Naturally mosaic operons for secondary metabolite biosynthesis: variability and putative horizontal transfer of discrete catalytic domains of the epothilone polyketide synthase locus

Examination of Secondary Metabolite Biosynthesis in Apicomplexa

Natural product discovery has traditionally relied on the isolation of small molecules from producing species, but genome-sequencing technology and advances in molecular biology techniques have expanded efforts to a wider array of organisms. Protists represent an underexplored kingdom for specialized metabolite searches despite bioinformatic analysis that suggests they harbor distinct biologically active small molecules. Specifically, pathogenic apicomplexan parasites, responsible for billions of global infections, have been found to possess multiple biosynthetic gene clusters, which hints at their capacity to produce polyketide metabolites. Biochemical studies have revealed unique features of apicomplexan polyketide synthases, but to date, the identity and function of the polyketides synthesized by these megaenzymes remains unknown. Herein, we discuss the potential for specialized metabolite production in protists and the possible evolution of polyketide biosynthetic gene clusters in apicomplexan parasites. We then focus on a polyketide synthase from the apicomplexan Toxoplasma gondii to discuss the unique domain architecture and properties of these proteins when compared to previously characterized systems, and further speculate on the possible functions for polyketides in these pathogenic parasites.

Comparative Genomics Reveal the Animal-Associated Features of the Acanthopleuribacteraceae Bacteria, and Description of Sulfidibacter corallicola gen. nov., sp., nov

Members of the phylum Acidobacteria are ubiquitous in various environments. Soil acidobacteria have been reported to present a variety of strategies for their success in terrestrial environments. However, owing to lack of pure culture, information on animal-associated acidobacteria are limited, except for those obtained from 16S rRNA genes. To date, only two acidobacteria have been isolated from animals, namely strain M133^T obtained from coral Porites lutea and Acanthopleuribacter pedis KCTC 12899^T isolated from chiton. Genomics and physiological characteristics of strain M133^T and A. pedis KCTC 12899^T were compared with 19 other isolates (one strain from each genus) in the phylum Acidobacteria. The results revealed that strain M133^T represents a new species in a new genus in the family Acanthopleuribacteraceae. To date, these two Acanthopleuribacteraceae isolates have the largest genomes (10.85–11.79 Mb) in the phylum Acidobacteria. Horizontal gene transfer and gene duplication influenced the structure and plasticity of these large genomes. Dissimilatory nitrate reduction and abundant secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters (including eicosapentaenoic acid de novo biosynthesis) are two distinct features of the Acanthopleuribacteraceae bacteria in the phylum Acidobacteria. The absence of glycoside hydrolases involved in plant polysaccharide degradation and presence of animal disease-related peptidases indicate that these bacteria have evolved to adapt to the animal hosts. In addition to low- and high-affinity respiratory oxygen reductases, enzymes for nitrate to nitrogen, and sulfhydrogenase were also detected in strain M133^T, suggesting the capacity and flexibility to grow in aerobic and anaerobic environments. This study highlighted the differences in genome structure, carbohydrate and protein utilization, respiration, and secondary metabolism between animal-associated acidobacteria and other acidobacteria, especially the soil acidobacteria, displaying flexibility and versatility of the animal-associated acidobacteria in environmental adaption.

Ketosynthase Domain Constrains the Design of Polyketide Synthases

Modular polyketide synthases (PKSs) produce complex, bioactive secondary metabolites in assembly line-like multistep reactions. Longstanding efforts to produce novel, biologically active compounds by recombining intact modules to new modular PKSs have mostly resulted in poorly active chimeras and decreased product yields. Recent findings demonstrate that the low efficiencies of modular chimeric PKSs also result from rate limitations in the transfer of the growing polyketide chain across the noncognate module:module interface and further processing of the non-native polyketide substrate by the ketosynthase (KS) domain. In this study, we aim at disclosing and understanding the low efficiency of chimeric modular PKSs and at establishing guidelines for modular PKSs engineering. To do so, we work with a bimodular PKS testbed and systematically vary substrate specificity, substrate identity, and domain:domain interfaces of the KS involved reactions. We observe that KS domains employed in our chimeric bimodular PKSs are bottlenecks with regards to both substrate specificity as well as interaction with the acyl carrier protein (ACP). Overall, our systematic study can explain in quantitative terms why early oversimplified engineering strategies based on the plain shuffling of modules mostly failed and why more recent approaches show improved success rates. We moreover identify two mutations of the KS domain that significantly increased turnover rates in chimeric systems and interpret this finding in mechanistic detail.

