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Comparative analysis and insights into the evolution of gene clusters for glycopeptide antibiotic biosynthesis

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Abstract

The bal, cep, dbv, sta and tcp gene clusters specify the biosynthesis of the glycopeptide antibiotics balhimycin, chloroeremomycin, A40926, A47934 and teicoplanin, respectively. These structurally related compounds share a similar mechanism of action in their inhibition of bacterial cell wall formation. Comparative sequence analysis was performed on the five gene clusters. Extensive conserved synteny was observed between the bal and cep clusters, which direct the synthesis of very similar compounds but originate from two different species of the genus Amycolatopsis. All other cluster pairs show a limited degree of conserved synteny, involving biosynthetically functional gene cassettes: these include those involved in the synthesis of the carbon backbone of two non-proteinogenic amino acids; in the linkage of amino acids 1–3 and 4–7 in the heptapeptide; and in the formation of the aromatic cross-links. Furthermore, these segments of conserved synteny are often preceded by conserved intergenic regions. Phylogenetic analysis of protein families shows several instances in which relatedness in the chemical structure of the glycopeptides is not reflected in the extent of the relationship of the corresponding polypeptides. Coherent branchings are observed for all polypeptides encoded by the syntenous gene cassettes. These results suggest that the acquisition of distinct, functional genetic elements has played a significant role in the evolution of glycopeptide gene clusters, giving them a mosaic structure. In addition, the synthesis of the structurally similar compounds A40926 and teicoplanin appears as the result of convergent evolution.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Giancarlo Lancini for valuable discussions. This work was partially supported by grants from the EU (QLK3-1999-00650 and LSHG-CT-2003-503491).

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  1. Stefano Donadio

    Present address: Ktedogen, 21046, Malnate, Italy

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Vicuron Pharmaceuticals, 21040, Gerenzano, Italy

    Stefano Donadio & Margherita Sosio

  2. Department of Microbiology/Biotechnology, Eberhard-Karls Universität Tübingen, 72076, Tübingen, Germany

    Evi Stegmann, Tilmann Weber & Wolfgang Wohlleben

Authors
  1. Stefano Donadio
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  2. Margherita Sosio
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  3. Evi Stegmann
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  4. Tilmann Weber
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  5. Wolfgang Wohlleben
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Correspondence to Stefano Donadio.

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Communicated by W. Goebel

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Donadio, S., Sosio, M., Stegmann, E. et al. Comparative analysis and insights into the evolution of gene clusters for glycopeptide antibiotic biosynthesis. Mol Genet Genomics 274, 40–50 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00438-005-1156-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00438-005-1156-3

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