Noncanonical terpene cyclases for the biosynthesis of diterpenoids regulating chlamydospore formation in plant-associated Trichoderma.

ABSTRACT: Terpene cyclases catalyze exquisite and complicated cyclization reactions to generate diverse terpenoid skeletons. Trichoderma fungi are important biocontrol agents, characteristic of producing complex bioactive tetracyclic diterpenoids named harzianes and trichodermanins, but their biosynthesis and biological functions have long been enigmatic. Here we identify TriDTCs, an unprecedented family of terpene cyclases in Trichoderma, responsible for cyclizing geranylgeranyl diphosphate (GGPP) into major diterpenes harzianol I and wickerol A, via heterologous expressions, gene deletion, and in vitro assays. TriDTCs represent a brand new class of terpene cyclases, lacking known motifs and diverging from all known enzymes. Mechanistically, TriDTCs likely employ a unique DxxDxxxD aspartate triad f

SUBMITTER: Yang MJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12370890 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature