''Streptomyces hygroscopicus'' is a bacterial species in the genus '' Streptomyces''. It was first described by Hans Laurits Jensen in 1931.

Biochemistry

Cultures of different strains of ''S. hygroscopicus'' can be used to produce a number of chemical compounds or enzymes.

Small molecules

Immunosuppressants

Sirolimus Sirolimus, also known as rapamycin and sold under the brand name Rapamune among others, is a macrolide compound that is used to coat coronary stents, prevent organ transplant rejection, treat a rare lung disease called lymphangioleiomyomatosi ...

(also known as

rapamycin Sirolimus, also known as rapamycin and sold under the brand name Rapamune among others, is a macrolide compound that is used to coat coronary stents, prevent organ transplant rejection, treat a rare lung disease called lymphangioleiomyomatosi ...

) is an

immunosuppressant Immunosuppressive drugs, also known as immunosuppressive agents, immunosuppressants and antirejection medications, are drugs that inhibit or prevent activity of the immune system. Classification Immunosuppressive drugs can be classified in ...

that has been isolated from ''S. hygroscopicus'' from soil samples from

Easter Island Easter Island ( rap, Rapa Nui; es, Isla de Pascua) is an island and special territory of Chile in the southeastern Pacific Ocean, at the southeasternmost point of the Polynesian Triangle in Oceania. The island is most famous for its ne ...

Ascomycin Ascomycin, also called Immunomycin, FR-900520, FK520, is an ethyl analog of tacrolimus (FK506) with strong immunosuppressant properties. It has been researched for the treatment of autoimmune diseases and skin diseases, and to prevent rejection ...

can be used to treat autoimmune diseases and skin diseases, and can help prevent rejection after an organ transplant.

Antibiotics

The antibiotics

geldanamycin Geldanamycin is a 1,4-benzoquinone ansamycin antitumor antibiotic that inhibits the function of Hsp90 (Heat Shock Protein 90) by binding to the unusual ADP/ATP-binding pocket of the protein. HSP90 client proteins play important roles in the regula ...

hygromycin B Hygromycin B is an antibiotic produced by the bacterium '' Streptomyces hygroscopicus''. It is an aminoglycoside that kills bacteria, fungi and higher eukaryotic cells by inhibiting protein synthesis. History Hygromycin B was originally devel ...

nigericin Nigericin is an antibiotic derived from '' Streptomyces hygroscopicus''. Its isolation was described in the 1950s, and in 1968 the structure could be elucidated by X-ray crystallography. The structure and properties of nigericin are similar to th ...

, validamycin, and cyclothiazomycin are found in ''S. hygroscopicus''.

Experimental cancer drugs

Indolocarbazole Indolocarbazoles (ICZs) are a class of compounds that are under current study due to their potential as anti-cancer drugs and the prospective number of derivatives and uses found from the basic backbone alone. First isolated in 1977, a wide range o ...

s can be found in ''S. hygroscopicus'' .

Anthelmintics and insecticides

Milbemycin and milbemycin oxime can be found in ''S. hygroscopicus'' cultures.

Herbicide

''S. hygroscopicus'' also produces the natural herbicide

bialaphos Bialaphos is a natural herbicide produced by the bacteria ''Streptomyces hygroscopicus'' and ''Streptomyces viridochromogenes''. Bialaphos is a protoxin and nontoxic as is. When it is metabolized by the plant, the glutamic acid analog glufosinate ...

Enzymes

The enzymes alpha,alpha-trehalose-phosphate synthase (GDP-forming), carboxyvinyl-carboxyphosphonate phosphorylmutase and hygromycin-B kinase can be isolated from cultures of ''S. hygroscopicus''.

References

External links

Type strain of ''Streptomyces hygroscopicus'' at Bac''Dive'' - the Bacterial Diversity Metadatabase
hygroscopicus Bacteria described in 1931 {{Streptomyces-stub