Structural and Genetic Analysis of the BldB Protein of Streptomyces coelicolor

We have demonstrated that the bldB gene of Streptomyces coelicolor is required for the formation of aerial hyphae and the synthesis of antibiotics. We also found that BldB forms a higher-order complex (most likely a dimer) and that amino acid residues 20 to 78 are important for this interaction. This region is conserved in the BldB family, suggesting that dimer formation may be a common feature of these proteins.