1
|
Peter M, Zhang ZX, Yang Y, Li SM. Biosynthesis of the Sesquiterpenoid Malfilanol D in Aspergillus ustus Implies Alkyl and Hydride Migrations during the Bicyclo[5.4.0]undecane Skeleton Formation. Org Lett 2024. [PMID: 39073982 DOI: 10.1021/acs.orglett.4c02351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/31/2024]
Abstract
The great variety and fascinating complexity of terpenoid skeletons are achieved through different cyclizations catalyzed by terpene cyclases. Here, we report a sesquiterpene cyclase (MfdS) from Aspergillus ustus for the formation of malfilanol D, a member of the group of biochemically less investigated sesquiterpenes with a bicyclo[5.4.0]undecane skeleton. Feeding 13C-labeled acetates in Aspergillus nidulans with the mfdS sequence provides evidence for a C-1 to C-10 cyclization with subsequent 1,2-alkyl and 1,2-hydride shifts in the formation of the 6/7-fused rings.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marlies Peter
- Institut für Pharmazeutische Biologie und Biotechnologie, Fachbereich Pharmazie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Robert-Koch-Straße 4, Marburg 35037, Germany
| | - Zheng-Xi Zhang
- Institut für Pharmazeutische Biologie und Biotechnologie, Fachbereich Pharmazie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Robert-Koch-Straße 4, Marburg 35037, Germany
| | - Yiling Yang
- Institut für Pharmazeutische Biologie und Biotechnologie, Fachbereich Pharmazie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Robert-Koch-Straße 4, Marburg 35037, Germany
| | - Shu-Ming Li
- Institut für Pharmazeutische Biologie und Biotechnologie, Fachbereich Pharmazie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Robert-Koch-Straße 4, Marburg 35037, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Zhou J, Chen X, Li SM. Construction of an expression platform for fungal secondary metabolite biosynthesis in Penicillium crustosum. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2024; 108:427. [PMID: 39046587 PMCID: PMC11269504 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-024-13259-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2024] [Revised: 07/08/2024] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 07/25/2024]
Abstract
Filamentous fungi are prolific producers of bioactive natural products and play a vital role in drug discovery. Yet, their potential cannot be fully exploited since many biosynthetic genes are silent or cryptic under laboratory culture conditions. Several strategies have been applied to activate these genes, with heterologous expression as one of the most promising approaches. However, successful expression and identification of new products are often hindered by host-dependent factors, such as low gene targeting efficiencies, a high metabolite background, or a lack of selection markers. To overcome these challenges, we have constructed a Penicillium crustosum expression host in a pyrG deficient strain by combining the split-marker strategy and CRISPR-Cas9 technology. Deletion of ligD and pcribo improved gene targeting efficiencies and enabled the use of an additional selection marker in P. crustosum. Furthermore, we reduced the secondary metabolite background by inactivation of two highly expressed gene clusters and abolished the formation of the reactive ortho-quinone methide. Finally, we replaced the P. crustosum pigment gene pcr4401 with the commonly used Aspergillus nidulans wA expression site for convenient use of constructs originally designed for A. nidulans in our P. crustosum host strain. As proof of concept, we successfully expressed a single polyketide synthase gene and an entire gene cluster at the P. crustosum wA locus. Resulting transformants were easily detected by their albino phenotype. With this study, we provide a highly efficient platform for heterologous expression of fungal genes. KEY POINTS: Construction of a highly efficient Penicillium crustosum heterologous expression host Reduction of secondary metabolite background by genetic dereplication strategy Integration of wA site to provide an alternative host besides Aspergillus nidulans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jenny Zhou
- Institut Für Pharmazeutische Biologie Und Biotechnologie, Fachbereich Pharmazie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Robert-Koch-Straße 4, 35037, Marburg, Germany
| | - Xiaoling Chen
- Institut Für Pharmazeutische Biologie Und Biotechnologie, Fachbereich Pharmazie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Robert-Koch-Straße 4, 35037, Marburg, Germany
| | - Shu-Ming Li
