Streptomyces clavuligerus is well-known for synthesizing several &beta / -lactam antibiotics like cephamycin C which is produced through aspartic acid pathway initiated by aspartokinase (Ask) enzyme encoded by ask. Four different strains were constructed in our laboratory to increase cephamycin C production by S. clavuligerus. TB3585 and BA39 contained extra copies of ask gene on a multicopy plasmid, control strains TBV and BAV contained vector only in wild type strain NRRL3585 and hom-minus background, AK39, respectively. In this study, the effects of carbon and nitrogen sources incorporated into chemically defined medium were investigated for optimum growth and cephamycin C production by AK39. A modified-chemically defined medium (mCDM) was obtained by increasing the asparagine concentration two-fold and replacing glycerol with sucrose. Subsequently, growth and cephamycin C production by recombinant S. clavuligerus strains (TB3585, AK39, BA39, BAV, TBV) in Tryptic Soy Broth (TSB) and mCDM were compared. The specific antibiotic production in mCDM by TB3585 was 3.3- and 3.2-fold higher than TBV at 72h and 96h, respectively. Aspartokinase activity of S. clavuligerus recombinants was measured to verify the ask overexpression. TB3585 showed the highest activity at 48h. Finally, intracellular amino acid pools of the strains were measured to relate the Ask activity and antibiotic production to the amino acid content within the cells. AK39 was shown to have the highest intracellular levels of lysine, leading to cephamycin C precursor synthesis / lysine plus threonine, exerting concerted feedback inhibition on Ask enzyme / methionine, which cannot be produced by AK39 like threonine due to hom disruption.

The members of the genus Streptomyces are well-known for their capacity to synthesize a vast repertoire of secondary metabolites, including many useful antibiotics and proteins. Streptomyces clavuligerus is the producer of the medically important &amp / #946 / -lactam antibiotics such as cephamycin C and the potent &amp / #946 / -lactamase inhibitor clavulanic acid. The aspartate pathway of S. clavuligerus is an important primary metabolic pathway providing substrates for &amp / #946 / -lactam synthesis. This pathway uses L-aspartic acid as the precursor for the biosynthesis of the amino acids L-lysine, L-methionine, L-isoleucine, L-threonine and several important metabolic intermediates. L-&amp / #945 / -aminoadipic acid (&amp / #945 / -AAA) required for &amp / #946 / -lactam synthesis is a catabolic product of L-lysine produced from the lysine branch of the aspartate pathway. The carbon flow through the L-lysine-specific branch of aspartate pathway is limiting for the formation of cephamycin C. Formation of L-homoserine from aspartate semialdehyde (ASA) is the first step of the other branch of the aspartate pathway leading to L-threonine, L-isoleucine and L-methionine synthesis and is catalyzed by homoserine dehydrogenase (HSD, EC 1.1.1.3). Regulation of the activity or biosynthesis of the HSD of S. clavuligerus determines the availability of ASA for the biosynthesis of L-lysine and &amp / #945 / -AAA. The gene encoding for homoserine dehydrogenase (hom) was previously cloned from S. clavuligerus NRRL 3585 and characterized in our laboratory. In this study, the hom gene was disrupted via insertion of a kanamycin resistance cassette into this gene which was subsequently transferred to S. clavuligerus cells using the Streptomyces plasmid vector pIJ486. A hom mutant of S. clavuligerus (AK39) was formed through integration into the chromosome by double crossing over and the effects of hom disruption on cephamycin C yields were investigated. Disruption of hom gene resulted in a 1.7 to 2.0 fold increase in specific cephamycin C production in chemically defined medium (CDM).

