Substrate specificities of cyclosporin synthetase and peptolide SDZ 214-103 synthetase. Comparison of the substrate specificities of the related multifunctional polypeptides

Nonribosomal Peptide Synthesis-Principles and Prospects

Nonribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs) are large multienzyme machineries that assemble numerous peptides with large structural and functional diversity. These peptides include more than 20 marketed drugs, such as antibacterials (penicillin, vancomycin), antitumor compounds (bleomycin), and immunosuppressants (cyclosporine). Over the past few decades biochemical and structural biology studies have gained mechanistic insights into the highly complex assembly line of nonribosomal peptides. This Review provides state-of-the-art knowledge on the underlying mechanisms of NRPSs and the variety of their products along with detailed analysis of the challenges for future reprogrammed biosynthesis. Such a reprogramming of NRPSs would immediately spur chances to generate analogues of existing drugs or new compound libraries of otherwise nearly inaccessible compound structures.

[Melle4]Cyclosporin, a Novel Natural Cyclosporin with anti-HIV Activity: Structural Elucidation, Biosynthesis and Biological Properties

From fermentations of Tolypocladium niveum supplemented with D-threonine, a novel natural cyclosporin, [Melle4]cyclosporin, was isolated. Its structural elucidation is based on amino acid analysis and spectroscopic data; the amino acid sequence was deduced from two-dimensional NMR investigations applied to the iso-derivative of [Melle4]cyclosporin which, in contrast to the natural product, is present as one homogenous conformation in solution. We show that one of the four N-methyl-L-leucine units of cyclosporin A, namely that in position 4, is replaced by N-methyl-L-isoleucine. The putative mechanism by which D-threonine induces in vivo biosynthesis of [Melle4]cyclosporin is discussed. In vitro biosynthesis of [Melle4]cyclosporin was achieved using the previously described enzymatic system [Lawen and Traber (1993) J Biol Chem268: 20452–20465], thereby demonstrating the high affinity of cyclosporin synthetase for isoleucine in position 4.

In a long series of cyclosporins obtained by in vitro and in vivo biosynthesis, [Melle4]cyclosporin represents the first example that is devoid of immunosuppressive efficacy while retaining strong binding to cyclophilin. It exerts potent in vitro anti-HIV-1 activity.

Rational biosynthetic approaches for the production of new-to-nature compounds in fungi

Filamentous fungi have the ability to produce a wide range of secondary metabolites some of which are potent toxins whereas others are exploited as food additives or drugs. Fungal natural products still play an important role in the discovery of new chemical entities for potential use as pharmaceuticals. However, in most cases they cannot be directly used as drugs due to toxic side effects or suboptimal pharmacokinetics. To improve drug-like properties, including bioactivity and stability or to produce better precursors for semi-synthetic routes, one needs to generate non-natural derivatives from known fungal secondary metabolites. In this minireview, we describe past and recent biosynthetic approaches for the diversification of fungal natural products, covering examples from precursor-directed biosynthesis, mutasynthesis, metabolic engineering and biocombinatorial synthesis. To illustrate the current state-of-the-art, challenges and pitfalls, we lay particular emphasis on the class of fungal cyclodepsipeptides which have been studied longtime for product diversification and which are of pharmaceutical relevance as drugs.

Biosynthesis of cyclosporins and other natural peptidyl prolyl cis/trans isomerase inhibitors

BACKGROUND

Peptidyl-prolyl-cis/trans-isomerases (PPIases) are ubiquitously expressed and have been implicated in a wide range of biological functions. Their inhibition is beneficial in immunosuppression, cancer treatment, treatment of autoimmune diseases, protozoan and viral infections.

SCOPE OF REVIEW

Three classes of PPIases are known, each class having their own specific inhibitors. This review will cover the present knowledge on the biosynthesis of the natural PPIase inhibitors. These include for the cyclophilins: the cyclosporins, the analogues of peptolide SDZ 214-103 and the sanglifehrins; for the FKBPs: ascomycin, rapamycin and FK506 and for the parvulins the naphtoquinone juglone.

MAJOR CONCLUSIONS

Over the last thirty years much progress has been made in understanding PPIase function and the biosynthesis of natural PPIase inhibitors. Non-immunosuppressive analogues were discovered and served as lead compounds for the development of novel antiviral drugs. There are, however, still unsolved questions which deserve further research into this exciting field.

GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE

As all the major natural inhibitors of the cyclophilins and FKBPs are synthesized by complex non-ribosomal peptide synthetases and/or polyketide synthases, total chemical synthesis is not a viable option. Thus, fully understanding the modular enzyme systems involved in their biosynthesis may help engineering enzymes capable of synthesizing novel PPIase inhibitors with improved functions for a wide range of conditions. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Proline-directed Foldases: Cell signaling catalysts and drug targets.

Characterization and Engineering of the Adenylation Domain of a NRPS-Like Protein: A Potential Biocatalyst for Aldehyde Generation

The adenylation (A) domain acts as the first "gate-keeper" to ensure the activation and thioesterification of the correct monomer to nonribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs). Our understanding of the specificity-conferring code and our ability to engineer A domains are critical for increasing the chemical diversity of nonribosomal peptides (NRPs). We recently discovered a novel NRPS-like protein (ATEG_03630) that can activate 5-methyl orsellinic acid (5-MOA) and reduce it to 2,4-dihydroxy-5,6-dimethyl benzaldehyde. A NRPS-like protein is much smaller than multidomain NRPSs, but it still represents the thioesterification half-reaction, which is otherwise missed from a stand-alone A domain. Therefore, a NRPS-like protein may serve as a better model system for A domain engineering. Here, we characterize the substrate specificity of ATEG_03630 and conclude that the hydrogen-bond donor at the 4-position is crucial for substrate recognition. Next, we show that the substrate specificity of ATEG_03630 can be engineered toward our target substrate anthranilate via bioinformatics analysis and mutagenesis. The resultant mutant H358A increased its activity toward anthranilate by 10.9-fold, which led to a 26-fold improvement in specificity. Finally, we demonstrate one-pot chemoenzymatic synthesis of 4-hydroxybenzaldoxime from 4-hydroxybenzoic acid with high yield.

Bioactive compounds synthesized by non-ribosomal peptide synthetases and type-I polyketide synthases discovered through genome-mining and metagenomics

Non-ribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPS) and type-I polyketide synthases (PKS-I) are multimodular enzymes involved in biosynthesis of oligopeptide and polyketide secondary metabolites produced by microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi. New findings regarding the mechanisms underlying NRPS and PKS-I evolution illustrate how microorganisms expand their metabolic potential. During the last decade rapid development of bioinformatics tools as well as improved sequencing and annotation of microbial genomes led to discovery of novel bioactive compounds synthesized by NRPS and PKS-I through genome-mining. Taking advantage of these technological developments metagenomics is a fast growing research field which directly studies microbial genomes or specific gene groups and their products. Discovery of novel bioactive compounds synthesized by NRPS and PKS-I will certainly be accelerated through metagenomics, allowing the exploitation of so far untapped microbial resources in biotechnology and medicine.

Cyclosporin A--a review on fermentative production, downstream processing and pharmacological applications

In present times, the immunosuppressants have gained considerable importance in the world market. Cyclosporin A (CyA) is a cyclic undecapeptide with a variety of biological activities including immunosuppressive, anti-inflammatory, antifungal and antiparasitic properties. CyA is produced by various types of fermentation techniques using Tolypocladium inflatum. In the present review, we discuss the biosynthetic pathway, fermentative production, downstream processing and pharmacological activities of CyA.

Enzymatic processing of fumiquinazoline F: a tandem oxidative-acylation strategy for the generation of multicyclic scaffolds in fungal indole alkaloid biosynthesis

Aspergillus fumigatus Af293 is a known producer of quinazoline natural products, including the antitumor fumiquinazolines, of which the simplest member is fumiquinazoline F (FQF) with a 6-6-6 tricyclic core derived from anthranilic acid, tryptophan, and alanine. FQF is the proposed biological precursor to fumiquinazoline A (FQA) in which the pendant indole side chain has been modified via oxidative coupling of an additional molecule of alanine, yielding a fused 6-5-5 imidazoindolone. We recently identified fungal anthranilate-activating nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) domains through bioinformatics approaches. One domain previously identified is part of the trimodular NRPS Af12080, which we predict is responsible for FQF formation. We now show that two adjacent A. fumigatus ORFs, a monomodular NRPS Af12050 and a flavoprotein Af12060, are necessary and sufficient to convert FQF to FQA. Af12060 oxidizes the 2',3'-double bond of the indole side chain of FQF, and the three-domain NRPS Af12050 activates l-Ala as the adenylate, installs it as the pantetheinyl thioester on its carrier protein domain, and acylates the oxidized indole for subsequent intramolecular cyclization to create the 6-5-5 imidazolindolone of FQA. This work provides experimental validation of the fumiquinazoline biosynthetic cluster of A. fumigatus Af293 and describes an oxidative annulation biosynthetic strategy likely shared among several classes of polycyclic fungal alkaloids.

Two alternative starter modules for the non-ribosomal biosynthesis of specific anabaenopeptin variants in Anabaena (Cyanobacteria)

Anabaenopeptins are a diverse family of cyclic hexapeptide protease inhibitors produced by cyanobacteria that contain a conserved ureido bond and D-Lys moiety. Here we demonstrate that anabaenopeptins are assembled on a nonribosomal peptide synthetase enzyme complex encoded by a 32 kb apt gene cluster in the cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. strain 90. Surprisingly, the gene cluster encoded two alternative starter modules organized in separate bimodular proteins. The starter modules display high substrate specificity for L-Arg/L-Lys and L-Tyr, respectively, and allow the specific biosynthesis of different anabaenopeptin variants. The two starter modules were found also in other Anabaena strains. However, just a single module was present in the anabaenopeptin gene clusters of Nostoc and Nodularia, respectively. The organization of the apt gene cluster in Anabaena represents an exception to the established colinearity rule of linear non-ribosomal peptide synthetases.

Mapping the limits of substrate specificity of the adenylation domain of TycA

The catalytic potential of tyrocidine synthetase 1 (TycA) was probed by the kinetic characterization of its adenylation activity. We observed reactions with 30 substrates, thus suggesting some substrate promiscuity. However, although the TycA adenylation (A) domain was able to accommodate alternative substrates, their k(cat)/K(M) values ranged over six orders of magnitude. A comparison of the activities allowed the systematic mapping of the substrate specificity determinants of the TycA A-domain. Hydrophobicity plays a major role in the recognition of substrate analogues but can be combined with shape complementarity, conferring higher activity, and/or steric exclusion, leading to substantial discrimination against larger substrates. A comparison of the k(cat)/K(M) values of the TycA A-domain and phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase showed that the level of discrimination was comparable in the two enzymes for the adenylation reaction and suggested that TycA was also subjected to high selective pressure. The specificity patterns observed and the quantification of alternative activities provide a basis for exploring possible paths for the future directed evolution of A-domain specificity.

Cyclosporins from Mycelium sterilae MS 2929

The structures of two new cyclosporins were elucidated by NMR and MS methods as cyclo[-MeBmt(1)-Abu(2)-Sar(3)-MeLeu(4)-Val(5)-MeLeu(6)-Ala(7)-d-Ala(8)-MeLeu(9)-MeNva(10)-MeVal(11)-] and cyclo[-MeBmt(1)-Abu(2)-Sar(3)-MeLeu(4)-Abu(5)-MeLeu(6)-Ala(7)-d-Ala(8)-MeLeu(9)-MeLeu(10)-MeVal(11)-].

In silico analysis of methyltransferase domains involved in biosynthesis of secondary metabolites

BACKGROUND

Secondary metabolites biosynthesized by polyketide synthase (PKS) and nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) family of enzymes constitute several classes of therapeutically important natural products like erythromycin, rapamycin, cyclosporine etc. In view of their relevance for natural product based drug discovery, identification of novel secondary metabolite natural products by genome mining has been an area of active research. A number of different tailoring enzymes catalyze a variety of chemical modifications to the polyketide or nonribosomal peptide backbone of these secondary metabolites to enhance their structural diversity. Therefore, development of powerful bioinformatics methods for identification of these tailoring enzymes and assignment of their substrate specificity is crucial for deciphering novel secondary metabolites by genome mining.

RESULTS

In this work, we have carried out a comprehensive bioinformatics analysis of methyltransferase (MT) domains present in multi functional type I PKS and NRPS proteins encoded by PKS/NRPS gene clusters having known secondary metabolite products. Based on the results of this analysis, we have developed a novel knowledge based computational approach for detecting MT domains present in PKS and NRPS megasynthases, delineating their correct boundaries and classifying them as N-MT, C-MT and O-MT using profile HMMs. Analysis of proteins in nr database of NCBI using these class specific profiles has revealed several interesting examples, namely, C-MT domains in NRPS modules, N-MT domains with significant homology to C-MT proteins, and presence of NRPS/PKS MTs in association with other catalytic domains. Our analysis of the chemical structures of the secondary metabolites and their site of methylation suggested that a possible evolutionary basis for the presence of a novel class of N-MT domains with significant homology to C-MT proteins could be the close resemblance of the chemical structures of the acceptor substrates, as in the case of pyochelin and yersiniabactin. These two classes of MTs recognize similar acceptor substrates, but transfer methyl groups to N and C positions on these substrates.