- Institut Für Pharmazeutische Biologie Und Biotechnologie, Fachbereich Pharmazie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Robert-Koch-Straße 4, 35037, Marburg, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Janzen DJ, Zhou J, Li SM. Biosynthesis of p-Terphenyls in Aspergillus ustus Implies Enzymatic Reductive Dehydration and Spontaneous Dibenzofuran Formation. Org Lett 2023; 25:6311-6316. [PMID: 37607357 DOI: 10.1021/acs.orglett.3c02234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/24/2023]
Abstract
p-Terphenyls contain a central benzene ring substituted with two phenyl residues at its para positions. Heterologous expression of a biosynthetic gene cluster from Aspergillus ustus led to the formation of four new p-terphenyl derivatives. Gene deletion experiments proved the formation and reductive dehydration of the terphenylquinone atromentin, followed by O-methylation and prenylation. Spontaneous dibenzofuran formation led to the final products. These results provide new insights into the biosynthesis of p-terphenyls in fungi and dibenzofuran formation in the biosynthesis of numerous natural products.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel J Janzen
- Institut für Pharmazeutische Biologie und Biotechnologie, Fachbereich Pharmazie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Robert-Koch-Straße 4, 35037 Marburg, Germany
| | - Jing Zhou
- Institut für Pharmazeutische Biologie und Biotechnologie, Fachbereich Pharmazie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Robert-Koch-Straße 4, 35037 Marburg, Germany
- School of Life Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan 570228, People's Republic of China
| | - Shu-Ming Li
- Institut für Pharmazeutische Biologie und Biotechnologie, Fachbereich Pharmazie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Robert-Koch-Straße 4, 35037 Marburg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Zhang ZX, Li ZH, Li SM. Formation of the Fungal Indole Alkaloid Speradine F Implies Multiple Nonenzymatic Oxidation Steps. JOURNAL OF NATURAL PRODUCTS 2023; 86:1053-1060. [PMID: 37043818 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.3c00155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
The highly oxygenated indole alkaloid speradine F (4) with a 6/5/6/5/5/5 hexacyclic skeleton was isolated from a culture of Penicillium palitans, together with its precursors β-cyclopiazonic acid (β-CPA, 5) and cyclopiazonic acid (CPA, 1). Gene deletion and heterologous expression led to the identification of the responsible five-gene spe cluster for the speradine skeleton formation. Precursor supply experiments proved that 1 was enzymatically converted, via 2-oxoCPA (2), to speradine A (3), which subsequently undergoes multistep nonenzymatic hydroxylations to 4.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zheng-Xi Zhang
- Institut für Pharmazeutische Biologie und Biotechnologie, Fachbereich Pharmazie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Robert-Koch Straße 4, 35037 Marburg, Germany
| | - Zhang-Hai Li
- Institut für Pharmazeutische Biologie und Biotechnologie, Fachbereich Pharmazie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Robert-Koch Straße 4, 35037 Marburg, Germany
| | - Shu-Ming Li
- Institut für Pharmazeutische Biologie und Biotechnologie, Fachbereich Pharmazie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Robert-Koch Straße 4, 35037 Marburg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Deng H, Liang X, Liu J, Zheng X, Fan TP, Cai Y. Advances and perspectives on perylenequinone biosynthesis. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:1070110. [PMID: 36605511 PMCID: PMC9808054 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1070110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Under illumination, the fungal secondary metabolites, perylenequinones (PQs) react with molecular oxygen to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS), which, in excess can damage cellular macromolecules and trigger apoptosis. Based on this property, PQs have been widely used as photosensitizers and applied in pharmaceuticals, which has stimulated research into the discovery of new PQs and the elucidation of their biosynthetic pathways. The PQs-associated literature covering from April 1967 to September 2022 is reviewed in three sections: (1) the sources, structural diversity, and biological activities of microbial PQs; (2) elucidation of PQ biosynthetic pathways, associated genes, and mechanisms of regulation; and (3) advances in pathway engineering and future potential strategies to modify cellular metabolism and improve PQ production.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Huaxiang Deng
- Center for Synthetic Biochemistry, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China,The Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China,*Correspondence: Huaxiang Deng,
