The ramC gene is required for morphogenesis in Streptomyces coelicolor and expressed in a cell type-specific manner under the direct control of RamR

The bacterium Streptomyces coelicolor produces two cell types during the course of its life cycle: the aerial hyphae, which metamorphose into spores, and the substrate hyphae, which synthesize antibiotics. We show that the genes ramC and ramR are required for the production of the aerial hyphae but are dispensable for vegetative growth and antibiotic synthesis. We find that ramC is expressed in the substrate hyphae and shut off in the aerial hyphae by the time visible signs of sporulation-associated septation are evident. Production of RamC requires the developmental regulators bldD, cprA and ramR, but not bldM or bldN, and we show that the RamR protein interacts directly with DNA in the ramC promoter region suggesting that it is, at least in part, responsible for regulating ramC expression.