solubility, antioxidant activity, and antibacterial bioactivity. Comparative transcript analysis revealed that glucose and sucrose utilization were significantly upregulated as DM cultivated under CCR condition, which strongly enhance the biosynthetic pathway of the precursors Uridine diphosphate glucuronic acid (UDPGA). Meanwhile, the carbon metabolic flux has significantly enhanced the fatty acid biosynthesis, the exhaust of acetyl coenzyme A may lead to the complete repression of the biosynthesis of DNR, Additionally, the efflux transporter genes were simultaneously downregulated, which may contribute to the anthraquinones intracellular glucuronidation. Overall, our findings demonstrate that utilizing CCR can be a valuable strategy for enhancing the biotransformation efficiency of anthraquinone O-glucuronides by DM. This approach has the potential to improve the bioavailability and therapeutic potential of these compounds, opening up new possibilities for their pharmaceutical applications.

LogoMotif: A Comprehensive Database of Transcription Factor Binding Site Profiles in Actinobacteria

Actinobacteria undergo a complex multicellular life cycle and produce a wide range of specialized metabolites, including the majority of the antibiotics. These biological processes are controlled by intricate regulatory pathways, and to better understand how they are controlled we need to augment our insights into the transcription factor binding sites. Here, we present LogoMotif (https://logomotif.bioinformatics.nl), an open-source database for characterized and predicted transcription factor binding sites in Actinobacteria, along with their cognate position weight matrices and hidden Markov models. Genome-wide predictions of binding site locations in Streptomyces model organisms are supplied and visualized in interactive regulatory networks. In the web interface, users can freely access, download and investigate the underlying data. With this curated collection of actinobacterial regulatory interactions, LogoMotif serves as a basis for binding site predictions, thus providing users with clues on how to elicit the expression of genes of interest and guide genome mining efforts.

Multiple SigB homologues govern the transcription of the ssgBp promoter in the sporulation-specific ssgB gene in Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2)

Unlike Bacillus subtilis, Streptomyces coelicolor contains nine SigB homologues of the stress-response sigma factor SigB. By using a two-plasmid system, we previously identified promoters recognized by these sigma factors. Almost all promoters were recognized by several SigB homologues. However, no specific sequences of these promoters were found. One of these promoters, ssgBp, was selected to examine this cross-recognition in the native host. It controls the expression of the sporulation-specific gene ssgB. Using a luciferase reporter, the activity of this promoter in S. coelicolor and nine mutant strains lacking individual sigB homologous genes showed that sgBp is dependent on three sigma factors, SigH, SigN, and SigI. To determine which nucleotides in the-10 region are responsible for the selection of a specific SigB homologue, promoters mutated at the last three nucleotide positions were tested in the two-plasmid system. Some mutant promoters were specifically recognized by a distinct set of SigB homologues. Analysis of these mutant promoters in the native host showed the role of these nucleotides. A conserved nucleotide A at position 5 was essential for promoter activity, and two variable nucleotides at positions 4 and 6 were responsible for the partial selectivity of promoter recognition by SigB homologues.

Coupled strategy based on regulator manipulation and medium optimization empowers the biosynthetic overproduction of lincomycin

The biosynthesis of bioactive secondary metabolites, specifically antibiotics, is of great scientific and economic importance. The control of antibiotic production typically involves different processes and molecular mechanism. Despite numerous efforts to improve antibiotic yields, joint engineering strategies for combining genetic manipulation with fermentation optimization remain finite. Lincomycin A (Lin-A), a lincosamide antibiotic, is industrially fermented by Streptomyces lincolnensis. Herein, the leucine-responsive regulatory protein (Lrp)-type regulator SLCG_4846 was confirmed to directly inhibit the lincomycin biosynthesis, whereas indirectly controlled the transcription of SLCG_2919, the first reported repressor in S. lincolnensis. Inactivation of SLCG_4846 in the high-yield S. lincolnensis LA219X (LA219XΔ4846) increases the Lin-A production and deletion of SLCG_2919 in LA219XΔ4846 exhibits superimposed yield increment. Given the effect of the double deletion on cellular primary metabolism of S. lincolnensis, Plackett-Burman design, steepest ascent and response surface methodologies were utilized and employed to optimize the seed medium of this double mutant in shake flask, and Lin-A yield using optimal seed medium was significantly increased over the control. Above strategies were performed in a 15-L fermenter. The maximal yield of Lin-A in LA219XΔ4846-2919 reached 6.56 g/L at 216 h, 55.1 % higher than that in LA219X at the parental cultivation (4.23 g/L). This study not only showcases the potential of this strategy to boost lincomycin production, but also could empower the development of high-performance actinomycetes for other antibiotics.

Comparing the gut microbiota of Sichuan golden monkeys across multiple captive and wild settings: roles of anthropogenic activities and host factors

BACKGROUND

Captivity and artificial food provision are common conservation strategies for the endangered golden snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus roxellana). Anthropogenic activities have been reported to impact the fitness of R. roxellana by altering their gut microbiota, a crucial indicator of animal health. Nevertheless, the degree of divergence in gut microbiota between different anthropogenically-disturbed (AD) R. roxellana and their counterparts in the wild has yet to be elucidated. Here, we conducted a comparative analysis of the gut microbiota across nine populations of R. roxellana spanning China, which included seven captive populations, one wild population, and another wild population subject to artificial food provision.

RESULTS

Both captivity and food provision significantly altered the gut microbiota. AD populations exhibited common variations, such as increased Bacteroidetes and decreased Firmicutes (e.g., Ruminococcus), Actinobacteria (e.g., Parvibacter), Verrucomicrobia (e.g., Akkermansia), and Tenericutes. Additionally, a reduced Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratiosuggested diminished capacity for complex carbohydrate degradation in captive individuals. The results of microbial functional prediction suggested that AD populations displayed heightened microbial genes linked to vitamin and amino acid metabolism, alongside decreased genes associated antibiotics biosynthesis (e.g., penicillin, cephalosporin, macrolides, and clavulanic acid) and secondary metabolite degradation (e.g., naphthalene and atrazine). These microbial alterations implied potential disparities in the health status between AD and wild individuals. AD populations exhibited varying degrees of microbial changes compared to the wild group, implying that the extent of these variations might serve as a metric for assessing the health status of AD populations. Furthermore, utilizing the individual information of captive individuals, we identified associations between variations in the gut microbiota of R. roxellana and host age, as well as pedigree. Older individuals exhibited higher microbial diversity, while a closer genetic relatedness reflected a more similar gut microbiota.

CONCLUSIONS

Our aim was to assess how anthropogenic activities and host factors influence the gut microbiota of R. roxellana. Anthropogenic activities led to consistent changes in gut microbial diversity and function, while host age and genetic relatedness contributed to interindividual variations in the gut microbiota. These findings may contribute to the establishment of health assessment standards and the optimization of breeding conditions for captive R. roxellana populations.

Challenging old microbiological treasures for natural compound biosynthesis capacity

Strain collections are a treasure chest of numerous valuable and taxonomically validated bioresources. The Leibniz Institute DSMZ is one of the largest and most diverse microbial strain collections worldwide, with a long tradition of actinomycetes research. Actinomycetes, especially the genus Streptomyces, are renowned as prolific producers of antibiotics and many other bioactive natural products. In light of this, five Streptomyces strains, DSM 40971T, DSM 40484T, DSM 40713T, DSM 40976T, and DSM 40907T, which had been deposited a long time ago without comprehensive characterization, were the subject of polyphasic taxonomic studies and genome mining for natural compounds based on in vitro and in silico analyses. Phenotypic, genetic, and phylogenomic studies distinguished the strains from their closely related neighbors. The digital DNA-DNA hybridization and average nucleotide identity values between the five strains and their close, validly named species were below the threshold of 70% and 95%-96%, respectively, determined for prokaryotic species demarcation. Therefore, the five strains merit being considered as novel Streptomyces species, for which the names Streptomyces kutzneri sp. nov., Streptomyces stackebrandtii sp. nov., Streptomyces zähneri sp. nov., Streptomyces winkii sp. nov., and Streptomyces kroppenstedtii sp. nov. are proposed. Bioinformatics analysis of the genome sequences of the five strains revealed their genetic potential for the production of secondary metabolites, which helped identify the natural compounds cinerubin B from strain DSM 40484T and the phosphonate antibiotic phosphonoalamide from strain DSM 40907T and highlighted strain DSM 40976T as a candidate for regulator-guided gene cluster activation due to the abundance of numerous "Streptomyces antibiotic regulatory protein" (SARP) genes.