| | - Xinxin Liang
- The Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jinbin Liu
- School of Marine and Bioengineering, Yancheng Institute of Technology, Yancheng, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiaohui Zheng
- College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi’an, Shanxi, China
| | - Tai-Ping Fan
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Yujie Cai
- The Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China,Yujie Cai,
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Peter M, Yang Y, Li SM. A terpene cyclase from Aspergillus ustus is involved in the biosynthesis of geosmin precursor germacradienol. RSC Adv 2022; 12:28171-28177. [PMID: 36320281 PMCID: PMC9527937 DOI: 10.1039/d2ra05033a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
The earthy odor of geosmin with a C12 skeleton is known from bacteria, fungi and plants. The sesquiterpenoid germacradien-11-ol (germacradienol) is a crucial intermediate in the biosynthesis of geosmin. A bifunctional terpene cyclase for germacradienol formation and its degradation to geosmin had been described in bacteria. Terpene cyclases were also suggested for geosmin formation in basidiomycetes, but not reported for ascomycetes. We identified a putative terpene cyclase in Aspergillus ustus with low sequence homology to N-termini of the bacterial germacradienol/geosmin synthases. Heterologous expression in Aspergillus nidulans and biochemical characterization led to the identification of the geosmin precursor germacradienol as the sole detected enzyme product. Germacradienol synthase (GdlS) uses strictly farnesyl diphosphate as substrate for cyclization and requires Mg2+ for its reaction. Multiple sequence alignments with known enzymes indicate the presence of the highly conserved catalytic residues including the DDXXD motif for Mg2+ binding. Phylogenetic analysis suggests different clades of bacterial germacradienol/geosmin synthases and terpene cyclases from fungi. This study reports a terpene cyclase responsible for germacradienol formation in the ascomycetous fungus Aspergillus ustus. Both in vivo and in vitro data are provided.![]()
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marlies Peter
- Institut für Pharmazeutische Biologie und Biotechnologie, Fachbereich Pharmazie, Philipps-Universität MarburgRobert-Koch-Straße 435037 MarburgGermany
| | - Yiling Yang
- Institut für Pharmazeutische Biologie und Biotechnologie, Fachbereich Pharmazie, Philipps-Universität MarburgRobert-Koch-Straße 435037 MarburgGermany
| | - Shu-Ming Li
- Institut für Pharmazeutische Biologie und Biotechnologie, Fachbereich Pharmazie, Philipps-Universität MarburgRobert-Koch-Straße 435037 MarburgGermany
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Schüller A, Studt-Reinhold L, Strauss J. How to Completely Squeeze a Fungus-Advanced Genome Mining Tools for Novel Bioactive Substances. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:1837. [PMID: 36145585 PMCID: PMC9505985 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14091837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Fungal species have the capability of producing an overwhelming diversity of bioactive substances that can have beneficial but also detrimental effects on human health. These so-called secondary metabolites naturally serve as antimicrobial "weapon systems", signaling molecules or developmental effectors for fungi and hence are produced only under very specific environmental conditions or stages in their life cycle. However, as these complex conditions are difficult or even impossible to mimic in laboratory settings, only a small fraction of the true chemical diversity of fungi is known so far. This also implies that a large space for potentially new pharmaceuticals remains unexplored. We here present an overview on current developments in advanced methods that can be used to explore this chemical space. We focus on genetic and genomic methods, how to detect genes that harbor the blueprints for the production of these compounds (i.e., biosynthetic gene clusters, BGCs), and ways to activate these silent chromosomal regions. We provide an in-depth view of the chromatin-level regulation of BGCs and of the potential to use the CRISPR/Cas technology as an activation tool.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Joseph Strauss
- Institute of Microbial Genetics, Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, A-3430 Tulln/Donau, Austria
