Identification and Characterization of a Gene Cluster for Synthesis of the Polyketide Antibiotic 2,4-Diacetylphloroglucinol fromPseudomonas fluorescensQ2-87

ABSTRACT The polyketide metabolite 2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol (2,4-DAPG) is produced by many strains of fluorescent Pseudomonas spp. with biocontrol activity against soilborne fungal plant pathogens. Genes required for 2,4-DAPG synthesis by P. fluorescens Q2-87 are encoded by a 6.5-kb fragment of genomic DNA that can transfer production of 2,4-DAPG to 2,4-DAPG-nonproducing recipient Pseudomonas strains. In this study the nucleotide sequence was determined for the 6.5-kb fragment and flanking regions of genomic DNA from strain Q2-87. Six open reading frames were identified, four of which ( phlACBD ) comprise an operon that includes a set of three genes ( phlACB ) conserved between eubacteria and archaebacteria and a gene ( phlD ) encoding a polyketide synthase with homology to chalcone and stilbene synthases from plants. The biosynthetic operon is flanked on either side by phlE and phlF , which code respectively for putative efflux and regulatory (repressor) proteins. Expression in Escherichia coli of phlA , phlC , phlB , and phlD , individually or in combination, identified a novel polyketide biosynthetic pathway in which PhlD is responsible for the production of monoacetylphloroglucinol (MAPG). PhlA, PhlC, and PhlB are necessary to convert MAPG to 2,4-DAPG, and they also may function in the synthesis of MAPG.