Comparative transcriptome analysis for avermectin overproduction via Streptomyces avermitilis microarray system

Avermectin and its analogs are major commercial antiparasitic agents in the fields of animal health, agriculture, and human infections. To increase our understanding about the genetic mechanism underlying avermectin overproduction, comparative transcriptomes were analyzed between the low producer S. avermitilis ATCC31267 and the high producer S. avermitilis ATCC31780 via a S. avermitilis whole genome chip. The comparative transcriptome analysis revealed that fifty S. avermitilis genes were expressed at least two-fold higher in S. avermitilis ATCC31780. In particular, all the avermectin biosynthetic genes, including polyketide synthase (PKS) genes and an avermectin pathway-specific regulatory gene, were less expressed in the%low producer S. avermitilis ATCC31267. The present results imply that avermectin overproduction in S. avermitilis ATCC31780 could be attributed to the previously unidentified fifty genes reported here and increased transcription levels of avermectin PKS genes.