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Stierle SA, Li SM. Biosynthesis of Xylariolide D in Penicillium crustosum Implies a Chain Branching Reaction Catalyzed by a Highly Reducing Polyketide Synthase. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:jof8050493. [PMID: 35628749 PMCID: PMC9147667 DOI: 10.3390/jof8050493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Revised: 05/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Fungi are important sources for the discovery of natural products. During the last decades, technological progress and the increasing number of sequenced genomes facilitated the exploration of new secondary metabolites. Among those, polyketides represent a structurally diverse group with manifold biological activities. In this study, we successfully used genome mining and genetic manipulation for functional proof of a polyketide biosynthetic gene cluster from the filamentous fungus Penicillium crustosum. Gene activation in the native host and heterologous expression in Aspergillus nidulans led to the identification of the xil cluster, being responsible for the formation of the 6-methyl-2-pyrone derivative xylariolide D. Feeding with 13C-labeled precursors supported the hypothesis of chain branching during the backbone formation catalyzed by a highly reducing fungal polyketide synthase. A cytochrome P450-catalyzed hydroxylation converts the PKS product to the final metabolite. This proved that just two enzymes are required for the biosynthesis of xylariolide D.
Collapse
|
9
|
Zhang ZX, Li ZH, Yin WB, Li SM. Biosynthesis of Viridicatol in Penicillium palitans Implies a Cytochrome P450-Mediated meta Hydroxylation at a Monoalkylated Benzene Ring. Org Lett 2022; 24:262-267. [PMID: 34928155 DOI: 10.1021/acs.orglett.1c03932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Cyclopenol (1) and viridicatol (6) with m-hydroxyl groups were isolated from a culture of Penicillium palitans. Genome mining and heterologous expression in Aspergillus nidulans led to the identification of their biosynthetic gene cluster and the cytochrome P450 enzyme VdoD responsible for the meta hydroxylation. Precursor feeding experiments into vdoD transformant proved the conversion of cyclopenin (2) to 1, which then undergoes a spontaneous or VdoA-catalyzed rearrangement to 6. A direct conversion of viridicatin (5) to 6 by VdoD was not detected.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zheng-Xi Zhang
- Institut für Pharmazeutische Biologie und Biotechnologie, Fachbereich Pharmazie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Robert-Koch-Straße 4, 35037 Marburg, Germany
| | - Zhang-Hai Li
- Institut für Pharmazeutische Biologie und Biotechnologie, Fachbereich Pharmazie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Robert-Koch-Straße 4, 35037 Marburg, Germany
| | - Wen-Bing Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, People's Republic of China
| | - Shu-Ming Li
- Institut für Pharmazeutische Biologie und Biotechnologie, Fachbereich Pharmazie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Robert-Koch-Straße 4, 35037 Marburg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Conversion of viridicatic acid to crustosic acid by cytochrome P450 enzyme-catalysed hydroxylation and spontaneous cyclisation. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2021; 105:9181-9189. [PMID: 34761275 PMCID: PMC8648635 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-021-11674-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2021] [Revised: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (P450s) are considered nature's most versatile catalysts and play a crucial role in regio- and stereoselective oxidation reactions on a broad range of organic molecules. The oxyfunctionalisation of unactivated carbon-hydrogen (C-H) bonds, in particular, represents a key step in the biosynthesis of many natural products as it provides substrates with increased reactivity for tailoring reactions. In this study, we investigated the function of the P450 enzyme TraB in the terrestric acid biosynthetic pathway. We firstly deleted the gene coding for the DNA repair subunit protein Ku70 by using split marker-based deletion plasmids for convenient recycling of the selection marker to improve gene targeting in Penicillium crustosum. Hereby, we reduced ectopic DNA integration and facilitated genetic manipulation in P. crustosum. Afterward, gene deletion in the Δku70 mutant of the native producer P. crustosum and heterologous expression in Aspergillus nidulans with precursor feeding proved the involvement of TraB in the formation of crustosic acid by catalysing the essential hydroxylation reaction of viridicatic acid. KEY POINTS: •Deletion of Ku70 by using split marker approach for selection marker recycling. •Functional identification of the cytochrome P450 enzyme TraB. •Fulfilling the reaction steps in the terrestric acid biosynthesis.
