ABSTRACT
Polyketides represent an important class of natural products, renowned for their intricate structures and diverse biological activities. In contrast to common fatty acids, polyketides possess relatively more rigid carbon skeletons, more complex ring systems, and chiral centers. These structural features are primarily achieved through distinctive enzymatic cyclizations and oxidations as tailoring steps. In this opinion, we discuss the recent progress in deciphering the mechanisms of cyclization and oxidation within polyketide biosynthesis. By shedding light on these enzymatic processes, this article seeks to motivate the community to unravel the remaining mysteries surrounding cyclase and oxidase functionalities and to explore novel polyketide natural products through genome mining.
Subject(s)
Oxidation-Reduction , Polyketides , Polyketides/metabolism , Polyketides/chemistry , Cyclization , Biological Products/metabolism , Biological Products/chemistry , Polyketide Synthases/metabolismABSTRACT
A fungus strain, Neopestalotiopsis clavispora AL01, was isolated from the leaf spot of the plant Phoenix dactylifera. Further chemical investigation of the fermentation extract of this strain afforded six new secondary metabolites (1-6), along with 11 known compounds (7-17) which included a new natural compound (7). Their structures were determined by extensive spectroscopic analysis including one-and two-dimensional (1D and 2D) NMR spectroscopy, high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HRESIMS), and ECD and NMR calculations. All compounds were evaluated for their phytotoxic activities. Among them, compounds 10, 12 and 13 exhibited phytotoxic activities against Nicotiana tabacum. Compound 3 exhibited weak antibacterial activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus luteus and Vibrio harveyi. Taken collectively, these findings establish a solid research foundation for future investigations on bioactive natural products derived from phytopathogenic fungi.
Subject(s)
Anti-Bacterial Agents , Polyketides , Terpenes , Molecular Structure , Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology , Anti-Bacterial Agents/isolation & purification , Anti-Bacterial Agents/chemistry , Polyketides/pharmacology , Polyketides/isolation & purification , Polyketides/chemistry , Terpenes/pharmacology , Terpenes/isolation & purification , Plant Leaves/chemistry , Nicotiana , Microbial Sensitivity Tests , China , Biological Products/pharmacology , Biological Products/isolation & purification , Biological Products/chemistry , Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus/drug effectsABSTRACT
Cinnamoyl-containing nonribosomal peptides (CCNPs) constitute a unique family of actinobacterial secondary metabolites that display a broad spectrum of biological activities. Here, we present a genome mining approach targeting cyclase and is isomerase to discover new CCNPs, which led to the identification of 207 putative CCNP gene clusters from public bacterial genome databases. After strain prioritization, a novel class of CCNP-type glycopeptides named malacinnamycin was identified. A plausible biosynthetic pathway for malacinnamycin was deduced by bioinformatics analysis.
Subject(s)
Computational Biology , Peptides , Biosynthetic Pathways/genetics , Genome, Bacterial , Multigene Family , Cinnamates/chemistryABSTRACT
Cyclic peptides with cyclophane linkers are an attractive compound type owing to the fine-tuned rigid three-dimensional structures and unusual biophysical features. Cytochrome P450 enzymes are capable of catalyzing not only the C-C and C-O oxidative coupling reactions found in vancomycin and other nonribosomal peptides (NRPs), but they also exhibit novel catalytic activities to generate cyclic ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs) through cyclophane linkage. To discover more P450-modified multicyclic RiPPs, we set out to find cryptic and unknown P450-modified RiPP biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) through genome mining. Synergized bioinformatic analysis reveals that P450-modified RiPP BGCs are broadly distributed in bacteria and can be classified into 11â classes. Focusing on two classes of P450-modified RiPP BGCs where precursor peptides contain multiple conserved aromatic amino acid residues, we characterized 11 novel P450-modified multicyclic RiPPs with different cyclophane linkers through heterologous expression. Further mutation of the key ring-forming residues and combinatorial biosynthesis study revealed the order of bond formation and the specificity of P450s. This study reveals the functional diversity of P450 enzymes involved in the cyclophane-containing RiPPs and indicates that P450 enzymes are promising tools for rapidly obtaining structurally diverse cyclic peptide derivatives.