CONCLUSION

We have developed a novel knowledge based computational approach for identifying MT domains present in type I PKS and NRPS multifunctional enzymes and predicting their site of methylation. Analysis of nr database using this approach has revealed presence of several novel MT domains. Our analysis has also given interesting insight into the evolutionary basis of the novel substrate specificities of these MT proteins.

Evolution and taxonomic distribution of nonribosomal peptide and polyketide synthases

The majority of nonribosomal peptide synthases and type I polyketide synthases are multimodular megasynthases of oligopeptide and polyketide secondary metabolites, respectively. Owing to their multimodular architecture, they synthesize their metabolites in assembly line logic. The ongoing genomic revolution together with the application of computational tools has provided the opportunity to mine the various genomes for these enzymes and identify those organisms that produce many oligopeptide and polyketide metabolites. In addition, scientists have started to comprehend the molecular mechanisms of megasynthase evolution, by duplication, recombination, point mutation and module skipping. This knowledge and computational analyses have been implemented towards predicting the specificity of these megasynthases and the structure of their end products. It is an exciting field, both for gaining deeper insight into their basic molecular mechanisms and exploiting them biotechnologically.

An improved purification procedure for cyclosporin synthetase

We have developed expedient and reliable methods to isolate cyclosporin synthetase for in vitro biosynthesis of cyclosporins. We have examined enzyme purification strategies suited to large-scale processing and present a chromatographic sequence that serves as a pilot model for industrial scale preparation of cyclosporin synthetase from cyclosporin producing fungi. A chromatographic sequence consisting of ammonium sulfate precipitation-->gel filtration-->hydrophobic interaction chromatography-->anion exchange chromatography, yielded an electrophoretically homogeneous cyclosporin synthetase preparation (Coomassie G-250 brilliant blue staining). Furthermore, a native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis system was developed for the isolation of active cyclosporin synthetase enzyme from crude extracts of cyclosporin producing fungi. The environmental factors affecting enzyme stability and the continuity of the in vitro cyclosporin biosynthetic reaction-temperature, pH, and substrate depletion were assessed and manageable conditions have been defined for sustainable cyclosporin biosynthesis with enzyme isolates. Cyclosporin synthetase exhibited an optimal temperature range of 24-29 degrees C and a pH optimum of 7.6. The native enzyme displayed a pI of 5.7, as determined by isoelectric focusing. The industrial implementation of an in vitro biosynthetic approach could potentially prove useful for the production of important therapeutic cyclosporins which occur as only minor fermentation by-products.

Detection of putative peptide synthetase genes inTrichodermaspecies: Application of this method to the cloning of a gene fromT. harzianumCECT 2413

Some of the secondary metabolites produced by Trichoderma, such as the peptaibols and other antibiotics, have a peptide structure and in their biosynthesis are involved proteins belonging to the Non-Ribosomal Peptide Synthetase family. In the present work, a PCR-mediated strategy was used to clone a region corresponding to an adenylation domain of a peptide synthetase (PS) gene from 10 different strains of Trichoderma. In addition, and using the fragment isolated by PCR from T. harzianum CECT 2413 as a probe, a fragment of 19.0 kb corresponding to a PS-encoding gene named salps1, including a 1.5 kb fragment of the promoter, was cloned and sequenced. The cloned region of salps1 contains four complete, and a fifth incomplete, modules, in which are found the adenylation, thiolation and condensation domains, but also an additional epimerization domain at the C-terminal end of the first module. The analysis of the Salps1 protein sequence, taking into consideration published data, suggests that it is neither a peptaibol synthetase nor a protein involved in siderophore biosynthesis. The presence of two breaks in the open reading frame and the expression of this gene under nitrogen starvation conditions suggest that salps1 could be a pseudogene.