Collapse
|
11
|
Meng X, Fang Y, Ding M, Zhang Y, Jia K, Li Z, Collemare J, Liu W. Developing fungal heterologous expression platforms to explore and improve the production of natural products from fungal biodiversity. Biotechnol Adv 2021; 54:107866. [PMID: 34780934 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2021.107866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Revised: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Natural products from fungi represent an important source of biologically active metabolites notably for therapeutic agent development. Genome sequencing revealed that the number of biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) in fungi is much larger than expected. Unfortunately, most of them are silent or barely expressed under laboratory culture conditions. Moreover, many fungi in nature are uncultivable or cannot be genetically manipulated, restricting the extraction and identification of bioactive metabolites from these species. Rapid exploration of the tremendous number of cryptic fungal BGCs necessitates the development of heterologous expression platforms, which will facilitate the efficient production of natural products in fungal cell factories. Host selection, BGC assembly methods, promoters used for heterologous gene expression, metabolic engineering strategies and compartmentalization of biosynthetic pathways are key aspects for consideration to develop such a microbial platform. In the present review, we summarize current progress on the above challenges to promote research effort in the relevant fields.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiangfeng Meng
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Microbial Technology Institute, Shandong University, No. 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao 266237, PR China
| | - Yu Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Microbial Technology Institute, Shandong University, No. 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao 266237, PR China
| | - Mingyang Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Microbial Technology Institute, Shandong University, No. 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao 266237, PR China
| | - Yanyu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Microbial Technology Institute, Shandong University, No. 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao 266237, PR China
| | - Kaili Jia
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Microbial Technology Institute, Shandong University, No. 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao 266237, PR China
| | - Zhongye Li
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Microbial Technology Institute, Shandong University, No. 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao 266237, PR China
| | - Jérôme Collemare
- Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT Utrecht, the Netherlands.
| | - Weifeng Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Microbial Technology Institute, Shandong University, No. 72 Binhai Road, Qingdao 266237, PR China.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Cheng JT, Yu JH, Sun CF, Cao F, Ying YM, Zhan ZJ, Li WJ, Chen XA, Zhao QW, Li YQ, Gan LS, Mao XM. A Cell Factory of a Fungicolous Fungus Calcarisporium arbuscula for Efficient Production of Natural Products. ACS Synth Biol 2021; 10:698-706. [PMID: 33720696 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.0c00371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Fungal natural products are rich sources of clinical drugs. Particularly, the fungicolous fungi have a large number of biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) to produce numerous bioactive natural products, but most BGCs are silent in the laboratory. We have shown that a fungicolous fungus Calcarisporium arbuscula NRRL 3705 predominantly produces the highly reduced polyketide-type mycotoxins aurovertins. Here after evaluation of the aurovertin-null mutant ΔaurA as an efficient host, we further screened two strong promoters aurBp and A07068p based on RNA-Seq, and successfully activated an endogenous gene cluster from C. arbuscula as well as three additional exogenous BGCs from other fungi to produce polyketide-type natural products. Thus, we showed an efficient expression system from the fungicolous fungus C. arbuscula, which will be highly beneficial and complementary to the conventional Aspergillus and Penicillium fungal cell factories, and provides a useful toolkit for genome-wide mining of bioactive natural products from fungicolous fungi.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jin-Tao Cheng
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology & Research Center for Clinical Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, P. R. China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Microbial Biochemistry and Metabolic Engineering, Hangzhou, 310058, P. R. China
| | - Jia-Hui Yu
- School of Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Wuyi University, Jiangmen, Guangdong 529020, P. R. China
| | - Chen-Fan Sun
