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Acetyl coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA) is a reactive metabolite that nonproductively hydrolyzes in a number of enzyme active sites in the crystallization time frame. In order to elucidate the enzyme–acetyl-CoA interactions leading to catalysis, acetyl-CoA substrate analogs are needed. One possible analog for use in structural studies is acetyl-oxa(dethia)CoA (AcOCoA), in which the thioester S atom of CoA is replaced by an O atom. Here, structures of chloramphenicol acetyltransferase III (CATIII) and Escherichia coli ketoacylsynthase III (FabH) from crystals grown in the presence of partially hydrolyzed AcOCoA and the respective nucleophile are presented. Based on the structures, the behavior of AcOCoA differs between the enzymes, with FabH reacting with AcOCoA and CATIII being unreactive. The structure of CATIII reveals insight into the catalytic mechanism, with one active site of the trimer having relatively clear electron density for AcOCoA and chloramphenicol and the other active sites having weaker density for AcOCoA. One FabH structure contains a hydrolyzed AcOCoA product oxa(dethia)CoA (OCoA), while the other FabH structure contains an acyl-enzyme intermediate with OCoA. Together, these structures provide preliminary insight into the use of AcOCoA for enzyme structure–function studies with different nucleophiles.

LnmK stereospecifically accepts (2R)-methylmalonyl-CoA, generating propionyl-S-acyl carrier protein to support polyketide biosynthesis. LnmK and its homologues are the only known enzymes that carry out a decarboxylation (DC) and acyl transfer (AT) reaction in the same active site as revealed by structure-function studies. Substrate-assisted catalysis powers LnmK, as decarboxylation of (2R)-methylmalonyl-CoA generates an enolate capable of deprotonating active site Tyr62, and the Tyr62 phenolate subsequently attacks propionyl-CoA leading to a propionyl-O-LnmK acyl-enzyme intermediate. Due to the inherent reactivity of LnmK and methylmalonyl-CoA, a substrate-bound structure could not be obtained. To gain insight into substrate specificity, stereospecificity, and catalytic mechanism, we determined the structures of LnmK with bound substrate analogues that bear malonyl-thioester isosteres where the carboxylate is represented by a nitro or sulfonate group. The nitro-bearing malonyl-thioester isosteres bind in the nitronate form, with specific hydrogen bonds that allow modeling of the (2R)-methylmalonyl-CoA substrate and rationalization of stereospecificity. The sulfonate isosteres bind in multiple conformations, suggesting the large active site of LnmK allows multiple binding modes. Considering the smaller malonyl group has more conformational freedom than the methylmalonyl group, we hypothesized the active site can entropically screen against catalysis with the smaller malonyl-CoA substrate. Indeed, our kinetic analysis reveals malonyl-CoA is accepted at 1% of the rate of methylmalonyl-CoA. This study represents another example of how our nitro- and sulfonate-bearing methylmalonyl-thioester isosteres are of use for elucidating enzyme-substrate binding interactions and revealing insights into catalytic mechanism. Synthesis of a larger panel of analogues presents an opportunity to study enzymes with complicated structure-function relationships such as acyl-CoA carboxylases, trans-carboxytransferases, malonyltransferases, and β-ketoacylsynthases.

Methylmalonyl-CoA epimerase (MMCE) is proposed to use general acid-base catalysis, but the proposed catalytic glutamic acids are highly asymmetrical in the active site unlike many other racemases. To gain insight into the puzzling relationships between catalytic mechanism, structure, and substrate preference, we solved Streptomyces coelicolor MMCE structures with substrate or 2-nitropropionyl-CoA, an intermediate/transition state analogue. Both ligand bound structures have a planar methylmalonate/2-nitropropionyl moiety indicating a deprotonated C2 with ≥4 Å distances to either catalytic acid. Both glutamates interact with the carboxylate/nitro group, either directly or through other residues. This suggests the proposed catalytic acids sequentially catalyze proton shifts between C2 and carboxylate of the substrate with an enolate intermediate. In addition, our structures provide a platform to design mutations for expanding substrate scope to support combinatorial biosynthesis.

The LAGLIDADG family of homing endonucleases (LHEs) bind to and cleave their DNA recognition sequences with high specificity. Much of our understanding for how these proteins evolve their specificities has come from studying LHE homologues. To gain insight into the molecular basis of LHE specificity, we characterized I-WcaI, the homologue of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae I-SceI LHE found in Wickerhamomyces canadensis. Although I-WcaI and I-SceI cleave the same recognition sequence, expression of I-WcaI, but not I-SceI, is toxic in bacteria. Toxicity suppressing mutations frequently occur at I-WcaI residues critical for activity and I-WcaI cleaves many more non-cognate sequences in the Escherichia coli genome than I-SceI, suggesting I-WcaI endonuclease activity is the basis of toxicity. In vitro, I-WcaI is a more active and a less specific endonuclease than I-SceI, again accounting for the observed toxicity in vivo. We determined the X-ray crystal structure of I-WcaI bound to its cognate target site and found that I-WcaI and I-SceI use residues at different positions to make similar base-specific contacts. Furthermore, in some regions of the DNA interface where I-WcaI specificity is lower, the protein makes fewer DNA contacts than I-SceI. Taken together, these findings demonstrate the plastic nature of LHE site recognition and suggest that I-WcaI and I-SceI are situated at different points in their evolutionary pathways towards acquiring target site specificity.

