Large Scale Culturing of Actinomycete Secondary Metabolites and Extraction
Abstract
Many bioactive secondary metabolites are produced by actinomycetes, gram-positive bacteria distinguished by their varied metabolic capacities. Terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystems are among the many settings in which these bacteria flourish. Interestingly, aquatic actinomycetes have unique genetic sequences that allow them to synthesize unique secondary metabolites that are uncommon in terrestrial species. Historically, secondary metabolites derived from actinomycetes have significantly contributed to human medicine, yielding antibiotics, immunosuppressants, and herbicides, exemplified by the notable discovery of streptomycin in 1943. Novel actinomycete strains derived from various environmental sources are being highly studied in the Carlson laboratory. Bacterial isolates are then cultivated in liquid growth media, particularly A1 or AIDI, and stored through cryogenic storage using diversity plating techniques. Solvents like acetone and ethyl acetate are used in extraction processes, and silica based chromatography is then used for fractionation. Future research will rigorously screen these fractions for antibiotic activity, highlighting ongoing attempts to identify new bioactive compounds from populations of aquatic actinomycetes.
Large Scale Culturing of Actinomycete Secondary Metabolites and Extraction
Many bioactive secondary metabolites are produced by actinomycetes, gram-positive bacteria distinguished by their varied metabolic capacities. Terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystems are among the many settings in which these bacteria flourish. Interestingly, aquatic actinomycetes have unique genetic sequences that allow them to synthesize unique secondary metabolites that are uncommon in terrestrial species. Historically, secondary metabolites derived from actinomycetes have significantly contributed to human medicine, yielding antibiotics, immunosuppressants, and herbicides, exemplified by the notable discovery of streptomycin in 1943. Novel actinomycete strains derived from various environmental sources are being highly studied in the Carlson laboratory. Bacterial isolates are then cultivated in liquid growth media, particularly A1 or AIDI, and stored through cryogenic storage using diversity plating techniques. Solvents like acetone and ethyl acetate are used in extraction processes, and silica based chromatography is then used for fractionation. Future research will rigorously screen these fractions for antibiotic activity, highlighting ongoing attempts to identify new bioactive compounds from populations of aquatic actinomycetes.
