Overexpression of the putative extracytoplasmic function sigma (σ) factor FujE enhances FK506 production in Streptomyces sp strain KCCM 11116P

The role of the putative extracytoplasmic function sigma (sigma) factor FujE, which has not been characterized as a member of the FK506 biosynthetic gene cluster, on FK506 production was identified by gene deletion, overexpression, and transcription analysis experiments in Streptomyces sp. strain KCCM 11116P. Inactivation of fujE had no effect on FK506 production, growth, or morphological differentiation. Overexpression of fujE with integrative vectors increased FK506 production by 2.87-fold (24.5 +/- 1.4 mg.L-1) compared with the wild type (8.5 +/- 0.5 mg.L-1). Semiquantitative reverse transcription - polymerase chain reaction analysis indicated that the overexpression of fujE stimulates the transcription of the FK506 biosynthetic genes. These results demonstrated that fujE is a new member of the FK506 biosynthetic gene cluster.