Malonyl-thioesters are reactive centers of malonyl-CoA and malonyl- S-acyl carrier protein, essential to fatty acid, polyketide and various specialized metabolite biosynthesis. Enzymes that create or use malonyl-thioesters spontaneously hydrolyze or decarboxylate reactants on the crystallographic time frame preventing determination of structure-function relationships. To address this problem, we have synthesized a panel of methylmalonyl-CoA analogs with the carboxylate represented by a sulfonate or nitro and the thioester retained or represented by an ester or amide. Structures of Escherichia coli methylmalonyl-CoA decarboxylase in complex with our analogs affords insight into substrate binding and the catalytic mechanism. Counterintuitively, the negatively charged sulfonate and nitronate functional groups of our analogs bind in an active site hydrophobic pocket. Upon decarboxylation the enolate intermediate is protonated by a histidine preventing CO2-enolate recombination, yielding propionyl-CoA. Activity assays support a histidine catalytic acid and reveal the enzyme displays significant hydrolysis activity. Our structures also provide insight into this hydrolysis activity. Our analogs inhibit decarboxylation/hydrolysis activity with low micromolar Ki values. This study sets precedents for using malonyl-CoA analogs with carboxyate isosteres to study the complicated structure-function relationships of acyl-CoA carboxylases, trans-carboxytransferases, malonyltransferases and β-ketoacylsynthases.

Crystal structures of Streptomyces coelicolor methylmalonyl-CoA epimerase in the holo-form, with substrate or the putative transition state analog, 2-nitroproionyl-CoA. The proposed catalytic mechanism is general acid-base catalysis. The proposed catalytic residues are too far from the substrate or analog, unless conformational changes take place or some other mechanism is used.

We solved crystal structures of LnmK, which that carries out both acyltransfer and decarboxylation in polyketide synthase pathways. Our structures have substrate analogs bound that reveal interactions that likely occur with the substrate and allow modelling of conformational changes and intermediate states.

We previously showed that the bifunctional LnmK acyltransferase/decarboxylase (AT/DC) catalyzed the formation of propionyl-S-acyl carrier protein (ACP) from methylmalonyl-CoA but its substrate specificity to (2S)-, (2R)-, or (2RS)-methylmalonyl CoA was not known. We subsequently revealed that LnmK AT and DC activities share the same active site, employing a Tyr as the catalytic residue for AT, but failed to identify a general acid or base within the vicinity of the active site for LnmK catalysis. We now show that (i) LnmK specifies (2R)-methylmalonyl-CoA and (ii) the AT and DC activities are coupled, featuring substrate-assisted catalysis via the enolate to account for the missing general acid or base within the LnmK active site. LnmK homologs are the only bifunctional AT/DC enzymes known to date and are widespread. These findings therefore enrich PKS chemistry and enzymology. Since only the (2S)-methylmalonyl-CoA enantiomer has been established previously as a substrate for polyketide biosynthesis by PKSs, we now establish a role for both (2R)- and (2S)-methylmalonyl-CoA in polyketide biosynthesis, and (2R)-methylmalonyl-CoA should be considered as a substrate in future efforts for engineered production of polyketides by combinatorial biosynthesis or synthetic biology strategies in model hosts.

C-1027 is a chromoprotein enediyne antitumor antibiotic produced by Streptomyces globisporus. In the last step of biosynthesis of the (S)-3-chloro-5-hydroxy-β-tyrosine moiety of the C-1027 enediyne chromophore, SgcE6 and SgcC compose a two-component monooxygenase that hydroxylates the C-5 position of (S)-3-chloro-β-tyrosine. This two-component monooxygenase is remarkable for two reasons. (i) SgcE6 specifically reacts with FAD and NADH, and (ii) SgcC is active with only the peptidyl carrier protein (PCP)-tethered substrate. To address the molecular details of substrate specificity, we determined the crystal structures of SgcE6 and SgcC at 1.66 and 2.63 Å resolution, respectively. SgcE6 shares a similar β-barrel fold with the class I HpaC-like flavin reductases. A flexible loop near the active site of SgcE6 plays a role in FAD binding, likely by providing sufficient space to accommodate the AMP moiety of FAD, when compared to that of FMN-utilizing homologues. SgcC shows structural similarity to a few other known FADH2-dependent monooxygenases and sheds light on some biochemically but not structurally characterized homologues. The crystal structures reported here provide insights into substrate specificity, and comparison with homologues provides a catalytic mechanism of the two-component, FADH2-dependent monooxygenase (SgcE6 and SgcC) that catalyzes the hydroxylation of a PCP-tethered substrate.

Leinamycin (LNM) is a potent antitumor antibiotic produced by Streptomyces atroolivaceus S-140. Both in vivo and in vitro characterization of the LNM biosynthetic machinery have established the formation of the 18-membered macrolactam backbone and the C-3 alkyl branch; the nascent product, LNM E1, of the hybrid nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS)-acyltransferase (AT)-less type I polyketide synthase (PKS); and the generation of the thiol moiety at C-3 of LNM E1. However, the tailoring steps converting LNM E1 to LNM are still unknown. Based on gene inactivation and chemical investigation of three mutant strains, we investigated the tailoring steps catalyzed by two cytochromes P450 (P450s), LnmA and LnmZ, in LNM biosynthesis. Our studies revealed that (i) LnmA and LnmZ regio- and stereoselectively hydroxylate the C-8 and C-4′ positions, respectively, on the scaffold of LNM; (ii) both LnmA and LnmZ exhibit substrate promiscuity, resulting in multiple LNM analogs from several shunt pathways; and (iii) the C-8 and C-4′ hydroxyl groups play important roles in the cytotoxicity of LNM analogs against different cancer cell lines, shedding light on the structure−activity relationships of the LNM scaffold and the LNM-type natural products in general. These studies set the stage for future biosynthetic pathway engineering and combinatorial biosynthesis of the LNM family of natural products for structure diversity and drug discovery.

