Development of an efficient conjugal DNA transfer system between Escherichia coli and a non-sporulating Streptomyces strain.

Bacterial conjugation is a powerful tool used for DNA transfer from Escherichia coli into various bacteria including streptomycetes. In this methodology, spores are usually employed as recipient cells of the genetic information. However, some industrially important Streptomyces do not produce spores making difficult their genetic manipulation. In these strains, the use of mechanically fragmented mycelia allows DNA transfer with low efficiency. Streptomyces peucetius var. caesius is a non-sporulating bacteria which produces the antitumor compound doxorubicin. The use of aerial mycelia of this microorganism, failed to get intergeneric conjugation with E. coli. In the present work, by using young aerial mycelia of this microorganism and an excess of E. coli cells (~7×10cellsmL) in soybean-mannitol medium (MS) supplemented with 20mMMgCl resulted in a high number of exconjugant colonies (5×10) when compared to other reports from this genus (1.1×10 to 2.5×10). The effectiveness of these conditions was confirmed by isolating null mutants of two different glucokinases from S. peucetius var. caesius. The novelty in using young aerial mycelia as receptor cells, allowed an efficient conjugative process and opened the way for genetic manipulation of additional non-spore forming actinobacteria exhibiting natural resistance to be genetically manipulated.