LmbJ and LmbIH protein levels correlate with lincomycin production in Streptomyces lincolnensis.
OBJECTIVE
To demonstrate the expression of two overlapping genes lmbJ and lmbIH in Streptomyces lincolnensis and to document LmbJ and LmbIH protein levels during the lincomycin production phase. To analyse presumable function of the LmbIH protein.


RESULTS
Lincomycin production was monitored by thin-layer chromatography, proteins LmbJ and LmbIH were assayed in the cell-free extracts of S. lincolnensis by immunodetection. LmbJ occurred at stable level (2-4 mg x g(-1) of total proteins) for a long time period (36-96 h of cultivation) covering the whole production phase. This fairly corresponds to the catalytic function of the protein in the antibiotic biosynthesis (N-demethyllincomycin methyltransferase). On the contrary, LmbIH reached the detectable level (0.1 and 0.7 mg x g(-1)) just for a short period at 60-72 h.


CONCLUSIONS
The absence of LmbIH protein at a detectable level during the major part of the antibiotic production phase casts doubt on its possible catalytic function. Rather a different connection with the final biosynthetic steps, e.g. regulatory, can be envisaged.


CONCLUSIONS
Expression of a newly found putative regulatory gene was demonstrated during production of industrial antibiotic, lincomycin.
Hola
K
K
Laboratory of Physiology and Genetics of Actinomycetes, Institute of Microbiology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, the Czech Republic. hola@biomed.cas.cz
Janata
J
J
Kopecky
J
J
Spizek
J
J
D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D008034:Lincomycin / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D013302:Streptomyces / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; C455465:LmbIH protein, Streptomyces lincolnensis; D008034:Lincomycin