Post-Translational Tyrosine Geranylation in Cyanobactin Biosynthesis

J Am Chem Soc. 2018 May 16;140(19):6044-6048. doi: 10.1021/jacs.8b03137. Epub 2018 May 1.

Abstract

Prenylation is a widespread modification that improves the biological activities of secondary metabolites. This reaction also represents a key modification step in biosyntheses of cyanobactins, a family of ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs) produced by cyanobacteria. In cyanobactins, amino acids are commonly isoprenylated by ABBA prenyltransferases that use C5 donors. Notably, mass spectral analysis of piricyclamides from a fresh-water cyanobacterium suggested that they may instead have a C10 geranyl group. Here we characterize a novel geranyltransferase involved in piricyclamide biosynthesis. Using the purified enzyme, we show that the enzyme PirF catalyzes Tyr O-geranylation, which is an unprecedented post-translational modification. In addition, the combination of enzymology and analytical chemistry revealed the structure of the final natural product, piricyclamide 7005E1, and the regioselectivity of PirF, which has potential as a synthetic biological tool providing drug-like properties to diverse small molecules.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cyanobacteria / chemistry
  • Cyanobacteria / metabolism
  • Geranyltranstransferase / isolation & purification
  • Geranyltranstransferase / metabolism*
  • Peptides, Cyclic / biosynthesis*
  • Peptides, Cyclic / chemistry
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational*
  • Tyrosine / metabolism*

Substances

  • Peptides, Cyclic
  • cyanobactins
  • Tyrosine
  • Geranyltranstransferase