Molecular Characterization of a Fungal Ketide Synthase Gene Among Swainsonine-Producing Alternaria Species in the USA

Locoweeds are toxic leguminous plants in Astragalus and Oxytropis genera that contain fungal endophytes of Alternaria section Undifilum species. These fungi produce swainsonine, an alkaloid α-mannosidase inhibitor that causes a neurological syndrome, locoism in grazing animals. A SWN gene cluster has been identified in many swainsonine-producing fungi. The swnK gene, which is an essential component of the swainsonine biosynthetic pathway, encodes a polyketide synthase-nonribosomal peptide synthase (PKS-NRPS). To determine if swnK was conserved among Alternaria section Undifilum endophytes of locoweed, the sequence of the KS region of swnK was compared between various swainsonine-producing fungi. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS), and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPD) regions from the same fungi were also assessed. Sequences were examined at the nucleotide and protein levels. Alternaria oxytropis, A. fulva, A. cinerea, and Alternaria sp. from Swainsona species produced distinct clades for all multigene data sets. swnK-KS sequence did not differ among fungi isolated from Astragalus mollissimus varieties or A. lentiginosus varieties. The swnK-KS amino acid sequence was essentially identical among all swainsonine-producing Alternaria sp. Two low swainsonine-producing fungi, Alternaria bornmuelleri and A. gansuense, clustered together, as did non-pathogen Alternaria endophytes. The swnK-KS sequence comparisons were effective in identifying swainsonine production capability and differentiating among swainsonine-producing fungal species.

Evolution and Diversity of Assembly-Line Polyketide Synthases

Assembly-line polyketide synthases (PKSs) are among the most complex protein machineries known in nature, responsible for the biosynthesis of numerous compounds used in the clinic. Their present-day diversity is the result of an evolutionary path that has involved the emergence of a multimodular architecture and further diversification of assembly-line PKSs. In this review, we provide an overview of previous studies that investigated PKS evolution and propose a model that challenges the currently prevailing view that gene duplication has played a major role in the emergence of multimodularity. We also analyze the ensemble of orphan PKS clusters sequenced so far to evaluate how large the entire diversity of assembly-line PKS clusters and their chemical products could be. Finally, we examine the existing techniques to access the natural PKS diversity in natural and heterologous hosts and describe approaches to further expand this diversity through engineering.

Phylogenetically diverse cultivable fungal community and polyketide synthase (PKS), non-ribosomal peptide synthase (NRPS) genes associated with the South China Sea sponges

Compared with sponge-associated bacteria, the phylogenetic diversity of fungi in sponge and the association of sponge fungi remain largely unknown. Meanwhile, no detection of polyketide synthase (PKS) or non-ribosomal peptide synthase (NRPS) genes in sponge-associated fungi has been attempted. In this study, diverse and novel cultivable fungi including 10 genera (Aspergillus, Ascomycete, Fusarium, Isaria, Penicillium, Plectosphaerella, Pseudonectria, Simplicillium, Trichoderma, and Volutella) in four orders (Eurotiales, Hypocreales, Microascales, and Phyllachorales) of phylum Ascomycota were isolated from 10 species marine sponges in the South China Sea. Eurotiales and Hypocreales fungi were suggested as sponge generalists. The predominant isolates were Penicillium and Aspergillus in Eurotiales followed by Volutella in Hypocreales. Based on the conserved Beta-ketosynthase of PKS and A domain of NRPS, 15 polyketide synthases, and four non-ribosomal peptides synthesis genes, including non-reducing and reducing PKSs and hybrid PKS-NRPS, were detected in these fungal isolates. A lateral gene transfer event was indicated in the comparison between the phylogenetic diversity of 18S rRNA genes and β-ketoacyl synthase domain sequences. Some fungi, especially those with PKS or NRPS genes, showed antimicrobial activity against P. fluorescens, S. aureus and B. subtilis. It was the first time to investigate PKS and NRPS genes in sponge-associated fungi. Based on the detected antibiotics biosynthesis-related PKS and NRPS genes and antimicrobial activity, the potential ecological role of sponge-associated fungi in the chemical defense for sponge host was suggested. This study extended our knowledge of sponge-associated fungal phylogenetic diversity and their potential roles in the chemical defense.

