Articles
6-THIOGUANINE BIOSYNTHESIS IN ERWINIA SPECIES
Article number
1056_25
Pages
165 – 167
Language
English
Abstract
Erwinia amylovora produces a compound with an absorbance maximum at 340 nm that forms a yellow colored complex with copper.
This compound was identified as 6-thioguanine, a guanine analogue that is used in chemotherapy and the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease.
Synthesis of 6-thioguanine could be linked to five genes common in Erwinia genomes, but missing in related genera.
Expression of Erwinia tasmaniensis genes tgsA-D in Escherichia coli was sufficient for heterologous production of 6-thioguanine.
Transfer of the four biosynthetic E. tasmaniensis genes did not enhance resistance of E. coli against 6-thioguanine.
Bacterial and synthetic 6-thioguanine have a strong growth inhibitory effect on many bacteria, such as E. coli or a number of Pantoea agglomerans isolates.
While this inhibition of competing species might provide an advantage to Erwinia, further biological functions of 6-thioguanine cannot be excluded.
A direct link between 6-thioguanine synthesis of E. amylovora and its pathogenicity was not observed, as two 6-thioguanine negative mutants produced as severe symptoms on apple and pear shoots as did producing strains.
This compound was identified as 6-thioguanine, a guanine analogue that is used in chemotherapy and the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease.
Synthesis of 6-thioguanine could be linked to five genes common in Erwinia genomes, but missing in related genera.
Expression of Erwinia tasmaniensis genes tgsA-D in Escherichia coli was sufficient for heterologous production of 6-thioguanine.
Transfer of the four biosynthetic E. tasmaniensis genes did not enhance resistance of E. coli against 6-thioguanine.
Bacterial and synthetic 6-thioguanine have a strong growth inhibitory effect on many bacteria, such as E. coli or a number of Pantoea agglomerans isolates.
While this inhibition of competing species might provide an advantage to Erwinia, further biological functions of 6-thioguanine cannot be excluded.
A direct link between 6-thioguanine synthesis of E. amylovora and its pathogenicity was not observed, as two 6-thioguanine negative mutants produced as severe symptoms on apple and pear shoots as did producing strains.
Publication
Authors
A. Wensing, M. Gernold, S. Jock, W. Jelkmann, K. Geider, A. Beck, R. Jansen
Keywords
purine/pyrimidine metabolism, modified nucleobase
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