The Impact of Heterologous Regulatory Genes from Lipodepsipeptide Biosynthetic Gene Clusters on the Production of Teicoplanin and A40926

StrR-like pathway-specific transcriptional regulators (PSRs) function as activators in the biosynthesis of various antibiotics, including glycopeptides (GPAs), aminoglycosides, aminocoumarins, and ramoplanin-like lipodepsipeptides (LDPs). In particular, the roles of StrR-like PSRs have been previously investigated in the biosynthesis of streptomycin, novobiocin, GPAs like balhimycin, teicoplanin, and A40926, as well as LDP enduracidin. In the current study, we focused on StrR-like PSRs from the ramoplanin biosynthetic gene cluster (BGC) in Actinoplanes ramoplaninifer ATCC 33076 (Ramo5) and the chersinamycin BGC in Micromonospora chersina DSM 44151 (Chers28). Through the analysis of the amino acid sequences of Ramo5 and Chers28, we discovered that these proteins are phylogenetically distant from other experimentally investigated StrR PSRs, although all StrR-like PSRs found in BGCs for different antibiotics share a conserved secondary structure. To investigate whether Ramo5 and Chers28, given their phylogenetic positions, might influence the biosynthesis of other antibiotic pathways governed by StrR-like PSRs, the corresponding genes (ramo5 and chers28) were heterologously expressed in Actinoplanes teichomyceticus NRRL B-16726 and Nonomuraea gerenzanensis ATCC 39727, which produce the clinically-relevant GPAs teicoplanin and A40926, respectively. Recombinant strains of NRRL B-16726 and ATCC 39727 expressing chers28 exhibited improved antibiotic production, although the expression of ramo5 did not yield the same effect. These results demonstrate that some StrR-like PSRs can "cross-talk" between distant biosynthetic pathways and might be utilized as tools for the activation of silent BGCs regulated by StrR-like PSRs.

Harnessing regulatory networks in Actinobacteria for natural product discovery

Microbes typically live in complex habitats where they need to rapidly adapt to continuously changing growth conditions. To do so, they produce an astonishing array of natural products with diverse structures and functions. Actinobacteria stand out for their prolific production of bioactive molecules, including antibiotics, anticancer agents, antifungals, and immunosuppressants. Attention has been directed especially towards the identification of the compounds they produce and the mining of the large diversity of biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) in their genomes. However, the current return on investment in random screening for bioactive compounds is low, while it is hard to predict which of the millions of BGCs should be prioritized. Moreover, many of the BGCs for yet undiscovered natural products are silent or cryptic under laboratory growth conditions. To identify ways to prioritize and activate these BGCs, knowledge regarding the way their expression is controlled is crucial. Intricate regulatory networks control global gene expression in Actinobacteria, governed by a staggering number of up to 1000 transcription factors per strain. This review highlights recent advances in experimental and computational methods for characterizing and predicting transcription factor binding sites and their applications to guide natural product discovery. We propose that regulation-guided genome mining approaches will open new avenues toward eliciting the expression of BGCs, as well as prioritizing subsets of BGCs for expression using synthetic biology approaches.

ONE-SENTENCE SUMMARY

This review provides insights into advances in experimental and computational methods aimed at predicting transcription factor binding sites and their applications to guide natural product discovery.

Three new LmbU targets outside lmb cluster inhibit lincomycin biosynthesis in Streptomyces lincolnensis

BACKGROUND

Antibiotics biosynthesis is usually regulated by the cluster-situated regulatory gene(s) (CSRG(s)), which directly regulate the genes within the corresponding biosynthetic gene cluster (BGC). Previously, we have demonstrated that LmbU functions as a cluster-situated regulator (CSR) of lincomycin. And it has been found that LmbU regulates twenty non-lmb genes through comparative transcriptomic analysis. However, the regulatory mode of CSRs' targets outside the BGC remains unknown.

RESULTS

We screened the targets of LmbU in the whole genome of Streptomyces lincolnensis and found fourteen candidate targets, among which, eight targets can bind to LmbU by electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA). Reporter assays in vivo revealed that LmbU repressed the transcription of SLINC_0469 and SLINC_1037 while activating the transcription of SLINC_8097. In addition, disruptions of SLINC_0469, SLINC_1037, and SLINC_8097 promoted the production of lincomycin, and qRT-PCR showed that SLINC_0469, SLINC_1037, and SLINC_8097 inhibited transcription of the lmb genes, indicating that all the three regulators can negatively regulate lincomycin biosynthesis.

CONCLUSIONS

LmbU can directly regulate genes outside the lmb cluster, and these genes can affect both lincomycin biosynthesis and the transcription of lmb genes. Our results first erected the cascade regulatory circuit of LmbU and regulators outside lmb cluster, which provides the theoretical basis for the functional research of LmbU family proteins.

New targets of TetR-type regulator SLCG_2919 for controlling lincomycin biosynthesis in Streptomyces lincolnensis

The transcription factor (TF)-mediated regulatory network controlling lincomycin production in Streptomyces lincolnensis is yet to be fully elucidated despite several types of associated TFs having been reported. SLCG_2919, a tetracycline repressor (TetR)-type regulator, was the first TF to be characterized outside the lincomycin biosynthetic cluster to directly suppress the lincomycin biosynthesis in S. lincolnensis. In this study, improved genomic systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (gSELEX), an in vitro technique, was adopted to capture additional SLCG_2919-targeted sequences harboring the promoter regions of SLCG_6675, SLCG_4123-4124, SLCG_6579, and SLCG_0139-0140. The four DNA fragments were confirmed by electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSAs). Reverse-transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) showed that the corresponding target genes SLCG_6675 (anthranilate synthase), SLCG_0139 (LysR family transcriptional regulator), SLCG_0140 (beta-lactamase), SLCG_6579 (cytochrome P450), SLCG_4123 (bifunctional DNA primase/polymerase), and SLCG_4124 (magnesium or magnesium-dependent protein phosphatase) in ΔSLCGL_2919 were differentially increased by 3.3-, 4.2-, 3.2-, 2.5-, 4.6-, and 2.2-fold relative to those in the parental strain S. lincolnensis LCGL. Furthermore, the individual inactivation of these target genes in LCGL reduced the lincomycin yield to varying degrees. This investigation expands on the known DNA targets of SLCG_2919 to control lincomycin production and lays the foundation for improving industrial lincomycin yields via genetic engineering of this regulatory network.

Systems-wide analysis of the ROK-family regulatory gene rokL6 and its role in the control of glucosamine toxicity in Streptomyces coelicolor

IMPORTANCE

Central metabolism plays a key role in the control of growth and antibiotic production in streptomycetes. Specifically, aminosugars act as signaling molecules that affect development and antibiotic production, via metabolic interference with the global repressor DasR. While aminosugar metabolism directly connects to other major metabolic routes such as glycolysis and cell wall synthesis, several important aspects of their metabolism are yet unresolved. Accumulation of N-acetylglucosamine 6-phosphate or glucosamine 6-phosphate is lethal to many bacteria, a yet unresolved phenomenon referred to as "aminosugar sensitivity." We made use of this concept by selecting for suppressors in genes related to glucosamine toxicity in nagB mutants, which showed that the gene pair of rok-family regulatory gene rokL6 and major facilitator superfamily transporter gene sco1448 forms a cryptic rescue mechanism. Inactivation of rokL6 resulted in the expression of sco1448, which then prevents the toxicity of amino sugar-derived metabolites in Streptomyces. The systems biology of RokL6 and its transcriptional control of sco1448 shed new light on aminosugar metabolism in streptomycetes and on the response of bacteria to aminosugar toxicity.

PAS domain containing regulator SLCG_7083 involved in morphological development and glucose utilization in Streptomyces lincolnensis

BACKGROUND

Streptomyces lincolnensis is well known for producing the clinically important antimicrobial agent lincomycin. The synthetic and regulatory mechanisms on lincomycin biosynthesis have been deeply explored in recent years. However, the regulation involved in primary metabolism have not been fully addressed.

RESULTS

SLCG_7083 protein contains a Per-Arnt-Sim (PAS) domain at the N-terminus, whose homologous proteins are highly distributed in Streptomyces. The inactivation of the SLCG_7083 gene indicated that SLCG_7083 promotes glucose utilization, slows mycelial growth and affects sporulation in S. lincolnensis. Comparative transcriptomic analysis further revealed that SLCG_7083 represses eight genes involved in sporulation, cell division and lipid metabolism, and activates two genes involved in carbon metabolism.

CONCLUSIONS

SLCG_7083 is a PAS domain-containing regulator on morphological development and glucose utilization in S. lincolnensis. Our results first revealed the regulatory function of SLCG_7083, and shed new light on the transcriptional effects of SLCG_7083-like family proteins in Streptomyces.

