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Updated: Jul 9, 2026
09:08
From a Natural Product to Its Biosynthetic Gene Cluster: A Demonstration Using Polyketomycin from Streptomyces diastatochromogenes Tü6028
Published on: January 13, 2017
Evolutionary mechanisms underlying secondary metabolite diversity.
Holger Jenke-Kodama1, Rolf Müller, Elke Dittmann
1Humboldt University Berlin, Institute of Biology, Department of Molecular Ecology, Chausseestr. 117, 10115 Berlin, Germany.
Summary
Secondary metabolites exhibit vast chemical diversity and biological activities, prompting evolutionary questions. Understanding their evolution, particularly polyketide synthases (PKS), can improve drug discovery and metabolite engineering strategies.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Evolutionary Biology
- Natural Products Chemistry
Background:
- Secondary metabolites possess immense chemical diversity and diverse biological activities, raising fundamental questions about their evolutionary roles.
- Understanding these evolutionary pathways is crucial for advancing pharmaceutical screening and metabolite engineering.
Purpose of the Study:
- To dissect the evolutionary principles governing the emergence, distribution, diversification, and selection of genes involved in secondary metabolite biosynthesis.
- To provide an overview of recent insights into the evolution of polyketide synthases (PKS) in microorganisms and plants.
Main Methods:
- Review of phylogenetic and experimental data on secondary metabolite evolution.
- Analysis of evolutionary principles and mechanisms driving metabolic diversity.
Main Results:
- Significant progress has been made in understanding the evolution of secondary metabolites and polyketide synthases (PKS).
- Unique mechanisms contributing to polyketide diversity have been identified.
Conclusions:
- Despite advances, considerable debate remains regarding the impact of natural selection on secondary metabolite evolution.
- Further research into the ecological roles of secondary metabolites is essential for a comprehensive understanding of metabolic diversity.
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