Boronated tartrolon antibiotic produced by symbiotic cellulose-degrading bacteria in shipworm gills

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1213892110
• Publication Date: 2013-01-04T06:02:38Z
• Authors: Sherif I. Elshahawi; Amaro E. Trindade...; Amro Hanora; Andrew W. Han; Malem S. Flores; Vinicius Vizzoni; Carlos G. Schrago; Carlos A. Soares; Gisela P. Concepcion; Dan L. Distel; Eric W. Schmidt; Margo G. Haygood
• Keywords: Gene cluster; Marine bacteriophage

Shipworms are marine wood-boring bivalve mollusks (family Teredinidae) that harbor a community of closely related Gammaproteobacteria as intracellular endosymbionts in their gills. These symbionts have been proposed to assist the shipworm host cellulose digestion and shown play role nitrogen fixation. The genome one strain Teredinibacter turnerae , first symbiont be cultivated, was sequenced, revealing potential rich source polyketides nonribosomal peptides. Bioassay-guided fractionation led isolation identification two macrodioloide belonging tartrolon class. Both compounds were found possess antibacterial properties, major compound inhibit other strains various pathogenic bacteria. gene cluster responsible for synthesis these identified characterized, ketosynthase domains analyzed phylogenetically. Reverse-transcription PCR addition liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry tandem revealed transcription genes presence shipworm, suggesting is expressed vivo may fulfill specific function host. This study reports from unveils biosynthetic member this class compounds, which might reveal mechanism by bioactive metabolites biosynthesized.