C-1027 is a chromoprotein enediyne antitumor antibiotic, consisting of the CagA apoprotein and the C-1027 chromophore. The C-1027 chromophore features a nine-membered enediyne core appended with three peripheral moieties, including an ( S)-3-chloro-5-hydroxy-β-tyrosine. In a convergent biosynthesis of the C-1027 chromophore, the ( S)-3-chloro-5-hydroxy-β-tyrosine moiety is appended to the enediyne core by the free-standing condensation enzyme SgcC5. Unlike canonical condensation domains from the modular nonribosomal peptide synthetases that catalyze amide-bond formation, SgcC5 catalyzes ester-bond formation, as demonstrated in vitro, between SgcC2-tethered ( S)-3-chloro-5-hydroxy-β-tyrosine and ( R)-1-phenyl-1,2-ethanediol, a mimic of the enediyne core as an acceptor substrate. Here, we report that (i) genes encoding SgcC5 homologues are widespread among both experimentally confirmed and bioinformatically predicted enediyne biosynthetic gene clusters, forming a new clade of condensation enzymes, (ii) SgcC5 shares a similar overall structure with the canonical condensation domains but forms a homodimer in solution, the active site of which is located in a cavity rather than a tunnel typically seen in condensation domains, and (iii) the catalytic histidine of SgcC5 activates the 2-hydroxyl group, while a hydrogen-bond network in SgcC5 prefers the R-enantiomer of the acceptor substrate, accounting for the regio- and stereospecific ester-bond formation between SgcC2-tethered ( S)-3-chloro-5-hydroxy-β-tyrosine and ( R)-1-phenyl-1,2-ethanediol upon acid-base catalysis. These findings expand the catalytic repertoire and reveal new insights into the structure and mechanism of condensation enzymes.

Recent biochemical characterizations of the MdpB2 CoA ligase and MdpB1 C-methyltransferase (C-MT) from the maduropeptin (MDP, 2) biosynthetic machinery revealed unusual pathway logic involving C-methylation occurring on a CoA-activated aromatic substrate. Here we confirmed this pathway logic for the biosynthesis of polyketomycin (POK, 3). Biochemical characterization unambiguously established that PokM3 and PokMT1 catalyze the sequential conversion of 6-methylsalicylic acid (6-MSA, 4) to form 3,6-dimethylsalicylyl-CoA (3,6-DMSA-CoA, 6), which serves as the direct precursor for the 3,6-dimethylsalicylic acid (3,6-DMSA) moiety in the biosynthesis of 3. PokMT1 catalyzes the C-methylation of 6-methylsalicylyl-CoA (6-MSA-CoA, 5) with a kcat of 1.9 min–1 and a Km of 2.2 ± 0.1 μM, representing the most proficient C-MT characterized to date. Bioinformatics analysis of MTs from natural product biosynthetic machineries demonstrated that PokMT1 and MdpB1 belong to a phylogenetic clade of C-MTs that preferably act on...

Leinamycin (LNM) is a sulfur-containing antitumor antibiotic featuring an unusual 1,3-dioxo-1,2-dithiolane moiety that is spiro-fused to a thiazole-containing 18-membered lactam ring. The 1,3-dioxo-1,2-dithiolane moiety is essential for LNM's antitumor activity, by virtue of its ability to generate an episulfonium ion intermediate capable of alkylating DNA. We have previously cloned and sequenced the lnm gene cluster from Streptomyces atroolivaceus S-140. In vivo and in vitro characterizations of the LNM biosynthetic machinery have since established that: (i) the 18-membered macrolactam backbone is synthesized by LnmP, LnmQ, LnmJ, LnmI, and LnmG, (ii) the alkyl branch at C-3 of LNM is installed by LnmK, LnmL, LnmM, and LnmF, and (iii) leinamycin E1 (LNM E1), bearing a thiol moiety at C-3, is the nascent product of the LNM hybrid nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS)-acyltransferase (AT)-less type I polyketide synthase (PKS). Sulfur incorporation at C-3 of LNM E1, however, has not been addressed. Here we report that: (i) the bioinformatics analysis reveals a pyridoxal phosphate (PLP)-dependent domain, we termed cysteine lyase (SH) domain (LnmJ-SH), within PKS module-8 of LnmJ; (ii) the LnmJ-SH domain catalyzes C-S bond cleavage by using l-cysteine and l-cysteine S-modified analogs as substrates through a PLP-dependent β-elimination reaction, establishing l-cysteine as the origin of sulfur at C-3 of LNM; and (iii) the LnmJ-SH domain, sharing no sequence homology with any other enzymes catalyzing C-S bond cleavage, represents a new family of PKS domains that expands the chemistry and enzymology of PKSs and might be exploited to incorporate sulfur into polyketide natural products by PKS engineering.

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 10 (SCA10) is caused by a pentanucleotide repeat expansion of r(AUUCU) within intron 9 of the ATXN10 pre-mRNA. The RNA causes disease by a gain-of-function mechanism in which it inactivates proteins involved in RNA biogenesis. Spectroscopic studies showed that r(AUUCU) repeats form a hairpin structure; however, there were no high-resolution structural models prior to this work. Herein, we report the first crystal structure of model r(AUUCU) repeats refined to 2.8 Å and analysis of the structure via molecular dynamics simulations. The r(AUUCU) tracts adopt an overall A-form geometry in which 3 × 3 nucleotide (5')UCU(3')/(3')UCU(5') internal loops are closed by AU pairs. Helical parameters of the refined structure as well as the corresponding electron density map on the crystallographic model reflect dynamic features of the internal loop. The computational analyses captured dynamic motion of the loop closing pairs, which can form single-stranded conformations with relatively low energies. Overall, the results presented here suggest the possibility for r(AUUCU) repeats to form metastable A-from structures, which can rearrange into single-stranded conformations and attract proteins such as heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein K (hnRNP K). The information presented here may aid in the rational design of therapeutics targeting this RNA.

