Thesis (Ph.D.)--Ohio University, August, 2009. / Release of full electronic text on OhioLINK has been delayed until September 1, 2012. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 111-128)

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Ohio University, August, 2009. / Title from PDF t.p. Release of full electronic text on OhioLINK has been delayed until September 1, 2012. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 111-128)

New structurally diverse natural products can be discovered when carefully designed screening procedures have been applied and when a prolific organism from a different biological source is examined, such as, rare actinobacteria from an untapped environment. Chapter 3 describes the isolation and structure characterisation of eight compounds from the rare actinobacterum, Saccharothrix xinjiangensis (NRRL B-24321), including, two new 16-member macrolides, Tianchimycin A and B, respectively. OSMAC (One Strain - Many Compounds) is used to search bioactive compounds from the metabolic profile of S. xinjiangensis, isolated from a semi-arid or desert area, Tanchi, Xinjiang in the study. Isolated compounds were characterised by NMR spectroscopy and accurate mass spectrometric analysis. Investigations of the natural products at all levels, from genes, to enzymes, to molecules has revealed insights into differentiating features of the biosynthetic pathways that lead to structural diversity of natural products. The presence of a halogen substituent in natural products profoundly influences their biology activity. Actinomycins are a well-known class of antibiotics/anticancer agents. Here, the gene cluster directing chlorinated actinomycin G biosynthesis in Streptomyces iakyrus (DSM 41873) has been identified and sequenced. It contains one actinomycin synthetase I (ACMS I) gene and two copies of ACMS II and III genes. Genetic analysis demonstrates a unique partnership between the putative hydroxylation and chlorination activities as both acm8 and acm9 genes need to be transcribed for the biosynthesis of actinomycin G2 and actinomycin G3, respectively. In chapter 5, I descries a possible metabolic flux rebalancing pathway for increasing phenazinomycin production in S. iakyrus (DSM 41873) after interruption of the methyltrasfer gene (acmG5') in actinomycin G gene cluster. The gene cluster of phenazinomycin was identified by in silico analysis and by comparison with a known phenazine gene cluster from S. iakyrus (DSM 41873).

published_or_final_version / Chemistry / Master / Master of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / History / Master / Master of Philosophy

UDP-glucose, the precursor for cellulose biosynthesis, can be produced via the catalysis of sucrose by sucrose synthase (SuSy) or through the phosphorylation of glucose-I-phosphate by UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (UGPase). As such, these genes, together with sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS) which recycles fructose (an inhibitor of SuSy), are interesting targets for altering carbon allocation in plants. In an attempt to alter cell wall biosynthesis in plants, targeted overexpression of SuSy, UGPase and SPS independently and in a pyramiding strategy was assessed in tobacco. All lines displayed enhanced growth and biomass production, and in the case of double and triple transgenics, there was an additive effect. Despite the increased growth rates, there was no consistent change in soluble carbohydrate pools. Furthermore, only the triple transgenics had constant changes in structural carbohydrates: with increased hemicellulose content and slight increases in cellulose. Collectively, these results support the role of SPS, SuSy and UGPase in maintaining sink strength, but suggest that the reallocation of carbon to cellulose production in tobacco may not be possible by overexpressing these genes. In contrast, transgenic poplar overexpressing UGPase produced significantly more cellulose than wild-type trees. However, this was accompanied by a severe reduction in growth and the production of a salicylic acid glucoside (SAG) in significant quantities. The UDP-glucose generated by UGPase overexpression appeared to participate in both the synthesis of cellulose and SAG, suggesting that cellulose biosynthesis may be limited by the cellulose synthase complex. Poplar transformed with SuSy and with SuSy x UGPase also had increased cellulose production. The trees were phenotypically normal, with only minor reductions in height growth in some lines. It appears that UDP-glucose may be channelled directly to the cellulose synthase complex by SuSy. The increased cellulose content was associated with an increase in cell wall crystallinity, but there was no change in microfibril angle, confirming the re-allocation to cellulose synthesis was not the result of tension wood formation, again supporting the hypothesis that the cellulose synthase complex is the limiting factor. Clearly, it is possible to alter cellulose deposition in trees by augmenting sucrose metabolism to produce UDP-glucose, the precursor to cellulose biosynthesis.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.