title: Isolation of Sorangium cellulosum carrying epothilone gene clusters.
abstract: Epothilone and its analogs are a potent new class of anticancer compounds produced by myxobacteria. Thus, in an effort to identify new myxobacterial strains producing epothilone and its analogs, cellulose-degrading myxobacteria were isolated from Korean soils, and 13 strains carrying epothilone biosynthetic gene homologs were screened using a polymerase chain reaction. A migration assay revealed that Sorangium cellulosum KYC3013, 3016, 3017, and 3018 all produced microtubule-stabilizing compounds, and an LCMS/ MS analysis showed that S. cellulosum KYC3013 synthesized epothilone A.
authors.affiliation: Myxobacteria Bank, Department of Biotechnology, Hoseo University, Asan 336-795, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyesook
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hyun
authors.forename: Jinwoo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Jihoon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jong Suk
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Byoung-Mog
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Kwang-Hee
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Son
authors.forename: Kyungyun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cho