Influence of dimethylsulfoxide on tylosin production in Streptomyces fradiae

The polyketide aglycone, tylactone (protylonolide), does not normally accumulate during tylosin production in Streptomyces fradiae, suggesting that the capacity of the organism to glycosylate tylactone exceeds the capacity for polyketide synthesis. Consistent with this model, tylosin yields were significantly increased (due to bioconversion of the added material) when exogenous tylactone was added to fermentations. However, tylosin yield improvements were also observed (albeit at lower levels) in solvent controls to which dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) was added. At least in part, the latter effect resulted from stimulation of polyketide metabolism by DMSO. This was revealed when the solvent was added to fermentations containing the tylA mutant, S. fradiae GS14, which normally accumulates copious quantities of tylactone. Journal of Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology (2001) 27, 46–51.