The genus Streptosporangium includes actinomycetes
isolated mainly from soil, characterized by their ability
to form a stable substrate mycelium and aerial hyphae
carrying spore vesicles with a chain of nonmotile arthrospores.
Thirteen species and one subspecies have been
described within this genus. Although studies based on
phenotypic properties (1) suggest that this genus is markedly
underspeciated, other studies focused on the 16s
rDNA sequence demonstrate that these organisms form
a very homogeneous taxon (2).
The ability of the members of this genus to produce
secondary metabolites of industrial interest has been extensively
reported; e.g. antibiotics such as chloramphenicol
(3), platomycin (4), 1,6-dihydroxy-2-chlorophenazide
(5) and dehydrosinefungin (6), and other potentially
useful substances such as endothelin-converting
enzyme inhibitors (7), inhibitors of lactic acid production
by oral flora (8) and insecticidal compounds (9).
The heterogeneous nature of these molecules suggests
that the secondary metabolic pathways of the species
included in this genus are highly variable. It would
thus be of interest to study in greater detail some aspects
of their basic physiology, such as their nutritional preferences,
in order to exploit their potential as producers of
novel secondary metabolites.
To achieve this objective, 1