Lactimidomycin (LTM, 1) and iso-migrastatin (iso-MGS, 2) belong to the glutarimide-containing polyketide family of natural products. We previously cloned and characterized the mgs biosynthetic gene cluster from Streptomyces platensis NRRL 18993. The iso-MGS biosynthetic machinery featured an acyltransferase (AT)-less type I polyketide synthase (PKS) and three tailoring enzymes (MgsIJK). We now report cloning and characterization of the ltm biosynthetic gene cluster from Streptomyces amphibiosporus ATCC 53964, which consists of nine genes that encode an AT-less type I PKS (LtmBCDEFGHL) and one tailoring enzyme (LtmK). Inactivation of ltmE or ltmH afforded the mutant strain SB15001 or SB15002, respectively, that abolished the production of 1, as well as the three cometabolites 8,9-dihydro-LTM (14), 8,9-dihydro-8S-hydroxy-LTM (15), and 8,9-dihydro-9R-hydroxy-LTM (13). Inactivation of ltmK yielded the mutant strain SB15003 that abolished the production of 1, 13, and 15 but led to the accumulation of 14. Complementation of the ΔltmK mutation in SB15003 by expressing ltmK in trans restored the production of 1, as well as that of 13 and 15. These results support the model for 1 biosynthesis, featuring an AT-less type I PKS that synthesizes 14 as the nascent polyketide intermediate and a cytochrome P450 desaturase that converts 14 to 1, with 13 and 15 as minor cometabolites. Comparative analysis of the LTM and iso-MGS AT-less type I PKSs revealed several unusual features that deviate from those of the collinear type I PKS model. Exploitation of the tailoring enzymes for 1 and 2 biosynthesis afforded two analogues, 8,9-dihydro-8R-hydroxy-LTM (16) and 8,9-dihydro-8R-methoxy-LTM (17), that provided new insights into the structure-activity relationship of 1 and 2. While 12-membered macrolides, featuring a combination of a hydroxyl group at C-17 and a double bond at C-8 and C-9 as found in 1, exhibit the most potent activity, analogues with a single hydroxyl or methoxy group at C-8 or C-9 retain most of the activity whereas analogues with double substitutions at C-8 and C-9 lose significant activity.

Natural products offer unmatched chemical and structural diversity compared to other small-molecule libraries, but traditional natural product discovery programs are not sustainable, demanding too much time, effort, and resources. Here we report a strain prioritization method for natural product discovery. Central to the method is the application of real-time PCR, targeting genes characteristic to the biosynthetic machinery of natural products with distinct scaffolds in a high-throughput format. The practicality and effectiveness of the method were showcased by prioritizing 1911 actinomycete strains for diterpenoid discovery. A total of 488 potential diterpenoid producers were identified, among which six were confirmed as platensimycin and platencin dual producers and one as a viguiepinol and oxaloterpin producer. While the method as described is most appropriate to prioritize strains for discovering specific natural products, variations of this method should be applicable to the discovery of other classes of natural products. Applications of genome sequencing and genome mining to the high-priority strains could essentially eliminate the chance elements from traditional discovery programs and fundamentally change how natural products are discovered.

Natural products remain the best sources of drugs and drug leads and serve as outstanding small-molecule probes to dissect fundamental biological processes. A great challenge for the natural product community is to discover novel natural products efficiently and cost effectively. Here we report the development of a practical method to survey biosynthetic potential in microorganisms, thereby identifying the most promising strains and prioritizing them for natural product discovery. Central to our approach is the innovative preparation, by a two-tiered PCR method, of a pool of pathway-specific probes, thereby allowing the survey of all variants of the biosynthetic machineries for the targeted class of natural products. The utility of the method was demonstrated by surveying 100 strains, randomly selected from our actinomycete collection, for their biosynthetic potential of four classes of natural products, aromatic polyketides, reduced polyketides, nonribosomal peptides, and diterpenoids, identifying 16 talented strains. One of the talented strains, Streptomyces griseus CB00830, was finally chosen to showcase the discovery of the targeted classes of natural products, resulting in the isolation of three diterpenoids, six nonribosomal peptides and related metabolites, and three polyketides. Variations of this method should be applicable to the discovery of other classes of natural products.

The enediyne family of natural products has had a profound impact on modern chemistry, biology, and medicine, and yet only 11 enediynes have been structurally characterized to date. Here we report a genome survey of 3,400 actinomycetes, identifying 81 strains that harbor genes encoding the enediyne polyketide synthase cassettes that could be grouped into 28 distinct clades based on phylogenetic analysis. Genome sequencing of 31 representative strains confirmed that each clade harbors a distinct enediyne biosynthetic gene cluster. A genome neighborhood network allows prediction of new structural features and biosynthetic insights that could be exploited for enediyne discovery. We confirmed one clade as new C-1027 producers, with a significantly higher C-1027 titer than the original producer, and discovered a new family of enediyne natural products, the tiancimycins (TNMs), that exhibit potent cytotoxicity against a broad spectrum of cancer cell lines. Our results demonstrate the feasibility of rapid discovery of new enediynes from a large strain collection., IMPORTANCE Recent advances in microbial genomics clearly revealed that the biosynthetic potential of soil actinomycetes to produce enediynes is underappreciated. A great challenge is to develop innovative methods to discover new enediynes and produce them in sufficient quantities for chemical, biological, and clinical investigations. This work demonstrated the feasibility of rapid discovery of new enediynes from a large strain collection. The new C-1027 producers, with a significantly higher C-1027 titer than the original producer, will impact the practical supply of this important drug lead. The TNMs, with their extremely potent cytotoxicity against various cancer cells and their rapid and complete cancer cell killing characteristics, in comparison with the payloads used in FDA-approved antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), are poised to be exploited as payload candidates for the next generation of anticancer ADCs. Follow-up studies on the other identified hits promise the discovery of new enediynes, radically expanding the chemical space for the enediyne family.

Carrier proteins (CPs) play a critical role in the biosynthesis of various natural products, especially in nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) and polyketide synthase (PKS) enzymology, where the CPs are referred to as peptidyl-carrier proteins (PCPs) or acyl-carrier proteins (ACPs), respectively. CPs can either be a domain in large multifunctional polypeptides or standalone proteins, termed Type I and Type II, respectively. There have been many biochemical studies of the Type I PKS and NRPS CPs, and of Type II ACPs. However, recently a number of Type II PCPs have been found and biochemically characterized. In order to understand the possible interaction surfaces for combinatorial biosynthetic efforts we crystallized the first characterized and representative Type II PCP member, BlmI, from the bleomycin biosynthetic pathway from Streptomyces verticillus ATCC 15003. The structure is similar to CPs in general but most closely resembles PCPs. Comparisons with previously determined PCP structures in complex with catalytic domains reveals a common interaction surface. This surface is highly variable in charge and shape, which likely confers specificity for interactions. Previous nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis of a prototypical Type I PCP excised from the multimodular context revealed three conformational states. Comparison of the states with the structure of BlmI and other PCPs reveals that only one of the NMR states is found in other studies, suggesting the other two states may not be relevant. The state represented by the BlmI crystal structure can therefore serve as a model for both Type I and Type II PCPs.

