Revista de genética y genomas.

Identity of carotenoid biosynthetic genes of Streptomyces and their activation in S. globisporus 1912-4Crt

Abstract

Bohdan P. Matselyukh

High identity of the carotenoid biosynthetic gene (crt) sequences (92–95 %) was shown in S. globisporus 1912, S. globisporus TFH56 and S. griseus NBRC 13350. The homology of the crt genes of the other 53 Streptomyces strains was lower, ranging from 75 % to 88 %. Two direct and non-punctual repeats (NPRs) of 21 bp and spontaneous deletion of 119 bp, including the sequence of 96 bp between two non-punctual repeats, one NPR from 3`-side and 2 neighboring bp, have been identified in the sequence of the lycopene cyclase gene crtY of the strains 1912-2 and 1912-4Crt of S. globisporus, correspondingly. Both NPRs begin from the same specific site (5`-GGGGCG-3`) that may play a role in the site-specific recombination, appearance of deletion and activation of the carotenoid biosynthesis in S. globisporus 1912-4Crt. The crtY gene of the different species of Streptomyces genus and bacteria contain the not identical 5`-GGGGCG-3` site in the both NPRs. The mutant strain 1912-4Crt presents biotechnological interest for genetic selection of the active producer of beta-carotene and lycopene.