Streptomyces clavuligerus produces industrially important secondary metabolites such as cephamycin C (a &beta / -lactam antibiotic) and clavulanic acid (a potent &beta / -lactamase inhibitor). Cephamycin C is active against penicillin-resistant bacteria due to presence of methoxyl group in C-7 position of cephalosporin nucleus. Clavulanic acid is prescribed in combination with &beta / -lactams for treatment of various bacterial infections. Cephamycin C and clavulanic acid gene clusters form &beta / -lactam supercluster in S. clavuligerus genome. CcaR (Cephamycin C-Clavulanic Acid Regulator), encoded by ccaR, located in cephamycin C gene cluster, is a positive regulator of &beta / -lactam supercluster. Previous studies on cephamycin C gene cluster have used different techniques, such as S1 nuclease (Paradkar et al., 1994), Northern blot (Perez-Llarena et al., 1997), and Western blot (Alexander and Jensen, 1998) to determine expression of cephamycin C genes at mRNA level and to identify their functions at protein level, and they have studied on different parts of the cluster. Hence, a comprehensive study is needed to understand molecular mechanisms of pathway-specific regulation of cephamycin C production by S. clavuligerus. In this study, time-dependent expression levels of cephamycin C gene cluster in a ccaR-disrupted mutant and ccaR-overexpressed recombinant strain of S. clavuligerus as compared to those in the wild strain were analysed by RT-PCR and qRT-PCR. In addition, DNA-binding sequences of CcaR on cephamycin C gene cluster were examined by EMSA. The effect of ccaR disruption and overexpression on cephamycin C and clavulanic acid yields were determined by bioassay and HPLC. Three polycistronic and two monocistronic transcripts were obtained by RT-PCR. CcaR regulation showed its effect on mostly ccaR, lat, cmcI, cefD, blp and cefF expression levels. qRT-PCR data was supported by EMSA showing CcaR binding to lat, cefD&ndash / cmcI and ccaR promoters. ccaR overexpression from multi-copy recombinant plasmid resulted in significant increase in cephamycin C and clavulanic acid yields, making the respective recombinant strain as an attractive industrial strain. qRT-PCR data presented herein constitute the first that reveal the effect of CcaR activator on the expression of cephamycin C genes in a time-dependent manner.

In Streptomyces clavuligerus, the route to the biosynthesis of &amp / #945 / -aminoadipic acid (&amp / #945 / -AAA) represents an important primary metabolic pathway providing carbon flux to the synthetases of antibiotic formation. This carbon flow comes through the lysine-specific branch of the aspartate pathway and is rate limiting in the formation of cephamycin C, a second generation cephalosporin produced by this organism. In this study, the lysA gene which encodes for an important key enzyme of aspartate pathway / meso-diaminopimelic acid (DAP) decarboxylase (E.C.4.1.1.20) catalyzing the conversion of diaminopimelate to lysine was cloned and characterized for the first time from S. clavuligerus NRRL 3585. The attempts to clone the gene by constructing libraries of S. clavuligerus genomic DNA and screening of the libraries either by homologous probing or complementation approach gave no positive results. Then, PCR-based cloning was taken as the approach and the gene was amplified with PCR using the primers derived from the conserved sequences of lysA genes in two fragments (620 and 983 bp) which had overlapping regions. Fragments were then cloned and nucleotide sequencing revealed a complete open reading frame (ORF) encoding a protein of 463 aa (Mr 49, 907). The GC content of the gene was identified as 70.98 %. The gene sequence showed 83 % identity to the sequence of S. coelicolor lysA gene and 81 % identity to S. avermitilis lysA gene. By comparing the amino acid sequence of this protein to those available in database, the sites of the enzyme important for catalysis were identified.

Streptomyces clavuligerus is a gram-positive filamentous bacterium well known for its ability to produce an array of &amp / #61538 / -lactam compounds (secondary metabolites) including cephamycin C, clavulanic acid and other structurally related clavams. Of these, cephamycin C is a second generation cephalosporin antibiotic having great medical significance. Biosynthesis of the &amp / #946 / -lactam nucleus begins with the non-ribosomal condensation of L-&amp / #945 / -aminoadipic acid (&amp / #945 / -AAA), L-cysteine and L-valine to form the tripeptide &amp / #945 / -aminoadipiyl-cysteinyl-valine (ACV). In Streptomyces clavuligerus, &amp / #945 / -aminoadipic acid (&amp / #945 / -AAA) is a catabolic product of L-lysine produced from the lysine branch of the aspartate pathway and its biosynthesis represents a key secondary metabolic regulatory step in carbon flow to &amp / #946 / -lactam synthesis through this core pathway. The ask (aspartokinase)-asd (aspartate semialdehyde dehydrogenase) gene cluster which encodes for the first key enzymes of aspartate pathway has already been cloned from S. clavuligerus, characterized and heterologously expressed for the first time in our laboratory. Amplification of ask-asd cluster or ask gene alone in a multi-copy Streptomyces plasmid vector and determination of the effects of multiple copies on cephamycin C biosynthesis were the goals of the