Revision in the first steps of the biosynthesis of the red antibiotic prodigiosin: use of a synthetic thioester to validate a new intermediate. Issue 2 (15th January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Couturier, Maxime; Bhalara, Hiral D.; Monson, Rita E.; Salmond, George P. C.; Leeper, Finian J.
• Is Part Of: RSC chemical biology. Volume 2:Issue 2(2021)
• Page Start: 551
• Page End: 555
• Publication Date: 2021-01-15
• Subjects: 572
• DOI: 10.1039/d0cb00173b
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2633-0679

Abstract

Abstract : A revision is proposed to the biosynthetic pathway to the well-known red pigment prodigiosin via a new thioester intermediate. Abstract : A biosynthetic pathway for the red-antibiotic, prodigiosin, was proposed over a decade ago but not all the suggested intermediates could be detected experimentally. Here we show that a thioester that was not originally included in the pathway is an intermediate. In addition, the enzyme PigE was originally described as a transaminase but we present evidence that it also catalyses the reduction of the thioester intermediate to its aldehyde substrate.