Goadsporin, a chemical substance which promotes secondary metabolism and Morphogenesis in streptomycetes. II. Structure determination

Core-dependent post-translational modifications guide the biosynthesis of a new class of hypermodified peptides

The ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptide (RiPPs) class of natural products has undergone significant expansion due to the rapid growth in genome sequencing data. Using a bioinformatics approach, we identify the dehydrazoles, a novel class of hypermodified RiPPs that contain both side chain dehydration of Ser residues, and backbone heterocyclization at Ser, Thr, and Cys residues to the corresponding azol(in)es. Structure elucidation of the hypermodified peptide carnazolamide, a representative class member, shows that 18 post-translational modifications are installed by just five enzymes. Complete biosynthetic reconstitution demonstrates that dehydration is carried out by an unusual DUF4135 dehydration domain fused to a zinc-independent cyclase domain (CcaM). We demonstrate that CcaM only modifies Ser residues that precede an azole in the core peptide. As heterocyclization removes the carbonyl following the Ser residue, CcaM likely catalyzes dehydration without generating an enolate intermediate. Additionally, CcaM does not require the leader peptide, and this core-dependence effectively sets the order for the biosynthetic reactions. Biophysical studies demonstrate direct binding of azoles to CcaM consistent with this azole moiety-dependent dehydration. Bioinformatic analysis reveals more than 50 related biosynthetic gene clusters that contain additional catalysts that may produce structurally diverse scaffolds.

Mechanism of Action of Ribosomally Synthesized and Post-Translationally Modified Peptides

Ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs) are a natural product class that has undergone significant expansion due to the rapid growth in genome sequencing data and recognition that they are made by biosynthetic pathways that share many characteristic features. Their mode of actions cover a wide range of biological processes and include binding to membranes, receptors, enzymes, lipids, RNA, and metals as well as use as cofactors and signaling molecules. This review covers the currently known modes of action (MOA) of RiPPs. In turn, the mechanisms by which these molecules interact with their natural targets provide a rich set of molecular paradigms that can be used for the design or evolution of new or improved activities given the relative ease of engineering RiPPs. In this review, coverage is limited to RiPPs originating from bacteria.

New developments in RiPP discovery, enzymology and engineering

Covering: up to June 2020Ribosomally-synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs) are a large group of natural products. A community-driven review in 2013 described the emerging commonalities in the biosynthesis of RiPPs and the opportunities they offered for bioengineering and genome mining. Since then, the field has seen tremendous advances in understanding of the mechanisms by which nature assembles these compounds, in engineering their biosynthetic machinery for a wide range of applications, and in the discovery of entirely new RiPP families using bioinformatic tools developed specifically for this compound class. The First International Conference on RiPPs was held in 2019, and the meeting participants assembled the current review describing new developments since 2013. The review discusses the new classes of RiPPs that have been discovered, the advances in our understanding of the installation of both primary and secondary post-translational modifications, and the mechanisms by which the enzymes recognize the leader peptides in their substrates. In addition, genome mining tools used for RiPP discovery are discussed as well as various strategies for RiPP engineering. An outlook section presents directions for future research.

Isolation and structure determination of new linear azole-containing peptides spongiicolazolicins A and B from Streptomyces sp. CWH03

Linear azole-containing peptides are a class of ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides. We performed a chemical investigation on marine actinomycetes, and new linear azole-containing peptides named spongiicolazolicins A and B were found in the MeOH extracts of a newly isolated strain Streptomyces sp. CWH03 (NBRC 114659) and two strains of S. spongiicola (strain HNM0071^T: DSM 103383^T and strain 531S: NBRC 113560). The strain Streptomyces sp. CWH03 was indicated to be a new species closely related to S. spongiicola by phylogenetic analysis using the genome sequence. The new peptides named spongiicolazolicins A and B were isolated from the cell of Streptomyces sp. CWH03. The partial structure of spongiicolazolicin A was determined by 2D NMR experiments. Based on data of MS/MS experiments, the chemical structures of spongiicolazolicins A and B were proposed using the amino acid sequence deduced from the precursor-encoding gene, which was found from whole-genome sequence data of Streptomyces sp. CWH03. The biosynthetic gene cluster of spongiicolazolicins was proposed based on comparative analysis with that of a known linear azole peptide goadsporin. KEY POINTS: • Streptomyces sp. CWH03 was a new species isolated from marine sediment. • New linear azole-containing peptides named spongiicolazolicins A and B were isolated. • Biosynthetic pathway of spongiicolazolicins was proposed.

