Di- and sesterterpene synthases produce C₂₀ and C₂₅ isoprenoid scaffolds from geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate (GGPP) and geranylfarnesyl pyrophosphate (GFPP), respectively. By genome mining of the fungus Emericella variecolor, we identified a multitasking chimeric terpene synthase, EvVS, which has terpene cyclase (TC) and prenyltransferase (PT) domains. Heterologous gene expression in Aspergillus oryzae led to the isolation of variediene (1), a novel tricyclic diterpene hydrocarbon. Intriguingly, in vitro reaction with the enzyme afforded the new macrocyclic sesterterpene 2 as a minor product from dimethylallyl pyrophosphate (DMAPP) and isopentenyl pyrophosphate (IPP). The TC domain thus produces the diterpene 1 and the sesterterpene 2 from GGPP and GFPP, respectively. Notably, a domain swap of the PT domain of EvVS with that of another chimeric sesterterpene synthase, EvSS, successfully resulted in the production of 2 in vivo as well. Cyclization mechanisms for the production of these two compounds are proposed.

Di- and sesterterpene synthases produce C₂₀ and C₂₅ isoprenoid scaffolds from geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate (GGPP) and geranylfarnesyl pyrophosphate (GFPP), respectively. By genome mining of the fungus Emericella variecolor, we identified a multitasking chimeric terpene synthase, EvVS, which has terpene cyclase (TC) and prenyltransferase (PT) domains. Heterologous gene expression in Aspergillus oryzae led to the isolation of variediene (1), a novel tricyclic diterpene hydrocarbon. Intriguingly, in vitro reaction with the enzyme afforded the new macrocyclic sesterterpene 2 as a minor product from dimethylallyl pyrophosphate (DMAPP) and isopentenyl pyrophosphate (IPP). The TC domain thus produces the diterpene 1 and the sesterterpene 2 from GGPP and GFPP, respectively. Notably, a domain swap of the PT domain of EvVS with that of another chimeric sesterterpene synthase, EvSS, successfully resulted in the production of 2 in vivo as well. Cyclization mechanisms for the production of these two compounds are proposed.

Natural products have enormous structural diversity, yet little is known about how such diversity is achieved in nature. Here we report the structural diversification of a cyanotoxin—lyngbyatoxin A—and its biosynthetic intermediates by heterologous expression of the Streptomyces-derived tleABC biosynthetic gene cluster in three different Streptomyces hosts: S. lividans, S. albus, and S. avermitilis. Notably, the isolated lyngbyatoxin derivatives, including four new natural products, were biosynthesized by crosstalk between the heterologous tleABC gene cluster and the endogenous host enzymes. The simple strategy described here has expanded the structural diversity of lyngbyatoxin A and its biosynthetic intermediates, and provides opportunities for investigation of the currently underestimated hidden biosynthetic crosstalk.

Bioengineering of natural product biosynthesis is a powerful approach to expand the structural diversity of bioactive molecules. However, in polyketide biosynthesis, the modification of polyketide extender units, which form the carbon skeletons, has remained challenging. Herein, we report the rational control of polyketide extender units by the structure-based engineering of a crotonyl-CoA carboxylase/reductase (CCR), in the biosynthesis of antimycin. Site-directed mutagenesis of the CCR enzyme AntE, guided by the crystal structure solved at 1.5 Å resolution, expanded its substrate scope to afford indolylmethylmalonyl-CoA by the V350G mutation. The mutant A182L selectively catalyzed carboxylation over the regular reduction. Furthermore, the combinatorial biosynthesis of heterocycle- and substituted arene-bearing antimycins was achieved by an engineered Streptomyces strain bearing AntE^V350G. These findings deepen our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of the CCRs, which will serve as versatile biocatalysts for the manipulation of building blocks, and set the stage for the rational design of polyketide biosynthesis.

Plant polyketides are a structurally diverse family of natural products. In the biosynthesis of plant polyketides, the construction of the carbocyclic scaffold is a key step in diversifying the polyketide structure. Olivetolic acid cyclase (OAC) from Cannabis sativa L. is the only known plant polyketide cyclase that catalyzes the C2–C7 intramolecular aldol cyclization of linear pentyl tetra-β-ketide-CoA to generate olivetolic acid in the biosynthesis of cannabinoids. The enzyme is also thought to belong to the dimeric α+β barrel (DABB) protein family. However, because of a lack of functional analysis of other plant DABB proteins and low sequence identity with the functionally distinct bacterial DABB proteins, the catalytic mechanism of OAC has remained unclear. To clarify the intimate catalytic mechanism of OAC, the enzyme was overexpressed in Escherichia coli and crystallized using the vapour-diffusion method. The crystals diffracted X-rays to 1.40 Å resolution and belonged to space group P3₁21 or P3₂21, with unit-cell parameters a = b = 47.3, c = 176.0 Å. Further crystallographic analysis will provide valuable insights into the structure–function relationship and catalytic mechanism of OAC.

Bioengineering of natural product biosynthesis is a powerful approach to expand the structural diversity of bioactive molecules. However, in polyketide biosynthesis, the modification of polyketide extender units, which form the carbon skeletons, has remained challenging. Herein, we report the rational control of polyketide extender units by the structure-based engineering of a crotonyl-CoA carboxylase/reductase (CCR), in the biosynthesis of antimycin. Site-directed mutagenesis of the CCR enzyme AntE, guided by the crystal structure solved at 1.5 Å resolution, expanded its substrate scope to afford indolylmethylmalonyl-CoA by the V350G mutation. The mutant A182L selectively catalyzed carboxylation over the regular reduction. Furthermore, the combinatorial biosynthesis of heterocycle- and substituted arene-bearing antimycins was achieved by an engineered Streptomyces strain bearing AntE^V350G. These findings deepen our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of the CCRs, which will serve as versatile biocatalysts for the manipulation of building blocks, and set the stage for the rational design of polyketide biosynthesis.

CsyB from Aspergillus oryzae is a novel type III polyketide synthase that catalyzes the formation of csypyrone B1 [4-(3-acetyl-4-hydroxy-2-oxo-2H-pyran-6-yl)butyric acid] from fatty acyl-CoA, malonyl-CoA and acetoacetyl-CoA. Recombinant CsyB expressed in Escherichia coli was crystallized by the sitting-drop vapour-diffusion method. The crystals belonged to space P2₁, with unit-cell parameters a = 70.0, b = 104.8, c = 73.5 Å, β = 114.4°.

AntE from Streptomyces sp. NRRL 2288 is a crotonyl-CoA carboxylase/reductase that catalyzes the reductive carboxylation of various α,β-unsaturated acyl-CoAs to provide the building block at the C7 position for antimycin A biosynthesis. Recombinant AntE expressed in Escherichia coli was crystallized by the sitting-drop vapour-diffusion method. The crystals belonged to space group I222 or I2₁2₁2₁, with unit-cell parameters a = 76.4, b = 96.7, c = 129.6 Å, α = β = γ = 90.0°. A diffraction data set was collected at the KEK Photon Factory to 2.29 Å resolution.