Saccharopolyspora

Saccharopolyspora is a genus of bacteria in the family Pseudonocardiaceae. It was first described in 1986 and is known for its ability to produce secondary metabolites, including antibiotics.

Taxonomy

The genus Saccharopolyspora belongs to the order Actinomycetales, suborder Pseudonocardineae, and family Pseudonocardiaceae. The genus was first described by Lacey and Goodfellow in 1986. The name Saccharopolyspora is derived from the Greek words sakcharon (sugar), polys (many), and spora (seed), referring to the many spore chains produced by these bacteria on sugar-containing media.

Characteristics

Saccharopolyspora species are aerobic, Gram-positive, non-motile, and spore-forming bacteria. They form branched substrate and aerial hyphae, with the latter often bearing chains of spores. The cell wall of Saccharopolyspora contains meso-diaminopimelic acid, and the whole-cell sugars are usually arabinose and galactose.

Metabolism

Saccharopolyspora species are known for their ability to produce secondary metabolites, including antibiotics. For example, Saccharopolyspora erythraea is the producer of the macrolide antibiotic erythromycin, which is widely used in human medicine.

Species

There are currently 37 recognized species in the genus Saccharopolyspora, including Saccharopolyspora erythraea, Saccharopolyspora hirsuta, and Saccharopolyspora spinosa. The latter produces the antibiotic spinosad, which is used in agriculture for pest control.

External links

• Saccharopolyspora at NCBI Taxonomy Browser