LcbR1, a newly identified GntR family regulator, represses lincomycin biosynthesis in Streptomyces lincolnensis

The Actinomycetes Streptomyces lincolnensis is the producer of lincosamide-type antibiotic lincomycin, a widely utilized drug against Gram-positive bacteria and protozoans. In this work, through gene knockout, complementation, and overexpression experiments, we identified LcbR1 (SLINC_1595), a GntR family transcriptional regulator, as a repressor for lincomycin biosynthesis. Deletion of lcbR1 boosted lincomycin production by 3.8-fold, without obvious change in morphological development or cellular growth. The homologues of LcbR1 are widely distributed in Streptomyces. Heterologous expression of SCO1410 from Streptomyces coelicolor resulted in the reduction of lincomycin yield, implying that the function of LcbR1 is conserved across different species. Alignment among sequences upstream of lcbR1 and their homologues revealed a conserved 16-bp palindrome (-TTGAACGATCCTTCAA-), which was further proven to be the recognition motif of LcbR1 by electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSAs). Via this motif, LcbR1 suppressed the transcription of lcbR1 and SLINC_1596 sharing the same bi-directional promoter. SLINC_1596, one important target of LcbR1, exerted a positive effect on lincomycin production. As detected by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analyses, the expressions of all selected structural (lmbA, lmbC, lmbJ, lmbV, and lmbW), resistance (lmrA and lmrB) and regulatory genes (lmrC and lmbU) from lincomycin biosynthesis cluster were upregulated in deletion strain ΔlcbR1 at 48 h of fermentation, while the mRNA amounts of bldD, glnR, ramR, SLCG_Lrp, and SLCG_2919, previously characterized as the regulators on lincomycin production, were decreased in strain ΔlcbR1, although the regulatory effects of LcbR1 on the above differential expression genes seemed to be indirect. Besides, indicated by EMSAs, the expression of lcbR1 might be regulated by GlnR, SLCG_Lrp, and SLCG_2919, which shows the complexity of the regulatory network on lincomycin biosynthesis. KEY POINTS: • LcbR1 is a novel and conservative GntR family regulator regulating lincomycin production. • LcbR1 modulates the expressions of lcbR1 and SLINC_1596 through a palindromic motif. • GlnR, SLCG_Lrp, and SLCG_2919 can control the expression of lcbR1.

Discovery and overproduction of novel highly bioactive pamamycins through transcriptional engineering of the biosynthetic gene cluster

BACKGROUND

Pamamycins are a family of highly bioactive macrodiolide polyketides produced by Streptomyces alboniger as a complex mixture of derivatives with molecular weights ranging from 579 to 705 Daltons. The large derivatives are produced as a minor fraction, which has prevented their isolation and thus studies of chemical and biological properties.

RESULTS

Herein, we describe the transcriptional engineering of the pamamycin biosynthetic gene cluster (pam BGC), which resulted in the shift in production profile toward high molecular weight derivatives. The pam BGC library was constructed by inserting randomized promoter sequences in front of key biosynthetic operons. The library was expressed in Streptomyces albus strain with improved resistance to pamamycins to overcome sensitivity-related host limitations. Clones with modified pamamycin profiles were selected and the properties of engineered pam BGC were studied in detail. The production level and composition of the mixture of pamamycins was found to depend on balance in expression of the corresponding biosynthetic genes. This approach enabled the isolation of known pamamycins and the discovery of three novel derivatives with molecular weights of 663 Da and higher. One of them, homopamamycin 677A, is the largest described representative of this family of natural products with an elucidated structure. The new pamamycin 663A shows extraordinary activity (IC50 2 nM) against hepatocyte cancer cells as well as strong activity (in the one-digit micromolar range) against a range of Gram-positive pathogenic bacteria.

CONCLUSION

By employing transcriptional gene cluster refactoring, we not only enhanced the production of known pamamycins but also discovered novel derivatives exhibiting promising biological activities. This approach has the potential for broader application in various biosynthetic gene clusters, creating a sustainable supply and discovery platform for bioactive natural products.

Natural Products and Pharmacological Properties of Symbiotic Bacillota (Firmicutes) of Marine Macroalgae

The shift from the terrestrial to the marine environment to discover natural products has given rise to novel bioactive compounds, some of which have been approved for human medicine. However, the ocean, which makes up nearly three-quarters of the Earth's surface, contains macro- and microorganisms whose natural products are yet to be explored. Among these underexplored marine organisms are macroalgae and their symbiotic microbes, such as Bacillota, a phylum of mostly Gram-positive bacteria previously known as Firmicutes. Macroalgae-associated Bacillota often produce chemical compounds that protect them and their hosts from competitive and harmful rivals. Here, we summarised the natural products made by macroalgae-associated Bacillota and their pharmacological properties. We discovered that these Bacillota are efficient producers of novel biologically active molecules. However, only a few macroalgae had been investigated for chemical constituents of their Bacillota: nine brown, five red and one green algae. Thus, Bacillota, especially from the marine habitat, should be investigated for potential pharmaceutical leads. Moreover, additional diverse biological assays for the isolated molecules of macroalgae Bacillota should be implemented to expand their bioactivity profiles, as only antibacterial properties were tested for most compounds.

Interactions of Different Streptomyces Species and Myxococcus xanthus Affect Myxococcus Development and Induce the Production of DK-Xanthenes

The co-culturing of microorganisms is a well-known strategy to study microbial interactions in the laboratory. This approach facilitates the identification of new signals and molecules produced by one species that affects other species' behavior. In this work, we have studied the effects of the interaction of nine Streptomyces species (S. albidoflavus, S. ambofaciens, S. argillaceus, S. griseus, S. lividans, S. olivaceus, S. parvulus, S. peucetius, and S. rochei) with the predator bacteria Myxococcus xanthus, five of which (S. albidoflavus, S. griseus, S. lividans, S. olivaceus, and S. argillaceus) induce mound formation of M. xanthus on complex media (Casitone Yeast extract (CYE) and Casitone tris (CTT); media on which M. xanthus does not form these aggregates under normal culture conditions. An in-depth study on S. griseus-M. xanthus interactions (the Streptomyces strain producing the strongest effect) has allowed the identification of two siderophores produced by S. griseus, demethylenenocardamine and nocardamine, responsible for this grouping effect over M. xanthus. Experiments using pure commercial nocardamine and different concentrations of FeSO4 show that iron depletion is responsible for the behavior of M. xanthus. Additionally, it was found that molecules, smaller than 3 kDa, produced by S. peucetius can induce the production of DK-xanthenes by M. xanthus.

Hard-Soft Cooperativity of an Allosteric Tweezer

Drawing inspiration from allosteric proteins, a zigzag-shaped π-conjugation was structurally engineered into a tweezer-like ionophore having multiple disparate binding sites. When a soft metal ion binds to the central tridentate ligand motif, the rigid backbone folds, bringing two macrocyclic arms into close proximity. Stabilized by a coordinating anion, the tweezer-like conformation of the resulting metalloligand recruits a hard cation to form a sandwich-like complex with a remarkably enhanced binding affinity and selectivity.

Doxorubicin and other anthracyclines in cancers: Activity, chemoresistance and its overcoming

Anthracyclines have been important and effective treatments against a number of cancers since their discovery. However, their use in therapy has been complicated by severe side effects and toxicity that occur during or after treatment, including cardiotoxicity. The mode of action of anthracyclines is complex, with several mechanisms proposed. It is possible that their high toxicity is due to the large set of processes involved in anthracycline action. The development of resistance is a major barrier to successful treatment when using anthracyclines. This resistance is based on a series of mechanisms that have been studied and addressed in recent years. This work provides an overview of the anthracyclines used in cancer therapy. It discusses their mechanisms of activity, toxicity, and chemoresistance, as well as the approaches used to improve their activity, decrease their toxicity, and overcome resistance.

