Cyclic di-GMP cyclase SSFG_02181 from Streptomyces ghanaensis ATCC14672 regulates antibiotic biosynthesis and morphological differentiation in streptomycetes

Streptomycetes are filamentous bacteria famous for their ability to produce a vast majority of clinically important secondary metabolites. Both complex morphogenesis and onset of antibiotic biosynthesis are tightly linked in streptomycetes and require series of specific signals for initiation. Cyclic dimeric 3′–5′ guanosine monophosphate, c-di-GMP, one of the well-known bacterial second messengers, has been recently shown to govern morphogenesis and natural product synthesis in Streptomyces by altering the activity of the pleiotropic regulator BldD. Here we report a role of the heme-binding diguanylate cyclase SSFG_02181 from Streptomyces ghanaensis in the regulation of the peptidoglycan glycosyltransferase inhibitor moenomycin A biosynthesis. Deletion of ssfg_02181 reduced the moenomycin A accumulation and led to a precocious sporulation, while the overexpression of the gene blocked sporogenesis and remarkably improved antibiotic titer. We also demonstrate that BldD negatively controls the expression of ssfg_02181, which stems from direct binding of BldD to the ssfg_02181 promoter. Notably, the heterologous expression of ssfg_02181 in model Streptomyces spp. arrested morphological progression at aerial mycelium level and strongly altered the production of secondary metabolites. Altogether, our work underscores the significance of c-di-GMP-mediated signaling in natural product biosynthesis and pointed to extensively applicable approach to increase antibiotic production levels in streptomycetes.