4-Methylideneimidazole-5-one (MIO)-containing aminomutases catalyze the conversion of l -α-amino acids to β-amino acids with either an ( R ) or an ( S ) configuration. l -Phenylalanine and l -tyrosine are the only two natural substrates identified to date. The enediyne chromophore of the chromoprotein antitumor antibiotic kedarcidin (KED) harbors an ( R )-2-aza-3-chloro-β-tyrosine moiety reminiscent of the ( S )-3-chloro-5-hydroxy-β-tyrosine moiety of the C-1027 enediyne chromophore, the biosynthesis of which uncovered the first known MIO-containing aminomutase, SgcC4. Comparative analysis of the KED and C-1027 biosynthetic gene clusters inspired the proposal for ( R )-2-aza-3-chloro-β-tyrosine biosynthesis starting from 2-aza- l -tyrosine, featuring KedY4 as a putative MIO-containing aminomutase. Here we report the biochemical characterization of KedY4, confirming its proposed role in KED biosynthesis. KedY4 is an MIO-containing aminomutase that stereospecifically catalyzes the conversion of 2-aza- l -tyrosine to ( R )-2-aza-β-tyrosine, exhibiting no detectable activity toward 2-aza- l -phenylalanine or l -tyrosine as an alternative substrate. In contrast, SgcC4, which stereospecifically catalyzes the conversion of l -tyrosine to ( S )-β-tyrosine in C-1027 biosynthesis, exhibits minimal activity with 2-aza- l -tyrosine as an alternative substrate but generating ( S )-2-aza-β-tyrosine, a product with the opposite stereochemistry of KedY4. This report of KedY4 broadens the scope of known substrates for the MIO-containing aminomutase family, and comparative studies of KedY4 and SgcC4 provide an outstanding opportunity to examine how MIO-containing aminomutases control substrate specificity and product enantioselectivity.

Comparative analysis of the enediyne biosynthetic gene clusters revealed sets of conserved genes serving as outstanding candidates for the enediyne core. Here we report the crystal structures of SgcJ and its homologue NCS-Orf16, together with gene inactivation and site-directed mutagenesis studies, to gain insight into enediyne core biosynthesis. Gene inactivation in vivo establishes that SgcJ is required for C-1027 production in Streptomyces globisporus. SgcJ and NCS-Orf16 share a common structure with the nuclear transport factor 2-like superfamily of proteins, featuring a putative substrate binding or catalytic active site. Site-directed mutagenesis of the conserved residues lining this site allowed us to propose that SgcJ and its homologues may play a catalytic role in transforming the linear polyene intermediate, along with other enediyne polyketide synthase-associated enzymes, into an enzyme-sequestered enediyne core intermediate. These findings will help formulate hypotheses and design experiments to ascertain the function of SgcJ and its homologues in nine-membered enediyne core biosynthesis.

Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is a microsatellite expansion disorder caused by the aberrant expansion of CTG repeats in the 3′-untranslated region of the DMPK gene. When transcribed, the toxic RNA CUG repeats sequester RNA binding proteins, which leads to disease symptoms. The expanded CUG repeats can adopt a double-stranded structure, and targeting this helix is a therapeutic strategy for DM1. To improve our understanding of the 5′CUG/3′GUC motif and how it may interact with proteins and small molecules, we designed a short CUG helix attached to a GAAA tetraloop/receptor to facilitate crystal packing. Here we report the highest-resolution structure (1.95 A) to date of a GAAA tetraloop/receptor and the CUG helix it was used to crystallize. Within the CUG helix, we identify two different forms of noncanonical U-U pairs and reconfirm that CUG repeats are essentially A-form. An analysis of all noncanonical U-U pairs in the context of CUG repeats revealed six different classes of conformations that the nonc...

Enzymes of the glyoxylate shunt are important for the virulence of pathogenic organisms such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Candida albicans. Two isoforms have been identified for malate synthase, the second enzyme in the pathway. Isoform A, found in fungi and plants, comprises approximately 530 residues, whereas isoform G, found only in bacteria, is larger by approximately 200 residues. Crystal structures of malate synthase isoform G from Escherichia coli and Mycobacterium tuberculosis were previously determined at moderate resolution. Here we describe crystal structures of E. coli malate synthase A (MSA) in the apo form (1.04 A resolution) and in complex with acetyl-coenzyme A and a competitive inhibitor, possibly pyruvate or oxalate (1.40 A resolution). In addition, a crystal structure for Bacillus anthracis MSA at 1.70 A resolution is reported. The increase in size between isoforms A and G can be attributed primarily to an inserted alpha/beta domain that may have regulatory function. Upon binding of inhibitor or substrate, several active site loops in MSA undergo large conformational changes. However, in the substrate bound form, the active sites of isoforms A and G from E. coli are nearly identical. Considering that inhibitors bind with very similar affinities to both isoforms, MSA is as an excellent platform for high-resolution structural studies and drug discovery efforts.

Green fluorescent protein (GFP) indicators were previously developed that rapidly and quantitatively respond to changes in the thiol/disulfide equilibrium within subcellular compartments. In these indicators, surface-exposed cysteines residues were introduced so as to form a labile redox-active disulfide that in turn controls the emission properties of the internal chromophore. The biosensors have been shown to be effective reporters of the thiol/disulfide status within reducing compartments such as the mitochondria and cytosol for several cell types. However, due to the high thermodynamic stability of the introduced disulfide bond, the indicators are not useful for quantitative analysis within more oxidizing compartments such as the endoplasmic reticulum. Here we report the development of a new family of GFP-based redox indicators (roGFP1-iX) in which the thermodynamic stability of the disulfide is substantially lowered by insertion of a single amino acid into the main chain, adjacent to cysteine 147. The insertions result in indicators with midpoint potentials of -229 to -246 mV and are thus better suited for study of relatively oxidizing subcellular compartments. Atomic resolution crystallographic analyses suggest that two important factors act to destabilize the disulfide linkage in roGFP1-iX. In the oxidized state, an unusual non-proline cis-peptide bond adjacent to one of the cysteines introduces geometric strain into the system, while in the reduced state, a dramatic loop opening lowers the effective concentration of the reacting species.

