biostudies-literatureLi ZRNIGMS NIH HHS773-5https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC5030165biostudies-literatureUnknown12(10)Colibactin is an as-yet-uncharacterized genotoxic secondary metabolite produced by human gut bacteria. Here we report the biosynthetic discovery of two new precolibactin molecules from Escherichia coli, including precolibactin-886, which uniquely incorporates the highly sought genotoxicity-associated aminomalonate building block into its unprecedented macrocyclic structure. This work provides new insights into the biosynthetic logic and mode of action of this colorectal-cancer-linked microbial chemical.Nature chemical biologyDivergent biosynthesis yields a cytotoxic aminomalonate-containing precolibactin.PMC5030165R01 GM085770Li JLi ZRGu JPDuggan BMLi ZLQian PYLai JYTong RBZhang WPLin DHLi YXMoore BSXu YfalseDivergent biosynthesis yields a cytotoxic aminomalonate-containing precolibactin.Colibactin is an as-yet-uncharacterized genotoxic secondary metabolite produced by human gut bacteria. Here we report the biosynthetic discovery of two new precolibactin molecules from Escherichia coli, including precolibactin-886, which uniquely incorporates the highly sought genotoxicity-associated aminomalonate building block into its unprecedented macrocyclic structure. This work provides new insights into the biosynthetic logic and mode of action of this colorectal-cancer-linked microbial chemical.2016-01-01T00:00:00Z2016 Oct2024-11-15T21:15:48.91Z2019-03-27T02:24:45ZS-EPMC50301652754792310.1038/nchembio.2157