Redesign, synthesis and functional expression of the 6-deoxyerythronolide B polyketide synthase gene cluster

• Published in: Journal of industrial microbiology & biotechnology Vol. 33; no. 1; pp. 22 - 28
• Main Authors: Menzella, Hugo G, Reisinger, Sarah J, Welch, Mark, Kealey, James T, Kennedy, Jonathan, Reid, Ralph, Tran, Chau Q, Santi, Daniel V
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg Berlin/Heidelberg : Springer-Verlag 2006; Springer; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: Amino acids; Biological and medical sciences; Biosynthesis; Biotechnology; Cloning; E coli; Enzymes; Escherichia coli; Escherichia coli - enzymology; Escherichia coli - genetics; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene expression; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial - genetics; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial - physiology; Genes; Genes, Bacterial - genetics; Genetic engineering; Multienzyme Complexes - metabolism; Multigene Family; Natural products; Organisms; Plasmids; Plasmids - genetics; Polyketide Synthases - genetics; Polyketide Synthases - metabolism; Polypeptides; Proteins; Polyketide synthase; Gene cluster; synthetic biology; Gene; 6-Deoxyerythronolide B; Gene expression; Gene synthesis; Heterologous expression
• ISSN: 1367-5435; 1476-5535
• DOI: 10.1007/s10295-005-0038-3

A generic design of Type I polyketide synthase genes has been reported in which modules, and domains within modules, are flanked by sets of unique restriction sites that are repeated in every module [1]. Using the universal design, we synthesized the six-module DEBS gene cluster optimized for codon usage in E. coli, and cloned the three open reading frames into three compatible expression vectors. With one correctable exception, the amino acid substitutions required for restriction site placements were compatible with polyketide production. When expressed in E. coli the codon-optimized synthetic gene cluster produced significantly more protein than did the wild-type sequence. Indeed, for optimal polyketide production, PKS expression had to be down-regulated by promoter attenuation to achieve balance with expression of the accessory proteins needed to support polyketide biosynthesis.