Construction of sulfur-containing moieties in the total synthesis of natural products

This review surveys the total syntheses of sulfur-containing natural products where sulfur atoms are introduced with different sulfurization agents to construct related sulfur-containing moieties.

Heterologous production of coryneazolicin in Escherichia coli

Coryneazolicin is a plantazolicin family peptide, belonging to linear azole-containing peptides (LAPs). Although coryneazolicin was previously synthesized by in vitro experiments, its biological activity has not been evaluated. In this report, the heterologous production of coryneazolicin was accomplished to obtain enough coryneazolicin for biological activity tests. The structure of coryneazolicin was confirmed by ESI-MS and NMR analyses. The biological activity tests indicated that coryneazolicin possessed potent antibacterial activity and cytotoxicity. Although antibacterial activity of plantazolicin was previously reported, cytotoxicity was newly found in coryneazolicin among plantazolicin type peptides. In addition, we revealed that coryneazolicin induced apoptosis on HCT116 and HOS cancer cell lines.

The expanding structural variety among bacteriocins from Gram-positive bacteria

Bacteria use various strategies to compete in an ecological niche, including the production of bacteriocins. Bacteriocins are ribosomally synthesized antibacterial peptides, and it has been postulated that the majority of Gram-positive bacteria produce one or more of these natural products. Bacteriocins can be used in food preservation and are also considered as potential alternatives to antibiotics. The majority of bacteriocins from Gram-positive bacteria had been traditionally divided into two major classes, namely lantibiotics, which are post-translationally modified bacteriocins, and unmodified bacteriocins. The last decade has seen an expanding number of ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs) in Gram-positive bacteria that have antibacterial activity. These include linear azol(in)e-containing peptides, thiopeptides, bottromycins, glycocins, lasso peptides and lipolanthines. In addition, the three-dimensional (3D) structures of a number of modified and unmodified bacteriocins have been elucidated in recent years. This review gives an overview on the structural variety of bacteriocins from Gram-positive bacteria. It will focus on the chemical and 3D structures of these peptides, and their interactions with receptors and membranes, structure-function relationships and possible modes of action.

Activation of silent biosynthetic pathways and discovery of novel secondary metabolites in actinomycetes by co-culture with mycolic acid-containing bacteria

Bacterial secondary metabolites (SM) are rich sources of drug leads, and in particular, numerous metabolites have been isolated from actinomycetes. It was revealed by recent genome sequence projects that actinomycetes harbor much more secondary metabolite-biosynthetic gene clusters (SM-BGCs) than previously expected. Nevertheless, large parts of SM-BGCs in actinomycetes are dormant and cryptic under the standard culture conditions. Therefore, a widely applicable methodology for cryptic SM-BGC activation is required to obtain novel SM. Recently, it was discovered that co-culturing with mycolic-acid-containing bacteria (MACB) widely activated cryptic SM-BGCs in actinomycetes. This "combined-culture" methodology (co-culture methodology using MACB as the partner of actinomycetes) is easily applicable for a broad range of actinomycetes, and indeed, 33 novel SM have been successfully obtained from 12 actinomycetes so far. In this review, the development, application, and mechanistic analysis of the combined-culture method were summarized.

Chemical Elicitors of Antibiotic Biosynthesis in Actinomycetes

Whole genome sequencing of actinomycetes has uncovered a new immense realm of microbial chemistry and biology. Most biosynthetic gene clusters present in genomes were found to remain “silent” under standard cultivation conditions. Some small molecules—chemical elicitors—can be used to induce the biosynthesis of antibiotics in actinobacteria and to expand the chemical diversity of secondary metabolites. Here, we outline a brief account of the basic principles of the search for regulators of this type and their application.

Actinobacteria-Derived peptide antibiotics since 2000

Members of the Actinobacteria, including Streptomyces spp., Kutzneria sp. Actinoplanes spp., Actinomycete sp., Nocardia sp., Brevibacteriumsp.,Actinomadura spp., Micromonospora sp., Amycolatopsis spp., Nonomuraea spp., Nocardiopsis spp., Marinactinospora sp., Rhodococcus sp., Lentzea sp., Actinokineospora sp., Planomonospora sp., Streptomonospora sp., and Microbacterium sp., are an important source of structurally diverse classes of short peptides of ∼30 residues or fewer that will likely play an important role in new antibiotic development and discovery. Additionally, many have unique structures that make them recalcitrant to traditional modes of drug resistance via novel mechanisms, and these are ideal therapeutic tools and potential alternatives to current antibiotics. The need for novel antibiotic is urgent, and this review summarizes 199 Actinobacteria compounds published since 2000, including 35 cyclic lipopeptides containing piperazic or pipecolic acids, eight aromatic peptides, five glycopeptides, 21 bicyclic peptides, 44 other cyclic lipopeptides, five linear lipopeptides, six 2,5-diketopiperazines, one dimeric peptide, four nucleosidyl peptides, two thioamide-containing peptides, 25 thiopeptides, nine lasso peptides, and 34 typical cyclic peptides. The current and potential therapeutic applications of these peptides, including their structure, antituberculotic, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, anti-brugia, anti-plasmodial, and anti-trypanosomal activities, are discussed.

YcaO-Dependent Posttranslational Amide Activation: Biosynthesis, Structure, and Function

With advances in sequencing technology, uncharacterized proteins and domains of unknown function (DUFs) are rapidly accumulating in sequence databases and offer an opportunity to discover new protein chemistry and reaction mechanisms. The focus of this review, the formerly enigmatic YcaO superfamily (DUF181), has been found to catalyze a unique phosphorylation of a ribosomal peptide backbone amide upon attack by different nucleophiles. Established nucleophiles are the side chains of Cys, Ser, and Thr which gives rise to azoline/azole biosynthesis in ribosomally synthesized and posttranslationally modified peptide (RiPP) natural products. However, much remains unknown about the potential for YcaO proteins to collaborate with other nucleophiles. Recent work suggests potential in forming thioamides, macroamidines, and possibly additional post-translational modifications. This review covers all knowledge through mid-2016 regarding the biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs), natural products, functions, mechanisms, and applications of YcaO proteins and outlines likely future research directions for this protein superfamily.

Dissection of goadsporin biosynthesis by in vitro reconstitution leading to designer analogues expressed in vivo

Goadsporin (GS) is a member of ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs), containing an N-terminal acetyl moiety, six azoles and two dehydroalanines in the peptidic main chain. Although the enzymes involved in GS biosynthesis have been defined, the principle of how the respective enzymes control the specific modifications remains elusive. Here we report a one-pot synthesis of GS using the enzymes reconstituted in the 'flexible' in vitro translation system, referred to as the FIT-GS system. This system allows us to readily prepare not only the precursor peptide from its synthetic DNA template but also 52 mutants, enabling us to dissect the modification determinants of GodA for each enzyme. The in vitro knowledge has also led us to successfully produce designer GS analogues in vivo. The methodology demonstrated in this work is also applicable to other RiPP biosynthesis, allowing us to rapidly investigate the principle of modification events with great ease.

Total Synthesis of the Post-translationally Modified Polyazole Peptide Antibiotic Goadsporin

The structurally unique polyazole antibiotic goadsporin contains six heteroaromatic oxazole and thiazole rings integrated into a linear array of amino acids that also contains two dehydroalanine residues. An efficient total synthesis of goadsporin is reported in which the key steps are the use of rhodium(II)-catalyzed reactions of diazocarbonyl compounds to generate the four oxazole rings, which demonstrates the power of rhodium carbene chemistry in organic chemical synthesis.

Mechanistic Understanding of Lanthipeptide Biosynthetic Enzymes

Lanthipeptides are ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs) that display a wide variety of biological activities, from antimicrobial to antiallodynic. Lanthipeptides that display antimicrobial activity are called lantibiotics. The post-translational modification reactions of lanthipeptides include dehydration of Ser and Thr residues to dehydroalanine and dehydrobutyrine, a transformation that is carried out in three unique ways in different classes of lanthipeptides. In a cyclization process, Cys residues then attack the dehydrated residues to generate the lanthionine and methyllanthionine thioether cross-linked amino acids from which lanthipeptides derive their name. The resulting polycyclic peptides have constrained conformations that confer their biological activities. After installation of the characteristic thioether cross-links, tailoring enzymes introduce additional post-translational modifications that are unique to each lanthipeptide and that fine-tune their activities and/or stability. This review focuses on studies published over the past decade that have provided much insight into the mechanisms of the enzymes that carry out the post-translational modifications.

