Enzymatic Synthesis of Diverse Heterocycles by a Noncanonical Nonribosomal Peptide Synthetase

ACS Chem Biol. 2021 Dec 17;16(12):2776-2786. doi: 10.1021/acschembio.1c00623. Epub 2021 Nov 12.

Abstract

Nonribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs) are typically multimodular enzymes that assemble amino acids or carboxylic acids into complex natural products. Here, we characterize a monomodular NRPS, PvfC, encoded by the Pseudomonas virulence factor (pvf) gene cluster that is essential for virulence and signaling in different bacterial species. PvfC exhibits a unique adenylation-thiolation-reductase (ATR) domain architecture that is understudied in bacteria. We show that the activity of PvfC is essential in the production of seven leucine-derived heterocyclic natural products, including two pyrazines, a pyrazinone, and a rare disubstituted imidazole, as well as three pyrazine N-oxides that require an additional N-oxygenation step. Mechanistic studies reveal that PvfC, without a canonical peptide-forming domain, makes a dipeptide aldehyde intermediate en route to both the pyrazinone and imidazole. Our work identifies a novel biosynthetic route for the production of pyrazinones, an emerging class of signaling molecules and virulence factors. Our discovery also showcases the ability of monomodular NRPSs to generate amino acid- and dipeptide-aldehydes that lead to diverse natural products. The diversity-prone biosynthesis by the pvf-encoded enzymes sets the stage for further understanding the functions of pvf in bacterial cell-to-cell signaling.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Aldehydes / chemistry
  • Amino Acids / chemistry
  • Biological Products / chemistry*
  • Carboxylic Acids / chemistry
  • Cyclic N-Oxides / chemistry
  • Dipeptides / chemistry
  • Imidazoles / chemistry
  • Peptide Synthases / metabolism*
  • Pseudomonas / enzymology
  • Pyrazines / chemistry
  • Virulence Factors / chemistry*

Substances

  • Aldehydes
  • Amino Acids
  • Biological Products
  • Carboxylic Acids
  • Cyclic N-Oxides
  • Dipeptides
  • Imidazoles
  • Pyrazines
  • Virulence Factors
  • imidazole
  • Peptide Synthases
  • non-ribosomal peptide synthase