Dekun Kong

Structural analysis and biosynthetic engineering of a solubility-improved and less-hemolytic nystatin-like polyene in Pseudonocardia autotrophica

Polyene antibiotics such as nystatin are a large family of very valuable antifungal polyketide compounds typically produced by soil actinomycetes. Previously, using a polyene cytochrome P450 hydroxylase-specific genome screening strategy, Pseudonocardia autotrophica KCTC9441 was determined to contain an approximately 125.7-kb region of contiguous DNA with a total of 23 open reading frames, which are involved in the biosynthesis and regulation of a structurally unique polyene natural product named NPP. Here, we report the complete structure of NPP, which contains an aglycone identical to nystatin and harbors a unique di-sugar moiety, mycosaminyl-(α1-4)-N-acetyl-glucosamine. A mutant generated by inactivation of a sole glycosyltransferase gene (nppDI) within the npp gene cluster can be complemented in trans either by nppDI-encoded protein or by its nystatin counterpart, NysDI, suggesting that the two sugars might be attached by two different glycosyltransferases. Compared with nystatin (which bears a single sugar moiety), the di-sugar containing NPP exhibits approximately 300-fold higher water solubility and 10-fold reduced hemolytic activity, while retaining about 50% antifungal activity against Candida albicans. These characteristics reveal NPP as a promising candidate for further development into a pharmacokinetically improved, less-cytotoxic polyene antifungal antibiotic.

Stereospecific Biosynthesis of β-Methyltryptophan from L-Tryptophan Features a Stereochemical Switch†

Make the switch: The three-enzyme cassette MarG/H/I is responsible for stereospecific biosynthesis of β-methyltryptophan from L-tryptophan (1). MarG/I convert 1 into (2S,3R)-β-methyltryptophan, while MarG/I combined with MarH convert 1 into (2S,3S)-β-methyltryptophan. MarH serves as a stereochemical switch by catalyzing the stereoinversion of the β-stereocenter.

Biosynthesis and pathway engineering of antifungal polyene macrolides in actinomycetes

Polyene macrolides are a large family of natural products typically produced by soil actinomycetes. Polyene macrolides are usually biosynthesized by modular and large type I polyketide synthases (PKSs), followed by several steps of sequential post-PKS modifications such as region-specific oxidations and glycosylations. Although known as powerful antibiotics containing potent antifungal activities (along with additional activities against parasites, enveloped viruses and prion diseases), their high toxicity toward mammalian cells and poor distribution in tissues have led to the continuous identification and structural modification of polyene macrolides to expand their general uses. Advances in in-depth investigations of the biosynthetic mechanism of polyene macrolides and the genetic manipulations of the polyene biosynthetic pathways provide great opportunities to generate new analogues. Recently, a novel class of polyene antibiotics was discovered (a disaccharide-containing NPP) that displays better pharmacological properties such as improved water-solubility and reduced hemolysis. In this review, we summarize the recent advances in the biosynthesis, pathway engineering, and regulation of polyene antibiotics in actinomycetes.

A Trans-Acting Ketoreductase in Biosynthesis of a Symmetric Polyketide Dimer SIA7248

NEW ASSEMBLY LINE, NEW COMPOUND: SIA7248, a new symmetric macrolide, was isolated from a marine-derived Streptomyces strain. Bioinformatic analyses of the identified biosynthetic gene cluster (sia) for SIA7248 suggested a polyketide biosynthesis utilizing an iteratively trans-acting ketoreductase (KR). We characterized SiaM as a trans-KR to catalyse reductions of various β-ketoacyl-thioesters with D-stereospecificity.

Identification of (2S,3S)-β-Methyltryptophan as the Real Biosynthetic Intermediate of Antitumor Agent Streptonigrin.

Streptonigrin is a potent antitumor antibiotic, active against a wide range of mammalian tumor cells. It was reported that its biosynthesis relies on (2S,3R)-β-methyltryptophan as an intermediate. In this study, the biosynthesis of (2S,3R)-β-methyltryptophan and its isomer (2S,3S)-β-methyltryptophan by enzymes from the streptonigrin biosynthetic pathway is demonstrated. StnR is a pyridoxal 5′-phosphate (PLP)-dependent aminotransferase that catalyzes a transamination between L-tryptophan and β-methyl indolepyruvate. StnQ1 is an S-adenosylmethionine (SAM)-dependent C-methyltransferase and catalyzes β-methylation of indolepyruvate to generate (R)-β-methyl indolepyruvate. Although StnR exhibited a significant preference for (S)-β-methyl indolepyruvate over the (R)-epimer, StnQ1 and StnR together catalyze (2S,3R)-β-methyltryptophan formation from L-tryptophan. StnK3 is a cupin superfamily protein responsible for conversion of (R)-β-methyl indolepyruvate to its (S)-epimer and enables (2S,3S)-β-methyltryptophan biosynthesis from L-tryptophan when combined with StnQ1 and StnR. Most importantly, (2S,3S)-β-methyltryptophan was established as the biosynthetic intermediate of the streptonigrin pathway by feeding experiments with a knockout mutant, contradicting the previous proposal that stated (2S,3R)-β-methyltryptophan as the intermediate. These data set the stage for the complete elucidation of the streptonigrin biosynthetic pathway, which would unlock the potential of creating new streptonigrin analogues by genetic manipulation of the biosynthetic machinery.