Structural modeling and site-directed mutagenesis of the actinorhodin beta-ketoacyl-acyl carrier protein synthase.

A three-dimensional model of the Streptomyces coelicolor actinorhodin beta-ketoacyl synthase (Act KS) was constructed based on the X-ray crystal structure of the related Escherichia coli fatty acid synthase condensing enzyme beta-ketoacyl synthase II, revealing a similar catalytic active site organization in these two enzymes. The model was assessed by site-directed mutagenesis of five conserved amino acid residues in Act KS that are in close proximity to the Cys169 active site. Three substitutions completely abrogated polyketide biosynthesis, while two replacements resulted in significant reduction in polyketide production. (3)H-cerulenin labeling of the various Act KS mutant proteins demonstrated that none of the amino acid replacements affected the formation of the active site nucleophile.

Biosynthetically diverse compounds from a saltwater culture of sponge-derived Aspergillus niger.

The new compound, asperic acid (1), and the known compounds hexylitaconic acid (2), malformin C (3), pyrophen (4), and asperazine (5) were isolated from the saltwater culture of Aspergillus niger derived from a Caribbean sponge, Hyrtios proteus. The structure elucidation of asperic acid is presented.

Molecular characterization and analysis of the biosynthetic gene cluster for the antitumor antibiotic mitomycin C from Streptomyces lavendulae NRRL 2564.

BACKGROUND: The mitomycins are natural products that contain a variety of functional groups, including aminobenzoquinone- and aziridine-ring systems. Mitomycin C (MC) was the first recognized bioreductive alkylating agent, and has been widely used clinically for antitumor therapy. Precursor-feeding studies showed that MC is derived from 3-amino-5-hydroxybenzoic acid (AHBA), D-glucosamine, L-methionine and carbamoyl phosphate. A genetically linked AHBA biosynthetic gene and MC resistance genes were identified previously in the MC producer Streptomyces lavendulae NRRL 2564. We set out to identify other genes involved in MC biosynthesis. RESULTS: A cluster of 47 genes spanning 55 kilobases of S. lavendulae DNA governs MC biosynthesis. Fourteen of 22 disruption mutants did not express or overexpressed MC. Seven gene products probably assemble the AHBA intermediate through a variant of the shikimate pathway. The gene encoding the first presumed enzyme in AHBA biosynthesis is not, however, linked within the MC cluster. Candidate genes for mitosane nucleus formation and functionalization were identified. A putative MC translocase was identified that comprises a novel drug-binding and export system, which confers cellular self-protection on S. lavendulae. Two regulatory genes were also identified. CONCLUSIONS: The overall architecture of the MC biosynthetic gene cluster in S. lavendulae has been determined. Targeted manipulation of a putative MC pathway regulator led to a substantial increase in drug production. The cloned genes should help elucidate the molecular basis for creation of the mitosane ring system, as well efforts to engineer the biosynthesis of novel natural products.

Genetic localization and molecular characterization of two key genes (mitAB) required for biosynthesis of the antitumor antibiotic mitomycin C.

Mitomycin C (MC) is an antitumor antibiotic derived biosynthetically from 3-amino-5-hydroxybenzoic acid (AHBA), D-glucosamine, and carbamoyl phosphate. A gene (mitA) involved in synthesis of AHBA has been identified and found to be linked to the MC resistance locus, mrd, in Streptomyces lavendulae. Nucleotide sequence analysis showed that mitA encodes a 388-amino-acid protein that has 71% identity (80% similarity) with the rifamycin AHBA synthase from Amycolatopsis mediterranei, as well as with two additional AHBA synthases from related ansamycin antibiotic-producing microorganisms. Gene disruption and site-directed mutagenesis of the S. lavendulae chromosomal copy of mitA completely blocked the production of MC. The function of mitA was confirmed by complementation of an S. lavendulae strain containing a K191A mutation in MitA with AHBA. A second gene (mitB) encoding a 272-amino-acid protein (related to a group of glycosyltransferases) was identified immediately downstream of mitA that upon disruption resulted in abrogation of MC synthesis. This work has localized a cluster of key genes that mediate assembly of the unique mitosane class of natural products.

The structures and cytotoxic properties of polyketide peroxides from a Plakortis sponge.

A morphologically distinct Fijian sponge, Plakortis sp., has yielded two new peroxides, plakortolide E [5] and plakoric acid [12]. After standing for approximately one year, plakortolide E rearranged to plakortolide ether [10]. The structures of plakortolide E [5] and plakortolide ether [10] were established from 2D nmr data and by analogy to a known compound, plakortolide [3]. The stereochemistry of the bicyclic ring substituents of 5 was established using nOe and NOESY nmr data along with comparisons to 3. The absolute stereochemistry at the three chiral sites of 5 was assigned by preparing acyclic compounds 6-9, and both 8 and 9 were investigated using the modified Mosher's method. This represents the first absolute stereochemistry determination for a sponge-derived polyketide peroxide. The characterization of plakoric acid [12] was based on spectral analogies to known polyketides such as plakortin. Plakortolide E [5] exhibited selective potency against the melanoma and breast tumor cell lines in the in vitro 60-cell line panel of the National Cancer Institute.