Subject(s)
Biological Products , Cyclophanes , Peptides/chemistry , Peptides, Cyclic/chemistry , Computational Biology/methods , Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System/metabolism , Protein Processing, Post-Translational , Biological Products/chemistryABSTRACT
Cyclization of linear peptides is an effective strategy to convert flexible molecules into rigid compounds, which is of great significance for enhancing the peptide stability and bioactivity. Despite significant advances in the past few decades, Nature and chemists' ability to macrocyclize linear peptides is still quite limited. P450 enzymes have been reported to catalyze macrocyclization of peptides through cross-linkers between aromatic amino acids with only three examples. Herein, we developed an efficient workflow for the identification of P450-modified RiPPs in bacterial genomes, resulting in the discovery of a large number of P450-modified RiPP gene clusters. Combined with subsequent expression and structural characterization of the products, we have identified 11 novel P450-modified RiPPs with different cross-linking patterns from four distinct classes. Our results greatly expand the structural diversity of P450-modified RiPPs and provide new insights and enzymatic tools for the production of cyclic peptides.
Subject(s)
Biological Products , Ribosomes , Ribosomes/metabolism , Peptides/chemistry , Peptides, Cyclic/chemistry , Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System/metabolism , Protein Processing, Post-Translational , Biological Products/chemistryABSTRACT
Phomactin diterpenoids possess a unique bicyclo[9.3.1]pentadecane skeleton with multiple oxidative modifications, and are good platelet-activating factor (PAF) antagonists that can inhibit PAF-induced platelet aggregation. In this study, we identified the gene cluster (phm) responsible for the biosynthesis of phomactins from a marine fungus, Phoma sp. ATCC 74077. Despite the complexity of their structures, phomactin biosynthesis only requires two enzymes: a type I diterpene cyclase PhmA and a P450 monooxygenase PhmC. PhmA was found to catalyze the formation of the phomactatriene, while PhmC sequentially catalyzes the oxidation of multiple sites, leading to the generation of structurally diverse phomactins. The rearrangement mechanism of the diterpene scaffold was investigated through isotope labeling experiments. Additionally, we obtained the crystal complex of PhmA with its substrate analogue FGGPP and elucidated the novel metal-ion-binding mode and enzymatic mechanism of PhmA through site-directed mutagenesis. This study provides the first insight into the biosynthesis of phomactins, laying the foundation for the efficient production of phomactin natural products using synthetic biology approaches.
Subject(s)
Diterpenes , Platelet Activating Factor , FungiABSTRACT
The objectives of this study were (1) to investigate the effect of extracts from some plants in the families Nelumbonaceae and Nymphaeaceae on phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) and arginase, which have been used in erectile dysfunction treatment, and (2) to isolate and identify the compounds responsible for such activities. The characterization and quantitative analysis of flavonoid constituents in the active extracts were performed by HPLC. Thirty-seven ethanolic extracts from different parts of plants in the genus Nymphaea and Victoria of Nymphaeaceae and genus Nelumbo of Nelumbonaceae were screened for PDE5 and arginase inhibitory activities. The ethanolic extracts of the receptacles and pollens of Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn., petals of Nymphaea cyanea Roxb. ex G.Don, Nymphaea stellata Willd., and Victoria amazonica (Poepp.) Sowerby and the petals and receptacles of Nymphaea pubescens Willd. showed IC50 values on PDE5 of less than 25 µg/mL while none of the extracts showed effects on arginase. The most active extract, N. pubescens petal extract, was fractionated to isolate and identify the PDE5 inhibitors. The results showed that six flavonoid constituents including quercetin 3'-O-ß-xylopyranoside (1), quercetin 3-methyl ether 3'-O-ß-xylopyranoside (2), quercetin (3), 3-O-methylquercetin (4), kaempferol (5) and 3-O-methylkaempferol (6) inhibited PDE5 with IC50 values at the micromolar level.
