Discovery of the Cryptic Function of Terpene Cyclases As Aromatic Prenyltransferases

Overview

Journal Nat Commun

Specialty Biology

Date 2020 Aug 10

PMID 32769971

Citations 14

Authors

Haibing He

Guangkai Bian

Corey J Herbst-Gervasoni

Takahiro Mori

Stephen A Shinsky

Anwei Hou

Xin Mu

Minjian Huang

Shu Cheng

Zixin Deng

David W Christianson

Ikuro Abe

Tiangang Liu

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Catalytic versatility is an inherent property of many enzymes. In nature, terpene cyclases comprise the foundation of molecular biodiversity as they generate diverse hydrocarbon scaffolds found in thousands of terpenoid natural products. Here, we report that the catalytic activity of the terpene cyclases AaTPS and FgGS can be switched from cyclase to aromatic prenyltransferase at basic pH to generate prenylindoles. The crystal structures of AaTPS and FgGS provide insights into the catalytic mechanism of this cryptic function. Moreover, aromatic prenyltransferase activity discovered in other terpene cyclases indicates that this cryptic function is broadly conserved among the greater family of terpene cyclases. We suggest that this cryptic function is chemoprotective for the cell by regulating isoprenoid diphosphate concentrations so that they are maintained below toxic thresholds.

Citing Articles

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