Specialised metabolites regulating antibiotic biosynthesis in Streptomyces spp

Streptomyces bacteria are the major source of antibiotics and other secondary metabolites. Various environmental and physiological conditions affect the onset and level of production of each antibiotic by influencing concentrations of the ligands for conserved global regulatory proteins. In addition, as reviewed here, well-known autoregulators such as γ-butyrolactones, themselves products of secondary metabolism, accumulate late in growth to concentrations allowing their effective interaction with cognate binding proteins, in a necessary prelude to antibiotic biosynthesis. Most autoregulator binding proteins target the conserved global regulatory gene adpA, and/or regulatory genes for 'cluster-situated regulators' (CSRs) linked to antibiotic biosynthetic gene clusters. It now appears that some CSRs bind intermediates and end products of antibiotic biosynthesis, with regulatory effects interwoven with those of autoregulators. These ligands can exert cross-pathway effects within producers of more than one antibiotic, and when excreted into the extracellular environment may have population-wide effects on production, and mediate interactions with neighbouring microorganisms in natural communities, influencing speciation. Greater understanding of these autoregulatory and cross-regulatory activities may aid the discovery of new signalling molecules and their use in activating cryptic antibiotic biosynthetic pathways.

Killing of Mycolic Acid-Containing Bacteria Aborted Induction of Antibiotic Production by Streptomyces in Combined-Culture

Co-culture of Streptomyces with mycolic acid-containing bacteria (MACB), which we termed “combined-culture,” alters the secondary metabolism pattern in Streptomyces and has been a useful method for the discovery of bioactive natural products. In the course of our investigation to identify the inducing factor(s) of MACB, we previously observed that production of pigments in Streptomyces lividans was not induced by factors such as culture extracts or mycolic acids. Although dynamic changes occurred in culture conditions because of MACB, the activation of pigment production by S. lividans was observed in a limited area where both colonies were in direct contact. This suggested that direct attachment of cells is a requirement and that components on the MACB cell membrane may play an important role in the response by S. lividans. Here we examined whether this response was influenced by dead MACB that possess intact mycolic acids assembled on the outer cell membrane. Formaldehyde fixation and γ-irradiation were used to prepare dead cells that retain their shape and mycolic acids of three MACB species: Tsukamurella pulmonis, Rhodococcus erythropolis, and Rhodococcus opacus. Culturing tests verified that S. lividans does not respond to the intact dead cells of three MACB. Observation of combined-culture by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) indicated that adhesion of live MACB to S. lividans mycelia were a significant interaction that resulted in formation of co-aggregation. In contrast, in the SEM analysis, dead cells were not observed to adhere. Therefore, direct attachment by live MACB cells is proposed as one of the possible factors that causes Streptomyces to alter its specialized metabolism in combined-culture.

Unique post-translational oxime formation in the biosynthesis of the azolemycin complex of novel ribosomal peptides from Streptomyces sp. FXJ1.264

Streptomycetes are a rich source of bioactive specialized metabolites, including several examples of the rapidly growing class of ribosomally-biosynthesized and post-translationally-modified peptide (RiPP) natural products. Here we report the discovery from Streptomyces sp. FXJ1.264 of azolemycins A-D, a complex of novel linear azole-containing peptides incorporating a unique oxime functional group. Bioinformatics analysis of the Streptomyces sp. FXJ1.264 draft genome sequence identified a cluster of genes that was hypothesized to be responsible for elaboration of the azolemycins from a ribosomally-biosynthesized precursor. Inactivation of genes within this cluster abolished azolemycin production, consistent with this hypothesis. Moreover, mutants lacking the azmE and azmF genes accumulated azolemycin derivatives lacking the O-methyl groups and an amino group in place of the N-terminal oxime (as well as proteolysed derivatives), respectively. Thus AzmE, a putative S-adenosyl methionine-dependent methyl transferase, is responsible for late-stage O-methylation reactions in azolemycin biosynthesis and AzmF, a putative flavin-dependent monooxygenase, catalyzes oxidation of the N-terminal amino group in an azolemycin precursor to the corresponding oxime. To the best of our knowledge, oxime formation is a hitherto unknown posttranslational modification in RiPP biosynthesis.

Synthesis of fluorescent dipeptidomimetics and their ribosomal incorporation into green fluorescent protein

The synthesis and incorporation into position 66 of green fluorescent protein (GFP) by in vitro protein translation of novel oxazole and thiazole based dipeptidomimetics are described. The compounds may be regarded as GFP chromophore analogues, and are strongly fluorescent. An α-amido-β-ketoester intermediate was obtained via bisacylation of a protected glycine. The intermediate underwent dehydrative cyclization to afford the 1,3-oxazole and was treated with Lawesson's reagent to furnish the 1,3-thiazole. When these fluorophores were introduced into position 66 of GFP in place of Tyr66, the resulting GFP analogues exhibited fluorescence emission several-fold greater than wild-type GFP; the emission was also shifted to shorter wavelength. It may be noted that compared to the typical fluorophores formed in the natural and modified fluorescent proteins, the oxazole and thiazole fluorophores are completely stable and do not require activation by posttranslational modification to exhibit fluorescence.

