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Cloning and Heterologous Expression of the Penicillin Biosynthetic Gene Cluster from Penicillium chrysogenum

Bio/Technology volume 8, pages 39–41 (1990)Cite this article

Abstract

A cosmid clone containing the putative penicillin biosynthetic gene cluster from Penicillium chrysogenum was used to transform the related filamentous fungi Neurospora crassa and Aspergillus niger, which do not produce β-lactam antibiotics. Both of the transformed hosts contained intact P. chrysogenum DNA derived from the cosmid clone and produced authentic penicillin V. Assays of penicillin biosynthetic enzyme activity additionally demonstrat ed that they possessed δ-(L-α-aminoadipyl)-L-cysteinyl D-valine synthetase (ACVS), isopenicillin N synthetase (IPNS) and acyl coenzyme A:6-aminopenicillanic acid acyltransferase (ACT) activity. The data suggests that genes encoding all the enzymes necessary for the biosynthesis of penicillin from amino acid precursors are closely linked in P. chrysogenum and constitute a gene cluster.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology, University of Bristol, University Walk, Bristol, BS8 1TD, U.K.

    David J. Smith & Geoffrey Turner

  2. Beecham Pharmaceuticals Research Division, Brockham Park, Betchworth, Surrey, RH3 7AJ, U.K.

    Martin K. R. Burnham

  3. Fermentation Development, Beecham Pharmaceuticals UK Division, Clarendon Road, Worthing, BN14 8QH, U.K.

    Jeffrey Edwards & Alison J. Earl

Authors
  1. David J. Smith
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  4. Alison J. Earl
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  5. Geoffrey Turner
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Smith, D., Burnham, M., Edwards, J. et al. Cloning and Heterologous Expression of the Penicillin Biosynthetic Gene Cluster from Penicillium chrysogenum. Nat Biotechnol 8, 39–41 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt0190-39

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