Salts affect protein stability by multiple mechanisms (e.g., the Hofmeister effect, preferential hydration, electrostatic effects and weak ion binding). These mechanisms can affect the stability of both the native state and the unfolded state. Previous equilibrium stability studies demonstrated that KCl stabilizes dihydrofolate reductases (DHFRs) from Escherichia coli (ecDHFR, E. coli DHFR) and Haloferax volcanii (hvDHFR1, H. volcanii DHFR encoded by the hdrA gene) with similar efficacies, despite adaptation to disparate physiological ionic strengths (0.2 M versus 2 M). Kinetic studies can provide insights on whether equilibrium effects reflect native state stabilization or unfolded state destabilization. Similar kinetic mechanisms describe the folding of urea-denatured ecDHFR and hvDHFR1: a 5-ms stopped-flow burst-phase species that folds to the native state through two sequential intermediates with relaxation times of 0.1-3 s and 25-100 s. The latter kinetic step is very similar to that observed for the refolding of hvDHFR1 from low ionic strength. The unfolding of hvDHFR1 at low ionic strength is relatively slow, suggesting kinetic stabilization as observed for some thermophilic enzymes. Increased KCl concentrations slow the urea-induced unfolding of ecDHFR and hvDHFR1, but much less than expected from equilibrium studies. Unfolding rates extrapolated to 0 M denaturant, k(unf)(H(2)O), are relatively independent of ionic strength, demonstrating that the KCl-induced stabilization of ecDHFR and hvDHFR1 results predominantly from destabilization of the unfolded state. This supports the hypothesis from previous equilibrium studies that haloadaptation harnesses the effects of elevated salt concentrations on the properties of the aqueous solvent to enhance protein stability.

The bleomycins (BLMs), tallysomycins (TLMs), phleomycin, and zorbamycin (ZBM) are members of the BLM family of glycopeptide-derived antitumor antibiotics. The BLM-producing Streptomyces verticillus ATCC15003 and the TLM-producing Streptoalloteichus hindustanus E465-94 ATCC31158 both possess at least two self-resistance elements, an N-acetyltransferase and a binding protein. The N-acetyltransferase provides resistance by disrupting the metal-binding domain of the antibiotic that is required for activity while the binding protein confers resistance by sequestering the metal-bound antibiotic and preventing drug activation via molecular oxygen. We recently established that the ZBM producer, Streptomyces flavoviridis ATCC21892, lacks the N-acetyltransferase resistance gene and that the ZBM-binding protein, ZbmA, is sufficient to confer resistance in the producing strain. To investigate the resistance mechanism attributed to ZbmA, we determined the crystal structures of apo and Cu(II)-ZBM-bound ZbmA at the high resolutions of 1.90 Å and 1.65 Å, respectively. Comparison and contrast with other structurally characterized members of the BLM-binding protein family revealed key differences in the protein-ligand binding environment that fine-tunes the ability of ZbmA to sequester metal-bound ZBM and supports drug sequestration as the primary resistance mechanism in the producing organisms of the BLM-family of antitumor antibiotics.

Leinamycin (LNM) is a potent antitumor antibiotic produced by Streptomyces atroolivaceus S-140, featuring an unusual 1,3-dioxo-1,2-dithiolane moiety that is spiro-fused to a thiazole-containing 18-membered lactam ring. Upon reductive activation in the presence of cellular thiols, LNM exerts its antitumor activity by an episulfonium ion-mediated DNA alkylation. Previously, we have cloned the lnm gene cluster from S. atroolivaceus S-140 and characterized the biosynthetic machinery responsible for the 18-membered lactam backbone and the alkyl branch at C3 of LNM. We now report the isolation and characterization of leinamycin E1 (LNM E1) from S. atroolivacues SB3033, a ΔlnmE mutant strain of S. atroolivaceus S-140. Complementary to the reductive activation of LNM by cellular thiols, LNM E1 can be oxidatively activated by cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) to generate a similar episulfonium ion intermediate, thereby alkylating DNA and leading to eventual cell death. The feasibility of exploiting LNM E1 as an anticancer prodrug activated by ROS was demonstrated in two prostate cancer cell lines, LNCaP and DU-145. Because many cancer cells are under higher cellular oxidative stress with increased levels of ROS than normal cells, these findings support the idea of exploiting ROS as a means to target cancer cells and highlight LNM E1 as a novel lead for the development of anticancer prodrugs activated by ROS. The structure of LNM E1 also reveals critical new insights into LNM biosynthesis, setting the stage to investigate sulfur incorporation, as well as the tailoring steps that convert the nascent hybrid peptide-polyketide biosynthetic intermediate into LNM.

The extremely halophilic Archae require near-saturating concentrations of salt in the external environment and in their cytoplasm, potassium being the predominant intracellular cation. The proteins of these organisms have evolved to function in concentrations of salt that inactivate or precipitate homologous proteins from non-halophilic species. It has been proposed that haloadaptation is primarily due to clustering of acidic residues on the surface of the protein, and that these clusters bind networks of hydrated ions. The dihydrofolate reductases from Escherichia coli (ecDHFR) and two DHFR isozymes from Haloferax volcanii (hvDHFR1 and hvDHFR2) have been used as a model system to compare the effect of salts on a mesophilic and halophilic enzyme. The KCl-dependence of the activity and substrate affinity was investigated. ecDHFR is largely inactivated above 1M KCl, with no major effect on substrate affinity. hvDHFR1 and hvDHFR2 unfold at KCl concentrations below approximately 0.5M. Above approximately 1M, the KCl dependence of the hvDHFR activities can be attributed to the effect of salt on substrate affinity. The abilities of NaCl, KCl, and CsCl to enhance the stability to urea denaturation were determined, and similar efficacies of stabilization were observed for all three DHFR variants. The DeltaG degrees (H(2)O) values increased linearly with increasing KCl and CsCl concentrations. The increase of DeltaG degrees (H(2)O) as a function of the smallest cation, NaCl, is slightly curved, suggesting a minor stabilization from cation binding or screening of electrostatic repulsion. At their respective physiological ionic strengths, the DHFR variants exhibit similar stabilities. Salts stabilize ecDHFR and the hvDHFRs by a common mechanism, not a halophile-specific mechanism, such as the binding of hydrated salt networks. The primary mode of salt stabilization of the mesophilic and halophilic DHFRs appears to be through preferential hydration and the Hofmeister effect of salt on the activity and entropy of the aqueous solvent. In support of this conclusion, all three DHFRs are similarly stabilized by the non-ionic cosolute, sucrose.

Carrier proteins (CPs) play a critical role in the biosynthesis of various natural products, especially in nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) and polyketide synthase (PKS) enzymology, where the CPs are referred to as peptidyl-carrier proteins (PCPs) or acyl-carrier proteins (ACPs), respectively. CPs can either be a domain in large multifunctional polypeptides or standalone proteins, termed Type I and Type II, respectively. There have been many biochemical studies of the Type I PKS and NRPS CPs, and of Type II ACPs. However, recently a number of Type II PCPs have been found and biochemically characterized. In order to understand the possible interaction surfaces for combinatorial biosynthetic efforts we crystallized the first characterized and representative Type II PCP member, BlmI, from the bleomycin biosynthetic pathway from Streptomyces verticillus ATCC 15003. The structure is similar to CPs in general but most closely resembles PCPs. Comparisons with previously determined PCP structures in complex with catalytic domains reveals a common interaction surface. This surface is highly variable in charge and shape, which likely confers specificity for interactions. Previous nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis of a prototypical Type I PCP excised from the multimodular context revealed three conformational states. Comparison of the states with the structure of BlmI and other PCPs reveals that only one of the NMR states is found in other studies, suggesting the other two states may not be relevant. The state represented by the BlmI crystal structure can therefore serve as a model for both Type I and Type II PCPs.

PKSE biosynthesizes an enediyne core precursor from decarboxylative condensation of eight malonyl-CoAs. The KR domain of PKSE is responsible for iterative β-ketoreduction in each round of polyketide chain elongation. KRs from selected PKSEs were investigated in vitro with β-ketoacyl-SNACs as substrate mimics. Each of the KRs reduced the β-ketoacyl-SNACs stereoselectively, all affording the corresponding β-D-hydroxyacyl-SNACs, and the catalytic efficiencies (k(cat)/K(M)) of the KRs increased significantly as the chain length of the β-ketoacyl-SNAC substrate increases.

Cycloheximide (1) and actiphenol (2) have been isolated from numerous Streptomyces species. Cloning, sequencing, and characterization of a gene cluster from Streptomyces sp. YIM65141 now establish that 1 and 2 production is governed by single biosynthetic machinery. Biosynthesis of 1 features an acyltransferase-less type I polyketide synthase to construct its carbon backbone but may proceed via 2 as a key intermediate, invoking a provocative reduction of a phenol to a cyclohexanone moiety in natural product biosynthesis.

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization coupled with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI/TOF-MS) was used for the analysis of low-molecular phosphate compounds found in Hanford tank wastes. The mass spectra of these compounds indicate protonated peaks as well as sodium adducts. Analytical methods presently utilized for the analysis of the phosphate-related organics are both time consuming and labor intensive. A promising alternative is MALDI/TOFMS. The MALDI process produces both positive and negative ions directly and very little sample is required. In addition, there is limited sample preparation and minimal hazardous waste production.

Myotonic dystrophy type 2 (DM2) is an incurable neuromuscular disorder caused by a r(CCUG) expansion (r(CCUG)(exp)) that folds into an extended hairpin with periodically repeating 2×2 nucleotide internal loops (5'CCUG/3'GUCC). We designed multivalent compounds that improve DM2-associated defects using information about RNA-small molecule interactions. We also report the first crystal structure of r(CCUG) repeats refined to 2.35 Å. Structural analysis of the three 5'CCUG/3'GUCC repeat internal loops (L) reveals that the CU pairs in L1 are each stabilized by one hydrogen bond and a water-mediated hydrogen bond, while CU pairs in L2 and L3 are stabilized by two hydrogen bonds. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations reveal that the CU pairs are dynamic and stabilized by Na(+) and water molecules. MD simulations of the binding of the small molecule to r(CCUG) repeats reveal that the lowest free energy binding mode occurs via the major groove, in which one C residue is unstacked and the cross-strand nucleotides are displaced. Moreover, we modeled the binding of our dimeric compound to two 5'CCUG/3'GUCC motifs, which shows that the scaffold on which the RNA-binding modules are displayed provides an optimal distance to span two adjacent loops.

The iso-migrastatin (iso-MGS) biosynthetic gene cluster from Streptomyces platensis NRRL 18993 consists of 11 genes, featuring an acyltransferase (AT)-less type I polyketide synthase (PKS) and three tailoring enzymes MgsIJK. Systematic inactivation of mgsIJK in S. platensis enabled us to (i) identify two nascent products (10 and 13) of the iso-MGS AT-less type I PKS, establishing an unprecedented novel feature for AT-less type I PKSs, and (ii) account for the formation of all known post-PKS biosynthetic intermediates (10-17) generated by the three tailoring enzymes MgsIJK, which possessed significant substrate promiscuities.

