Here we report the cloning and sequencing of the complete gene cluster encoding rebeccamycin biosynthesis from Saccharothrix aerocolonigenes ATCC39243.
We also show that the identified set of genes is necessary and sufficient for rebeccamycin production by heterologous expression in Streptomyces albus. Finally, we report the production of rebeccamycin derivatives in S. albus when transformed with selected subsets of the identified genes.