Generic studies on the oxytetracycline producing organism, Streptomyces alboflavus

Master Thesis

1981

Permanent link to this Item
http://hdl.handle.net/11427/15447
Files
thesis_sci_1981_botha_christine_leone.pdf (3.28 MB)
Authors
Botha, Christine Leone
Supervisors
Kirby, Ralph
Journal Title
Link to Journal
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Publisher

University of Cape Town

Department
Department of Molecular and Cell Biology
Faculty
Faculty of Science
License
Series
Abstract
The Actinomycete organism, Streptomyces alboflavus, produces the antibiotic oxytetracycline. Treatment with curing agents resulted in S. alboflavus losing the ability to produce oxytetracycline. However, the loss of oxytetracyc1ine production was reversible, and non-producing colonies regained the ability to produce oxytetracycline when the curing agent was removed. Therefore the loss of oxytetracyc1ine production was not due to the irreversible loss of genetic material specifying oxytetracycline production, but was possibly due to genetic instability. Two extrachromosomal DNA species were isolated from S. alboflavus, (SAP1 and SAP2). SAP1 was approximately 8 - 10 x 10â ¶ da1tons, and appeared to be linear and heterogenous. SAP2 was 20 - 25 x 10â ¶ daltons and appeared to be covalently closed circular. The functions of SAP1 and SAP2 are unknown, although transformation experiments with SAP1 suggested that it may play a role in the production of an antibiotic-like substance, possibly by acting as a promotor of the genes coding for the antibiotic-like substance.
Description

Bibliography: leaves 89-96.

Keywords
Microbiology

Reference:

Botha, C. 1981. Generic studies on the oxytetracycline producing organism, Streptomyces alboflavus. University of Cape Town.

Collections
Masters