Genome analysis of extracellular polysaccharide-producing Streptomyces sp.. Streptomyces sp. MOE7

Microbial extracellular polysaccharides (EPS) are high-molecular weight compounds mainly composed of carbohydrates, and are secreted by microorganisms into the surrounding growth medium. EPS have interesting rheological and chemical properties and accordingly are involved in a wide range of pharmaceuticals and industrial applications in addition to mediating a variety of physiological activities in humans. Although EPS production is extensively studied in various bacteria, very little is known about their production from Streptomyces spp., a genus of the phylum Actinobacteria. In this study, an EPS-producing Streptomyces species was isolated from the soil of Columbia, Missouri, USA, the genome was sequenced, and the strain was characterized for EPS composition, biological activities and chemistry.