Aspcandine: A Pyrrolobenzazepine Alkaloid Synthesized by a Fungal Nonribosomal Peptide Synthetase-Polyketide Synthase Hybrid

Org Lett. 2022 Jul 8;24(26):4816-4819. doi: 10.1021/acs.orglett.2c01918. Epub 2022 Jun 24.

Abstract

Characterization of an orphan biosynthetic gene cluster found in the fungus Aspergillus candidus CBS 102.13 resulted in the discovery of a pyrrolobenzazepine alkaloid, aspcandine (1). The unique molecular scaffold of 1 is synthesized by the nonribosomal peptide synthetase-polyketide synthase hybrid AcdB, which unusually incorporates 3-hydroxy-l-kynurenine as a building block. AcdB subsequently performs one round of chain elongation using malonyl-CoA, which is followed by the chain release to furnish the tricyclic system of 1.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alkaloids*
  • Multigene Family
  • Peptide Synthases / chemistry
  • Polyketide Synthases* / chemistry

Substances

  • Alkaloids
  • Polyketide Synthases
  • Peptide Synthases
  • non-ribosomal peptide synthase