Recognition sequences and substrate evolution in cyanobactin biosynthesis

Ribosomally synthesized and posttranslationally modified peptide (RiPP) natural products are of broad interest because of their intrinsic bioactivities and potential for synthetic biology. The RiPP cyanobactin pathways pat and tru have been experimentally shown to be extremely tolerant of mutations. In nature, the pathways exhibit “substrate evolution”, where enzymes remain constant while the substrates of those enzymes are hypervariable and readily evolvable. Here, we sought to determine the mechanism behind this promiscuity. Analysis of a series of different enzyme–substrate combinations from five different cyanobactin gene clusters, in addition to engineered substrates, led us to define short discrete recognition elements within substrates that are responsible for directing enzymes. We show that these recognition sequences (RSs) are portable and can be interchanged to control which functional groups are added to the final natural product. In addition to the previously assigned N- and C-terminal proteolysis RSs, here we assign the RS for heterocyclization modification. We show that substrate elements can be swapped in vivo leading to successful production of natural products in E. coli. The exchangeability of these elements holds promise in synthetic biology approaches to tailor peptide products in vivo and in vitro.

Genome mining for ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs) in anaerobic bacteria

Background

Ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs) are a diverse group of biologically active bacterial molecules. Due to the conserved genomic arrangement of many of the genes involved in their synthesis, these secondary metabolite biosynthetic pathways can be predicted from genome sequence data. To date, however, despite the myriad of sequenced genomes covering many branches of the bacterial phylogenetic tree, such an analysis for a broader group of bacteria like anaerobes has not been attempted.

Results

We investigated a collection of 211 complete and published genomes, focusing on anaerobic bacteria, whose potential to encode RiPPs is relatively unknown. We showed that the presence of RiPP-genes is widespread among anaerobic representatives of the phyla Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria and Firmicutes and that, collectively, anaerobes possess the ability to synthesize a broad variety of different RiPP classes. More than 25% of anaerobes are capable of producing RiPPs either alone or in conjunction with other secondary metabolites, such as polyketides or non-ribosomal peptides.

Conclusion

Amongst the analyzed genomes, several gene clusters encode uncharacterized RiPPs, whilst others show similarity with known RiPPs. These include a number of potential class II lanthipeptides; head-to-tail cyclized peptides and lactococcin 972-like RiPP. This study presents further evidence in support of anaerobic bacteria as an untapped natural products reservoir.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1471-2164-15-983) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Genetic approaches to generate hyper-producing strains of goadsporin: the relationships between productivity and gene duplication in secondary metabolite biosynthesis

Improving the productivity of secondary metabolites is highly beneficial for the utilization of natural products. Here, we found that gene duplication of the goadsporin biosynthetic gene locus resulted in hyper-production. Goadsporin is a linear azole containing peptide that is biosynthesized via a ribosome-mediated pathway in Streptomyces sp. TP-A0584. Recombinant strains containing duplicated or triplicated goadsporin biosynthetic gene clusters produced 1.46- and 2.25-fold more goadsporin than the wild-type strain. In a surrogate host, Streptomyces lividans, chromosomal integration of one or two copies of the gene cluster led to 342.7 and 593.5 mg/L of goadsporin production. Expression of godI, a self-resistance gene, and of godR, a pathway-specific transcriptional regulator, under a constitutive promoter gave 0.79- and 2.12-fold higher goadsporin production than the wild-type strain. Our experiments indicated that a proportional relationship exists between goadsporin production per culture volume and the copy number of the biosynthetic gene cluster.

Combinatorial synthesis of oxazol-thiazole bis-heterocyclic compounds

A combinatorial library of novel oxazol-thiazole bis-heterocycles was synthesized in good to excellent overall yields with high purity using a solution and solid-phase parallel synthesis approach. Oxazole amino acids, prepared from serine methyl ester and amino acids via coupling and cyclodehydration, were treated with Fmoc-NCS and α-haloketones for the parallel synthesis of diverse bis-heterocycles. Fmoc-isothiocyanate is used as a traceless reagent for thiazole formation. Oxazole diversity can be achieved by using variety of amino acids, whereas thiazole diversity is produced with various haloketones.

Ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptide natural products: overview and recommendations for a universal nomenclature

This review presents recommended nomenclature for the biosynthesis of ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs), a rapidly growing class of natural products. The current knowledge regarding the biosynthesis of the >20 distinct compound classes is also reviewed, and commonalities are discussed.

