Cloning and characterization of a glucosyltransferase and a rhamnosyltransferase from Streptomyces sp. 139.

Aims: Ste15 and ste22 present in the Ebosin biosynthesis gene cluster ( ste) were previously shown to function in Ebosin biosynthesis and both of the protein products are predicted to be glycosyltransferases. In this study, their biochemical activities were confirmed. Methods and Results: ste15 and ste22 were cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. With a continuous coupled spectrophotometric assay and using the purified proteins, we now demonstrated that the protein Ste15 has the ability of catalysing the transfer of glucose specifically from UDP-glucose to an Ebosin precursor that lacks glucose, the lipid carrier located in the cytoplasmic membrane of the gene ste15 disrupt mutant Streptomyces sp. 139 ( ste15 −). The protein Ste22 can catalyse the transfer of rhamnose specifically from TDP-rhamnose to an Ebosin precursor that lacks rhamnose, a lipophilic carrier in the cytoplasmic membrane of the gene ste22 disrupt mutant Streptomyces sp. 139 ( ste22 −). Conclusions: The gene product of ste15 was identified to be a glucosyltransferase, and the protein encoded by ste22 was found to be a rhamnosyltransferase. Significance and Impact of the Study: Both of two enzymes play essential roles in the formation of repeating units of sugars during Ebosin biosynthesis. These are the first glucosyltransferase and rhamnosyltransferase in the biosynthesis of a Streptomyces exopolysaccharide to be characterized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]