The genetic system of actinobacteria

Abstract

Approximately 20-25% of all of the reported natural products (NP) show biological activity, and of these, approximately 10% have been obtained from microbes. Furthermore, more than half of the latter are produced by Actinobacteria, which are the most productive microbes known to date concerning the generation of natural products. Some representatives of this phylum are able to produce up to 30-50 secondary metabolites, which are a potential source of unique chemical scaffolds and biological activities. Thus, these bacteria have attracted scientific and industrial interest for decades. In this chapter, we overview the sequencing technologies that are used for deciphering the genomes of these fascinating bacteria. The main features and peculiarities of Actinobacteria genomes are also described. In addition, reporter genes, which are used for the investigation of gene expression under different conditions; vectors for gene cloning, expression and inactivation; and the latest genetic engineering tools, which are utilised for rational strain improvement with the aim of increasing the yield of valuable compounds, are summarised.