Effects of Co2+ on the erythromycin biosynthesis

Abstract

Erythromycin biosynthesis is a highly complicated process, which involves both primary metabolism and secondary metabolism. The specific activities of the key enzymes related to glucose metabolism such as hexose kinase (HK), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (6-PDH), phosphofructokinase (PFK), and isocitrate dehydrogenase (ICD), were determined in Saccharopolyspora erythraea. The specific activities of the enzymes involved in secondary metabolism, such as methylmalonyl-coenzyme A mutase (MCM) and methylmalonyl-coenzyme A transcarboxylase (MCT), were detected as well. Some organic acids contained in fermentation broth were also analyzed. The results show that Co²⁺ is able to increase erythromycin biosynthesis. It maybe due to Co²⁺ improving the specific activities of methylmalonyl-coenzyme A mutase and methylmalonyl-coenzyme A transcarboxylase. Meanwhile, it also enhances the flux of the glucose metabolism pathway.