Biosynthesis of the class III lantipeptide catenulipeptin

Lantipeptides are ribosomally synthesized and posttranslationally modified peptides containing lanthionine and/or labionin structures. In this study, a novel class III lantipeptide termed catenulipeptin was discovered from Catenulispora acidiphila DSM 44928, and its biosynthesis was reconstituted in vitro. The multifunctional enzyme AciKC catalyzes both dehydration and cyclization of its peptide substrate AciA and installs two labionin structures in catenulipeptin. AciKC shows promiscuity with respect to cosubstrate and accepts all four NTPs. The C-terminal domain of AciKC is responsible for the labionin formation in catenulipeptin. The cyclase activity of AciKC requires the leader peptide of AciA substrate but does not require ATP or Zn(2+). Mutagenesis studies suggest that the labionin cyclization may proceed in a C-to-N-terminal direction. Catenulipeptin partially restores aerial hyphae growth when applied to surfactin-treated Streptomyces coelicolor.

Streptolysin S-like virulence factors: the continuing sagA

Streptolysin S (SLS) is a potent cytolytic toxin and virulence factor that is produced by nearly all Streptococcus pyogenes strains. Despite a 100-year history of research on this toxin, it has only recently been established that SLS is just one of an extended family of post-translationally modified virulence factors (the SLS-like peptides) that are produced by some streptococci and other Gram-positive pathogens, such as Listeria monocytogenes and Clostridium botulinum. In this Review, we describe the identification, genetics, biochemistry and various functions of SLS. We also discuss the shared features of the virulence-associated SLS-like peptides, as well as their place within the rapidly expanding family of thiazole/oxazole-modified microcins (TOMMs).

Insights into the biosynthesis of hormaomycin, an exceptionally complex bacterial signaling metabolite

Hormaomycin produced by Streptomyces griseoflavus is a structurally highly modified depsipeptide that contains several unique building blocks with cyclopropyl, nitro, and chlorine moieties. Within the genus Streptomyces, it acts as a bacterial hormone that induces morphological differentiation and the production of bioactive secondary metabolites. In addition, hormaomycin is an extremely potent narrow-spectrum antibiotic. In this study, we shed light on hormaomycin biosynthesis by a combination of feeding studies, isolation of the biosynthetic nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) gene cluster, and in vivo and in vitro functional analysis of enzymes. In addition, several nonnatural hormaomycin congeners were generated by feeding-induced metabolic rerouting. The NRPS contains numerous highly repetitive regions that suggest an evolutionary scenario for this unusual bacterial hormone, providing new opportunities for evolution-inspired metabolic engineering of novel nonribosomal peptides.

Thiazole/oxazole-modified microcins: complex natural products from ribosomal templates

With billions of years of evolution under its belt, Nature has been expanding and optimizing its biosynthetic capabilities. Chemically complex secondary metabolites continue to challenge and inspire today's most talented synthetic chemists. A brief glance at these natural products, especially the substantial structural variation within a class of compounds, clearly demonstrates that Nature has long played the role of medicinal chemist. The recent explosion in genome sequencing has expanded our appreciation of natural product space and the vastness of uncharted territory that remains. One small corner of natural product chemical space is occupied by the recently dubbed thiazole/oxazole-modified microcins (TOMMs), which are ribosomally produced peptides with posttranslationally installed heterocycles derived from cysteine, serine and threonine residues. As with other classes of natural products, the genetic capacity to synthesize TOMMs has been widely disseminated among bacteria. Over the evolutionary timescale, Nature has tested countless random mutations and selected for gain of function in TOMM biosynthetic gene clusters, yielding several privileged molecular scaffolds. Today, this burgeoning class of natural products encompasses a structurally and functionally diverse set of molecules (i.e. microcin B17, cyanobactins, and thiopeptides). TOMMs presumably provide their producers with an ecological advantage. This advantage can include chemical weapons wielded in the battle for nutrients, disease-promoting virulence factors, or compounds presumably beneficial for symbiosis. Despite this plethora of functions, many TOMMs await experimental interrogation. This review will focus on the biosynthesis and natural combinatorial diversity of the TOMM family.

Genetic interception and structural characterization of thiopeptide cyclization precursors from Bacillus cereus

The pyridine core of the thiocillins has long been postulated to arise from a late-stage tail-to-tail condensation of two dehydroalanines. Genetic disruption of tclM, a proposed "Diels-Alderase", allowed isolation of acyclic precursors to this pyridine ring. The isolated products possess the full cohort of post-translational modifications that are normally displayed by the thiocillins, including dehydrobutyrines, thiazoles, C-terminal decarboxylation, and the two previously unconfirmed dehydroalanines. Additionally, leader peptides have undergone extensive N-terminal degradation and the remaining leader peptide residues have been N-succinylated. These results identify TclM and its homologues in other thiazolyl peptide producing strains as the enzymes responsible for the trans-annular heteroannulation at core of this class of molecules.

