Dereplication of Streptomyces Strains by Automated Southern Hybridization with a Polyketide Synthase Gene Probe

抄録

The dereplication of isolates is an important step in the search for microorganisms that are producers of novel bioactive compounds. We have tested the RiboPrinter system, an automated ribotyping instrument, for the detection of polyketide synthase (PKS) genes and checking of strain similarity. Using a 1.1 kb probe derived from the ketosynthase (KS) domain of eryAIII instead of the standard ribosomal probe, the system was able to detect PKS genes in Streptomyces strains. Band patterns were similar among four Streptomyces violaceoruber strains harboring similar PKS genes. Conversely, some strains taxonomically identified as the same species showed different band patterns. Two unknown isolates were appropriately discriminated from their closest strains by band patterns. These results demonstrate that an automated Southern hybridization method employing a KS-probe will enable easy and rapid dereplication based on an index of PKS genes.