Characterization of the biosynthetic gene cluster for cryptic phthoxazolin A in Streptomyces avermitilis

PLoS One. 2018 Jan 11;13(1):e0190973. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0190973. eCollection 2018.

Abstract

Phthoxazolin A, an oxazole-containing polyketide, has a broad spectrum of anti-oomycete activity and herbicidal activity. We recently identified phthoxazolin A as a cryptic metabolite of Streptomyces avermitilis that produces the important anthelmintic agent avermectin. Even though genome data of S. avermitilis is publicly available, no plausible biosynthetic gene cluster for phthoxazolin A is apparent in the sequence data. Here, we identified and characterized the phthoxazolin A (ptx) biosynthetic gene cluster through genome sequencing, comparative genomic analysis, and gene disruption. Sequence analysis uncovered that the putative ptx biosynthetic genes are laid on an extra genomic region that is not found in the public database, and 8 open reading frames in the extra genomic region could be assigned roles in the biosynthesis of the oxazole ring, triene polyketide and carbamoyl moieties. Disruption of the ptxA gene encoding a discrete acyltransferase resulted in a complete loss of phthoxazolin A production, confirming that the trans-AT type I PKS system is responsible for the phthoxazolin A biosynthesis. Based on the predicted functional domains in the ptx assembly line, we propose the biosynthetic pathway of phthoxazolin A.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Fatty Alcohols / chemistry
  • Fatty Alcohols / metabolism*
  • Genes, Bacterial*
  • Models, Biological
  • Multigene Family*
  • Oxazoles / chemistry
  • Oxazoles / metabolism*
  • Polyunsaturated Alkamides / chemistry
  • Polyunsaturated Alkamides / metabolism*
  • Streptomyces / genetics*
  • Streptomyces / metabolism

Substances

  • Fatty Alcohols
  • Oxazoles
  • Polyunsaturated Alkamides
  • phthoxazolin

Grants and funding

This study was supported by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JP15K07358, http://www.jsps.go.jp/index.html, SK); and the Japan Association for Chemical Innovation (New Chemical Technology Research Encouragement Award, http://jaci.or.jp/, SK). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.