The impacts of nicotinamide and inositol on the available cells and product performance of industrial baker's yeasts

A suitable nutrient supply, especially of vitamins, is very significant for the deep display of the inherent genetic properties of microorganisms. Here, using the chemically defined minimal medium (MM) for yeast, nicotinamide and inositol were confirmed to be more beneficial for the performance of two industrial baker's yeasts, a conventional and a high-sugar-tolerant strain. Increasing nicotinamide or inositol to proper levels could enhance the both strains on cell growth and activity and product performance, including trehalose accumulation and leavening performance. The activity of key enzymes (PCK, TPS) and the content of intermediate metabolites (G6P, UDPG) in the trehalose synthesis pathway were promoted by a moderate supply of nicotinamide and inositol. That were also proved that an appropriate amount of niacinamide promoted the transcription of longevity-related genes (PNC1, SIR2), and the proper concentration of inositol altered the phospholipid composition in cells, namely, phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidyl choline. Furthermore, the cell growth and the leavening performance of the both strains were promoted after adjusting inositol to choline to the proper ratio, resulting directly in content changes of phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidyl choline in the cells. While the two strains responded to the different proper ratio of inositol to choline probably due to their specific physiological characteristics. Such beneficial effects of increased nicotinamide levels were confirmed in natural media, molasses and corn starch hydrolyzed sugar media. Meanwhile, such adjustment of inositol to choline ratio could lessen the inhibition of excess inositol on cell growth of the two tested strains in corn starch hydrolyzed sugar media. However, in molasse, such phenomenon was not observed probably since there was higher Ca2+ in it. The results indicated that the effects of nutrient factors, such as vitamins, on cell growth and other properties found out from the simple chemically defined minimal medium were an effective measure to use in improving the recipe of natural media at least for baker's yeast.

Bacterial synthetic biology: tools for novel drug discovery

INTRODUCTION

Bacterial synthetic biology has provided powerful tools to revolutionize the drug discovery process. These tools can be harnessed to generate bacterial novel pharmaceutical compounds with enhanced bioactivity and selectivity or to create genetically modified microorganisms as living drugs.

AREAS COVERED

This review provides a current overview of the state-of-the-art in bacterial synthetic biology tools for novel drug discovery. The authors discuss the application of these tools including bioinformatic tools, CRISPR tools, engineered bacterial transcriptional regulators, and synthetic biosensors for novel drug discovery. Additionally, the authors present the recent progress on reprogramming bacteriophages as living drugs to fight against antibiotic-resistant pathogens.

EXPERT OPINION

The field of using bacterial synthetic biology tools for drug discovery is rapidly advancing. However, challenges remain in developing reliable and robust methods to engineer bacteria. Further advancements in synthetic biology hold promise to speed up drug discovery, facilitating the development of novel therapeutics against various diseases.

On the evolution of natural product biosynthesis

Natural products are the raw material for drug discovery programmes. Bioactive natural products are used extensively in medicine and agriculture and have found utility as antibiotics, immunosuppressives, anti-cancer drugs and anthelminthics. Remarkably, the natural role and what mechanisms drive evolution of these molecules is relatively poorly understood. The exponential increase in genome and chemical data in recent years, coupled with technical advances in bioinformatics and genetics have enabled progress to be made in understanding the evolution of biosynthetic gene clusters and the products of their enzymatic machinery. Here we discuss the diversity of natural products, incorporating the mechanisms that govern evolution of metabolic pathways and how this can be applied to biosynthetic gene clusters. We build on the nomenclature of natural products in terms of primary, integrated, secondary and specialised metabolism and place this within an ecology-evolutionary-developmental biology framework. This eco-evo-devo framework we believe will help to clarify the nature and use of the term specialised metabolites in the future.

Regulation of Multidrug Efflux Pumps by TetR Family Transcriptional Repressor Negatively Affects Secondary Metabolism in Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2)

Streptomyces spp. are well-known producers of bioactive secondary metabolites (SMs) that serve as pharmaceutical agents. In addition to their ability to produce SMs, Streptomyces spp. have evolved diverse membrane transport systems to protect cells against antibiotics produced by itself or other microorganisms. We previously screened mutants of Streptomyces coelicolor that show a phenotype of reduced undecylprodigiosin (RED) production in a combined-culture with Tsukamurella pulmonis. Here, we identified a point mutation, which reduced RED production, by performing genome resequencing and genetic complementation. We found that inactivation of the sco1718 gene encoding the TetR family transcriptional regulator (TFR) produced a deficient phenotype for several SMs in Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2). In the genome of S. coelicolor A3(2), two other sets of TFR and two-component ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter genes (sco4358-4360 and sco5384-5382) were found which had similar effects on the phenotype for both secondary metabolism and antibiotic resistance. An electrophoretic mobility shift assay and quantitative reverse transcription-PCR experiments demonstrated that TFRs repressed the expression of each adjacent two-component ABC transporter genes by binding to the operator sequence. Notably, the Δsco1718 mutant showed increased resistance to several antibiotics of other actinomycete origin. Our results imply the switching of cell metabolism to direct offense (antibiotic production) or defense (efflux pump activation) using costly and limited quantities of cell energy sources (e.g., ATP) in the soil ecosystem. IMPORTANCE The bacterial metabolic potential to synthesize diverse secondary metabolites in the environment has been revealed by recent (meta)genomics of both unculturable and culturable bacteria. These studies imply that bacteria are continuously exposed to harmful chemical compounds in the environment. Streptomyces spp. contain antibiotic efflux pumps and SM biosynthetic gene clusters. However, the mechanism by which soil bacteria, including Streptomyces, survive against toxic compounds in the environment remains unclear. Here, we identified three sets of TFR-ABC transporter genes in Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2). We found that each TFR controlled the expression of respective ABC transporter, and the expression of all ABC transporters negatively impacted SM production and increased antibiotic resistance. Notably, bioinformatic analysis indicated that these TFR-ABC transporter gene sets are highly conserved and widely distributed in the genome of Streptomyces species, indicating the importance of systematic regulation that directs antibiotic production and xenobiotic excretion.

Cross-Talking of Pathway-Specific Regulators in Glycopeptide Antibiotics (Teicoplanin and A40926) Production

Teicoplanin and A40926 (natural precursor of dalbavancin) are clinically relevant glycopeptide antibiotics (GPAs) produced by Actinoplanes teichomyceticus NRRL B-16726 and Nonomuraea gerenzanensis ATCC 39727. Their biosynthetic enzymes are coded within large biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs), named tei for teicoplanin and dbv for A40926, whose expression is strictly regulated by pathway-specific transcriptional regulators (PSRs), coded by cluster-situated regulatory genes (CSRGs). Herein, we investigated the "cross-talk" between the CSRGs from tei and dbv, through the analysis of GPA production levels in A. teichomyceticus and N. gerenzanensis strains, with knockouts of CSRGs cross-complemented by the expression of heterologous CSRGs. We demonstrated that Tei15* and Dbv4 StrR-like PSRs, although orthologous, were not completely interchangeable: tei15* and dbv4 were only partially able or unable to cross-complement N. gerenzanensis knocked out in dbv4 and A. teichomyceticus knocked out in tei15*, implying that the DNA-binding properties of these PSRs are more different in vivo than it was believed before. At the same time, the unrelated LuxR-like PSRs Tei16* and Dbv3 were able to cross-complement corresponding N. gerenzanensis knocked out in dbv3 and A. teichomyceticus knocked out in tei16*. Moreover, the heterologous expression of dbv3 in A. teichomyceticus led to a significant increase in teicoplanin production. Although the molecular background of these events merits further investigations, our results contribute to a deeper understanding of GPA biosynthesis regulation and offer novel biotechnological tools to improve their production.

AflQ1-Q2 represses lincomycin biosynthesis via multiple cascades in Streptomyces lincolnensis

Lincomycin is a broad-spectrum antibiotic and particularly effective against Gram-positive pathogens. Albeit familiar with the biosynthetic mechanism of lincomycin, we know less about its regulation, limiting the rational design for strain improvement. We therefore analyzed two-component systems (TCSs) in Streptomyces lincolnensis, and selected eight TCS gene(s) to construct their deletion mutants utilizing CRISPR/Cas9 system. Among them, lincomycin yield increased in two strains (Δ3900-3901 and Δ5290-5291) while decreased in other four strains (Δ3415-3416, Δ4153-4154, Δ4985, and Δ7949). Considering the conspicuous effect, SLINC_5291-5290 (AflQ1-Q2) was subsequently studied in detail. Its repression on lincomycin biosynthesis was further proved by gene complementation and overexpression. By binding to a 16-bp palindromic motif, the response regulator AflQ1 inhibits the transcription of its encoding gene and the expression of eight operons inside the lincomycin synthetic cluster (headed by lmbA, lmbJ, lmbK, lmbV, lmbW, lmbU, lmrA, and lmrC), as demonstrated by quantitative RT-PCR and electrophoretic mobility shift assays. Besides, the regulatory genes including bldD, glnR, lcbR1, and ramR are also regulated by the TCS. According to the screening towards nitrogen sources, aspartate affects the regulatory behavior of histidine kinase AflQ2. And in return, AflQ1 accelerates aspartate metabolism via ask-asd, asd2, and thrA. In summary, we acquired six novel regulators related to lincomycin biosynthesis, and elucidated the regulatory mechanism of AflQ1-Q2. This highly conserved TCS is a promising target for the construction of antibiotic high-yield strains. KEY POINTS: • AflQ1-Q2 is a repressor for lincomycin production. • AflQ1 modulates the expression of lincomycin biosynthetic and regulatory genes. • Aspartate affects the behavior of AflQ2, and its metabolism is promoted by AflQ1.

