Ectopic Expression of the Minimal whiE Polyketide Synthase Generates a Library of Aromatic Polyketides of Diverse Sizes and Shapes

• Published in: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS Vol. 96; no. 7; pp. 3622 - 3627
• Main Authors: Shen, Yuemao, Yoon, Pall, Yu, Tin-Wein, Floss, Heinz G., Hopwood, David, Moore, Bradley S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 30.03.1999; National Acad Sciences; National Academy of Sciences; The National Academy of Sciences
• Subjects: Bacteria; Biochemistry; Biological Sciences; Biosynthesis; Enzymes; Genetic engineering; Hydroxyls; Ketones; Ketones - chemical synthesis; Ketones - chemistry; Libraries; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Metabolites; Molecular biology; Molecular Structure; Multienzyme Complexes - genetics; Multienzyme Complexes - metabolism; Pigments; Polyketides; Radiocarbon; Recombinant Proteins - biosynthesis; Recombinant Proteins - metabolism; Spectrometry, Mass, Fast Atom Bombardment; Spectrometry, Mass, Secondary Ion; Streptomyces - enzymology; Streptomyces coelicolor
• ISSN: 0027-8424; 1091-6490
• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.96.7.3622

The single recombinant expressing the Streptomyces coelicolor minimal whiE (spore pigment) polyketide synthase (PKS) is uniquely capable of generating a large array of well more than 30 polyketides, many of which, so far, are novel to this recombinant. The characterized polyketides represent a diverse set of molecules that differ in size (chain length) and shape (cyclization pattern). This combinatorial biosynthetic library is, by far, the largest and most complex of its kind described to date and indicates that the minimal whiE PKS does not independently control polyketide chain length nor dictate the first cyclization event. Rather, the minimal PKS enzyme complex must rely on the stabilizing effects of additional subunits (i.e., the cyclase whiE-ORFVI) to ensure that the chain reaches the full 24 carbons and cyclizes correctly. This dramatic loss of control implies that the growing polyketide chain does not remain enzyme bound, resulting in the spontaneous cyclization of the methyl terminus. Among the six characterized dodecaketides, four different first-ring cyclization regiochemistries are represented, including C7/C12, C8/C13, C10/C15, and C13/C15. The dodecaketide TW93h possesses a unique 2,4-dioxaadamantane ring system and represents a new structural class of polyketides with no related structures isolated from natural or engineered organisms, thus supporting the claim that engineered biosynthesis is capable of producing novel chemotypes.