Structural Characterization of Complex of Adenylation Domain and Carrier Protein by Using Pantetheine Cross-Linking Probe

Biosynthesis of macrolactam antibiotics with β-amino acid polyketide starter units

Macrolactam antibiotics incorporating β-amino acid polyketide starter units, isolated primarily from Actinomycetes species, show significant biological activities. This review provides a detailed analysis into the biosynthetic studies of vicenistatin, a macrolactam antibiotic with a 3-aminoisobutyrate starter unit, as well as biosynthetic research on related macrolactam compounds. Firstly, the elucidation of a common mechanism for the incorporation of β-amino acid starter units into the polyketide synthase (PKS) is described. Secondly, the unique biosynthetic mechanisms of the β-amino acids that are used to supply the main macrolactam biosynthetic pathways with starter units are discussed. Thirdly, some distinctive post-PKS modification mechanisms that complete macrolactam antibiotic biosynthesis are summarized. Finally, future directions for creating new macrolactam compounds through engineered biosynthesis pathways are described.

Structural Basis of Amide-Forming Adenylation Enzyme VinM in Vicenistatin Biosynthesis

Adenylation enzymes activate amino acid substrates to aminoacyl adenylates and generally transfer this moiety onto the thiol group of the phosphopantetheine arm of a carrier protein for the selective incorporation of aminoacyl building blocks in natural product biosynthesis. In contrast to the canonical thioester-forming adenylation enzymes, the amide-forming adenylation enzyme VinM transfers an l-alanyl group onto the amino group of the aminoacyl unit attached to the phosphopantetheine arm of the carrier protein VinL to generate dipeptidyl-VinL in vicenistatin biosynthesis. It is unclear how VinM distinguishes aminoacyl-VinL from VinL for amide bond formation. Herein we describe structural and biochemical analyses of VinM. We determined the crystal structure of VinM in complex with VinL using a designed pantetheine-type cross-linking probe. The VinM-VinL complex structure in combination with site-directed mutagenesis analysis revealed that the interactions with both the phosphopantetheine arm and VinL are critical for the amide-forming activity of VinM.

Structural advances toward understanding the catalytic activity and conformational dynamics of modular nonribosomal peptide synthetases

Covering: up to fall 2022.Nonribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs) are a family of modular, multidomain enzymes that catalyze the biosynthesis of important peptide natural products, including antibiotics, siderophores, and molecules with other biological activity. The NRPS architecture involves an assembly line strategy that tethers amino acid building blocks and the growing peptides to integrated carrier protein domains that migrate between different catalytic domains for peptide bond formation and other chemical modifications. Examination of the structures of individual domains and larger multidomain proteins has identified conserved conformational states within a single module that are adopted by NRPS modules to carry out a coordinated biosynthetic strategy that is shared by diverse systems. In contrast, interactions between modules are much more dynamic and do not yet suggest conserved conformational states between modules. Here we describe the structures of NRPS protein domains and modules and discuss the implications for future natural product discovery.

Structure-Based Analysis of Transient Interactions between Ketosynthase-like Decarboxylase and Acyl Carrier Protein in a Loading Module of Modular Polyketide Synthase

Ketosynthase-like decarboxylase (KSQ) domains are widely distributed in the loading modules of modular type I polyketide synthases (PKSs) and catalyze the decarboxylation of the (alkyl-)malonyl unit bound to the acyl carrier protein (ACP) in the loading module for the construction of the PKS starter unit. Previously, we performed a structural and functional analysis of the GfsA KSQ domain involved in the biosynthesis of macrolide antibiotic FD-891. We furthermore revealed the recognition mechanism for the malonic acid thioester moiety of the malonyl-GfsA loading module ACP (ACPL) as a substrate. However, the exact recognition mechanism for the GfsA ACPL moiety remains unclear. Here, we present a structural basis for the interactions between the GfsA KSQ domain and GfsA ACPL. We determined the crystal structure of the GfsA KSQ-acyltransferase (AT) didomain in complex with ACPL (ACPL=KSQAT complex) by using a pantetheine crosslinking probe. We identified the key amino acid residues involved in the KSQ domain-ACPL interactions and confirmed the importance of these residues by mutational analysis. The binding mode of ACPL to the GfsA KSQ domain is similar to that of ACP to the ketosynthase domain in modular type I PKSs. Furthermore, comparing the ACPL=KSQAT complex structure with other full-length PKS module structures provides important insights into the overall architectures and conformational dynamics of the type I PKS modules.

Cross-Linking of the Nonribosomal Peptide Synthetase Adenylation Domain with a Carrier Protein Using a Pantetheine-Type Probe

Adenylation domains (A-domains) are responsible for the selective incorporation of carboxylic acid substrates in the biosynthesis of nonribosomal peptides and related natural products. The A-domain transfers an acyl substrate onto its cognate carrier protein (CP). The proper interactions between an A-domain and the cognate CP are important for functional substrate transfer. To stabilize the transient interactions sufficiently for structural analysis of A-domain-CP complex, vinylsulfonamide adenosine inhibitors have been traditionally used as molecular probes. Recently, we have developed an alternative strategy using a synthetic pantetheine-type probe that enables site-specific cross-linking between an A-domain and a CP. In this chapter, we describe the laboratory protocols for this cross-linking reaction.

The Assembly-Line Enzymology of Nonribosomal Peptide Biosynthesis

Peptide natural products constitute a major class of secondary metabolites produced by microorganisms (mostly bacteria and fungi). In the past several decades, researchers have gained extensive knowledge about nonribosomal peptides (NRPs) generated by ribosome-independent systems, namely, NRP synthetases (NRPSs). NRPSs are multifunctional enzymes consisting of semiautonomous domains that form a peptide backbone. Using a thiotemplate mechanism that employs assembly-line logic with multiple modules, NRPSs activate, tether, and modify amino acid building blocks, sequentially elongating the peptide chain before releasing the complete peptide. Adenylation, thiolation, condensation, and thioesterase domains play central roles in these reactions. This chapter focuses on the current understanding of these central domains in NRPS assembly-line enzymology.

Recent advances in the structural analysis of adenylation domains in natural product biosynthesis

Adenylation (A) domains catalyze the biosynthetic incorporation of acyl building blocks into nonribosomal peptides and related natural products by selectively transferring acyl substrates onto cognate carrier proteins (CP). The use of noncanonical acyl units, such as nonproteinogenic amino acids and keto acids, by A domains expands the structural diversity of natural products. Furthermore, interrupted A domains, which have embedded auxiliary domains, are able to modify the incorporated acyl units. Structural information on A domains is important for rational protein engineering to generate unnatural compounds. In this review, we summarize recent advances in the structural analysis of A domains. First, we discuss the mechanisms by which A domains recognize noncanonical acyl units. We then focus on the interactions of A domains with CP domains and embedded auxiliary domains.

Essential Role of Loop Dynamics in Type II NRPS Biomolecular Recognition

Non-ribosomal peptides play a critical role in the clinic as therapeutic agents. To access more chemically diverse therapeutics, non-ribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs) have been targeted for engineering through combinatorial biosynthesis; however, this has been met with limited success in part due to the lack of proper protein-protein interactions between non-cognate proteins. Herein, we report our use of chemical biology to enable X-ray crystallography, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, and biochemical studies to elucidate binding specificities between peptidyl carrier proteins (PCPs) and adenylation (A) domains. Specifically, we determined X-ray crystal structures of a type II PCP crosslinked to its cognate A domain, PigG and PigI, and of PigG crosslinked to a non-cognate PigI homologue, PltF. The crosslinked PCP-A domain structures possess large protein-protein interfaces that predominantly feature hydrophobic interactions, with specific electrostatic interactions that orient the substrate for active site delivery. MD simulations of the PCP-A domain complexes and unbound PCP structures provide a dynamical evaluation of the transient interactions formed at PCP-A domain interfaces, which confirm the previously hypothesized role of a PCP loop as a crucial recognition element. Finally, we demonstrate that the interfacial interactions at the PCP loop 1 region can be modified to control PCP binding specificity through gain-of-function mutations. This work suggests that loop conformational preferences and dynamism account for improved shape complementary in the PCP-A domain interactions. Ultimately, these studies show how crystallographic, biochemical, and computational methods can be used to rationally re-engineer NRPSs for non-cognate interactions.

