Combining classical, genetic, and process strategies for improved precursor-directed production of 6-deoxyerythronolide B analogues.

A process for the production of erythromycin aglycone analogues has been developed by combining classical strain mutagenesis techniques with modern recombinant DNA methods and traditional process improvement strategies. A Streptomyces coelicolor strain expressing the heterologous 6-deoxyerythronolide B (6-dEB) synthase (DEBS) for the production of erythromycin aglycones was subjected to random mutagenesis and selection. Several strains exhibiting 2-fold higher productivities and reaching >3 g/L total macrolide aglycones were developed.

Biotransformations of the cardiovascular drugs mexrenone and canrenone.

Microbial transformation studies of the cardiovascular drugs mexrenone (1) and canrenone (2) were conducted. Thirty-nine biotransformations of mexrenone and 84 biotransformations of canrenone were analyzed. Metabolism of the substrate was observed in the majority of these cases.