As the key component of many biosynthetic assemblies, acyl-carrier proteins offer a robust entry point for introduction of small molecule probes and pathway intermediates. Current labeling strategies primarily rely on modifications to the phosphopantetheine cofactor or its biosynthetic precursors followed by attachment to the apo form of a given carrier protein. As a greatly simplified alternative, direct and selective acylation of holo-acyl-carrier proteins using readily accessible β-lactones as electrophilic partners for the phosphopantetheine-thiol has been demonstrated.
Fluvirucin B1, produced by Actinomadura vulgaris, is a 14-membered macrolactam active against a variety of infectious fungi as well as influenza A. Despite considerable interest from the synthetic community, very little information is available regarding the biosynthetic origins of the fluvirucins. Herein, we report the identification and initial characterization of the fluvirucin B1 polyketide synthase and related enzymes. The cluster consists of five extender modules flanked by an N-terminal acyl carrier protein and C-terminal thioesterase domain. All but one of the synthase modules contain the full complement of tailoring domains (ketoreductase, dehydratase, and enoyl reductase) as determined by sequence homology with known polyketide synthases. Acitve site analyses of several key components of the cluster are performed to further verify that this gene cluster is associated with production of fluvirucin B1. This work will both open doors toward a better understanding of macrolactam formation and provide an avenue to genetics-based diversification of fluvirucin structure.
Acyl carrier proteins are critical components of fatty acid and polyketide biosynthesis. Their primary function is to shuttle intermediates between active sites via a covalently bound phosphopantetheine arm. Small molecules capable of acylating this prosthetic group will provide a simple and reversible means of introducing novel functionality onto carrier protein domains. A series of N-activated β-lactams are prepared to examine site-specific acylation of the phosphopantetheine-thiol. In general, β-lactams are found to be significantly more reactive than our previously studied β-lactones. Selectivity for the holo over apo-form of acyl carrier proteins is demonstrated indicating that only the phosphopantetheine-thiol is modified. Incorporation of an N-propargyloxycarbonyl group provides an alkyne handle for conjugation to fluorophores and affinity labels. The utility of these groups for mechanistic interrogation of a critical step in polyketide biosynthesis is examined through comparison to traditional probes. In all, we expect the probes described in this study to serve as valuable and versatile tools for mechanistic interrogation of fatty acid, polyketide, and nonribosomal peptide biosynthesis.
Since their discovery, polyketide synthases have received massive attention from researchers hoping to harness their potential as a platform for generating new and improved therapeutics. Despite significant strides toward this end, inherent specificites within the enzymes responsible for polyketide production have severely limited these efforts. We have developed a mechanism-based, fluorescence transfer assay for a key enzyme component of all polyketide synthases, the ketosynthase domain. As demonstrated, this method can be used with both ketosynthase-containing didomains and full modules. As proof of principle, the ketosynthase domain from module 6 of the 6-deoxyerythronolide synthase is examined for its ability to accept a variaty of simple thioester substrates. Consistent with its natural hexaketide substrate, we find that this ketosynthase prefers longer, α-branched thioesters and its ability to distinguish these structural features is quite remarkable. Substrate electronics are also tested via a variety of p-substituted aromatic groups. In all, we expect this technique to find considerable use in the field of polyketide biosynthesis and engineering due to its extraordinary simplicity and very distinct visible readout.
The steady rise of drug‐resistant bacteria coupled with decreasing numbers of viable therapeutics in the pharmaceutical pipeline underscores the need for novel strategies focused on rational exploration of chemical space to design and identify the next generation of antibiotics. Polyketides and non‐ribosomal peptides make up an enormous class of natural products whose unique biosynthetic assemblies provide great potential for engineered product variation in well‐defined chemical scaffolds. Unfortunately, most attempts to generate new biologically active analogs of these molecules have suffered from poor yields largely due to inherent specificity within the enzymes responsible for their production. Using an array of chemical and biological tools, our research focuses on understanding recognition motifs leading to this selectivity to potentially improve engineering efforts at both the genetic and molecular levels. If successful, this work will permit access to a wide‐variety of important compounds based on well‐studied, natural frameworks.
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