A Pigmented Mycelial Antibiotic in Streptomyces coelicolor: Control by a Chromosomal Gene Cluster

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Abstract
S. coelicolor produced a 3rd secondary metabolite, in addition to the antibiotics methylenomycin A and actinorhodine previously described. This is a red pigmented, highly non-polar compound with antibiotic activity against certain gram-positive bacteria. Mutants lacking the red compound fell into 5 cosynthetic classes. Representatives of each of the 5 classes were mapped to the chromosome of the producing organism, in a closely linked cluster. Genetic studies provided evidence that this new metabolite is distinct from actinorhodine and indicated that the 2 pigments do not share parts of the same biosynthetic pathway.