Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 28, 2025

From a Natural Product to Its Biosynthetic Gene Cluster: A Demonstration Using Polyketomycin from Streptomyces diastatochromogenes Tü6028
Published on: January 13, 2017
Substrate Trapping in Polyketide Synthase Thioesterase Domains: Structural Basis for Macrolactone Formation.
Tyler M McCullough1,2, Vishakha Choudhary1,2, David L Akey1
1Life Sciences Institute, Mary Sue Coleman Hall, 210 Washtenaw Ave., University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2216, United States.
Researchers engineered thioesterases (TEs) using 1,3-diaminopropionic acid (DAP) to trap intermediates, revealing how these enzymes form macrolactone antibiotics. This work aids in developing new biocatalysts for drug discovery.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Synthetic Biology
Background:
- Antibiotic resistance necessitates novel antimicrobial drug development, particularly macrolides.
- Polyketide synthase (PKS) thioesterases (TEs) are crucial for macrolactone scaffold formation in macrolide biosynthesis.
- Limited understanding of TE mechanisms hinders their use as versatile biocatalysts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the mechanism of TE selectivity in macrolactone formation.
- To engineer TEs for accommodating diverse natural and non-natural substrates.
- To provide insights for TE engineering and optimization.
Main Methods:
- Acyl-enzyme intermediates were trapped as stable amides by substituting the active site serine hydroxyl with 1,3-diaminopropionic acid (DAP).
- DAP-modified TEs (TEDAP) from pikromycin and erythromycin pathways were generated and purified.
- TEDAP variants were tested with various polyketide substrates, and crystal structures were determined.
Main Results:
- The erythromycin TE exhibited permissive substrate selectivity, while the pikromycin TE was selective for its native substrates.
- Crystal structure of a pikromycin TEDAP-substrate complex revealed a curled heptaketide with high complementarity to the TE's acyl cavity.
- Distinct acyl cavity shapes were observed across different TEs, including juvenimicin, tylosin, and fluvirucin pathways.
Conclusions:
- TEs control macrolactone formation through specific substrate interactions within their acyl cavities.
- Engineering TEs with unnatural amino acids like DAP provides mechanistic insights and potential for biocatalyst development.
- Structural diversity of TE acyl cavities offers a basis for designing TEs with tailored substrate specificities for antibiotic synthesis.
Related Concept Videos
Regioselective Formation of Enolates
Keto–Enol Tautomerism: Mechanism
Feedback Inhibition
Intramolecular Claisen Condensation of Dicarboxylic Esters: Dieckmann Cyclization
Esters to β-Ketoesters: Claisen Condensation Mechanism
Alkylation of β-Diester Enolates: Malonic Ester Synthesis

