Elucidation of the substrate specificity of the ABC transporter Tba uncovers an unsuspected role in the biosynthesis of glycopeptide antibiotics

In this project, the proximal proteins of the balhimycin transporter Tba in A. balhimycina were investigated in order to elucidate potential interaction partners. Tba is an ABC transporter, which is co-encoded with biosynthetic enzymes in the biosynthetic gene cluster of the glycopeptide antibiotic (GPA) balhimycin. Little is known about the interactions and regulatory roles of GPA exporters. Therefore, a proximity biotinylation approach was used to label proximal proteins prior to identification by mass spectrometry. Tba was expressed as a fusion protein with the promiscuous biotin ligase TurboID.