Effect of a global regulatory gene, afsR2, from Streptomyces lividans on avermectin production in Streptomyces avermitilis

The global regulatory gene, afsR2, from Streptomyces lividans was previousl y reported to highly stimulate two structurally unrelated antibiotics, acti norhodin and undecylprodigiosin, in both S. lividans and its close relative S. coelicolor. Production of eight avermectin components was also improved in S. avermitilis: the use of wild-type S. avermitilis and its high-produc ing mutant, transformed by introduction of multiple copies of afsR2, increa sed the total avermectin productions by 2.3-fold and 1.5-fold, respectively .