The β-branched C3 unit in leinamycin biosynthesis is installed by a set of four proteins, LnmFKLM. In vitro biochemical investigation confirmed that LnmK is a bifunctional acyltransferase/decarboxylase (AT/DC) that catalyzes first self-acylation using methylmalonyl-CoA as a substrate and subsequently transacylation of the methylmalonyl group to the phosphopantetheinyl group of the LnmL acyl carrier protein [Liu, T., Huang, Y., and Shen, B. (2009) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 131, 6900-6901]. LnmK shows no sequence homology to proteins of known function, representing a new family of AT/DC enzymes. Here we report the X-ray structure of LnmK. LnmK is homodimer with each of the monomers adopting a double-hot-dog fold. Cocrystallization of LnmK with methylmalonyl-CoA revealed an active site tunnel terminated by residues from the dimer interface. In contrast to canonical AT and ketosynthase enzymes that employ Ser or Cys as an active site residue, none of these residues are found in the vicinity of the LnmK active site. Instead, three tyrosines were identified, one of which, Tyr62, was established, by site-directed mutagenesis, to be the most likely active site residue for the AT activity of LnmK. LnmK represents the first AT enzyme that employs a Tyr as an active site residue and the first member of the family of double-hot-dog fold enzymes that displays an AT activity known to date. The LnmK structure sets the stage for probing of the DC activity of LnmK through site-directed mutagenesis. These findings highlight natural product biosynthetic machinery as a rich source of novel enzyme activities, mechanisms, and structures.

Many natural products contain unusual aromatic β-amino acids or moieties derived therefrom. The biosynthesis of these β-amino acids was first elucidated during a biosynthetic study of the enediyne antitumor antibiotic C-1027, when an enzyme, SgcC4, was discovered to convert L-tyrosine to (S)-β-tyrosine. SgcC4 is similar in sequence and structure to 4-methylideneimidazole-5-one (MIO)-containing ammonia lyases. Whereas the ammonia lyases use the electrophilic power of the MIO group to catalyze the release of ammonia from aromatic amino acids to generate α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids as final products, SgcC4 retains the α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid and amine as intermediates and reappends the amino group to the β-carbon, affording a β-amino acid as the final product. The study of SgcC4 led to the subsequent discovery of other MIO-containing aminomutases with altered substrate specificity and product stereochemistry, including MdpC4 from the biosynthetic pathway of the enediyne antitumor antibiotic maduropeptin. This chapter describes protocols for the enzymatic and structural characterization of these MIO-containing aminomutases as exemplified by SgcC4 and MdpC4. These protocols are applicable to the study of other aminomutases.

Many natural products contain unusual aromatic β-amino acids or moieties derived therefrom. The biosynthesis of these β-amino acids was first elucidated during a biosynthetic study of the enediyne antitumor antibiotic C-1027, when an enzyme, SgcC4, was discovered to convert l -tyrosine to ( S )-β-tyrosine. SgcC4 is similar in sequence and structure to 4-methylideneimidazole-5-one (MIO)-containing ammonia lyases. Whereas the ammonia lyases use the electrophilic power of the MIO group to catalyze the release of ammonia from aromatic amino acids to generate α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids as final products, SgcC4 retains the α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid and amine as intermediates and reappends the amino group to the β-carbon, affording a β-amino acid as the final product. The study of SgcC4 led to the subsequent discovery of other MIO-containing aminomutases with altered substrate specificity and product stereochemistry, including MdpC4 from the biosynthetic pathway of the enediyne antitumor antibiotic maduropeptin. This chapter describes protocols for the enzymatic and structural characterization of these MIO-containing aminomutases as exemplified by SgcC4 and MdpC4. These protocols are applicable to the study of other aminomutases.

The biosynthetic gene clusters for the Hsp90 inhibitor geldanamycin (GDM, 1) have been cloned previously from three different Streptomyces strains, but the gene encoding the C-17 O-methyltransferase remains unknown. The cloning and sequencing of a new GDM biosynthetic gene cluster from Streptomyces autolyticus CGMCC 0516 was reported, identifying the gdmMT gene that encodes the missing C-17 O-methyltransferase for 1 biosynthesis.

Enediyne natural product biosynthesis is characterized by a convergence of multiple pathways, generating unique peripheral moieties that are appended onto the distinctive enediyne core. Kedarcidin (KED) possesses two unique peripheral moieties, a (R)-2-aza-3-chloro-β-tyrosine and an iso-propoxy-bearing 2-naphthonate moiety, as well as two deoxysugars. The appendage pattern of these peripheral moieties to the enediyne core in KED differs from the other enediynes studied to date with respect to stereochemical configuration. To investigate the biosynthesis of these moieties and expand our understanding of enediyne core formation, the biosynthetic gene cluster for KED was cloned from Streptoalloteichus sp. ATCC 53650 and sequenced. Bioinformatics analysis of the ked cluster revealed the presence of the conserved genes encoding for enediyne core biosynthesis, type I and type II polyketide synthase loci likely responsible for 2-aza-L-tyrosine and 3,6,8-trihydroxy-2-naphthonate formation, and enzymes known for deoxysugar biosynthesis. Genes homologous to those responsible for the biosynthesis, activation, and coupling of the L-tyrosine-derived moieties from C-1027 and maduropeptin and of the naphthonate moiety from neocarzinostatin are present in the ked cluster, supporting 2-aza-L-tyrosine and 3,6,8-trihydroxy-2-naphthoic acid as precursors, respectively, for the (R)-2-aza-3-chloro-β-tyrosine and the 2-naphthonate moieties in KED biosynthesis.

The enediyne natural products have been explored for their phenomenal cytotoxicity. The development of enediynes into anticancer drugs has been successfully achieved through the utilization of polymer- and antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs) as drug delivery systems. An increasing inventory of enediynes would benefit current application of ADCs in many oncology programs. Innovations in expanding the enediyne inventory should take advantage of the current knowledge of enediyne biosynthesis and post-genomics technologies. Bioinformatics analysis of microbial genomes reveals that enediynes are underexplored, in particular from Actinomycetales. This digest highlights the emerging opportunities to explore microbial genomics for the discovery of novel enediyne natural products., Graphical abstract