Evolution of secondary metabolite genes in three closely related marine actinomycete species

The marine actinomycete genus Salinispora is composed of three closely related species. These bacteria are a rich source of secondary metabolites, which are produced in species-specific patterns. This study examines the distribution and phylogenetic relationships of genes involved in the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites in the salinosporamide and staurosporine classes, which have been reported for S. tropica and S. arenicola, respectively. The focus is on "Salinispora pacifica," the most recently discovered and phylogenetically diverse member of the genus. Of 61 S. pacifica strains examined, 15 tested positive for a ketosynthase (KS) domain linked to the biosynthesis of salinosporamide K, a new compound in the salinosporamide series. Compound production was confirmed in two strains, and the domain phylogeny supports vertical inheritance from a common ancestor shared with S. tropica, which produces related compounds in the salinosporamide series. There was no evidence for interspecies recombination among salA KS sequences, providing further support for the geographic isolation of these two salinosporamide-producing lineages. In addition, staurosporine production is reported for the first time for S. pacifica, with 24 of 61 strains testing positive for staD, a key gene involved in the biosynthesis of this compound. High levels of recombination were observed between staD alleles in S. pacifica and the cooccurring yet more distantly related S. arenicola, which produces a similar series of staurosporines. The distributions and phylogenies of the biosynthetic genes examined provide insight into the complex processes driving the evolution of secondary metabolism among closely related bacterial species.

Geographic distribution of secondary metabolite genes in the marine actinomycete Salinispora arenicola

The molecular fingerprinting technique terminal-restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) was used in combination with sequence-based approaches to evaluate the geographic distribution of secondary metabolite biosynthetic genes in strains of the marine actinomycete Salinispora arenicola. This study targeted ketosynthase (KS) domains from type I polyketide synthase (PKS) genes and revealed four distinct clusters, the largest of which was comprised of strains from all six global locations sampled. The remaining strains fell into three smaller clusters comprised of strains derived entirely from the Red Sea, the Sea of Cortez, or around the Island of Guam. These results reveal variation in the secondary metabolite gene collectives maintained by strains that are largely clonal at the 16S rRNA level. The location specificities of the three smaller clusters provide evidence that collections of secondary metabolite genes in subpopulations of S. arenicola are endemic to these locations. Cloned KS sequences support the maintenance of distinct sets of biosynthetic genes in the strains associated with each cluster and include four that had not previously been detected in S. arenicola. Two of these new sequences were observed only in strains derived from Guam or the Sea of Cortez. Transcriptional analysis of one of the new KS sequences in conjunction with the production of the polyketide arenicolide A supports a link between this sequence and the associated biosynthetic pathway. From the perspective of natural product discovery, these results suggest that screening populations from distant locations can enhance the discovery of new natural products and provides further support for the use of molecular fingerprinting techniques, such as T-RFLP, to rapidly identify strains that possess distinct sets of biosynthetic genes.

Linking species concepts to natural product discovery in the post-genomic era

A widely accepted species concept for bacteria has yet to be established. As a result, species designations are inconsistently applied and tied to what can be considered arbitrary metrics. Increasing access to DNA sequence data and clear evidence that bacterial genomes are dynamic entities that include large numbers of horizontally acquired genes have added a new level of insight to the ongoing species concept debate. Despite uncertainties over how to apply species concepts to bacteria, there is clear evidence that sequence-based approaches can be used to resolve cohesive groups that maintain the properties of species. This cohesion is clearly evidenced in the genus Salinispora, where three species have been discerned despite very close relationships based on 16S rRNA sequence analysis. The major phenotypic differences among the three species are associated with secondary metabolite production, which occurs in species-specific patterns. These patterns are maintained on a global basis and provide evidence that secondary metabolites have important ecological functions. These patterns also suggest that an effective strategy for natural product discovery is to target the cultivation of new Salinispora taxa. Alternatively, bioinformatic analyses of biosynthetic genes provide opportunities to predict secondary metabolite novelty and reduce the redundant isolation of well-known metabolites. Although much remains to be learned about the evolutionary relationships among bacteria and how fundamental units of diversity can be resolved, genus and species descriptions remain the most effective method of scientific communication.