Temporal dynamics of the cecal and litter microbiome of chickens raised in two separate broiler houses

In this study, we investigated the dynamics of the ceca and litter microbiome of chickens from post-hatch through pre-harvest. To achieve this, six hundred one-day old Cobb 500 broiler chicks were raised on floor pens for 49 days in two separate houses. We performed short-read and full-length sequencing of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene present in the meconium and in cecal and litter samples collected over the duration of the study. In addition, we determined the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) phenotype of Escherichia coli and Enterococcus spp. isolated from the meconium and the ceca of 49-day old chickens. We monitored the relative humidity, temperature, and ammonia in each house daily and the pH and moisture of litter samples weekly. The overall microbial community structure of the ceca and litter consistently changed throughout the course of the grow-out and correlated with some of the environmental parameters measured (p < 0.05). We found that the ceca and litter microbiome were similar in the two houses at the beginning of the experiment, but over time, the microbial community separated and differed between the houses. When we compared the environmental parameters in the two houses, we found no significant differences in the first half of the growth cycle (day 0-21), but morning temperature, morning humidity, and ammonia significantly differed (p < 0.05) between the two houses from day 22-49. Lastly, the prevalence of AMR in cecal E. coli isolates differed from meconium isolates (p < 0.001), while the AMR phenotype of cecal Enterococcus isolates differed between houses (p < 0.05).

Genomics-Guided Efficient Identification of 2,5-Diketopiperazine Derivatives from Actinobacteria

Secondary metabolites derived from microorganism constitute an important part of natural products. Mining of the microbial genomes revealed a large number of uncharacterized biosynthetic gene clusters, indicating their greater potential to synthetize specialized or secondary metabolites (SMs) than identified by classic fermentation and isolation approaches. Various bioinformatics tools have been developed to analyze and identify such gene clusters, thus accelerating significantly the mining process. Heterologous expression of an individual biosynthetic gene cluster has been proven as an efficient way to activate the genes and identify the encoded metabolites that cannot be detected under normal laboratory cultivation conditions. Herein, we describe a concept of genomics-guided approach by performing genome mining and heterologous expression to uncover novel CDPS-derived DKPs and functionally characterize novel tailoring enzymes embedded in the biosynthetic pathways. Recent works focused on the identification of the nucleobase-related and dimeric DKPs are also presented.

Enhancing chemical and biological diversity by co-cultivation

In natural product research, microbial metabolites have tremendous potential to provide new therapeutic agents since extremely diverse chemical structures can be found in the nearly infinite microbial population. Conventionally, these specialized metabolites are screened by single-strain cultures. However, owing to the lack of biotic and abiotic interactions in monocultures, the growth conditions are significantly different from those encountered in a natural environment and result in less diversity and the frequent re-isolation of known compounds. In the last decade, several methods have been developed to eventually understand the physiological conditions under which cryptic microbial genes are activated in an attempt to stimulate their biosynthesis and elicit the production of hitherto unexpressed chemical diversity. Among those, co-cultivation is one of the most efficient ways to induce silenced pathways, mimicking the competitive microbial environment for the production and holistic regulation of metabolites, and has become a golden methodology for metabolome expansion. It does not require previous knowledge of the signaling mechanism and genome nor any special equipment for cultivation and data interpretation. Several reviews have shown the potential of co-cultivation to produce new biologically active leads. However, only a few studies have detailed experimental, analytical, and microbiological strategies for efficiently inducing bioactive molecules by co-culture. Therefore, we reviewed studies applying co-culture to induce secondary metabolite pathways to provide insights into experimental variables compatible with high-throughput analytical procedures. Mixed-fermentation publications from 1978 to 2022 were assessed regarding types of co-culture set-ups, metabolic induction, and interaction effects.

An alternative σ factor σLsl regulates lincomycin production in Streptomyces lincolnensis

Lincomycin produced by Streptomyces lincolnensis is a critical antibacterial antibiotic in the clinical. To further understand the regulatory mechanism of lincomycin biosynthesis, we identified an alternative σ factor, σLsl, in Streptomyces lincolnensis NRRL 2936. Deletion of sigLsl resulted in an increase in cell growth but a decrease in lincomycin production. σLsl boosted lincomycin biosynthesis by directly stimulating the transcription of four genes (lmbD, lmbV, lmrC, and lmbU) within the lincomycin biosynthetic lmb gene cluster. Besides, σLsl participated in lincomycin biosynthesis by directly stimulating the transcription of mshC, a gene responsible for MSH synthesis. In conclusion, our findings demonstrated that σLsl plays a direct regulatory role in lincomycin biosynthesis. This study extends the understanding of molecular mechanisms of lincomycin biosynthetic regulation.

An alternative σ factor σL sl regulates lincomycin production in Streptomyces lincolnensis

Lincomycin produced by Streptomyces lincolnensis is a critical antibacterial antibiotic in the clinical. To further understand the regulatory mechanism of lincomycin biosynthesis, we identified an alternative σ factor, σ^L _sl , in Streptomyces lincolnensis NRRL 2936. Deletion of sigL_sl resulted in an increase in cell growth but a decrease in lincomycin production. σ^L _sl boosted lincomycin biosynthesis by directly stimulating the transcription of four genes (lmbD, lmbV, lmrC, and lmbU) within the lincomycin biosynthetic lmb gene cluster. Besides, σ^L _sl participated in lincomycin biosynthesis by directly stimulating the transcription of mshC, a gene responsible for MSH synthesis. In conclusion, our findings demonstrated that σ^L _sl plays a direct regulatory role in lincomycin biosynthesis. This study extends the understanding of molecular mechanisms of lincomycin biosynthetic regulation.

FtsZ phosphorylation pleiotropically affects Z-ladder formation, antibiotic production, and morphogenesis in Streptomyces coelicolor

The GTPase FtsZ forms the cell division scaffold in bacteria, which mediates the recruitment of the other components of the divisome. Streptomycetes undergo two different forms of cell division. Septa without detectable peptidoglycan divide the highly compartmentalised young hyphae during early vegetative growth, and cross-walls are formed that dissect the hyphae into long multinucleoid compartments in the substrate mycelium, while ladders of septa are formed in the aerial hyphae that lead to chains of uninucleoid spores. In a previous study, we analysed the phosphoproteome of Streptomyces coelicolor and showed that FtsZ is phosphorylated at Ser 317 and Ser389. Substituting Ser-Ser for either Glu-Glu (mimicking phosphorylation) or Ala-Ala (mimicking non-phosphorylation) hinted at changes in antibiotic production. Here we analyse development, colony morphology, spore resistance, and antibiotic production in FtsZ knockout mutants expressing FtsZ alleles mimicking Ser319 and Ser387 phosphorylation and non-phosphorylation: AA (no phosphorylation), AE, EA (mixed), and EE (double phosphorylation). The FtsZ-eGFP AE, EA and EE alleles were not able to form observable FtsZ-eGFP ladders when they were expressed in the S. coelicolor wild-type strain, whereas the AA allele could form apparently normal eGFP Z-ladders. The FtsZ mutant expressing the FtsZ EE or EA or AE alleles is able to sporulate indicating that the mutant alleles are able to form functional Z-rings leading to sporulation when the wild-type FtsZ gene is absent. The four mutants were pleiotropically affected in colony morphogenesis, antibiotic production, substrate mycelium differentiation and sporulation (sporulation timing and spore resistance) which may be an indirect result of the effect in sporulation Z-ladder formation. Each mutant showed a distinctive phenotype in antibiotic production, single colony morphology, and sporulation (sporulation timing and spore resistance) indicating that the different FtsZ phosphomimetic alleles led to different phenotypes. Taken together, our data provide evidence for a pleiotropic effect of FtsZ phosphorylation in colony morphology, antibiotic production, and sporulation.

