Disruption of the copper A lux pump (CopA) of Serratia marcescens ATCC 274 pleiotropically affects copper sensitivity and production of the tripyrrole secondary metabolite, prodigiosin

N. R. Williamson, Henrik Toft Simonsen, A. K. P. Harris, F. J. Leeper, G. P. C. Salmond

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

Abstract

The prodigiosin blosynthetic gene cluster (pig cluster) of Serratia mareescens ATCC 274 (Sma 274) is flanked by cueR/copA homologues. Inactivation of the copA homologue resulted in an increased sensitivity to copper, confirming that CopA is involved in copper homeostasis in Sma 274. The effect of copper on the biosynthesis of prodigiosin in Sma 274 and the copA mutant strain was investigated. Increased levels of copper were found to reduce prodigiosin production in the wild type Sma 274, but increase production in the copA mutant strain. The physiological implications for CopA mediated prodigiosin production are discussed. We also demonstrate that the gene products of pigB-pigE of Sma 274 are sufficient for the biosynthesis of 2-methyl-3-namyl-pyrrole and condensation with 4-methoxy-2,2'-bipyrrole-5-carboxyaldehyde to form prodigiosin, as we have shown for Serratia sp. ATCC 39006.
Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology
Volume33
Issue number2
Pages (from-to)151-158
Number of pages8
ISSN1367-5435
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2006
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Antibiotic
  • Biosynthesis
  • Regulation
  • Secondary metabolite

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