Stereodivergent Nitrocyclopropane Formation during Biosynthesis of Belactosins and Hormaomycins

J Am Chem Soc. 2021 Nov 10;143(44):18413-18418. doi: 10.1021/jacs.1c10201. Epub 2021 Oct 28.

Abstract

Belactosins and hormaomycins are peptide natural products containing 3-(2-aminocyclopropyl)alanine and 3-(2-nitrocyclopropyl)alanine residues, respectively, with opposite stereoconfigurations of the cyclopropane ring. Herein we demonstrate that the heme oxygenase-like enzymes BelK and HrmI catalyze the N-oxygenation of l-lysine to generate 6-nitronorleucine. The nonheme iron enzymes BelL and HrmJ then cyclize the nitroalkane moiety to the nitrocyclopropane ring with the desired stereochemistry found in the corresponding natural products. We also show that both cyclopropanases remove the 4-proS-H of 6-nitronorleucine during the cyclization, establishing the inversion and retention of the configuration at C4 during the BelL and HrmJ reactions, respectively. This study reveals the unique strategy for stereocontrolled cyclopropane synthesis in nature.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism
  • Cyclopropanes / chemical synthesis*
  • Depsipeptides / biosynthesis*
  • Depsipeptides / genetics
  • Depsipeptides / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / genetics
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / metabolism*
  • Molecular Structure
  • Stereoisomerism
  • Streptomyces / genetics
  • Streptomyces / metabolism*

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Cyclopropanes
  • Depsipeptides
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • hormaomycin