Activation of a Cryptic Manumycin-Type Biosynthetic Gene Cluster of DSM44229 by Series of Genetic Manipulations.

(1) Background: Manumycins are small actinomycete polyketides with prominent cancerostatic and immunosuppressive activities via inhibition of various eukaryotic enzymes. Their overall activity towards human cells depends on the structural variability of both their polyketide chains, mainly the upper one. In our genetic screening project to find novel producers of anti-inflammatory manumycins, the strain DSM44229 was identified as containing a novel manumycin-type biosynthetic gene cluster (BGC).