Biotransformation of milbemycin D to milemycin G by Streptomyces lividans conferring avermectin O-methyltransferase activity

Avermectin O-methyltransferase gene was cloned from a cosmid clone covering the first module of polyketide synthase gene cluster of avermectin biosynthesis. Streptomyces lividans transformed with a DNA fragment containing avermectin O-methyltransferase gene efficiently convert milbemycin D to milbemycin G, indicating that biosynthetic genes of milbemycin and avermectin might complement each other. © Rapid Science Ltd. 1998