Ribosome engineering of Myxococcus xanthus for enhancing the heterologous production of epothilones.

Background: Ribosome engineering is a semi-empirical technique used to select antibiotic-resistant mutants that exhibit altered secondary metabolism. This method has been demonstrated to effectively select mutants with enhanced synthesis of natural products in many bacterial species, including actinomycetes. Myxobacteria are recognized as fascinating producers of natural active products.

An upgraded chassis with enhanced growth characteristics for efficient genetic manipulation.

Myxobacteria are well known for multicellular social behaviors and valued for biosynthesis of natural products. Myxobacteria social behaviors such as clumping growth severely hamper strain cultivation and genetic manipulation. Using DK1622, we engineered Hu04, which is deficient in multicellular behavior and pigmentation.