Disruption of the mce operon from Streptomyces affects spore resistance and results in precocious germination

Streptomyces coelicoloris a non-pathogenic soil saprophytic bacterium and is model organism for antibiotic production. This species contains single copy of nine gene cluster known as the mammalian cell entry (mce) operon. operon was originally characterised in Mycobacterium tuberculosisas an important virulence factor acting invasion survival within macrophages encodes ABC transporter cholesterol import. As function mceoperon S. currently unknown, this study aims to characterise through deletion mcelocus resulting impact on bacterial morphology survival. SEM images demonstrate that spores mcedeletion mutant (Δmce) display wrinkled, ‘fragile’ phenotype, with appearing germinate whilst spore chain. Germination assays show Δmcegerminate earlier than WT coelicolor, impression mounts indicate chains emerge Δmcestrain. Δmce possess altered coat, it hypothesised they might reduced resistance stressors. Heat kill mce results coelicolor which are less tolerant temperatures 60, 70, 80, 90 100°C compared spores. activation also consistently absent at all tested. Spores Δmcestrain resistant triclosan, sulfobetaines. Preliminary may be importer, shows growth presence cholesterol, coelicolor.