ABSTRACT
Abyssomicinâ C and its atropisomer are potent inhibitors of bacterial folate metabolism. They possess complex polycyclic structures, and their biosynthesis has been shown to involve several unusual enzymatic transformations. Using a combination of synthesis and in vitro assays we reveal that AbyV, a cytochromeâ P450 enzyme from the aby gene cluster, catalyses a key late-stage epoxidation required for the installation of the characteristic ether-bridged core of abyssomicinâ C. The X-ray crystal structure of AbyV has been determined, which in combination with molecular dynamics simulations provides a structural framework for our functional data. This work demonstrates the power of combining selective carbon-13 labelling with NMR spectroscopy as a sensitive tool to interrogate enzyme-catalysed reactions in vitro with no need for purification.
Subject(s)
Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic , Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System , Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System/metabolism , Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic/pharmacology , Molecular Dynamics Simulation , Secondary MetabolismABSTRACT
Abyssomicinâ C and its atropisomer are potent inhibitors of bacterial folate metabolism. They possess complex polycyclic structures, and their biosynthesis has been shown to involve several unusual enzymatic transformations. Using a combination of synthesis and in vitro assays we reveal that AbyV, a cytochromeâ P450 enzyme from the aby gene cluster, catalyses a key late-stage epoxidation required for the installation of the characteristic ether-bridged core of abyssomicinâ C. The X-ray crystal structure of AbyV has been determined, which in combination with molecular dynamics simulations provides a structural framework for our functional data. This work demonstrates the power of combining selective carbon-13 labelling with NMR spectroscopy as a sensitive tool to interrogate enzyme-catalysed reactions in vitro with no need for purification.