Cleaning up polyketide synthases

Draft Genome Sequence of an Endophytic Actinoplanes Species, Encoding Uncommon trans-Acyltransferase Polyketide Synthases

Actinoplanes is an endophytic actinobacterium isolated from the medicinal plant Amphipterygium adstringens. The strain draft genome sequence reveals a gene cluster involved in the biosynthesis of a hybrid trans-acyltransferase (AT) polyketide, an unconventional bioactive metabolite never reported before in the genus Actinoplanes.

Acyl hydrolases from trans-AT polyketide synthases target acetyl units on acyl carrier proteins

Acyl hydrolase (AH) domains are a common feature of trans-AT PKSs. They have been hypothesised to perform a proofreading function by removing acyl chains from stalled sites. This study determines the substrate tolerance of the AH PedC for a range of acyl-ACPs. Clear preference towards short, linear acyl-ACPs is shown, with acetyl-ACP the best substrate. These results imply a more targeted housekeeping role for PedC: namely the removal of unwanted acetyl groups from ACP domains caused by erroneous transfer of acetyl-CoA, or possibly by decarboxylation of malonyl-ACP.