Violacein: Properties and Production of a Versatile Bacterial Pigment.
Violacein-producing bacteria, with their striking purple hues, have undoubtedly piqued the curiosity of scientists since their first discovery. The bisindole violacein is formed by the condensation of two tryptophan molecules through the action of five proteins. The genes required for its production, vioABCDE, and the regulatory mechanisms employed have been studied within a small number of violacein-producing strains. As a compound, violacein is known to have diverse biological activities, including being an anticancer agent and being an antibiotic against Staphylococcus aureus and other Gram-positive pathogens. Identifying the biological roles of this pigmented molecule is of particular interest, and understanding violacein's function and mechanism of action has relevance to those unmasking any of its commercial or therapeutic benefits. Unfortunately, the production of violacein and its related derivatives is not easy and so various groups are also seeking to improve the fermentative yields of violacein through genetic engineering and synthetic biology. This review discusses the recent trends in the research and production of violacein by both natural and genetically modified bacterial strains.
School of Life Sciences, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, 50 UNIST-gil, Eonyang-eup, Ulsan 689-798, Republic of Korea.
Seong Yeol
SY
Choi
Division of Biological Science and Technology, College of Science and Technology, Yonsei University, 1 Yonseidae-gil, Wonju, Gangwon-do 220-710, Republic of Korea.
Kyoung-hye
KH
Yoon
Division of Biological Science and Technology, College of Science and Technology, Yonsei University, 1 Yonseidae-gil, Wonju, Gangwon-do 220-710, Republic of Korea.
Jin Il
JI
Lee
School of Life Sciences, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, 50 UNIST-gil, Eonyang-eup, Ulsan 689-798, Republic of Korea.
Robert J
RJ
Mitchell
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002861:Chromobacterium / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005285:Fermentation; D005818:Genetic Engineering; D006801:Humans; D007211:Indoles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010860:Pigments, Biological / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000737:chemistry
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D007211:Indoles; D010860:Pigments, Biological; D014364:Tryptophan; C063155:violacein