A ThDP-dependent enzymatic carboligation reaction involved in Neocarazostatin A tricyclic carbazole formation. Issue 37 (9th September 2016) - Su, Li
Abstract : The ThDP-dependent enzyme NzsH catalyzes an acyloin condensation reaction using indole-3-pyruvate as the acyl acceptor in the biosynthesis of Neocarazostatin A. Abstract : Although the biosynthetic pathway of Neocarazostatin A (1 ) has been identified, the detailed enzymatic reactions underlying the assembly of the carbazole ring still remain largely unknown. We demonstrate here that NzsH, a putative thiamine diphosphate dependent enzyme, can catalyze an acyloin coupling reaction between indole-3-pyruvate and pyruvate to generate a β-ketoacid intermediate. Our findings thus shed light on further characterization of the unusual biosynthetic pathway of the bacterial tricyclic carbazole alkaloids.