Mutants defective in the production of encapsulin show a tan-phase-locked phenotype in Myxococcus xanthus.

Myxococcus xanthus, a myxobacterium, displays phase variation between yellow phase and tan phase. We found that deletion of the encA gene encoding encapsulin and the encF gene encoding a metalloprotease causes formation of tan colonies that never transform into yellow colonies. The encA and encF mutants were defective in the production of DK-xanthene and myxovirescin.

Genetic and Functional Analyses of the DKxanthene Biosynthetic Gene Cluster from DSM 14675.

DKxanthenes are a class of yellow secondary metabolites produced by myxobacterial genera and . We identified a putative 49.5 kb DKxanthene biosynthetic gene cluster from DSM 14675 by genomic sequence and mutational analysis.

Identification of the Phenalamide Biosynthetic Gene Cluster in Myxococcus stipitatus DSM 14675.

Phenalamide is a bioactive secondary metabolite produced by Myxococcus stipitatus. We identified a 56 kb phenalamide biosynthetic gene cluster from M. stipitatus DSM 14675 by genomic sequence analysis and mutational analysis.

Complete Genome Sequence Analysis of Acute and Mild Strains of Classical Swine Fever Virus Subgenotype 3.2.

We report the complete genome sequences of two classical swine fever virus strains (JJ9811 and YI9908). Both belong to subgenotype 3.2.

Photoswitchable fluorescent diarylethene in a turn-on mode for live cell imaging.

A new diarylethene-derived photochromic compound, with little cytotoxicity, plasma membrane-permeability, and efficient photoswitchability in cells upon alternative UV and visible light irradiation, was synthesized and applied to live cell imaging.

Operon required for fruiting body development in Myxococcus xanthus.

We have used mutational analysis to identify four genes, MXAN3553, MXAN3554, MXAN3555, and MXAN3556, constituting an operon that is essential for normal fruiting body development in Myxococcus xanthus. Deletion of MXAN3553, which encoded a hypothetical protein, resulted in delayed fruiting body development. MXAN3554 was predicted to encode a metallopeptidase, and its deletion caused fruiting body formation to fail.

Isolation of Sorangium cellulosum carrying epothilone gene clusters.

Epothilone and its analogs are a potent new class of anticancer compounds produced by myxobacteria. Thus, in an effort to identify new myxobacterial strains producing epothilone and its analogs, cellulose-degrading myxobacteria were isolated from Korean soils, and 13 strains carrying epothilone biosynthetic gene homologs were screened using a polymerase chain reaction. A migration assay revealed that Sorangium cellulosum KYC3013, 3016, 3017, and 3018 all produced microtubule-stabilizing compounds, and an LCMS/ MS analysis showed that S.