A nonribosomal peptide synthetase involved in the biosynthesis of ampullosporins inSepedonium ampullosporum

Recently, the saprophytic ascomycete Sepedonium ampullosporum strain HKI-0053 was isolated from a basidiomycete on account of its premature induction of pigment formation in Phoma destructiva, a process often related to the neuroleptic activity of the inducing compound. The active substance was identified as the 15-membered peptaibol type peptide Ampullosporin. Although to date more than 300 peptaibols have been discovered, their biosynthetic machinery has not been characterized yet. By improving the culture conditions it was possible to grow S. ampullosporum in a submerged culture and to increase Ampullosporin production by more than three times to 33 mg/l at reduced fermentation times. The appearance of two high molecular weight proteins, HMWP1 (1.5 MDa) and HMWP2 (350 kDa) was closely related to the production of Ampullosporin during the course of fermentation. Both proteins showed a cross-reaction with antibodies against a core fragment of nonribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs). Biochemical characterization of the partially purified enzymes exhibited selectivity for the substrate amino acid alpha-aminoisobutyric acid (Aib). substantiating their involvement in Ampullosporin biosynthesis. Our data suggest that Ampullosporin synthetase has been isolated, and provides the basis for the characterization of the entire biosynthetic gene cluster. Furthermore, this knowledge will enable the manipulation of its NRPS template, in order to engineer mutant strains of Sepedonium ampullosporum which could produce more potent analogues of Ampullosporin.

Non-ribosomal peptide synthetases as technological platforms for the synthesis of highly modified peptide bioeffectors – Cyclosporin synthetase as a complex example

Many microbial peptide secondary metabolites possess important medicinal properties, of which the immunosuppressant cyclosporin A is an example. The enormous structural and functional diversity of these low-molecular weight peptides is attributable to their mode of biosynthesis. Peptide secondary metabolites are assembled non-ribosomally by multi-functional enzymes, termed non-ribosomal peptide synthetases. These systems consist of a multi-modular arrangement of the functional domains responsible for the catalysis of the partial reactions of peptide assembly. The extensive homology shared among NRPS systems allows for the generalisation of the knowledge garnered from studies of systems of diverse origins. In this review we shall focus the contemporary knowledge of non-ribosomal peptide biosynthesis on the structure and function of the cyclosporin biosynthetic system, with some emphasis on the re-direction of the biosynthetic potential of this system by combinatorial approaches.

Amino acids activated by fengycin synthetase FenE

Fengycin is a lipopeptidic antibiotic produced nonribosomally by Bacillus subtilis F29-3. Synthesis of this antibiotic requires five fengycin synthetases encoded by fenC, fenD, fenE, fenA, and fenB. In this study, we analyze the functions of the enzyme encoded by fenE, which contains two amino acid activation modules, FenE1 and FenE2. ATP-PP(i) exchange assay revealed that FenE1 activates l-Glu and FenE2 activates l-Ala, l-Val, and l-2-aminobutyric acid, indicating that FenE activates the fifth and the sixth amino acids in fengycin. Furthermore, l-Val is a better substrate than l-Ala for FenE2 in vitro, explaining why B. subtilis F29-3 normally produces twice as much of fengycin B than fengycin A, which contains d-Val and d-Ala at the sixth amino acid position, respectively. Results presented herein suggest that fengycin synthetase genes and amino acids in fengycin are colinear.

The specificity-conferring code of adenylation domains in nonribosomal peptide synthetases

BACKGROUND

Many pharmacologically important peptides are synthesized nonribosomally by multimodular peptide synthetases (NRPSs). These enzyme templates consist of iterated modules that, in their number and organization, determine the primary structure of the corresponding peptide products. At the core of each module is an adenylation domain that recognizes the cognate substrate and activates it as its aminoacyl adenylate. Recently, the crystal structure of the phenylalanine-activating adenylation domain PheA was solved with phenylalanine and AMP, illustrating the structural basis for substrate recognition.

RESULTS

By comparing the residues that line the phenylalanine-binding pocket in PheA with the corresponding moieties in other adenylation domains, general rules for deducing substrate specificity were developed. We tested these in silico 'rules' by mutating specificity-conferring residues within PheA. The substrate specificity of most mutants was altered or relaxed. Generalization of the selectivity determinants also allowed the targeted specificity switch of an aspartate-activating adenylation domain, the crystal structure of which has not yet been solved, by introducing a single mutation.

