A HYDROXYLASE-LIKE GENE-PRODUCT CONTRIBUTES TO SYNTHESIS OF A POLYKETIDE SPORE PIGMENT IN STREPTOMYCES-HALSTEDII

A gene, schC, adjacent to the sch gene cluster encoding the biosynthes is of a polyketide spore pigment in Streptomyces halstedii was sequenc ed. Its deduced product resembled flavin adenine nucleotide-containing hydroxylases involved in the biosynthesis of polycyclic aromatic poly ketide antibiotics and in catabolic pathways of aromatic compounds. Wh en schC was disrupted, the normally green spores of S. halstedii becam e lilac. An schC-like gene was located in an equivalent position next to a large gene cluster (whiE) known to determine spore pigment in Str eptomyces coelicolor A3(2).