Diversity and adaptation properties of actinobacteria associated with Tunisian stone ruins

Stone surface is a unique biological niche that may host a rich microbial diversity. The exploration of the biodiversity of the stone microbiome represents a major challenge and an opportunity to characterize new strains equipped with valuable biological activity. Here, we explored the diversity and adaptation strategies of total bacterial communities associated with Roman stone ruins in Tunisia by considering the effects of geo-climatic regions and stone geochemistry. Environmental 16S rRNA gene amplicon was performed on DNA extracted from stones samples collected in three different sampling sites in Tunisia, along an almost 400km aridity transect, encompassing Mediterranean, semiarid and arid climates. The library was sequenced on an Illumina MiSeq sequencing platform. The cultivable Actinobacteria were isolated from stones samples using the dilution plate technique. A total of 71 strains were isolated and identified based on 16S rRNA gene sequences. Cultivable actinobacteria were further investigated to evaluate the adaptative strategies adopted to survive in/on stones. Amplicon sequencing showed that stone ruins bacterial communities were consistently dominated by Cyanobacteria, followed by Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria along the aridity gradient. However, the relative abundance of the bacterial community components changed according to the geo-climatic origin. Stone geochemistry, particularly the availability of magnesium, chromium, and copper, also influenced the bacterial communities' diversity. Cultivable actinobacteria were further investigated to evaluate the adaptative strategies adopted to survive in/on stones. All the cultivated bacteria belonged to the Actinobacteria class, and the most abundant genera were Streptomyces, Kocuria and Arthrobacter. They were able to tolerate high temperatures (up to 45°C) and salt accumulation, and they produced enzymes involved in nutrients' solubilization, such as phosphatase, amylase, protease, chitinase, and cellulase. Actinobacteria members also had an important role in the co-occurrence interactions among bacteria, favoring the community interactome and stabilization. Our findings provide new insights into actinobacteria's diversity, adaptation, and role within the microbiome associated with stone ruins.

Comparative and pangenomic analysis of the genus Streptomyces

Streptomycetes are highly metabolically gifted bacteria with the abilities to produce bioproducts that have profound economic and societal importance. These bioproducts are produced by metabolic pathways including those for the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites and catabolism of plant biomass constituents. Advancements in genome sequencing technologies have revealed a wealth of untapped metabolic potential from Streptomyces genomes. Here, we report the largest Streptomyces pangenome generated by using 205 complete genomes. Metabolic potentials of the pangenome and individual genomes were analyzed, revealing degrees of conservation of individual metabolic pathways and strains potentially suitable for metabolic engineering. Of them, Streptomyces bingchenggensis was identified as a potent degrader of plant biomass. Polyketide, non-ribosomal peptide, and gamma-butyrolactone biosynthetic enzymes are primarily strain specific while ectoine and some terpene biosynthetic pathways are highly conserved. A large number of transcription factors associated with secondary metabolism are strain-specific while those controlling basic biological processes are highly conserved. Although the majority of genes involved in morphological development are highly conserved, there are strain-specific varieties which may contribute to fine tuning the timing of cellular differentiation. Overall, these results provide insights into the metabolic potential, regulation and physiology of streptomycetes, which will facilitate further exploitation of these important bacteria.

Phosphoproteome Dynamics of Streptomyces rimosus during Submerged Growth and Antibiotic Production

Streptomyces rimosus is an industrial streptomycete, best known as a producer of oxytetracycline, one of the most widely used antibiotics. Despite the significant contribution of Streptomyces species to the pharmaceutical industry, most omics analyses have only been conducted on the model organism Streptomyces coelicolor. In recent years, protein phosphorylation on serine, threonine, and tyrosine (Ser, Thr, and Tyr, respectively) has been shown to play a crucial role in the regulation of numerous cellular processes, including metabolic changes leading to antibiotic production and morphological changes. In this study, we performed a comprehensive quantitative (phospho)proteomic analysis during the growth of S. rimosus under conditions of oxytetracycline production and pellet fragmentation. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis combined with phosphopeptide enrichment detected a total of 3,725 proteins, corresponding to 45.6% of the proteome and 417 phosphorylation sites from 230 phosphoproteins. Significant changes in abundance during three distinct growth phases were determined for 494 proteins and 98 phosphorylation sites. Functional analysis revealed changes in phosphorylation events of proteins involved in important cellular processes, including regulatory mechanisms, primary and secondary metabolism, cell division, and stress response. About 80% of the phosphoproteins detected during submerged growth of S. rimosus have not yet been reported in streptomycetes, and 55 phosphoproteins were not reported in any prokaryote studied so far. This enabled the creation of a unique resource that provides novel insights into the dynamics of (phospho)proteins and reveals many potential regulatory events during antibiotic production in liquid culture of an industrially important bacterium. IMPORTANCE Streptomyces rimosus is best known as a primary source of oxytetracycline (OTC). The significant global market value of OTC highlights the need for a better understanding of the regulatory mechanisms that lead to production of this antibiotic. Our study provides, for the first time, a detailed insight into the dynamics of (phospho)proteomic profiles during growth and antibiotic production in liquid culture of S. rimosus. Significant changes in protein synthesis and phosphorylation have been revealed for a number of important cellular proteins during the growth stages that coincide with OTC production and morphological changes of this industrially important bacterium. Most of these proteins have not been detected in previous studies. Therefore, our results significantly expand the insight into phosphorylation events associated with important cellular processes and antibiotic production; they also greatly increase the phosphoproteome of streptomycetes and contribute with newly discovered phosphoproteins to the database of prokaryotic phosphoproteomes. This can consequently lead to the design of novel research directions in elucidation of the complex regulatory network in Streptomyces.

Balancing Trade-Offs Imposed by Growth Media and Mass Spectrometry for Bacterial Exometabolomics

The bacterial exometabolome consists of a vast array of specialized metabolites, many of which are only produced in response to specific environmental stimuli. For this reason, it is desirable to control the extracellular environment with a defined growth medium composed of pure ingredients. However, complex (undefined) media are expected to support the robust growth of a greater variety of microorganisms than defined media. Here, we investigate the trade-offs inherent to a range of complex and defined solid media for the growth of soil microorganisms, production of specialized metabolites, and detection of these compounds using direct infusion mass spectrometry. We find that complex media support growth of more soil microorganisms, as well as allowing for the detection of more previously discovered natural products as a fraction of total m/z features detected in each sample. However, the use of complex media often caused mass spectrometer injection failures and poor-quality mass spectra, which in some cases resulted in over a quarter of samples being removed from analysis. Defined media, while more limiting in growth, generated higher quality spectra and yielded more m/z features after background subtraction. These results inform future exometabolomic experiments requiring a medium that supports the robust growth of many soil microorganisms. IMPORTANCE Bacteria are capable of producing and secreting a rich diversity of specialized metabolites. Yet, much of their exometabolome remains hidden due to challenges associated with eliciting specialized metabolite production, labor-intensive sample preparation, and time-consuming analysis techniques. Using our versatile three-dimensional (3D)-printed culturing platform, SubTap, we demonstrate that rapid exometabolomic data collection from a diverse set of environmental bacteria is feasible. We optimized our platform by surveying Streptomyces isolated from soil on a variety of media types to assess viability, degree of specialized metabolite production, and compatibility with downstream LESA-DIMS analysis. Ultimately, this will enable data-rich experimentation, allowing for a better understanding of bacterial exometabolomes.

LuxR-Type SCO6993 Negatively Regulates Antibiotic Production at the Transcriptional Stage by Binding to Promoters of Pathway-Specific Regulatory Genes in Streptomyces coelicolor

SCO6993 (606 amino acids) in Streptomyces coelicolor belongs to the large ATP-binding regulators of the LuxR family regulators having one DNA-binding motif. Our previous findings predicted that SCO6993 may suppress the production of pigmented antibiotics, actinorhodin, and undecylprodigiosin, in S. coelicolor, resulting in the characterization of its properties at the molecular level. SCO6993-disruptant, S. coelicolor ΔSCO6993 produced excess pigments in R2YE plates as early as the third day of culture and showed 9.0-fold and 1.8-fold increased production of actinorhodin and undecylprodigiosin in R2YE broth, respectively, compared with that by the wild strain and S. coelicolor ΔSCO6993/SCO6993⁺. Real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis showed that the transcription of actA and actII-ORF4 in the actinorhodin biosynthetic gene cluster and that of redD and redQ in the undecylprodigiosin biosynthetic gene cluster were significantly increased by SCO6993-disruptant. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay and DNase footprinting analysis confirmed that SCO6993 protein could bind only to the promoters of pathway-specific transcriptional activator genes, actII-ORF4 and redD, and a specific palindromic sequence is essential for SCO6993 binding. Moreover, SCO6993 bound to two palindromic sequences on its promoter region. These results indicate that SCO6993 suppresses the expression of other biosynthetic genes in the cluster by repressing the transcription of actII-ORF4 and redD and consequently negatively regulating antibiotic production.

Exploring bacterioplankton communities and their temporal dynamics in the rearing water of a biofloc-based shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) aquaculture system

Biofloc technology (BFT) has recently gained considerable attention as a sustainable method in shrimp aquaculture. In a successful BFT system, microbial communities are considered a crucial component in their ability to both improve water quality and control microbial pathogens. Yet, bacterioplankton diversity in rearing water and how bacterioplankton community composition changes with shrimp growth are rarely documented. In this study, the Pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei was cultivated in a greenhouse-enclosed BFT system. Rearing water samples were collected on a weekly basis for 5 months (152 days) and water quality variables such as physicochemical parameters and inorganic nutrients were monitored. In parallel, 16S rRNA gene pyrosequencing was employed to investigate the temporal patterns of rearing-water microbiota. The productivity, survival rate, and feed conversion ratio were 3.2-4.4 kg/m3, 74%-89%, and 1.2-1.3, respectively, representing successful super-intensive cultures. The metataxonomic results indicated a highly dynamic bacterioplankton community, with two major shifts over the culture. Members of the phylum Planctomycetes dominated in rearing water during the early stages, while Actinobacteria dominated during the middle stages, and Chloroflexi and TM7 dominated during the late stages of culture. The bacterioplankton community fluctuated more in the beginning but stabilized as the culture progressed. Intriguingly, we observed that certain bacterioplankton groups dominated in a culture-stage-specific manner; these groups include Rhodobacteraceae, Flavobacteriaceae, Actinobacteria, and Chloroflexi, which either contribute to water quality regulation or possess probiotic potential. Altogether, our results indicate that an operationally successful BFT-based aquaculture system favors the growth and dynamics of specific microbial communities in rearing water. Our study expands the scientific understanding of the practical utilization of microbes in sustainable aquaculture. A thorough understanding of rearing-water microbiota and factors influencing their dynamics will help to establish effective management strategies.

Comparative Metabolomics Reveals a Bifunctional Antibacterial Conjugate from Combined-Culture of Streptomyces hygroscopicus HOK021 and Tsukamurella pulmonis TP-B0596

To investigate the potential for secondary metabolite biosynthesis by Streptomyces species, we employed a coculture method to discover natural bioactive products and identified specific antibacterial activity from a combined-culture of Streptomyces hygroscopicus HOK021 and Tsukamurella pulmonis TP-B0596. Molecular networking using ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS) data revealed a specific clade of metabolites in this combined-culture that were not detected in both monocultures. Using the chemical profiles, a previously unidentified conjugate between FabF inhibitor and catechol-type siderophore was successfully identified and named harundomycin A. Harundomycin A was a conjugate between the 2,4-dihydroxy-3-aminobenzoate moiety of platensimycin and N,N'-bis(2,3-dihydroxybenzoyl)-O-seryl-cysteine (bisDHBA-Ser-Cys) with a thioester linkage. Along with the production of harundomycin A, platensimycin, its thiocarboxylic acid form thioplatensimycin, enterobactin, and its degradation product N,N'-bis(2,3-dihydroxybenzoyl)-O-l-seryl-dehydroalanine (bisDHBA-Ser-Dha) were also induced in the combined-culture. Genomic data of S. hygroscopicus HOK021 and T. pulmonis TP-B0596 indicated that strain HOK021 possessed biosynthetic gene clusters for both platensimycin and enterobactin, and thereby revealed that T. pulmonis stimulates HOK021 and acts as an inducer of both of these metabolites. Although the harundomycin A was modified by bulky bisDHBA-Ser-Cys, responsible for the binding to the target molecule FabF, it showed a similar antibacterial spectrum to platensimycin, including against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and vancomycin-resistant enterococci, suggesting that the pharmacophore is platensimycin. Additionally, Chrome Azurol S assay showed that harundomycin A possesses ferric iron-chelating activity comparable to that of enterobactin. Our study demonstrated the transformation of existing natural products to bifunctional molecules driven by bacterial interaction.

Inferences of actinobacterial metabolites to combat Corona virus

The entire globe is reeling under the magnitude of the current corona virus pandemic. This menace has proposed severe health and economic threats for all, thereby challenging our human existence itself. Since its outbreak, it has raised the concern and imperative need of developing novel and effective agents to combat viral diseases and now its variants as well. Despite the sincere and concerted efforts of scientists and pharma giants all over the world, there seems to be no ideal recourse found till date. Natural products are rich sources of novel compounds used in the treatment of infectious and non-infectious diseases. There are reports on natural products from microbes, plants and marine organisms that are active against viral targets. Actinobacteria, the largest phylum under the bacterial kingdom, is known for its secondary metabolite production with diverse bioactive potentials. Nearly 65% of antibiotics used in medicine are contributed by Actinobacteria. Compared to antibacterial and antifungal agents, antiviral compounds from Actinobacteria are less studied. In recent years Actinobacteria from under studied/extreme ecosystems are explored for their antiviral properties. Ivermectin and teicoplanin are examples of Actinobacteria-derived antiviral drugs available for commercial use. This review highlights the importance of actinobacteria as future sources of antiviral drug discovery.

Crosstalk of TetR-like regulator SACE_4839 and a nitrogen regulator for erythromycin biosynthesis

TetR family transcriptional regulators (TFRs) are widespread in actinomycetes, which exhibit diverse regulatory modes in antibiotic biosynthesis. Nitrogen regulators play vital roles in modulation of primary and secondary metabolism. However, crosstalk between TFR and nitrogen regulator has rarely been reported in actinomycetes. Herein, we demonstrated that a novel TFR, SACE_4839, was negatively correlated with erythromycin yield in Saccharopolyspora erythraea A226. SACE_4839 indirectly suppressed erythromycin synthetic gene eryAI and resistance gene ermE and directly inhibited its adjacent gene SACE_4838 encoding a homologue of nitrogen metabolite repression (NMR) regulator NmrA (herein named NmrR). The SACE_4839-binding sites within SACE_4839-nmrR intergenic region were identified. NmrR positively controlled erythromycin biosynthesis by indirectly stimulating eryAI and ermE and directly repressing SACE_4839. NmrR was found to affect growth viability under the nitrogen source supply. Furthermore, NmrR directly repressed glutamine and glutamate utilization-related genes SACE_1623, SACE_5070 and SACE_5979 but activated nitrate utilization-associated genes SACE_1163, SACE_4070 and SACE_4912 as well as nitrite utilization-associated genes SACE_1476 and SACE_4514. This is the first reported NmrA homolog for modulating antibiotic biosynthesis and nitrogen metabolism in actinomycetes. Moreover, combinatorial engineering of SACE_4839 and nmrR in the high-yield S. erythraea WB resulted in a 68.8% increase in erythromycin A production. This investigation deepens the understanding of complicated regulatory network for erythromycin biosynthesis. KEY POINTS: • SACE_4839 and NmrR had opposite contributions to erythromycin biosynthesis. • NmrR was first identified as a homolog of another nitrogen regulator NmrA. • Cross regulation between SACE_4839 and NmrR was revealed.

Analysis of Streptomyces Volatilomes Using Global Molecular Networking Reveals the Presence of Metabolites with Diverse Biological Activities

Streptomyces species produce a wide variety of specialized metabolites, some of which are used for communication or competition for resources in their natural environments. In addition, many natural products used in medicine and industry are derived from Streptomyces, and there has been interest in their capacity to produce volatile organic compounds (VOCs) for different industrial and agricultural applications. Recently, a machine-learning workflow called MSHub/GNPS was developed, which enables auto-deconvolution of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) data, molecular networking, and library search capabilities, but it has not been applied to Streptomyces volatilomes. In this study, 131 Streptomyces isolates from the island of Newfoundland were phylogenetically typed, and 37 were selected based on their phylogeny and growth characteristics for VOC analysis using both a user-guided (conventional) and an MSHub/GNPS-based approach. More VOCs were annotated by MSHub/GNPS than by the conventional method. The number of unknown VOCs detected by the two methods was higher than those annotated, suggesting that many novel compounds remain to be identified. The molecular network generated by GNPS can be used to guide the annotation of such unknown VOCs in future studies. However, the number of overlapping VOCs annotated by the two methods is relatively small, suggesting that a combination of analysis methods might be required for robust volatilome analysis. More than half of the VOCs annotated with high confidence by the two approaches are plant-associated, many with reported bioactivities such as insect behavior modulation. Details regarding the properties and reported functions of such VOCs are described. IMPORTANCE This study represents the first detailed analysis of Streptomyces volatilomes using MSHub/GNPS, which in combination with a routinely used conventional method led to many annotations. More VOCs could be annotated using MSHub/GNPS as compared to the conventional method, many of which have known antimicrobial, anticancer, and insect behavior-modulating activities. The identification of numerous plant-associated VOCs by both approaches in the current study suggests that their production could be a more widespread phenomenon by members of the genus, highlighting opportunities for their large-scale production using Streptomyces. Plant-associated VOCs with antimicrobial activities, such as 1-octen-3-ol, octanol, and phenylethyl alcohol, have potential applications as fumigants. Furthermore, many of the annotated VOCs are reported to influence insect behavior, alluding to a possible explanation for their production based on the functions of other recently described Streptomyces VOCs in dispersal and nutrient acquisition.

Environmental filtering dominated the antibiotic resistome assembly in river networks

River networks play important roles in dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). The occurrence, diversity, and abundance of ARGs in river networks have been widely investigated. However, the assembly processes that shaped ARGs profiles across space and time are largely unknown. Here, the dynamics of ARGs profiles in river networks (Taihu Basin) were revealed by high-throughput quantitative PCR followed by multiple statistical analyses to assess the underlying ecological processes. The results revealed clear variations for ARGs profiles across wet, normal, and dry seasons. Meanwhile, a significant negative correlation (p < 0.01) was observed between the similarity of ARGs profiles and geographic distance, indicating ARGs profiles exhibited distance-decay patterns. Null model analysis showed that ARGs profiles were mainly assembled via deterministic processes. Redundancy analysis followed by hierarchical partitioning revealed that environmental attributes (mainly pH and temperature) were the major factors affecting the dynamics of ARGs profiles. Together, these results indicated that environmental filtering was the dominant ecological process that shaped ARGs profiles. This study enhances our understanding how the antibiotic resistome is assembled in river networks and will be beneficial for the development of management strategies to control ARGs dissemination.

Developmental regulator RamRsl controls both morphological development and lincomycin biosynthesis in Streptomyces lincolnensis

Aims

Assessing the role of ramRsl, a gene absent in a lincomycin over-producing strain, in the regulation of morphological development and lincomycin biosynthesis in Streptomyces lincolnensis.

Methods and Results

The gene ramRsl was deleted from the wild-type strain NRRL 2936 and the ΔramR mutant strain was characterized by a slower growth rate and a delayed morphological differentiation compared to the original strain NRRL 2936. Furthermore, the ΔramR produced 2.6-fold more lincomycin than the original strain, and consistently the level of expression of all lincomycin cluster located genes was enhanced at 48 and 96 h in the ΔramR. Complementation of ΔramR with an intact copy of ramRsl restored all wild-type features, whereas the over-expression of ramRsl led to a reduction of 33% of the lincomycin yield. Furthermore, the level of expression of glnR, bldA and SLCG_2919, three of known lincomycin biosynthesis regulators, was lower in the ΔramR than in the original strain at the early stage of fermentation and we demonstrated, using electrophoretic mobility shift assay and XylE reporter assay, that glnR is a novel direct target of RamR.

Conclusions

Altogether, these results indicated that, beyond promoting the morphological development, RamR regulates negatively lincomycin biosynthesis and positively the expression of the nitrogen regulator GlnR.

Significance and Impact of the Study

We demonstrated that RamR plays a negative role in the regulation of lincomycin biosynthesis in S. lincolnensis. Interestingly, the deletion of this gene in other antibiotic-producing Streptomyces strains might also increase their antibiotic-producing abilities.

Potentiality of actinobacteria to combat against biotic and abiotic stresses in tea [Camellia sinensis (L) O. Kuntze]

Tea (Camellia sinensis (L) O. Kuntze) is a long-duration monoculture crop prone to several biotic (fungal diseases and insect pest) and abiotic (nutrient deficiency, drought, and salinity) stress that eventually result in extensive annual crop loss. The specific climatic conditions and the perennial nature of the tea crop favor growth limiting abiotic factors, numerous plant pathogenic fungi (PPF), and insect pests. The review focuses on the susceptibility of tea crops to PPF/pests, drought, salinity, and nutrient constraints and the potential role of beneficial actinobacteria in promoting tea crop health. The review also focuses on some of the major PPF associated with tea, such as Exobasidium vexans, Pestalotiopsis theae, Colletotrichum acutatum, and pests (Helopeltis theivora). The phylum actinobacteria own a remarkable place in agriculture due to the biosynthesis of bioactive metabolites that assist plant growth by direct nutrient assimilation, phytohormone production, and by indirect aid in plant defense against PPF and pests. The chemical diversity and bioactive significance of actinobacterial metabolites (antibiotics, siderophore, volatile organic compounds, phytohormones) are valuable in the agro-economy. This review explores the recent history of investigations in the role of actinobacteria and its secondary metabolites as a biocontrol agent and proposes a commercial application in tea cultivation.

N-Acetylglucosamine Promotes Tomato Plant Growth by Shaping the Community Structure and Metabolism of the Rhizosphere Microbiome

Communication between plants and microorganisms is vital because it influences their growth, development, defense, propagation, and metabolism in achieving maximal fitness. N-acetylglucosamine (N-GlcNAc), the building block of bacterial and fungal cell walls, was first reported to promote tomato plant growth via stimulation of microorganisms typically known to dominate the tomato root rhizosphere, such as members of Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria. Using KEGG pathway analysis of the rhizosphere microbial operational taxonomic units, the streptomycin biosynthesis pathway was enriched in the presence of N-GlcNAc. The biosynthesis of 3-hydroxy-2-butanone (acetoin) and 2,3-butanediol, two foremost types of plant growth promotion-related volatile organic compounds, were activated in both Bacillus subtilis and Streptomyces thermocarboxydus strains when they were cocultured with N-GlcNAc. In addition, the application of N-GlcNAc increased indole-3-acetic acid production in a dose-dependent manner in strains of Bacillus cereus, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas putida, and S. thermocarboxydus that were isolated from an N-GlcNAc-treated tomato rhizosphere. Overall, this study found that N-GlcNAc could function as microbial signaling molecules to shape the community structure and metabolism of the rhizosphere microbiome, thereby regulating plant growth and development and preventing plant disease through complementary plant-microbe interactions. IMPORTANCE While the benefits of using plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPRs) to enhance crop production have been recognized and studied extensively under laboratory conditions, the success of their application in the field varies immensely. More fundamentally explicit processes of positive, plant-PGPRs interactions are needed. The utilization of organic amendments, such as chitin and its derivatives, is one of the most economical and practical options for improving soil and substrate quality as well as plant growth and resilience. In this study, we observed that the chitin monomer N-GlcNAc, a key microbial signaling molecule produced through interactions between chitin, soil microbes, and the plants, positively shaped the community structure and metabolism of the rhizosphere microbiome of tomatoes. Our findings also provide a new direction for enhancing the benefits and stability of PGPRs in the field.

Untargeted Metabolomics of Streptomyces Species Isolated from Soils of Nepal

Actinomycetes are natural architects of numerous secondary metabolites including antibiotics. With increased multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens, antibiotics that can combat such pathogens are urgently required to improve the health care system globally. The characterization of actinomycetes available in Nepal is still very much untouched which is the reason why this paper showcases the characterization of actinomycetes from Nepal based on their morphology, 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and metabolic profiling. Additionally, antimicrobial assays and liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) of ethyl acetate extracts were performed. In this study, we employed a computational-based dereplication strategy for annotating molecules which is also time-efficient. Molecular annotation was performed through the GNPS server, the SIRIUS platform, and the available databases to predict the secondary metabolites. The sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene revealed that the isolates BN6 and BN14 are closely related to Streptomyces species. BN14 showed broad-spectrum antibacterial activity with the zone of inhibition up to 30 mm against Staphylococcus aureus (MIC: 0.3051 µg/mL and MBC: 9.7656 µg/mL) and Shigella sonnei (MIC: 0.3051 µg/mL and MBC: 4.882 µg/mL). Likewise, BN14 also displayed significant inhibition to Acinetobacter baumannii, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Salmonella typhi. GNPS approach suggested that the extracts of BN6 and BN14 consisted of diketopiperazines ((cyclo(D-Trp-L-Pro), cyclo(L-Leu-L-4-hydroxy-Pro), cyclo(L-Phe-D-Pro), cyclo(L-Trp-L-Pro), cyclo(L-Val-L-Pro)), and polypeptide antibiotics (actinomycin D and X2). Additional chemical scaffolds such as bacterial alkaloids (bohemamine, venezueline B, and G), anthramycin-type antibiotics (abbeymycin), lipase inhibitor (ebelactone B), cytocidal (oxopropaline D), antifungal and antitumor antibiotics (reductiomycin, streptimidone, deoxynybomycin), alaremycin, fumaramidmycin, anisomycin, and others were also annotated, which were further confirmed by using the SIRIUS platform, and literature survey. Thus, the bioprospecting of natural products from Streptomyces species from Nepal could be a potential source for the discovery of clinically significant and new antimicrobial agents in the future.