CONCLUSIONS

In silico studies and structure-function mutagenesis have defined general rules for the structural basis of substrate recognition in adenylation domains of NRPSs. These rules can be used to rationally alter the specificity of adenylation domains and to predict from the primary sequence the specificity of biochemically uncharacterized adenylation domains. Such efforts could enhance the structural diversity of peptide antibiotics such as penicillins, cyclosporins and vancomycins by allowing synthesis of 'unnatural' natural products.

Molecular and biochemical characterization of the protein template controlling biosynthesis of the lipopeptide lichenysin

Lichenysins are surface-active lipopeptides with antibiotic properties produced nonribosomally by several strains of Bacillus licheniformis. Here, we report the cloning and sequencing of an entire 26.6-kb lichenysin biosynthesis operon from B. licheniformis ATCC 10716. Three large open reading frames coding for peptide synthetases, designated licA, licB (three modules each), and licC (one module), could be detected, followed by a gene, licTE, coding for a thioesterase-like protein. The domain structure of the seven identified modules, which resembles that of the surfactin synthetases SrfA-A to -C, showed two epimerization domains attached to the third and sixth modules. The substrate specificity of the first, fifth, and seventh recombinant adenylation domains of LicA to -C (cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli) was determined to be Gln, Asp, and Ile (with minor Val and Leu substitutions), respectively. Therefore, we suppose that the identified biosynthesis operon is responsible for the production of a lichenysin variant with the primary amino acid sequence L-Gln-L-Leu-D-Leu-L-Val-L-Asp-D-Leu-L-Ile, with minor Leu and Val substitutions at the seventh position.

The tyrocidine biosynthesis operon of Bacillus brevis: complete nucleotide sequence and biochemical characterization of functional internal adenylation domains

The cyclic decapeptide antibiotic tyrocidine is produced by Bacillus brevis ATCC 8185 on an enzyme complex comprising three peptide synthetases, TycA, TycB, and TycC (tyrocidine synthetases 1, 2, and 3), via the nonribosomal pathway. However, previous molecular characterization of the tyrocidine synthetase-encoding operon was restricted to tycA, the gene that encodes the first one-module-bearing peptide synthetase. Here, we report the cloning and sequencing of the entire tyrocidine biosynthesis operon (39.5 kb) containing the tycA, tycB, and tycC genes. As deduced from the sequence data, TycB (404,562 Da) consists of three modules, including an epimerization domain, whereas TycC (723,577 Da) is composed of six modules and harbors a putative thioesterase domain at its C-terminal end. Each module incorporates one amino acid into the peptide product and can be further subdivided into domains responsible for substrate adenylation, thiolation, condensation, and epimerization (optional). We defined, cloned, and expressed in Escherichia coli five internal adenylation domains of TycB and TycC. Soluble His6-tagged proteins, ranging from 536 to 559 amino acids, were affinity purified and found to be active by amino acid-dependent ATP-PPi exchange assay. The detected amino acid specificities of the investigated domains manifested the colinear arrangement of the peptide product with the respective module in the corresponding peptide synthetases and explain the production of the four known naturally occurring tyrocidine variants. The Km values of the investigated adenylation domains for their amino acid substrates were found to be comparable to those published for undissected wild-type enzymes. These findings strongly support the functional integrities of single domains within multifunctional peptide synthetases. Directly downstream of the 3' end of the tycC gene, and probably transcribed in the tyrocidine operon, two tandem ABC transporters, which may be involved in conferring resistance against tyrocidine, and a putative thioesterase were found.

A nonribosomal system of peptide biosynthesis

This review covers peptide structures originating from the concerted action of enzyme systems without the direct participation of nucleic acids. Biosynthesis proceeds by formation of linear peptidyl intermediates which may be enzymatically modified as well as transformed into specific cyclic structures. The respective enzyme systems are constructed of biosynthetic modules integrated into multienzyme structures. Genetic and DNA-sequence analysis of biosynthetic gene clusters have revealed extensive similarities between prokaryotic and eukaryotic systems, conserved principles of organisation, and a unique mechanism of transport of intermediates during elongation and modification steps involving 4'-phospho-pantetheine. These similarities permit the identification of peptide synthetases and related aminoacyl-ligases and acyl-ligases from sequence data. Similarities to other biosynthetic systems involved in the assembly of polyketide metabolites are discussed.

