Functional anaylsis of sprD gene encoding Streptomyces griseus protease D (SGPD) in Streptomyces griseus

The chromosomal sprD gene encoding Streptomyces griseus protease D (SGPD), a chymotrypsin-like protease, was disrupted in Streptomyces griseus by insertion of the neomysin-resistance gene. The production of chymotrypsin activity of sprD disruptant was not completely abolished, but delayed by 24 h, compared with that of wild-type strain. The aerial mycelial formation of sprD disruptant was retarded, and specifically the formation of spores was not observed in the central region of colonies. However, normal morphological development into spores was observed in the marginal region of colonies. In addition, the production of yellow pigment that might be dependent on A-factor was also decreased in the sprD disruptant, compared with that of the wild-type strain. Introduction of the sprD gene, which was placed on a high copy-numbered plasmid into S. griseus Delta sprD, partially restored the ability of morphological development, and a significant level of sporulation was observed. When the overexpression vector for sprD, pWHM3-D, was introduced in S. griseus, there was no significant change in the chymotrypsin activity or colonial morphology, in contrast to Streptomyces lividans, indicating the presence of a tight regulation system for the overexpression of the sprD gene in S. griseus.