Mechanistic insights into class B radical-S-adenosylmethionine methylases: ubiquitous tailoring enzymes in natural product biosynthesis

Abstract

Class B radical S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) methylases are notable for their ability to catalyse methylation reactions in the biosynthesis of a wide variety of natural products, including polyketides, ribosomally biosynthesised and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs), nonribosomal peptides (NRPs), aminoglycosides, β-lactams, phosphonates, enediynes, aminocoumarins and terpenes. Here, we discuss the diversity of substrates and catalytic mechanism utilised by such enzymes, highlighting the stereochemical course of methylation reactions at un-activated carbon centres and the ability of some members of the family to catalyse multiple methylations.