Studies on a strain of Kitasatospora sp. paclitaxel producer

The strain P&U 22869, which produces paclitaxel and related taxanes, discovered during the course of endophytic actinomycetes screening on Taxus baccata plants, was classified as Kitasatospora sp. on the basis of its morphological characteristics observed by light and scanning electron microscopy, the presence of the major constituents of its cell wall and the 16S rDNA sequence. The morphophysiological profile of the strain was compared with those of the valid and invalid species described for this genus. The paclitaxel production detected by means of monoclonal antibody assay (CIEA) was confirmed by LC-MS analysis and its concentration determined by HPLC. The de novo paclitaxel biosynthesis operated by strain P&U 22869 was demonstrated by biosynthesis experiments with labeled precursors.