Directly utilizing an endogenous gene to dissect regulatory elements in the biosynthetic gene cluster of nosiheptideElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Tables S1 and S2, Fig. S1-S5 and experimental details. See DOI: 10.1039/c4cc04974h

The regulatory elements for nosiheptide biosynthesis were identified by a novel host-vector system with an endogenous gene within the biosynthetic gene cluster as a reporter gene. The present study offers a rapid and reliable method for the identification of regulatory elements in the biosynthesis of various bioactive natural products. Coupling the deletion of an endogenous gene and a non-integrative promoter-probe vector allowed reliable identification of biosynthetic promoters of nosiheptide.