Phosphate regulator PhoP directly and indirectly controls transcription of the erythromycin biosynthesis genes in Saccharopolyspora erythraea.

These findings provide evidence that PhoP mediates the interplay between phosphate/nitrogen metabolism and secondary metabolism by integrating phosphate/nitrogen signals to modulate the erythromycin biosynthesis. Our study reveals a molecular mechanism underlying antibiotic production, and suggests new possibilities for designing metabolic engineering and fermentation optimization strategies for increasing antibiotics yield.