title: Complete genome sequence of Saccharothrix espanaensis DSM 44229(T) and comparison to the other completely sequenced Pseudonocardiaceae.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The genus Saccharothrix is a representative of the family Pseudonocardiaceae, known to include producer strains of a wide variety of potent antibiotics. Saccharothrix espanaensis produces both saccharomicins A and B of the promising new class of heptadecaglycoside antibiotics, active against both bacteria and yeast.
  
  
  RESULTS
  To better assess its capabilities, the complete genome sequence of S. espanaensis was established. With a size of 9,360,653 bp, coding for 8,501 genes, it stands alongside other Pseudonocardiaceae with large genomes. Besides a predicted core genome of 810 genes shared in the family, S. espanaensis has a large number of accessory genes: 2,967 singletons when compared to the family, of which 1,292 have no clear orthologs in the RefSeq database. The genome analysis revealed the presence of 26 biosynthetic gene clusters potentially encoding secondary metabolites. Among them, the cluster coding for the saccharomicins could be identified.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  S. espanaensis is the first completely sequenced species of the genus Saccharothrix. The genome discloses the cluster responsible for the biosynthesis of the saccharomicins, the largest oligosaccharide antibiotic currently identified. Moreover, the genome revealed 25 additional putative secondary metabolite gene clusters further suggesting the strain's potential for natural product synthesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Biology and Biotechnology, Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Albert-Ludwigs-University, Freiburg 79104, Germany.
authors.forename: Tina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Strobel
authors.forename: Arwa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al-Dilaimi
authors.forename: Jochen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Blom
authors.forename: Arne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gessner
authors.forename: Jörn
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kalinowski
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Luzhetska
authors.forename: Alfred
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pühler
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Szczepanowski
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bechthold
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rückert
mesh_terms: D000192:Actinomycetales / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D016680:Genome, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics*; D005810:Multigene Family / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents