Functional analysis of environmental DNA-derived type II polyketide synthases reveals structurally diverse secondary metabolites.

ABSTRACT: A single gram of soil is predicted to contain thousands of unique bacterial species. The majority of these species remain recalcitrant to standard culture methods, prohibiting their use as sources of unique bioactive small molecules. The cloning and analysis of DNA extracted directly from environmental samples (environmental DNA, eDNA) provides a means of exploring the biosynthetic capacity of natural bacterial populations. Environmental DNA libraries contain large reservoirs of bacterial genetic diversity from which new secondary metabolite gene clusters can be systematically recovered and studied. The identification and heterologous expression of type II polyketide synthase-containing eDNA clones is reported here. Functional analysis of three soil DNA-derived polyketide synthase systems

SUBMITTER: Feng Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3150919 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature