title: Taxonomy of the Streptomyces strain ZG0656 that produces acarviostatin alpha-amylase inhibitors and analysis of their effects on blood glucose levels in mammalian systems.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To clarify the taxonomic status of strain ZG0656 and analyse the effects of its acarviostatin products on blood glucose levels in mammalian systems.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our program to screen for new alpha-amylase inhibitors led to the isolation of strain ZG0656. The polyphasic taxonomic study revealed that strain ZG0656 represents a novel variation of Streptomyces coelicoflavus, for which we propose the name S. coelicoflavus var. nankaiensis. Four chemically distinct alpha-amylase inhibitors, acarviostatins I03, II03, III03 and IV03, were isolated from strain ZG0656. Acarviostatins III03 and IV03 are both novel oligomers. All four acarviostatins are mixed noncompetitive porcine pancreas alpha-amylase inhibitors. Acarviostatin III03 is the most potent alpha-amylase inhibitor known to date. Moreover, in the in vitro and in vivo experiments, acarviostatins III03 showed significant inhibition of starch hydrolysis and glucose transfer to blood.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Strain ZG0656 is a novel variation of S. coelicoflavus, whose products are novel effective alpha-amylase inhibitors. Among the products, acarviostatins III03 could significantly depress blood glucose levels in mammalian systems and be developed towards a possible therapeutic agent for diabetes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Acarviostatin III03 is the most potent alpha-amylase inhibitor known to date. The oligomer will benefit the research on the relationship between alpha-amylase and various inhibitors and will offer more choices in diabetes treatments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Geng
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005285:Fermentation; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D015394:Molecular Structure; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013213:Starch / Q000378:metabolism; D013302:Streptomyces / Q000145:classification* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D013552:Swine; D000516:alpha-Amylases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D013213:Starch; D000516:alpha-Amylases