Subject(s)
Nelumbo , Nelumbonaceae , Nymphaea , Nymphaeaceae , Humans , Male , Quercetin , Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 5 , Arginase , Plant Extracts/pharmacology , Flavonoids/analysisABSTRACT
Terpenoids comprise the most chemically and structurally diverse family of natural products. In contrast to the huge numbers of terpenoids discovered from plants and fungi, only a relatively small number of terpenoids were reported from bacteria. Recent genomic data in bacteria suggest that a large number of biosynthetic gene clusters encoding terpenoids remain uncharacterized. In order to enable the functional characterization of terpene synthase and relevant tailoring enzymes, we selected and optimized an expression system based on a Streptomyces chassis. Through genome mining, 16 distinct bacterial terpene biosynthetic gene clusters were selected and 13 of them were successfully expressed in the Streptomyces chassis, leading to characterization of 11 terpene skeletons including three new ones, representing an â¼80% success rate. In addition, after functional expression of tailoring genes, 18 novel distinct terpenoids were isolated and characterized. This work demonstrates the advantages of a Streptomyces chassis which not only enabled the successful production of bacterial terpene synthases, but also enabled functional expression of tailoring genes, especially P450, for terpenoid modification.
ABSTRACT
Flavoprotein monooxygenases (FPMOs) play important roles in generating structural complexity and diversity in natural products biosynthesized by typeâ II polyketide synthases (PKSs). In this study, we used genome mining to discover novel mutaxanthene analogues and investigated the biosynthesis of these aromatic polyketides and their unusual xanthene framework. We determined the complete biosynthetic pathway of mutaxathene through in vivo gene deletion and in vitro biochemical experiments. We show that a multifunctional FPMO, MtxO4, catalyzes ring rearrangement and generates the required xanthene ring through a multistep transformation. In addition, we successfully obtained all necessary enzymes for in vitro reconstitution and completed the total biosynthesis of mutaxanthene in a stepwise manner. Our results revealed the formation of a rare xanthene ring in typeâ II polyketide biosynthesis, and demonstrate the potential of using total biosynthesis for the discovery of natural products synthesized by typeâ II PKSs.
Subject(s)
Biological Products , Polyketides , Polyketide Synthases/metabolism , Mixed Function Oxygenases/genetics , Mixed Function Oxygenases/metabolism , Polyketides/chemistry , Secondary Metabolism , Biological Products/chemistryABSTRACT
Lorneic acid and related natural products are characterized by a trialkyl-substituted benzene ring. The formation of the aromatic core in the middle of the polyketide chain is unusual. We characterized a cytochromeâ P450 enzyme that can catalyze the hallmark benzene ring formation from an acyclic polyene substrate through genetic and biochemical analysis. Using this P450 as a beacon for genome mining, we obtained 12 homologous type I polyketide synthase (PKS) gene clusters, among which two gene clusters are activated and able to produce trialkyl-substituted aromatic polyketides. Quantum chemical calculations were performed to elucidate the plausible mechanism for P450-catalyzed benzene ring formation. Our work expands our knowledge of the catalytic diversity of cytochromeâ P450.
Subject(s)
Polyketides , Polyketides/chemistry , Benzene , Polyketide Synthases/genetics , Polyketide Synthases/metabolism , Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System , Secondary MetabolismABSTRACT
Tetracyclines are a class of antibiotics that exhibited potent activity against a wide range of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, yet only five members were isolated from actinobacteria, with two of them approved as clinical drugs. In this work, we developed a genome mining strategy using a TetR/MarR-transporter, a pair of common resistance enzymes in tetracycline biosynthesis, as probes to find the potential tetracycline gene clusters in the actinobacteria genome database. Further refinement using the phylogenetic analysis of chain length factors resulted in the discovery of 25 distinct tetracycline gene clusters, which finally resulted in the isolation and characterization of a novel tetracycline, hainancycline (1). Through genetic and biochemical studies, we elucidated the biosynthetic pathway of 1, which involves a complex glycosylation process. Our work discloses nature's huge capacity to generate diverse tetracyclines and expands the chemical diversity of tetracyclines.
