Detection and Expression of Biosynthetic Genes in Actinobacteria ...

BERVANAKIS, G. APPENDIX 1Appendix 1: Conference Presentation and AwardsA1.1 Conference Presentation12 th International Symposium on the Biology of ActinomycetesThe University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada, August 5 – 9, 2001.Poster Title: Prescreening for Biosynthetic Genes in Actinomycetes Isolated fromthe Australian Environment.Bervanakis, G: Franco, C.M.M and Wildman, H 1 .Biotechnology, School of Medicine, Flinders University of South Australia, Adelaide,SA 5001, Australia.1 Cerylid Pty Ltd, 576 Swan Street, Richmond, Victoria 3121, Australia.Abstract: In order to optimise the selection of environmental isolates for chemicalexpression studies, a number of prescreens were developed to detect the presence ofgenes of common biosynthetic pathways. These PCR-based assays were used toevaluate actinomycetes isolated from various sites in Australia. In one of theseprescreens, environmental isolates were screened with type I PKS specific degenerateprimers. The amplified 750 bp products from the positive isolates were sequenced andshowed homology to corresponding type I PKS genes in the GenBank database. Thepositive isolates were subjected to submerged and solid state fermentation, and theresultant secondary metabolites were purified and characterised chemically. Theresults show that PCR screening of environmental actinomycete isolates can be usedto eliminate redundant cultures, and focus efforts on development of cultures knownto have the biosynthetic potential to produce a specific class of secondary metabolites.A1.2 Awards1999-2001: Australian Postgraduate Award (Industry)Australian Research Council (ARC) – Strategic Partnershipswith Industry – Research and Training (SPIRT) grant andAMRAD Corporation Limited (Australia).___________________________________________________________________________________134