Tuesday, August 14, 2012: 3:00 PM
Jefferson West, Concourse Level (Washington Hilton)
Fungal aromatic polyketides are synthesized by nonreducing polyketide
synthases. In our study of viridicatumtoxin biosynthesis from Penicillin
aethiopicum, we identified several new enzymes that are involved in the
cyclization and modification of the polyketide backbone. These include a
manganese-dependent Claisen cyclase that is required for the cyclization of
the last ring in the naphthacenedione; and an Friedel-Crafts
prenyltransferase that adds a geranyl group to the aromatic scaffold. In
this talk, we will present genetic and biochemical characterizations of
these enzymes. The generality of this collection of enzymes to fungal
polyketide biosynthesis will also be discussed.