ABSTRACT
Focusing on the cycloadditions, which have been widely utilized in total synthesis, this perspective reviews the flourish research of pericyclase for cycloaddition and discusses existing challenges.
ABSTRACT
Six new (1-6) and seven known depsidones (7-13) were isolated from the culture of an ant (Monomorium chinensis)-derived fungus Spiromastix sp. MY-1. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis including high resolution MS, 1D and 2D NMR data. The new bromide depsidones were obtained through supplementing potassium bromide in the fermentation medium of Spiromastix sp. MY-1. All isolated compounds showed various bioactivities against the tested phytopathogenic bacteria. Particularly, new bromide compound 4, named spiromastixone S, exhibited the strongest activity against Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae with a MIC value of 5.2 µmol·-1.
Subject(s)
Ants , Bromides , Animals , Anti-Bacterial Agents , Depsides , Fungi , Lactones , Microbial Sensitivity Tests , Molecular StructureABSTRACT
Macrocyclization is an important process that affords morphed scaffold in biosynthesis of bioactive natural products. Nature has adapted diverse biosynthetic strategies to form macrocycles. In this work, we report the identification and characterization of a small enzyme AvmM that can catalyze the construction of a 16-membered macrocyclic ring in the biosynthesis of alchivemycin A (1). We show through in vivo gene deletion, in vitro biochemical assay and isotope labelling experiments that AvmM catalyzes tandem dehydration and Michael-type addition to generate the core scaffold of 1. Mechanistic studies by crystallography, DFT calculations and MD simulations of AvmM reveal that the reactions are achieved with assistance from the special tenuazonic acid like moiety of substrate. Our results thus uncover an uncharacterized macrocyclization strategy in natural product biosynthesis.
Subject(s)
Biological Products , Dehydration , Catalysis , Cyclization , Humans , MacrolidesABSTRACT
Sordarin (1) is a fungal diterpene glycoside that displays potent antifungal bioactivity through inhibition of elongation factor 2. The structures of sordarin and related compounds feature a highly rearranged tetracyclic diterpene core. In this study, we identified a concise pathway in the biosynthesis of sordarin. A diterpene cyclase (SdnA) generates the 5/8/5 cycloaraneosene framework, which is decorated by a set of P450s that catalyze a series of oxidation reactions, including hydroxylation, desaturation, and C-C bond oxidative cleavage, to give a carboxylate intermediate with a terminal alkene and a cyclopentadiene moiety. A novel Diels-Alderase SdnG catalyzes an intramolecular Diels-Alder (IMDA) reaction on this intermediate to forge the sordarin core structure. Subsequent methyl hydroxylation and glycosylation complete the biosynthesis of sordarin. Our work discloses a new strategy used by nature for the formation of the rearranged diterpene skeleton.
Subject(s)
Diterpenes , Indenes , Diterpenes/chemistry , Indenes/chemistry , Norbornanes , SkeletonABSTRACT
Spirocitromycetin, an antiosteoporotic polyketide bearing a unique spirocycle, was characterized from a human mucus sputum-derived Penicillium velutinum. Its structure and absolute configuration were elucidated spectrally, with its biosynthetic pathway likely mediated via polivione, a reported heptaketide. Spirocitromycetin was shown to be antiosteoporotic at 0.1 µM in the prednisolone-induced osteoporotic zebrafish model. A combination of spirocitromycetin variant synthesis and bioassay has identified 5'-methyl-3'H-spiro[chromane-3,2'-furan]-3',4-dione as an unreported antiosteroporotic pharmacophore. Collectively, this work offers new starting (sub)structures that may be of significance for antiosteoporotic drug discovery.
