biostudies-literatureHoffmann ADeutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG)Bundesministerium für Bildung und ForschungDeutsche ForschungsgemeinschaftJürgen Manchot StiftungOpen Access Publication Fund of the University of BonnJürgen Manchot Stiftung (Jürgen Manchot Foundation)Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF)e0076423https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11237698biostudies-literatureUnknown9(5)Cervimycins A-D are bis-glycosylated polyketide antibiotics produced by <i>Streptomyces tendae</i> HKI 0179 with bactericidal activity against Gram-positive bacteria. In this study, cervimycin C (CmC) treatment caused a spaghetti-like phenotype in <i>Bacillus subtilis</i> 168, with elongated curved cells, which stayed joined after cell division, and exhibited a chromosome segregation defect, resulting in ghost cells without DNA. Electron microscopy of CmC-treated <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> (3 × MIC) revealed swollen cells, misshapen septa, cell wall thickening, and a rough cell wall surface. Incorporation tests in <i>B. subtilis</i> indicated an effect on DNA biosynthesis at high cervimycin concentrations. Indeed, artificial downregulation of the DNA gyrase subunit B gene (<i>gyrB</i>) imSphereThe unusual mode of action of the polyketide glycoside antibiotic cervimycin C.PMC1123769839896743403ZZ0808DSahl H-GBierbaum GNieselt KHertweck CFranz-Wachtel MScherlach KHoffmann ASteffens UMacek BHarbig TAfalseThe unusual mode of action of the polyketide glycoside antibiotic cervimycin C.Cervimycins A-D are bis-glycosylated polyketide antibiotics produced by <i>Streptomyces tendae</i> HKI 0179 with bactericidal activity against Gram-positive bacteria. In this study, cervimycin C (CmC) treatment caused a spaghetti-like phenotype in <i>Bacillus subtilis</i> 168, with elongated curved cells, which stayed joined after cell division, and exhibited a chromosome segregation defect, resulting in ghost cells without DNA. Electron microscopy of CmC-treated <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> (3 × MIC) revealed swollen cells, misshapen septa, cell wall thickening, and a rough cell wall surface. Incorporation tests in <i>B. subtilis</i> indicated an effect on DNA biosynthesis at high cervimycin concentrations. Indeed, artificial downregulation of the DNA gyrase subunit B gene (<i>gyrB</i>) i2024-01-01T00:00:00Z2024 May2026-04-29T12:08:33.841Z2025-04-07T12:00:08.369ZS-EPMC112376983872216210.1128/msphere.00764-23