Novel expression hosts for complex secondary metabolite megasynthetases: Production of myxochromide in the thermopilic isolate Corallococcus macrosporus GT-2
2009

Using Corallococcus macrosporus GT-2 to Produce Myxochromide

publication Evidence: high

Author Information

Author(s): Perlova Olena, Gerth Klaus, Kuhlmann Silvia, Zhang Youming, Müller Rolf

Primary Institution: Institut für Pharmazeutische Biotechnologie, Universität des Saarlandes

Hypothesis

Can the thermophilic isolate Corallococcus macrosporus GT-2 serve as an effective host for the expression of myxochromide biosynthetic pathways?

Conclusion

The study successfully demonstrated that Corallococcus macrosporus GT-2 can produce significantly higher amounts of myxochromides compared to the original producer strain.

Supporting Evidence

  • GT-2 produced 600 mg/L of myxochromides compared to 8 mg/L from Stigmatella aurantiaca.
  • The genetic manipulation system developed for GT-2 allows for the introduction of foreign DNA.
  • GT-2 grows three times faster than mesothermophilic Myxococcus isolates.

Takeaway

Scientists found a new type of bacteria that can grow quickly and make a special substance called myxochromide much better than the original bacteria that make it.

Methodology

The study involved genetic engineering of the myxochromide biosynthetic gene cluster into the chromosome of the GT-2 strain and measuring the production of myxochromides under various conditions.

Limitations

No secondary metabolites were isolated from GT-2 under tested laboratory conditions, indicating potential 'silent' genes.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/1475-2859-8-1

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