DETERMINATION OF ERYTHROMYCIN RESISTANCE IN STREPTOMYCES COELICOLOR-A3(2)

  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 15  (10) , 1730-1738
Abstract
Resistance to erythromycin is genetically unstable in strains of S. coelicolor A3(2). The frequent loss of resistance and reversion of sensitive variants to the original unstable resistance phenotype excluded the possibility that plasmid elimination is involved. The spontaneous frequency of occurrence of sensitive clones was 0.14-1.5%, the rate of reversion ranging from 1 .cntdot. 10-6-1 .cntdot. 10-8. Resistance to erythromycin was mapped on the chromosomes of 2 S. coelicolor A3(2) derivatives in different sites: between markers adeC (v10) and ArgA1 in the strain A617, between pheA1 and SCP1 in the strain S18. Genetic instability of erythomycin resistance determinants having chromosomal location is due to transposition of genetic material.