Identification of genes encoding for peptide synthetases in the gram-negative bacterium Lysobacter sp. ATCC 53042 and the fungus Cylindrotrichum oligospermum

Genes encoding for the multifunctional peptide synthetases lysobactin synthetase and peptolide SDZ 214-103 synthetase were identified by hybridization of genomic libraries with oligonucleotides derived from consensus motifs of various genes encoding for delta-(L-alpha amino-adipoyl)-L-cysteinyl-D-valine (ACV) synthetases and gramicidin S synthetase. The sequence of subcloned gene fragments revealed core motifs and a modular structure typical for the family of peptide synthetase genes. A fragment of 4.6 kb of the lysobactin synthetase gene was sequenced and one amino acid activating module was localized. The cloning of lysobactin synthetase was verified by marker-exchange mutagenesis and the lysobactin minus phenotype of the mutant. The sequenced 3.1 kb fragment of peptolide SDZ 214-103 synthetase contained parts of two modules and was highly homologous to corresponding regions of module 6 and 7 of cyclosporin synthetase. Therefore, the localized modules may activate the amino acids threonine and glycine.

The nonribosomal peptide biosynthetic system--on the origins of structural diversity of peptides, cyclopeptides and related compounds

A variety of peptides have been detected in microorganisms. Some have found applications in various fields, for example the classical beta-lactam antibiotics, immunosuppressors like cyclosporin, promising new antibacterials like teichoplanin or daptomycin and antifungals like echinocandin. For none of these has it been established how their complicated biosynthetic pathways have evolved or what functions they fulfill within or for their producers. So it is unclear what selection processes limit the range of their structural analogues within various groups of microorganisms. We here consider recent data in the field of biosynthesis and how they may suggest mechanisms of genetic diversity. These may illustrate the complexity of genetic and intracellular organization of biosynthetic pathways and indicate the cellular context of some metabolites related to the complex background of the production of each metabolite. Research focusing on various targets like the increase of productivity of fermentations or the spread of resistances to antibacterials is slowly being understood.

Reversal of multidrug resistance by novel cyclosporin A analogues and the cyclopeptolide SDZ 214-103 biosynthesized in vitro

It was shown that cyclopeptolide SDZ 214-103 (10 microM) is more active in rhodamine-123 accumulation in actinomycin-D-resistant human lymphoma cells CCRF/ACTD400 than cyclosporin A (10 microM), but equipotent in the doxorubicin-resistant Friend erythroleukemia cell line F4-6/ADR. In F4-6/ADR cells, the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) cytotoxicity assay showed comparable cytotoxic effects of doxorubicin at various concentrations in the presence of SDZ 214-103 and cyclosporin A. For the other novel cyclosporin A analogues minor multidrug-resistance-modulating potency was demonstrated. At equipotent modulating doses of verapamil (10 microM) and cyclosporin A (10 microM) in the MTT assay regarding doxorubicin cytotoxicity, cyclosporin A was efficient in the rhodamine-123-uptake assay while verapamil was not active when identical incubation times were used.

Peptides

If we include beta-lactam antibiotics on the grounds that they have the same biosynthetic origin, peptides remain commercially the most important group of pharmaceuticals. However, our increasing knowledge of the genetic and enzymic background to biosynthesis, and of the regulation of metabolite production, will eventually bring a more unified approach to bioactive compounds. Mixing of structural types will become important, and we will be able to use our knowledge of biosynthetic genes and their regulatory networks. We will also benefit from an appreciation of the modular organization of catalytic functions, substrate transfer mechanisms and signalling between interacting enzymes. Since all of this is, in fact, the basis for enzymic synthesis of complex natural products in vivo, the exploitation of living cells requires mastery of a formidable network of cellular controls and compartments. For the present we are able to see fascinating connections emerging between genes in a variety of reaction sequences, not only in biosynthetic but also in degradative pathways. Peptide synthetases show surprising similarities to acylcoenzyme A synthetases, which are key enzymes in forming polyketides as well as in generating the CoA-derivatives that serve as substrates in degradative pathways. 4'-Phosphopantetheine, the functional half of CoA, plays a key role as the intrinsic transfer cofactor in various multienzyme systems. The comparatively small catalogue of reactions modifying natural products, notably epimerization, methylation, hydroxylation, decarboxylation (of peptides) and reduction/dehydration (of polyketides) can be found within or amongst biosynthetic proteins, generally as modules and organized in a specified order. The biochemist is coming close to the synthetic chemist's recipes, and may soon be recruiting proteins to carry them out.