Transposons inactivate biosynthesis of the nonribosomal peptide microcystin in naturally occurring Planktothrix spp.

ABSTRACT: The filamentous cyanobacteria Planktothrix spp. occur in the temperate region of the Northern hemisphere. The red-pigmented Planktothrix rubescens bacteria occur in deep, physically stratified, and less eutrophic lakes. Planktothrix is a known producer of the toxic heptapeptide microcystin (MC), which is produced nonribosomally by a large enzyme complex consisting of peptide synthetases and polyketide synthases encoded by a total of nine genes (mcy genes). Planktothrix spp. differ in their cellular MC contents as well as the production of MC variants; however, the mechanisms favoring this diversity are not understood. Recently, the occurrence of Planktothrix strains containing all mcy genes but lacking MC has been reported. In this study, 29 such strains were analyzed to find out if mutati

SUBMITTER: Christiansen G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1352303 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature