文摘
coding=""UTF-8""?>
class=""h3"">Summary
Polyketide natural products generated by type I modular polyketide synthases (PKSs) are vital components in our drug repertoire. To reprogram these biosynthetic assembly lines, we must first understand the steps that occur within the modular ¡°black boxes.?Herein, key steps of acyl-CoA extender unit selection are explored by in?vitro biochemical analysis of the PikAIV PKS model system. Two complementary approaches are employed: a fluorescent-probe assay for steady-state kinetic analysis, and Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance-mass spectrometry (FTICR-MS) to monitor active-site occupancy. Findings from five enzyme variants and four model substrates have enabled a model to be proposed involving catalysis based upon acyl-CoA substrate loading followed by differential rates of hydrolysis. These efforts suggest a strategy for future pathway engineering efforts using unnatural extender units with slow rates of hydrolytic off-loading from the acyltransferase domain.