Rare earth elements activate the secondary metabolite-biosynthetic gene clusters in Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2)

Genome sequencing projects have revealed many biosynthesis gene clusters for the production of as-yet unknown secondary metabolites, especially in actinomycetes. Here, we report that the rare earth elements, scandium and/or lanthanum, markedly activate, ranging from 2.5- to 12-fold, the expression of nine genes belonging to nine secondary metabolite-biosynthetic gene clusters of Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2) when added to the medium at low concentrations. HPLC analysis of ethyl acetate-extractable metabolites indicated the detectability of several compounds only in the rare earth-treated cultures. This approach should facilitate discovery of new biologically active compounds and the study of secondary metabolite production. The Journal of Antibiotics (2010) 63, 477-481; doi:10.1038/ja 2010 53, published online 16 June 2010