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology & Research Center for Clinical Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, P. R. China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Microbial Biochemistry and Metabolic Engineering, Hangzhou, 310058, P. R. China
| | - Fei Cao
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology & Research Center for Clinical Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, P. R. China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Microbial Biochemistry and Metabolic Engineering, Hangzhou, 310058, P. R. China
| | - You-Min Ying
- College of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310014, P. R. China
| | - Zha-Jun Zhan
- College of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310014, P. R. China
| | - Wen-Ju Li
- Jinan Samuel Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd of Shandong Province, Jinan, 250100, P. R. China
| | - Xin-Ai Chen
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology & Research Center for Clinical Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, P. R. China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Microbial Biochemistry and Metabolic Engineering, Hangzhou, 310058, P. R. China
| | - Qing-Wei Zhao
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology & Research Center for Clinical Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, P. R. China
| | - Yong-Quan Li
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology & Research Center for Clinical Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, P. R. China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Microbial Biochemistry and Metabolic Engineering, Hangzhou, 310058, P. R. China
| | - Li-She Gan
- School of Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Wuyi University, Jiangmen, Guangdong 529020, P. R. China
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, P. R. China
| | - Xu-Ming Mao
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology & Research Center for Clinical Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, P. R. China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Microbial Biochemistry and Metabolic Engineering, Hangzhou, 310058, P. R. China
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Nies J, Li SM. Prenylation and Dehydrogenation of a C2-Reversely Prenylated Diketopiperazine as a Branching Point in the Biosynthesis of Echinulin Family Alkaloids in Aspergillus ruber. ACS Chem Biol 2021; 16:185-192. [PMID: 33381959 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.0c00874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The echinulin family alkaloids can be grouped into three series depending on the number of the exo double bonds adjacent to the diketopiperazine core structure. Heterologous expression of the putative echinulin biosynthetic gene cluster from Aspergillus ruber in Aspergillus nidulans led to accumulation of echinulin without a double bond and neoechinulin A with one double bond (Δ10) as major products. Their analogues with a different number of prenyl moieties were detected as minor products. Neoechinulin B and analogues with two double bonds (Δ10,14) were not observed. Feeding experiments confirmed that the cytochrome P450 enzyme EchP450 only catalyzes the formation of the double bond between C10 and C11. Coincubation and substrate concentration dependent assays with the prenyltransferase EchPT2 revealed that the reversely C2-prenylated preechinulin without a double bond is a much better substrate than neoechinulin A. These results prove that preechinulin serves as a common substrate for the formation of echinulin by two regiospecific prenylation steps with EchPT2 or for EchP450 to introduce one double bond and subsequent prenylations with low regioselectivity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jonas Nies
- Institut für Pharmazeutische Biologie und Biotechnologie, Fachbereich Pharmazie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Robert-Koch-Straße 4, Marburg 35037, Germany
| | - Shu-Ming Li
- Institut für Pharmazeutische Biologie und Biotechnologie, Fachbereich Pharmazie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Robert-Koch-Straße 4, Marburg 35037, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Xiang P, Ludwig-Radtke L, Yin WB, Li SM. Isocoumarin formation by heterologous gene expression and modification by host enzymes. Org Biomol Chem 2020; 18:4946-4948. [DOI: 10.1039/d0ob00989j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The polyketide synthase product was converted to its methylated and hydroxylated derivatives by host endogenous enzymes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pan Xiang
- Institut für Pharmazeutische Biologie und Biotechnologie
- Philipps-Universität Marburg
- 35037 Marburg
- Germany
| | - Lena Ludwig-Radtke
- Institut für Pharmazeutische Biologie und Biotechnologie
- Philipps-Universität Marburg
- 35037 Marburg
- Germany
| | - Wen-Bing Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology
- Institute of Microbiology
- Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Beijing 100101
- China
| | - Shu-Ming Li
- Institut für Pharmazeutische Biologie und Biotechnologie
- Philipps-Universität Marburg
- 35037 Marburg
- Germany
| |
Collapse
|