Biosynthetic genes for aminoglycoside antibiotics.

Biosynthetic studies of aminoglycoside antibiotics have progressed remarkably during the last decade. Many biosynthetic gene clusters for aminoglycoside antibiotics including streptomycin, kanamycin, butirosin, neomycin and gentamicin have been identified to date. In addition, most butirosin and neomycin biosynthetic enzymes have been functionally characterized using recombinant proteins. Herein, we reanalyze biosynthetic genes for structurally related 2-deoxystreptamine (2DOS)-containing aminoglycosides, such as kanamycin, gentamicin and istamycin, based on genetic information including characterized biosynthetic enzymes in neomycin and butirosin biosynthetic pathways. These proposed enzymatic functions for uncharacterized enzymes are expected to support investigation of the complex biosynthetic pathways for this important class of antibiotics.