Regulation of the Streptomyces coelicolor calcium-dependent antibiotic by absA, encoding a cluster-linked two-component system.

The Streptomyces coelicolor absA two-component system was initially identified through analysis of mutations in the sensor kinase absA1 that caused inhibition of all four antibiotics synthesized by this strain. Previous genetic analysis had suggested that the phosphorylated form of AbsA2 acted as a negative regulator of antibiotic biosynthesis in S. coelicolor (T.

Genetic suppression analysis of non-antibiotic-producing mutants of the Streptomyces coelicolor absA locus.

The absA locus in Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2) was identified because mutations in it uncoupled sporulation from antibiotic synthesis: absA mutants failed to produce any of the four antibiotics characteristic of S. coelicolor. These mutants are now shown to contain point mutations in the absA1 gene which encodes the histidine kinase sensor-transmitter protein of a two-component signalling system.