Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 6, 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 dynamics of modular polyketide synthases, with implications for protein design and engineering
Jurica Zucko1, John Cullum, Daslav Hranueli
1Section for Bioinformatics, Department of Biochemical Engineering, Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.
The Journal of Antibiotics
|November 25, 2010
Summary
Understanding the evolution of polyketide synthases (PKSs) can help generate novel chemistries. Researchers identified specific amino acid residues under positive selection that may fine-tune PKS function.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Evolutionary Biology
Background:
- Genetic manipulation of polyketide synthases (PKSs) often leads to low yields of novel chemistries.
- Understanding the evolutionary mechanisms of PKSs is crucial for improving their utility in synthetic biology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the evolutionary processes driving polyketide synthase (PKS) diversification.
- To identify key amino acid residues involved in PKS evolution and function.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of synonymous-to-non-synonymous nucleotide substitution ratios in PKS modules.
- Application of a sliding windows approach to identify regions under selection.
- Comparative analysis of PKS sequences to detect positive selection signals.
Main Results:
- PKS modules are generally under strong purifying selection, indicating functional constraints.
- Specific amino acid residues were identified as being under positive selection, suggesting a role in adaptation.
- These positively selected residues were not previously recognized as critical for PKS function.
Conclusions:
- Positive selection acts on specific residues to 'fine-tune' modular PKSs.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the precise role of these residues in protein expression or function.
- Identifying these fine-tuning residues could guide future engineering efforts for novel PKS-derived compounds.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:24Evolution of New Traits in Microbes
Microorganisms evolve rapidly due to their large population sizes and short generation times, often exhibiting measurable changes within days under laboratory conditions. Natural selection acts on standing genetic variation, enabling the retention and amplification of beneficial traits that confer fitness advantages in changing environments.Adaptive Pigment Regulation in RhodobacterIn Rhodobacter, a genus of purple non-sulfur bacteria, light-harvesting pigments such as bacteriochlorophyll and...
01:57Protein Complexes with Interchangeable Parts
Groups of proteins may form a complex where each protein in this complex has a different role in the overall execution of the complex’s function. Often some of the proteins in the complex can be replaced by a closely related variant to give a complex that contains many of the same components yet is functionally distinct.
The SCF ubiquitin ligase is a protein complex of five individual proteins. This complex attaches ubiquitin to other target proteins to mark them for degradation. In order to...
The SCF ubiquitin ligase is a protein complex of five individual proteins. This complex attaches ubiquitin to other target proteins to mark them for degradation. In order to...
01:24Biosynthesis in Bacteria
Biosynthesis in bacteria is a fundamental anabolic process that generates essential macromolecules, including proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, and polysaccharides. These macromolecules are critical for cellular growth, replication, and function. The process is tightly regulated and energetically linked to catabolic pathways to ensure optimal resource utilization.Biosynthetic pathways begin with precursor metabolites such as pyruvate, acetyl-CoA, and glucose-6-phosphate derived from glycolysis,...
02:04Covalently Linked Protein Regulators
Proteins can undergo many types of post-translational modifications, often in response to changes in their environment. These modifications play an important role in the function and stability of these proteins. Covalently linked molecules include functional groups, such as methyl, acetyl, and phosphate groups, and also small proteins, such as ubiquitin. There are around 200 different types of covalent regulators that have been identified.
These groups modify specific amino acids in a protein.
These groups modify specific amino acids in a protein.
02:04Covalently Linked Protein Regulators
Proteins can undergo many types of post-translational modifications, often in response to changes in their environment. These modifications play an important role in the function and stability of these proteins. Covalently linked molecules include functional groups, such as methyl, acetyl, and phosphate groups, and also small proteins, such as ubiquitin. There are around 200 different types of covalent regulators that have been identified.
These groups modify specific amino acids in a protein.
These groups modify specific amino acids in a protein.
02:55Synthetic Biology
Synthetic biology is an interdisciplinary science that involves using principles from disciplines such as engineering, molecular biology, cell biology, and systems biology. It involves remodeling existing organisms from nature or constructing completely new synthetic organisms for applications such as protein or enzyme production, bioremediation, value-added macromolecule production, and the addition of desirable traits to crops, to name a few.
Golden rice
Golden rice is a genetically modified...
Golden rice
Golden rice is a genetically modified...