Incorporation of nonmethyl branches by isoprenoid-like logic: multiple beta-alkylation events in the biosynthesis of myxovirescin A1.

ABSTRACT: Several polyketide secondary metabolites are predicted to undergo isoprenoid-like beta-alkylations during biosynthesis. One such secondary metabolite is myxovirescin A1, produced by Myxococcus xanthus. Myxovirescin is of special interest in that it appears to undergo two distinct beta-alkylations. Additionally, the myxovirescin biosynthetic gene cluster lacks tandem thiolation domains required in the synthesis of other beta-branched secondary metabolites. To probe the origins of the beta-branches in myxovirescin, we heterologously overexpressed the proteins predicted to be responsible for myxovirescin beta-alkylation and reconstituted their activities in vitro on model substrates. Our results confirm that myxovirescin undergoes two isoprenoid-like beta-alkylations during its biosynthesis,

SUBMITTER: Calderone CT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2084360 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature