MOLECULAR MECHANISM FOR THE BIOSYNTHESIS AND REGULATION OF SECONDARY METABOLITES IN LYSOBACTER

This thesis presents regulatory and biosynthetic mechanisms by which microorganisms produce secondary metabolites that can potentially be developed into drugs beneficial to humans. The first section shows the role of small signaling molecules in regulating the production of one of the novel antifungal metabolites, heat stable antifungal factor (HSAF), from Lysobacter enzymogenes. In the second part of the thesis I report our attempts to isolate and characterize the biosynthesis of WBP, a new secondary metabolite from Lysobacter antibioticus OH13. I have included the in-silico analysis of the gene cluster for WBP and the predicted biosynthetic pathway based on analysis of the genes. I have also included the work to delete part of the gene responsible for the biosynthesis of WBP, which is still in progress. Advisor: Liangcheng Du