Accurate Substrate-Like Probes for Trapping Late-Stage Intermediates in Nonribosomal Peptide Synthetase Condensation Domains

Nonribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs) are a family of multidomain enzymes dedicated to the production of peptide natural products. Central to NRPS function are condensation (C) domains, which catalyze peptide bond formation and a number of specialized transformations including dehydroamino acid and β-lactam synthesis. Structures of C domains in catalytically informative states are limited due to a lack of clear strategies for stabilizing C domain interactions with their substrates and client domains. Inspired by a β-lactam forming C domain, we report herein the synthesis and application of 1, which forms irreversible cross-links with engineered thiol nucleophiles in a C domain active site. Deployment of 1 demonstrates the synthetic tractability of trapping late-stage nascent peptides in C domains and provides a readily adaptable tactic for stabilizing C domain interactions in multidomain NRPS fragments.

Protein-protein interface analysis of the non-ribosomal peptide synthetase peptidyl carrier protein and enzymatic domains

Non-ribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs) are attractive targets for biosynthetic pathway engineering due to their modular architecture and the therapeutic relevance of their products. With catalysis mediated by specific protein-protein interactions formed between the peptidyl carrier protein (PCP) and its partner enzymes, NRPS enzymology and control remains fertile ground for discovery. This review focuses on the recent efforts within structural biology by compiling high-resolution structural data that shed light into the various protein-protein interfaces formed between the PCP and its partner enzymes, including the phosphopantetheinyl transferase (PPTase), adenylation (A) domain, condensation (C) domain, thioesterase (TE) domain and other tailoring enzymes within the synthetase. Integrating our understanding of how the PCP recognizes partner proteins with the potential to use directed evolution and combinatorial biosynthetic methods will enhance future efforts in discovery and production of new bioactive compounds.

Protein-protein Recognition Involved in the Intermodular Transacylation Reaction in Modular Polyketide Synthase in the Biosynthesis of Vicenistatin

The ketosynthase (KS) domain is a core domain found in modular polyketide synthases (PKSs). To maintain the polyketide biosynthetic fidelity, the KS domain must only accept an acyl group from the acyl carrier protein (ACP) domain of the immediate upstream module even when they are separated into different polypeptides. Although it was reported that both the docking domain‐based interactions and KS‐ACP compatibility are important for the interpolypeptide transacylation reaction in 6‐deoxyerythronolide B synthase, it is not clear whether these findings are broadly applied to other modular PKSs. Herein, we describe the importance of protein‐protein recognition in the intermodular transacylation between VinP1 module 3 and VinP2 module 4 in vicenistatin biosynthesis. We compared the transacylation activity and crosslinking efficiency of VinP2 KS₄ against the cognate VinP1 ACP₃ with the noncognate one. As a result, it appeared that VinP2 KS₄ distinguishes the cognate ACP₃ from other ACPs.

Developing crosslinkers specific for epimerization domain in NRPS initiation modules to evaluate mechanism

Nonribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs) are complex multi-modular enzymes containing catalytic domains responsible for the loading and incorporation of amino acids into natural products. These unique molecular factories can produce peptides with nonproteinogenic d-amino acids in which the epimerization (E) domain catalyzes the conversion of l-amino acids to d-amino acids, but its mechanism remains not fully understood. Here, we describe the development of pantetheine crosslinking probes that mimic the natural substrate l-Phe of the initiation module of tyrocidine synthetase, TycA, to elucidate and study the catalytic residues of the E domain. Mechanism-based crosslinking assays and MALDI-TOF MS were used to identify both H743 and E882 as the crosslinking site residues, demonstrating their roles as catalytic bases. Mutagenesis studies further validated these results and allowed the comparison of reactivity between the catalytic residues, concluding that glutamate acts as the dominant nucleophile in the crosslinking reaction, resembling the deprotonation of the Cα-H of amino acids in the epimerization reaction. The crosslinking probes employed in these studies provide new tools for studying the molecular details of E domains, as well as the potential to study C domains. In particular, they would elucidate key information for how these domains function and interact with their substrates in nature, further enhancing the knowledge needed to assist combinatorial biosynthetic efforts of NRPS systems to produce novel compounds.

