The antibiotic TA of Myxococcus xanthus is produced by a type‐I polyketide synthase mechanism. Previous studies have indicated that TA genes are clustered within a 36‐kb region. The chemical structure of TA indicates the need for several post‐modification steps, which are introduced to form the final bioactive molecule. These include three C‐methylations, an O‐methylation and a specific hydroxylation. In this study, we describe the genetic analysis of taK, encoding a specific polyketide β‐ketoacyl:acyl carrier protein synthase, which contains an unusual β‐ketoacyl synthase and acyltransferase motifs and is likely to be involved in antibiotic TA post‐modification. Functional analysis of this β‐ketoacyl:acyl carrier protein synthase by specific gene disruption suggests that it is essential for the production of an active TA molecule.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.