The biogenetic origin of the biologically active Naematolin of Hypholoma species involves an unusual sesquiterpene synthase

Al-Salihi, Suhad A A; Dao, Trong Tuan; Williams, Katherine; Bailey, Andy M; Foster, Gary D

Abstract

Naematolin is a biologically active sesquiterpene produced by Hypholoma species. Low titres and complex structure constrain the exploitation of this secondary metabolite. Here, we de novo sequenced the H. fasciculare genome to identify a candidate biosynthetic gene cluster for production of naematolin. Using Aspergillus oryzae as a heterologous host for gene expression, the activity of several sesquiterpene synthases were investigated, highlighting one atypical sesquiterpene synthase apparently capable of catalysing the 1,11 and subsequent 2,10 ring closures, which primes the synthesis of the distinctive structure of caryophyllene derivatives. Co-expression of the cyclase with an FAD oxidase adjacent within the gene cluster generated four oxidised caryophyllene-based sesquiterpenes: 5β,6α,8β-trihydroxycariolan, 5β,8β-dihydroxycariolan along with two previously unknown caryophyllene derivatives 2 and 3. This represents the first steps towards heterologous production of such basidiomycete-derived caryophyllene-based sesquiterpenes, opening a venue for potential novel antimicrobials via combinatorial biosynthesis.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Online Publication Date: Aug 7, 2019
• Publication Date: Oct 31, 2019
• Deposit Date: Apr 10, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 10, 2024
• Journal: Molecular Biotechnology
• Print ISSN: 1073-6085
• Electronic ISSN: 1559-0305
• Publisher: Springer (part of Springer Nature)
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 61
• Issue: 10
• Pages: 754-762
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12033-019-00199-x
• Keywords: Caryophyllene synthase, Genome mining, Hypholoma species, Naematolin
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/11881275
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12033-019-00199-x