Clostridiolysin S, a post-translationally modified biotoxin from Clostridium botulinum

Through elaboration of its botulinum toxins, Clostridium botulinum produces clinical syndromes of infant botulism, wound botulism, and other invasive infections. Using comparative genomic analysis, an orphan nine-gene cluster was identified in C. botulinum and the related foodborne pathogen Clostridium sporogenes that resembled the biosynthetic machinery for streptolysin S, a key virulence factor from group A Streptococcus responsible for its hallmark beta-hemolytic phenotype. Genetic complementation, in vitro reconstitution, mass spectral analysis, and plasmid intergrational mutagenesis demonstrate that the streptolysin S-like gene cluster from Clostridium sp. is responsible for the biogenesis of a novel post-translationally modified hemolytic toxin, clostridiolysin S.

Recent advances in thiopeptide antibiotic biosynthesis

Thiopeptides, or thiazolylpeptides, are a family of highly modified peptide antibiotics first discovered several decades ago. Dozens of thiopeptides have since been identified, but, until recently, the biosynthetic genes responsible for their production remained elusive. The biosynthetic systems for a handful of thiopeptide metabolites were identified in the first portion of 2009. The surprising finding that these metabolites arise from the enzymatic tailoring of a simple, linear, ribosomally-synthesized precursor peptide led to a renewed appreciation of the architectural complexity accessible by posttranslational modification. This recent progress toward understanding thiopeptide antibiotic biosynthesis benefits the discovery of novel thiopeptides by either directed screening techniques or by mining available microbial genome sequences. Furthermore, access to the biosynthetic machinery now opens an avenue to the biosynthetic engineering of thiopeptide analogs. This Highlight discusses the genetic and biochemical insights revealed by these initial reports of the biosynthetic gene clusters for thiopeptide metabolites.

Interspecies chemical communication in bacterial development

Our view of bacteria, from the earliest observations through the heyday of antibiotic discovery, has shifted dramatically. We recognize communities of bacteria as integral and functionally important components of diverse habitats, ranging from soil collectives to the human microbiome. To function as productive communities, bacteria coordinate metabolic functions, often requiring shifts in growth and development. The hallmark of cellular development, which we characterize as physiological change in response to environmental stimuli, is a defining feature of many bacterial interspecies interactions. Bacterial communities rely on chemical exchanges to provide the cues for developmental change. Traditional methods in microbiology focus on isolation and characterization of bacteria in monoculture, separating the organisms from the surroundings in which interspecies chemical communication has relevance. Developing multispecies experimental systems that incorporate knowledge of bacterial physiology and metabolism with insights from biodiversity and metagenomics shows great promise for understanding interspecies chemical communication in the microbial world.

Ribosomal peptide natural products: bridging the ribosomal and nonribosomal worlds

Ribosomally synthesized bacterial natural products rival the nonribosomal peptides in their structural and functional diversity. The last decade has seen substantial progress in the identification and characterization of biosynthetic pathways leading to ribosomal peptide natural products with new and unusual structural motifs. In some of these cases, the motifs are similar to those found in nonribosomal peptides, and many are constructed by convergent or even paralogous enzymes. Here, we summarize the major structural and biosynthetic categories of ribosomally synthesized bacterial natural products and, where applicable, compare them to their homologs from nonribosomal biosynthesis.

Structural and functional dissection of the heterocyclic peptide cytotoxin streptolysin S

The human pathogen Streptococcus pyogenes secretes a highly cytolytic toxin known as streptolysin S (SLS). SLS is a key virulence determinant and responsible for the β-hemolytic phenotype of these bacteria. Despite over a century of research, the chemical structure of SLS remains unknown. Recent experiments have revealed that SLS is generated from an inactive precursor peptide that undergoes extensive post-translational modification to an active form. In this work, we address outstanding questions regarding the SLS biosynthetic process, elucidating the features of substrate recognition and sites of posttranslational modification to the SLS precursor peptide. Further, we exploit these findings to guide the design of artificial cytolytic toxins that are recognized by the SLS biosynthetic enzymes and others that are intrinsically cytolytic. This new structural information has ramifications for future antimicrobial therapies.

