Cloning and characterization of the streptothricin-resistance gene which encodes streptothricin acetyltransferase from Streptomyces lavendulae.

The streptothricin-resistance gene of Streptomyces lavendulae No. 1080 was cloned in S. lividans using pIJ41 as a vector. From subcloning experiments, the 1.6 kb BamH I fragment was determined to encode the structural gene. The cell extracts of S. lividans carrying the gene on the plasmid pKS7 had activity to inactivate streptothricin in the presence of S-acetyl coenzyme A, indicating that the gene product was streptothricin acetyltransferase.