Insights into the evolution of macrolactam biosynthesis through cloning and comparative analysis of the biosynthetic gene cluster for a novel macrocyclic lactam, ML-449

A new compound, designated ML-449, structurally similar to the known 20-membered macrolactam BE-14106, was isolated from a marine sediment-derived Streptomyces sp. Cloning and sequencing of the 83-kb ML-449 biosynthetic gene cluster revealed its high level of similarity to the BE-14106 gene cluster. Comparison of the respective biosynthetic pathways indicated that the difference in the compounds' structures stems from the incorporation of one extra acetate unit during the synthesis of the acyl side chain. A phylogenetic analysis of the beta-ketosynthase (KS) domains from polyketide synthases involved in the biosynthesis of macrolactams pointed to a common ancestry for the two clusters. Furthermore, the analysis demonstrated the formation of a macrolactam-specific subclade for the majority of the KS domains from several macrolactam-biosynthetic gene clusters, indicating a closer relationship between macrolactam clusters than with the macrolactone clusters included in the analysis. Some KS domains from the ML-449, BE-14106, and salinilactam gene clusters did, however, show a closer relationship with KS domains from the polyene macrolide clusters, suggesting potential acquisition rather than duplication of certain PKS genes. Comparison of the ML-449, BE-14106, vicenistatin, and salinilactam biosynthetic gene clusters indicated an evolutionary relationship between them and provided new insights into the processes governing the evolution of small-ring macrolactam biosynthesis.

PCR detection of type I polyketide synthase genes in myxobacteria

The diversity of type I modular polyketide synthase (PKS) was explored by PCR amplification of DNA encoding ketosynthase and acyltransferase domains in myxobacteria. The sequencing of the amplicons revealed that many PKS genes were distantly related to the published sequences. Thus, myxobacteria may be excellent resources for novel and diverse polyketides.

Exploiting the mosaic structure of trans-acyltransferase polyketide synthases for natural product discovery and pathway dissection

Modular polyketide synthases (PKSs) are giant bacterial enzymes that synthesize many polyketides of therapeutic value. In contrast to PKSs that provide acyltransferase (AT) activities in cis, trans-AT PKSs lack integrated AT domains and exhibit unusual enzymatic features with poorly understood functions in polyketide assembly. This has retarded insight into the assembly of products such as mupirocin, leinamycin and bryostatin 1. We show that trans-AT PKSs evolved in a fundamentally different fashion from cis-AT systems, through horizontal recruitment and assembly of substrate-specific ketosynthase (KS) domains. The insights obtained from analysis of these KS mosaics will facilitate both the discovery of novel polyketides by genome mining, as we demonstrate for the thailandamides of Burkholderia thailandensis, and the extraction of chemical information from short trans-AT PCR products, as we show using metagenomic DNA of marine sponges. Our data also suggest new strategies for dissecting polyketide biosynthetic pathways and engineering polyketide assembly.

Bacteria of the Roseobacter clade show potential for secondary metabolite production

Members of the Roseobacter clade are abundant and widespread in marine habitats and have very diverse metabolisms. Production of acylated homoserine lactones (AHL) and secondary metabolites, e.g., antibiotics has been described sporadically. This prompted us to screen 22 strains of this group for production of signaling molecules, antagonistic activity against bacteria of different phylogenetic groups, and the presence of genes encoding for nonribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPS) and polyketide synthases (PKS), representing enzymes involved in the synthesis of various pharmaceutically important natural products. The screening approach for NRPS and PKS genes was based on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with degenerate primers specific for conserved sequence motifs. Additionally, sequences from whole genome sequencing projects of organisms of the Roseobacter clade were considered. Obtained PCR products were cloned, sequenced, and compared with genes of known function. With the PCR approach genes showing similarity to known NRPS and PKS genes were found in seven and five strains, respectively, and three PKS and NRPS sequences from genome sequencing projects were obtained. Three strains exhibited antagonistic activity and also showed production of AHL. Overall production of AHL was found in 10 isolates. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences of the tested organisms showed that several of the AHL-positive strains clustered together. Three strains were positive for three or four categories tested, and were found to be closely related within the genus Phaeobacter. The presence of a highly similar hybrid PKS/NRPS gene locus of unknown function in sequenced genomes of the Roseobacter clade plus the significant similarity of gene fragments from the strains studied to these genes argues for the functional requirement of the encoded hybrid PKS/NRPS complex. Our screening results therefore suggest that the Roseobacter clade is indeed employing PKS/NRPS biochemistry and should thus be further studied as a potential and largely untapped source of secondary metabolites.

Spiroketal polyketide formation in Sorangium: identification and analysis of the biosynthetic gene cluster for the highly cytotoxic spirangienes

Natural products constitute important lead structures in drug discovery. In bacteria, they are often synthesized by large, modular multienzyme complexes. Detailed analysis of the biosynthetic machinery should enable its directed engineering and production of desirable analogs. The myxobacterium Sorangium cellulosum So ce90 produces the cytotoxic spiroketal polyketide spirangien, for which we describe the identification and functional analysis of the biosynthetic pathway. The gene cluster spans 88 kb and encodes 7 type I polyketide synthases and additional enzymes such as a stand-alone thioesterase and 2 methyltransferases. Inactivation of two cytochrome P(450) monooxygenase genes resulted in the production of acyclic spirangien derivatives, providing direct evidence for the involvement of these enzymes in spiroketal formation. The presence of large DNA repeats is consistent with multiple rounds of gene duplication during the evolution of the biosynthetic gene locus.

Widespread occurrence and genomic context of unusually small polyketide synthase genes in microbial consortia associated with marine sponges

Numerous marine sponges harbor enormous amounts of as-yet-uncultivated bacteria in their tissues. There is increasing evidence that these symbionts play an important role in the synthesis of protective metabolites, many of which are of great pharmacological interest. In this study, genes for the biosynthesis of polyketides, one of the most important classes of bioactive natural products, were systematically investigated in 20 demosponge species from different oceans. Unexpectedly, the sponge metagenomes were dominated by a ubiquitously present, evolutionarily distinct, and highly sponge-specific group of polyketide synthases (PKSs). Open reading frames resembling animal fatty acid genes were found on three corresponding DNA regions isolated from the metagenomes of Theonella swinhoei and Aplysina aerophoba. Their architecture suggests that methyl-branched fatty acids are the metabolic product. According to a phylogenetic analysis of housekeeping genes, at least one of the PKSs belongs to a bacterium of the Deinococcus-Thermus phylum. The results provide new insights into the chemistry of sponge symbionts and allow inference of a detailed phylogeny of the diverse functional PKS types present in sponge metagenomes. Based on these qualitative and quantitative data, we propose a significantly simplified strategy for the targeted isolation of biomedically relevant PKS genes from complex sponge-symbiont associations.

Laboratory-directed protein evolution

Systematic approaches to directed evolution of proteins have been documented since the 1970s. The ability to recruit new protein functions arises from the considerable substrate ambiguity of many proteins. The substrate ambiguity of a protein can be interpreted as the evolutionary potential that allows a protein to acquire new specificities through mutation or to regain function via mutations that differ from the original protein sequence. All organisms have evolutionarily exploited this substrate ambiguity. When exploited in a laboratory under controlled mutagenesis and selection, it enables a protein to "evolve" in desired directions. One of the most effective strategies in directed protein evolution is to gradually accumulate mutations, either sequentially or by recombination, while applying selective pressure. This is typically achieved by the generation of libraries of mutants followed by efficient screening of these libraries for targeted functions and subsequent repetition of the process using improved mutants from the previous screening. Here we review some of the successful strategies in creating protein diversity and the more recent progress in directed protein evolution in a wide range of scientific disciplines and its impacts in chemical, pharmaceutical, and agricultural sciences.

Localization of polyketide synthase encoding genes to the toxic dinoflagellate Karenia brevis

Karenia brevis is a toxic marine dinoflagellate endemic to the Gulf of Mexico. Blooms of this harmful alga cause fish kills, marine mammal mortalities and neurotoxic shellfish poisonings. These harmful effects are attributed to a suite of polyketide secondary metabolites known as the brevetoxins. The carbon framework of all polyketides is assembled by a polyketide synthase (PKS). Previously, PKS encoding genes were amplified from K. brevis culture and their similarity to a PKS gene from the closely related protist, Cryptosporidium parvum, suggested that these genes originate from the dinoflagellate. However, K. brevis has not been grown axenically. The associated bacteria might be the source of the toxins or the PKS genes. Herein we report the localization of PKS encoding genes by a combination of flow cytometry/PCR and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Two genes localized exclusively to K. brevis cells while a third localized to both K. brevis and associated bacteria. While these genes have not yet been linked to toxin production, the work describes the first definitive evidence of resident PKS genes in any dinoflagellate.