Listeriolysin S, a novel peptide haemolysin associated with a subset of lineage I Listeria monocytogenes

Streptolysin S (SLS) is a bacteriocin-like haemolytic and cytotoxic virulence factor that plays a key role in the virulence of Group A Streptococcus (GAS), the causative agent of pharyngitis, impetigo, necrotizing fasciitis and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome. Although it has long been thought that SLS and related peptides are produced by GAS and related streptococci only, there is evidence to suggest that a number of the most notorious Gram-positive pathogenic bacteria, including Listeria monocytogenes, Clostridium botulinum and Staphylococcus aureus, produce related peptides. The distribution of the L. monocytogenes cluster is particularly noteworthy in that it is found exclusively among a subset of lineage I strains; i.e., those responsible for the majority of outbreaks of listeriosis. Expression of these genes results in the production of a haemolytic and cytotoxic factor, designated Listeriolysin S, which contributes to virulence of the pathogen as assessed by murine- and human polymorphonuclear neutrophil-based studies. Thus, in the process of establishing the existence of an extended family of SLS-like modified virulence peptides (MVPs), the genetic basis for the enhanced virulence of a proportion of lineage I L. monocytogenes may have been revealed.

Discovery of a widely distributed toxin biosynthetic gene cluster

Bacteriocins represent a large family of ribosomally produced peptide antibiotics. Here we describe the discovery of a widely conserved biosynthetic gene cluster for the synthesis of thiazole and oxazole heterocycles on ribosomally produced peptides. These clusters encode a toxin precursor and all necessary proteins for toxin maturation and export. Using the toxin precursor peptide and heterocycle-forming synthetase proteins from the human pathogen Streptococcus pyogenes, we demonstrate the in vitro reconstitution of streptolysin S activity. We provide evidence that the synthetase enzymes, as predicted from our bioinformatics analysis, introduce heterocycles onto precursor peptides, thereby providing molecular insight into the chemical structure of streptolysin S. Furthermore, our studies reveal that the synthetase exhibits relaxed substrate specificity and modifies toxin precursors from both related and distant species. Given our findings, it is likely that the discovery of similar peptidic toxins will rapidly expand to existing and emerging genomes.

Morphogenetic surfactants and their role in the formation of aerial hyphae in Streptomyces coelicolor

Withstanding environmental adversity and seeking optimal conditions for reproduction are basic requirements for the survival of all organisms. Filamentous bacteria of the genus Streptomyces produce a remarkable cell type called the aerial hyphae that is central to its ability to meet both of these challenges. Recent advances have brought about a major shift in our understanding of the cell surface proteins that play important roles in the generation of these cells. Here we review our current understanding of one of these groups of proteins, the morphogenetic surfactants, with emphasis on the SapB protein of Streptomyces coelicolor.

Cloning and characterization of the goadsporin biosynthetic gene cluster from Streptomyces sp. TP-A0584

The biosynthetic gene cluster of goadsporin, a polypeptide antibiotic containing thiazole and oxazole rings, was cloned from Streptomyces sp. TP-A0584. The cluster contains a structural gene, godA, and nine god (goadsporin) genes involved in post-translational modification, immunity and transcriptional regulation. Although the gene organization is similar to typical bacteriocin biosynthetic gene clusters, each goadsporin biosynthetic gene shows low homology to these genes. Goadsporin biosynthesis is initiated by the translation of godA, and the subsequent cyclization, dehydration and acetylation are probably catalysed by godD, godE, godF, godG and godH gene products. godI shows high similarity to the 54 kDa subunit of the signal recognition particle and plays an important role in goadsporin immunity. Furthermore, four goadsporin analogues were produced by site-directed mutagenesis of godA, suggesting that this biosynthesis machinery is used for the heterocyclization of peptides.

Peptide Sequence Analysis

In mass spectrometry (MS)-based protein studies, peptide fragmentation analysis (i.e., MS/MS experiments such as matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization [MALDI]-post-source decay [PSD] analysis, collision-induced dissociation [CID] of electrospray- and MALDI-generated ions, and electron-capture and electron-transfer dissociation analysis of multiply charged ions) provide sequence information and, thus, can be used for (i) de novo sequencing, (ii) protein identification, and (iii) posttranslational or other covalent modification site assignments. This chapter offers a qualitative overview on which kind of peptide fragments are formed under different MS/MS conditions. High-quality PSD and CID spectra provide illustrations of de novo sequencing and protein identification. The MS/MS behavior of some common posttranslational modifications such as acetylation, trimethylation, phosphorylation, sulfation, and O-glycosylation is also discussed.