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Abstract
The expansion of the genetic repertoire of an organism by gene duplication or horizontal gene transfer can aid adaptation. Streptomyces bacteria are prolific producers of bioactive specialized metabolites that have adaptive functions in nature and have found extensive utility in human medicine. Whilst the biosynthesis of these specialized metabolites is directed by dedicated biosynthetic gene clusters, little attention has been focussed on how these organisms have evolved robustness into their genomes to facilitate the metabolic plasticity required to provide chemical precursors for biosynthesis during the complex metabolic transitions from vegetative growth to specialized metabolite production and sporulation. In this seminar I will examine how expanding enzyme families in central carbon metabolism allows Streptomyces bacteria to maintain cell functionality whilst costly specialized metabolites are produced.
About the Speaker
Paul Hoskisson is a Reader in Molecular Microbiology at the University of Strathclyde. His research interests lie in studying the Actinobacteria – particularly the antibiotic producing Streptomycetes and human pathogenic Corynebacteria. His lab is focussed on the evolution of metabolism and biosynthesis of specialised metabolites. The bacterial genus Streptomyces is the main focus of work his research group due to its industrial importance, being responsible for producing around two thirds of all commercially important antibiotics as well as numerous anti-fungal, anti-helminthic and anti-cancer drugs. He also works on the bacterial pathogen Corynebacterium diphtheriae, the causative agent of diphtheria, trying to understand genome dynamics and how this contributes to pathogenicity.