Subject(s)
Polyketides , Animals , Molecular Structure , Polyketides/pharmacology , ZebrafishABSTRACT
Cinnamoyl-containing natural products (CCNPs) are a small class of bacterial metabolites with notable bioactivities. The biosynthesis of cinnamoyl moiety has been proposed to be assembled by an unusual highly reducing (HR) type II polyketide synthases (PKS). However, the biosynthetic route, especially the cyclization step for the benzene ring formation, remains unclear. In this work, we successfully reconstituted the pathway of cinnamoyl moiety in kitacinnamycin biosynthesis through a step-wise approach in vitro and demonstrated that a three-protein complex, Kcn17-Kcn18-Kcn19, can catalyze 6π-electrocyclization followed by dehydrogenation to form the benzene ring. We found that the three-protein homologues were widely distributed among 207 HR type II PKS biosynthetic gene clusters including five known CCNPs. In contrast, in the biosynthesis of youssoufene, a cinnamoyl-containing polyene, we identified that the benzene ring formation was accomplished by a distinct orphan protein. Thus, our work resolved the long-standing mystery in cinnamoyl biosynthesis and revealed two distinct enzymes that can synthesize benzene rings via polyene precursors.
Subject(s)
Biological Products , Polyketide Synthases , Benzene , Biological Products/metabolism , Cyclization , Multigene Family , Polyenes , Polyketide Synthases/metabolismABSTRACT
The enzyme NgnD catalyzes an ambimodal cycloaddition that bifurcates to [6+4]- and [4+2]-adducts. Both products have been isolated in experiments, but it remains unknown how enzyme and water influence the bifurcation selectivity at the femtosecond time scale. Here, we study the impact of water and enzyme on the post-transition state bifurcation of NgnD-catalyzed [6+4]/[4+2] cycloaddition by integrating quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics quasiclassical dynamics simulations and biochemical assays. The ratio of [6+4]/[4+2] products significantly differs in the gas phase, water, and enzyme. Biochemical assays were employed to validate computational predictions. The study informs how water and enzyme affect the bifurcation selectivity through perturbation of the reaction dynamics in the femtosecond time scale, revealing the fundamental roles of condensed media in dynamically controlling the chemical selectivity for biosynthetic reactions.
Subject(s)
Bacterial Proteins/chemistry , Carbon-Carbon Lyases/chemistry , Water/chemistry , Bacterial Proteins/metabolism , Biocatalysis , Carbon-Carbon Lyases/metabolism , Catalytic Domain , Cycloaddition Reaction , Density Functional Theory , Lactones/chemistry , Lactones/metabolism , Models, Chemical , Molecular Dynamics Simulation , Nocardia/enzymology , Protein BindingABSTRACT
Redox tailoring enzymes play key roles in generating structural complexity and diversity in typeâ II polyketides. In chartreusin biosynthesis, the early 13 C-labeling experiments and bioinformatic analysis suggest the unusual aglycone is originated from a tetracyclic anthracyclic polyketide. Here, we demonstrated that the carbon skeleton rearrangement from a linear anthracyclic polyketide to an angular pentacyclic biosynthetic intermediate requires two redox enzymes. The flavin-dependent monooxygenase ChaZ catalyses a Baeyer-Villiger oxidation on resomycin C to form a seven-membered lactone. Subsequently, a ketoreductase ChaE rearranges the carbon skeleton and affords the α-pyrone containing pentacyclic intermediate in an NADPH-dependent manner via tandem reactions including the reduction of the lactone carbonyl group, Aldol-type reaction, followed by a spontaneous γ-lactone ring formation, oxidation and aromatization. Our work reveals an unprecedented function of a ketoreductase that contributes to generate structural complexity of aromatic polyketide.