title: Molecular mechanisms of the A-factor-dependent control of secondary metabolism in Streptomyces.
abstract: A-factor, 2-isocapryloyl-(3R)-hydroxymethyl-gamma-butyrolactone, is a microbial hormone controlling secondary metabolism and morphogenesis of Streptomyces griseus. The A-factor-receptor protein present in the cytoplasm is a repressor-type regulator; it plays a role in repressing streptomycin production and sporulation while the binding of A-factor to the receptor protein releases its repression. Thus, secondary metabolism and sporulation of S. griseus involve a step of hormonal regulation by A-factor. The afsR gene codes for a global regulatory protein of 993 amino acids controlling positively secondary metabolic formation in Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2), probably at the transcriptional level. This protein comprises two domains, i.e., an ATP-binding domain at its NH2-terminal portion and a DNA-binding domain with a helix-turn-helix motif at its COOH-terminal portion. The AfsR protein is found to be phosphorylated. It is assumed that the extent of phosphorylation-dephosphorylation of the AfsR protein modulates the expression of genes responsible for secondary metabolic formation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural Chemistry, University of Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Beppu
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Horinouchi
mesh_terms: D015107:4-Butyrolactone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D015966:Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal; D005800:Genes, Fungal; D005809:Genes, Regulator; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000378:metabolism*; D011485:Protein Binding; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D013302:Streptomyces / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D006133:Growth Substances; D012097:Repressor Proteins; C025035:A-factor (Streptomyces); D015107:4-Butyrolactone