# DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY OF STREPTOMYCES

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON · 1989 · $100,316

## Abstract

Streptomyces are the primary source of medically importnt antibiotics.
This research project is designed at understanding the molecular and
physiological processes involved in sporulation and spore germination of
Streptomyces viridochromogenes and S. griseus.  Germinating spores excrete
and degrade intracellular reserves of trehalose and a glutamic acid-rich
protein.  Experiments are designed to determine the nature of the reserves
and how the enzymes degrading them are activated during initiation of
germination.  Trehalose comprises 25-30% of the dry weight of spores.  The
idea that trehalose is involved in desiccation resistance and dormancy of
spores is being studied.  Non-sporulating streptomycin non-producing
mutants of S. griseus acquire both properties when supplied a butyrolactone
compound, A-factor, produced by the parent organisms.  A-factor induces
formation of NAD-glycohydrolase in the mutants.  We will test the
hypothesis that the glycohydrolase modifies sporulation-specific proteins
by an ADP-ribosylatin reaction.  ADP-ribosylation of proteins is a major
mechanism of post-translational modificaton in eucaryotes.  This work would
be the fist report of this reaction as part of the normal growth and
development of bacteria.  There is a possibility that the modification
involves expression of antibiotic synthesis as well as sporulation.  We
intend to study the glycohydrolase, clone the gene for its production in
order to study its control, and to identify the proteins modified by the
ADP-ribosylation reaction.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3125589
- **Project number:** 5R01AI013948-12
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON
- **SAM.gov UEI:** LCLSJAGTNZQ7
- **Principal Investigator:** JERALD C ENSIGN
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1989
- **Award amount:** $100,316
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1977-04-01 → 1990-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3125589

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3125589, DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY OF STREPTOMYCES (5R01AI013948-12). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3125589. Licensed CC0.

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