The B12-Radical SAM Enzyme PoyC Catalyzes Valine Cβ-Methylation during Polytheonamide Biosynthesis

J Am Chem Soc. 2016 Dec 7;138(48):15515-15518. doi: 10.1021/jacs.6b06697. Epub 2016 Nov 29.

Abstract

Genomic and metagenomic investigations have recently led to the delineation of a novel class of natural products called ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs). RiPPs are ubiquitous among living organisms and include pharmaceutically relevant compounds such as antibiotics and toxins. A prominent example is polytheonamide A, which exhibits numerous post-translational modifications, some of which were unknown in ribosomal peptides until recently. Among these post-translational modifications, C-methylations have been proposed to be catalyzed by two putative radical S-adenosylmethionine (rSAM) enzymes, PoyB and PoyC. Here we report the in vitro activity of PoyC, the first B12-dependent rSAM enzyme catalyzing peptide Cβ-methylation. We show that PoyC catalyzes the formation of S-adenosylhomocysteine and 5'-deoxyadenosine and the transfer of a methyl group to l-valine residue. In addition, we demonstrate for the first time that B12-rSAM enzymes have a tightly bound MeCbl cofactor that during catalysis transfers a methyl group originating from S-adenosyl-l-methionine. Collectively, our results shed new light on polytheonamide biosynthesis and the large and emerging family of B12-rSAM enzymes.

MeSH terms

  • Biocatalysis*
  • Free Radicals / chemistry
  • Free Radicals / metabolism
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Methylation
  • Methyltransferases / chemistry
  • Methyltransferases / metabolism*
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Proteins / chemistry
  • Proteins / metabolism*
  • S-Adenosylmethionine / chemistry
  • S-Adenosylmethionine / metabolism*
  • Vitamin B 12 / chemistry
  • Vitamin B 12 / metabolism*

Substances

  • Free Radicals
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Proteins
  • polytheonamide B
  • S-Adenosylmethionine
  • Methyltransferases
  • Vitamin B 12