present study. For this purpose, three different strategies were employed. Of these, two strategies involving the use of vector pIJ702 did not work because of the instability of resulting recombinant plasmids. In the third and last strategy, we used another multicopy Streptomyces vector, pIJ486, which we showed in this study to be very stable for the same purpose. Meanwhile, an efficient protoplast transformation protocol was developed in our laboratory. Ask gene was cloned into this vector and S. clavuligerus protoplasts were efficiently transformed with the recombinant plasmid (pTB486) using the newly-developed protocol. After stable recombinants were obtained, the effects of the multiple copies of ask gene on cephamycin C biosynthesis were determined. There was a profound reduction in the rate and extent of growth of Ask overproducers, as experienced by testing two independent ask-multicopy recombinants. Although one such recombinant strain (designated S. clavuligerus TB 3585) had a 5.5 fold increased level of Ask activity as compared to the parental strain, it displayed only a 1.1 fold increase in specific production of cephamycin C.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:23:06Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2008Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T18:50:20Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 correa_t_me_araiq.pdf: 384400 bytes, checksum: 29862180365116d9b884951e094a9a20 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Muitos compostos beta-lactâmicos são sintetizados por bactérias do gênero Streptomyces. As cefalosporinas, entre elas a cefamicina C (CefC) são apenas alguns exemplos de antibióticos sintetizados por Streptomyces clavuligerus. Os antibióticos beta-lactâmicos são formados, em procariotos e eucariotos, a partir de três aminoácidos, o ácido L-alfaaminoadípico (AAA), a L-cisteína e a L-valina. Em procariotos, o AAA é formado por desaminação da L-lisina pela enzima lisina ε-aminotransferase (LAT). A L-lisina exerce um papel fundamental na síntese destes compostos atuando como indutora da LAT, a primeira enzima da rota biossintética de CefC. Desta forma, uma variação adequada na concentração de lisina no meio de produção deve proporcionar melhorias na produção da CefC. Além da lisina, as fontes de carbono e nitrogênio também exercem fundamental importância, uma vez que participam de vários mecanismos reguladores, tanto do metabolismo primário como do secundário, durante o processo fermentativo. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo investigar a influência da presença e concentração de fontes de carbono, de L-lisina e de compostos relacionados à rota biossintética de antibióticos beta-lactâmicos em S. clavuligerus ATCC 27064, com ênfase no aumento da produção de CefC. Foram realizadas fermentações variando-se a natureza e a concentração de determinados compostos no meio de produção (fontes de carbono, de nitrogênio, etc) e, também, as condições de suplementação de L-lisina e outros compostos ao longo do processo. Com relação à fonte de carbono e energia (substrato limitante), os resultados demonstraram que o amido propiciou a maior produção de cefalosporinas totais, enquanto o glicerol foi mais adequado ao crescimento celular. Os resultados permitiram obter um meio padrão adequado para a... / Many beta-lactamic compounds are synthesized by bacteria from the Streptomyces ssp. The cephalosporins and among then the cephamycin C (CefC) are some examples of antibiotics synthesized by Streptomyces clavuligerus. The beta-lactam antibiotics are formed, both in eukaryote and prokaryote, by three amino acids, the L-alfa-aminoadipic acid (AAA), the L-cysteine and the L-valine. In prokaryote the AAA is formed by desamination of the Llysine by the lysine ε-aminotransferase (LAT) enzyme. The L-lysine plays a fundamental roll in the synthesis of these compounds acting as an inductor of the LAT, the first enzyme in the biosynthetic route of the CefC. Therefore, an adjusted variation on the lysine concentration in the production medium should provide improvement in the production of CefC. Besides lysine, the carbon and nitrogen sources also exert a crucial importance, once they are part of many regulating mechanisms from primary and secondary metabolism during fermentation. The objective in this paper is to investigate the influence of the presence and concentration of sources of carbon, L-lysine and composites related to the beta-lactam antibiotics biosynthetic route in S. clavuligerus ATCC 27064, with emphasis in the increase of the CefC production. Fermentation had been carried through varying the nature and concentration of certain composites in the production environment (sources of carbon, nitrogen, etc) and also the lysine and other compounds supplementation conditions along with the process. In relation to the sources of carbon and energy (limiting substrate), the results show that starch provides a higher production of total cephalosporins while glycerol has been more appropriate to cellular growth. The results allowed obtaining an appropriate standard medium to develop cephalosporins, ...(Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Orientador: Maria Lucia Gonsales da Costa Araujo / Banca: José Roberto Ernandes / Banca: Alvaro de Baptista Neto / Resumo: Muitos compostos beta-lactâmicos são sintetizados por bactérias do gênero Streptomyces. As cefalosporinas, entre elas a cefamicina C (CefC) são apenas alguns exemplos de antibióticos sintetizados por Streptomyces clavuligerus. Os antibióticos beta-lactâmicos são formados, em procariotos e eucariotos, a partir de três aminoácidos, o ácido L-alfaaminoadípico (AAA), a L-cisteína e a L-valina. Em procariotos, o AAA é formado por desaminação da L-lisina pela enzima lisina ε-aminotransferase (LAT). A L-lisina exerce um papel fundamental na síntese destes compostos atuando como indutora da LAT, a primeira enzima da rota biossintética de CefC. Desta forma, uma variação adequada na concentração de lisina no meio de produção deve proporcionar melhorias na produção da CefC. Além da lisina, as fontes de carbono e nitrogênio também exercem fundamental importância, uma vez que participam de vários mecanismos reguladores, tanto do metabolismo primário como do secundário, durante o processo fermentativo. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo investigar a influência da presença e concentração de fontes de carbono, de L-lisina e de compostos relacionados à rota biossintética de antibióticos beta-lactâmicos em S. clavuligerus ATCC 27064, com ênfase no aumento da produção de CefC. Foram realizadas fermentações variando-se a natureza e a concentração de determinados compostos no meio de produção (fontes de carbono, de nitrogênio, etc) e, também, as condições de suplementação de L-lisina e outros compostos ao longo do processo. Com relação à fonte de carbono e energia (substrato limitante), os resultados demonstraram que o amido propiciou a maior produção de cefalosporinas totais, enquanto o glicerol foi mais adequado ao crescimento celular. Os resultados permitiram obter um meio padrão adequado para a...(Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Many beta-lactamic compounds are synthesized by bacteria from the Streptomyces ssp. The cephalosporins and among then the cephamycin C (CefC) are some examples of antibiotics synthesized by Streptomyces clavuligerus. The beta-lactam antibiotics are formed, both in eukaryote and prokaryote, by three amino acids, the L-alfa-aminoadipic acid (AAA), the L-cysteine and the L-valine. In prokaryote the AAA is formed by desamination of the Llysine by the lysine ε-aminotransferase (LAT) enzyme. The L-lysine plays a fundamental roll in the synthesis of these compounds acting as an inductor of the LAT, the first enzyme in the biosynthetic route of the CefC. Therefore, an adjusted variation on the lysine concentration in the production medium should provide improvement in the production of CefC. Besides lysine, the carbon and nitrogen sources also exert a crucial importance, once they are part of many regulating mechanisms from primary and secondary metabolism during fermentation. The objective in this paper is to investigate the influence of the presence and concentration of sources of carbon, L-lysine and composites related to the beta-lactam antibiotics biosynthetic route in S. clavuligerus ATCC 27064, with emphasis in the increase of the CefC production. Fermentation had been carried through varying the nature and concentration of certain composites in the production environment (sources of carbon, nitrogen, etc) and also the lysine and other compounds supplementation conditions along with the process. In relation to the sources of carbon and energy (limiting substrate), the results show that starch provides a higher production of total cephalosporins while glycerol has been more appropriate to cellular growth. The results allowed obtaining an appropriate standard medium to develop cephalosporins, ...(Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Aspartokinase is the first enzyme of the aspartate family amino acids biosynthetic pathway. Cephamycin C is a &amp / #946 / -lactam antibiotic produced as a secondary metabolite via the enzymatic reactions in the lysine branch of this pathway in Streptomyces clavuligerus. The aspartokinase activity of S. clavuligerus is under concerted feedback inhibition by two of the end product amino acids, lysine plus threonine. It is also known that carbon flow through the lysine branch of the aspartate pathway is rate limiting step in the formation of cephamycin C. Therefore, genetic alterations in the regulatory regions of the aspartokinase enzyme are expected to lead to an increased cephamycin C production. The aim of this study was to obtain S. clavuligerus mutants that possess aspartokinase enzyme insensitive to feedback inhibition by lysine and threonine, identification of the mutation(s) accounting for the resistance being the ultimate goal. For this aim, chemical mutagenesis was employed to increase random mutation rate and a population of lysine anti-metabolite resistant S. clavuligerus mutants that can grow in the presence of S-(2-aminoethyl)-L-cysteine was obtained. The mutants were screened for their aspartokinase insensitivity via enzyme assays and one mutant exhibiting the highest level of deregulation was assessed for its cephamycin C production. The results revealed a 2-fold increase in specific production of the antibiotic. As a member of &amp / #946 / -lactam class antibiotics, cephamycin C has an importance in medicine. Therefore, the mutant strain obtained might be a candidate for industrial production of the compound.