Comparative analysis and insights into the evolution of gene clusters for glycopeptide antibiotic biosynthesis

The bal, cep, dbv, sta and tcp gene clusters specify the biosynthesis of the glycopeptide antibiotics balhimycin, chloroeremomycin, A40926, A47934 and teicoplanin, respectively. These structurally related compounds share a similar mechanism of action in their inhibition of bacterial cell wall formation. Comparative sequence analysis was performed on the five gene clusters. Extensive conserved synteny was observed between the bal and cep clusters, which direct the synthesis of very similar compounds but originate from two different species of the genus Amycolatopsis. All other cluster pairs show a limited degree of conserved synteny, involving biosynthetically functional gene cassettes: these include those involved in the synthesis of the carbon backbone of two non-proteinogenic amino acids; in the linkage of amino acids 1--3 and 4--7 in the heptapeptide; and in the formation of the aromatic cross-links. Furthermore, these segments of conserved synteny are often preceded by conserved intergenic regions. Phylogenetic analysis of protein families shows several instances in which relatedness in the chemical structure of the glycopeptides is not reflected in the extent of the relationship of the corresponding polypeptides. Coherent branchings are observed for all polypeptides encoded by the syntenous gene cassettes. These results suggest that the acquisition of distinct, functional genetic elements has played a significant role in the evolution of glycopeptide gene clusters, giving them a mosaic structure. In addition, the synthesis of the structurally similar compounds A40926 and teicoplanin appears as the result of convergent evolution.

Type I polyketide synthases may have evolved through horizontal gene transfer

Type I polyketide synthases (PKSI) are modular multidomain enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of many natural products of industrial interest. PKSI modules are minimally organized in three domains: ketosynthase (KS), acyltransferase (AT), and acyl carrier protein. The KS domain phylogeny of 23 PKSI clusters was determined. The results obtained suggest that many horizontal transfers of PKSI genes have occurred between actinomycetales species. Such gene transfers may explain the homogeneity and the robustness of the actinomycetales group since gene transfers between closely related species could mimic patterns generated by vertical inheritance. We suggest that the linearity and instability of actinomycetales chromosomes associated with their large quantity of genetic mobile elements have favored such horizontal gene transfers.

Utilizing the Power of Microbial Genetics to Bridge the Gap Between the Promise and the Application of Marine Natural Products

Marine organisms are a rich source of secondary metabolites. They have yielded thousands of compounds with a broad range of biomedical applications. Thus far, samples required for preclinical and clinical studies have been obtained by collection from the wild, by mariculture, and by total chemical synthesis. However, for a number of complex marine metabolites, none of these options is feasible for either economic or environmental reasons. In order to proceed with the development of many of these promising therapeutic compounds, a reliable and renewable source must be found. Over the last twenty years, the study of microbial secondary metabolites has greatly advanced our understanding of how nature utilizes simple starting materials to yield complex small molecules. Much of this work has focused on polyketides and nonribosomal peptides, two classes of molecules that are prevalent in marine micro- and macroorganisms. The lessons learned from the study of terrestrial metabolite biosynthesis are now being applied to the marine world. As techniques for cloning and heterologous expression of biosynthetic pathways continue to improve, they may provide our greatest hope for bridging the gap between the promise and application of many marine natural products.

Phylogenetic analysis of polyketide synthase I domains from soil metagenomic libraries allows selection of promising clones

The metagenomic approach provides direct access to diverse unexplored genomes, especially from uncultivated bacteria in a given environment. This diversity can conceal many new biosynthetic pathways. Type I polyketide synthases (PKSI) are modular enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of many natural products of industrial interest. Among the PKSI domains, the ketosynthase domain (KS) was used to screen a large soil metagenomic library containing more than 100,000 clones to detect those containing PKS genes. Over 60,000 clones were screened, and 139 clones containing KS domains were detected. A 700-bp fragment of the KS domain was sequenced for 40 of 139 randomly chosen clones. None of the 40 protein sequences were identical to those found in public databases, and nucleic sequences were not redundant. Phylogenetic analyses were performed on the protein sequences of three metagenomic clones to select the clones which one can predict to produce new compounds. Two PKS-positive clones do not belong to any of the 23 published PKSI included in the analysis, encouraging further analyses on these two clones identified by the selection process.