Volume 47, Issue 40 pp. 7756-7759
Communication

Ribosomal Synthesis of Tricyclic Depsipeptides in Bloom-Forming Cyanobacteria

Nadine Ziemert

Nadine Ziemert

Humboldt University Berlin, Institute of Biology, Department of Molecular Ecology, Chausseestrasse 117, 10115 Berlin (Germany), Fax: (+49) 30-2093-8141

These authors contributed equally to this work.

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Keishi Ishida Dr.

Keishi Ishida Dr.

Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, HKI, Department of Biomolecular Chemistry, 07745 Jena (Germany), Fax: (+49) 3641-532-0804

These authors contributed equally to this work.

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Anton Liaimer Dr.

Anton Liaimer Dr.

Plant Physiology and Microbiology Group, Institute of Biology, University of Tromsø, 9037 (Norway)

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Christian Hertweck Prof. Dr.

Christian Hertweck Prof. Dr.

Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, HKI, Department of Biomolecular Chemistry, 07745 Jena (Germany), Fax: (+49) 3641-532-0804

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Elke Dittmann Prof. Dr.

Elke Dittmann Prof. Dr.

Humboldt University Berlin, Institute of Biology, Department of Molecular Ecology, Chausseestrasse 117, 10115 Berlin (Germany), Fax: (+49) 30-2093-8141

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First published: 22 September 2008
Citations: 137

We thank M.-G. Schwinger for E. coli mass culture, Dr. R. Winkler and M. Pötsch for MALDI-TOF analyses, A. Perner for HRMS and HPLC/MS measurements, R. Günther, K. Hinrichs, and J. Müller for their assistance with the molecular work, and U. Newen, Leibniz-Institute for Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Berlin. Financial support by the Leibniz Gemeinschaft, the DFG (ILRS, JSMC, SPP1152) and the German–Israeli Foundation (GIF) is gratefully acknowledged.

Graphical Abstract

Decoding biosynthesis: Cage-like depsipeptides have been investigated by a combination of genetic and chemical analyses. Heterologous expression and MALDI-PSD studies reveal that the cyanobacterial protease inhibitors microviridin B and J are synthesized from ribosomally produced prepeptides that are transformed into tricyclic depsipeptides by ATP grasp ligases and processed by a transporter peptidase.

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