Title
Elucidation of cladofulvin biosynthesis reveals a cytochrome P450 monooxygenase required for anthraquinone dimerization
Date Issued
21 June 2016
Access level
open access
Resource Type
journal article
Author(s)
Griffiths S.
Mesarich C.H.
Saccomanno B.
De Wit P.J.G.M.
Cox R.
Collemare J.
Publisher(s)
National Academy of Sciences
Abstract
Anthraquinones are a large family of secondary metabolites (SMs) that are extensively studied for their diverse biological activities. These activities are determined by functional group decorations and the formation of dimers from anthraquinone monomers. Despite their numerous medicinal qualities, very few anthraquinone biosynthetic pathways have been elucidated so far, including the enzymatic dimerization steps. In this study, we report the elucidation of the biosynthesis of cladofulvin, an asymmetrical homodimer of nataloe-emodin produced by the fungus Cladosporium fulvum. A gene cluster of 10 genes controls cladofulvin biosynthesis, which begins with the production of atrochrysone carboxylic acid by the polyketide synthase ClaG and the β-lactamase ClaF. This compound is decarboxylated by ClaH to yield emodin, which is then converted to chrysophanol hydroquinone by the reductase ClaC and the dehydratase ClaB. We show that the predicted cytochrome P450 ClaM catalyzes the dimerization of nataloe-emodin to cladofulvin. Remarkably, such dimerization dramatically increases nataloe-emodin cytotoxicity against mammalian cell lines. These findings shed light on the enzymatic mechanisms involved in anthraquinone dimerization. Future characterization of the ClaM enzyme should facilitate engineering the biosynthesis of novel, potent, dimeric anthraquinones and structurally related compound families.
Start page
6851
End page
6856
Volume
113
Issue
25
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
Endocrinología, Metabolismo (incluyendo diabetes, hormonas)
Farmacología, Farmacia
Subjects
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-84975769872
PubMed ID
Source
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
ISSN of the container
00278424
Sponsor(s)
We thank Dr. Colin Lazarus (School of Biology, University of Bristol) for technical advice and the gift of vectors. We also thank Doug Roberts for assistance submitting samples for NMR analysis. S.G., C.H.M., P.J.G.M.D.W., and J.C. were financially supported by a grant from the Royal Netherlands Academy of Sciences.
Sources of information:
Directorio de Producción Científica
Scopus