Complex structure of the acyltransferase VinK and the carrier protein VinL with a pantetheine cross-linking probe

Acyltransferases are responsible for the selection and loading of acyl units onto carrier proteins in polyketide and fatty-acid biosynthesis. Despite the importance of protein–protein interactions between the acyltransferase and the carrier protein, structural information on acyltransferase–carrier protein interactions is limited because of the transient interactions between them. In the biosynthesis of the polyketide vicenistatin, the acyltransferase VinK recognizes the carrier protein VinL for the transfer of a dipeptidyl unit. The crystal structure of a VinK–VinL covalent complex formed with a 1,2-bismaleimidoethane cross-linking reagent has been determined previously. Here, the crystal structure of a VinK–VinL covalent complex formed with a pantetheine cross-linking probe is reported at 1.95 Å resolution. In the structure of the VinK–VinL–probe complex, the pantetheine probe that is attached to VinL is covalently connected to the side chain of the mutated Cys106 of VinK. The interaction interface between VinK and VinL is essentially the same in the two VinK–VinL complex structures, although the position of the pantetheine linker slightly differs. This structural observation suggests that interface interactions are not affected by the cross-linking strategy used.

Mutational Biosynthesis of Hitachimycin Analogs Controlled by the β-Amino Acid-Selective Adenylation Enzyme HitB

Hitachimycin is a macrolactam antibiotic with an (S)-β-phenylalanine (β-Phe) at the starter position of its polyketide skeleton. (S)-β-Phe is formed from l-α-phenylalanine by the phenylananine-2,3-aminomutase HitA in the hitachimycin biosynthetic pathway. In this study, we produced new hitachimycin analogs via mutasynthesis by feeding various (S)-β-Phe analogs to a ΔhitA strain. We obtained six hitachimycin analogs with F at the ortho, meta, or para position and Cl, Br, or a CH₃ group at the meta position of the phenyl moiety, as well as two hitachimycin analogs with thienyl substitutions. Furthermore, we carried out a biochemical and structural analysis of HitB, a β-amino acid-selective adenylation enzyme that introduces (S)-β-Phe into the hitachimycin biosynthetic pathway. The K_M values of the incorporated (S)-β-Phe analogs and natural (S)-β-Phe were similar. However, the K_M values of unincorporated (S)-β-Phe analogs with Br and a CH₃ group at the ortho or para position of the phenyl moiety were high, indicating that HitB functions as a gatekeeper to select macrolactam starter units during mutasynthesis. The crystal structure of HitB in complex with (S)-β-3-Br-phenylalanine sulfamoyladenosine (β-m-Br-Phe-SA) revealed that the bulky meta-Br group is accommodated by the conformational flexibility around Phe328, whose side chain is close to the meta position. The aromatic group of β-m-Br-Phe-SA is surrounded by hydrophobic and aromatic residues, which appears to confer the conformational flexibility that enables HitB to accommodate the meta-substituted (S)-β-Phe. The new hitachimycin analogs exhibited different levels of biological activity in HeLa cells and multidrug-sensitive budding yeast, suggesting that they may target different molecules.

Chemical Labeling of Protein 4'-Phosphopantetheinylation

Nature uses a diverse array of protein post-translational modifications (PTMs) to regulate protein structure, activity, localization, and function. Among them, protein 4'-phosphopantetheinylation derived from coenzyme A (CoA) is an essential PTM for the biosynthesis of fatty acids, polyketides, and nonribosomal peptides in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. To explore its functions, various chemical probes mimicking the natural structure of 4'-phosphopantetheinylation have been developed. In this minireview, we summarize these chemical probes and describe their applications in direct and metabolic labeling of proteins in bacterial and mammalian cells.

Probing the structure and function of acyl carrier proteins to unlock the strategic redesign of type II polyketide biosynthetic pathways

Type II polyketide synthases (PKSs) are protein assemblies, encoded by biosynthetic gene clusters in microorganisms, that manufacture structurally complex and pharmacologically relevant molecules. Acyl carrier proteins (ACPs) play a central role in biosynthesis by shuttling malonyl-based building blocks and polyketide intermediates to catalytic partners for chemical transformations. Because ACPs serve as central hubs in type II PKSs, they can also represent roadblocks to successfully engineering synthases capable of manufacturing 'unnatural natural products.' Therefore, understanding ACP conformational dynamics and protein interactions is essential to enable the strategic redesign of type II PKSs. However, the inherent flexibility and transience of ACP interactions pose challenges to gaining insight into ACP structure and function. In this review, we summarize how the application of chemical probes and molecular dynamic simulations has increased our understanding of the structure and function of type II PKS ACPs. We also share how integrating these advances in type II PKS ACP research with newfound access to key enzyme partners, such as the ketosynthase-chain length factor, sets the stage to unlock new biosynthetic potential.