Characterization of the Antibacterial Activity of Quinone-Based Compounds Originating from the Alnumycin Biosynthetic Gene Cluster of a Streptomyces Isolate

Bacteria of the genus Streptomyces produce various specialized metabolites. Single biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) can give rise to different products that can vary in terms of their biological activities. For example, for alnumycin and the shunt product K115, antimicrobial activity was described, while no antimicrobial activity was detected for the shunt product 1,6-dihydro 8-propylanthraquinone. To investigate the antibacterial activity of 1,6-dihydro 8-propylanthraquinone, we produced alnumycin and 1,6-dihydro 8-propylanthraquinone from a Streptomyces isolate containing the alnumycin BGC. The strain was cultivated in liquid glycerol-nitrate-casein medium (GN), and both compounds were isolated using an activity and mass spectrometry-guided purification. The structures were validated via nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. A minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) test revealed that 1,6-dihydro 8-propylanthraquinone exhibits antimicrobial activity against E. coli & UDelta;tolC, B. subtilis, an S. aureus type strain, and a vancomycin intermediate-resistance S. aureus strain (VISA). Activity of 1,6-dihydro 8-propylanthraquinone against E. coli & UDelta;tolC was approximately 10-fold higher than that of alnumycin. We were unable to confirm gyrase inhibition for either compound and believe that the modes of action of both compounds are worth reinvestigating.

Automated summary

Bacteria of the genus Streptomyces produce various specialized metabolites. Single biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) can give rise to different products with varying biological activities. In this study, alnumycin and 1,6-dihydro 8-propylanthraquinone were isolated from a Streptomyces strain containing the alnumycin BGC. Both compounds exhibited antimicrobial activity, with 1,6-dihydro 8-propylanthraquinone showing higher activity against E. coli & UDelta;tolC compared to alnumycin. The modes of action of these compounds are worth further investigation.