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Updated: Oct 14, 2025

From a Natural Product to Its Biosynthetic Gene Cluster: A Demonstration Using Polyketomycin from Streptomyces diastatochromogenes Tü6028
Published on: January 13, 2017
Modular polyketide synthase contains two reaction chambers that operate asynchronously.
Saket R Bagde1,2, Irimpan I Mathews3, J Christopher Fromme2
1Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79968, USA.
Structural insights into Type I modular polyketide synthases (PKS) reveal how Lsd14 PKS uses two reaction chambers, with only one actively producing polyketide products at a time.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Structural Biology
- Enzymology
Background:
- Type I modular polyketide synthases (PKS) are large, multi-domain enzymes crucial for synthesizing diverse polyketide natural products.
- These enzymes function as assembly lines, catalyzing sequential chain extension and modification reactions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the structural mechanisms of Type I modular polyketide synthases.
- To understand the domain positioning, rearrangements, and interactions within the Lsd14 PKS during its catalytic cycle.
Main Methods:
- Determined the X-ray crystal structure of Lsd14 PKS at 2.4 angstrom resolution.
- Determined the cryo-electron microscopy structure of Lsd14 PKS at 3.1 angstrom resolution, capturing distinct reaction states.
Main Results:
- Revealed the precise positioning and dynamic rearrangements of domains within the Lsd14 PKS.
- Identified specific inter-domain interactions critical for enzymatic function.
- Showcased that Lsd14 PKS possesses two reaction chambers, but only one is catalytically active for product synthesis at any given time.
Conclusions:
- The study provides a detailed structural understanding of Type I modular PKS function.
- Lsd14 PKS exhibits a unique mechanism involving asymmetric utilization of its two reaction chambers.
- These findings offer insights into polyketide biosynthesis and enzyme evolution.

