Publications

• Reevaluation of the violacein biosynthetic pathway and its relationship to indolocarbazole biosynthesis.

  Sanchez C., Brana A.F., Mendez C., Salas J.A.

  The biosynthetic pathways for violacein and for indolocarbazoles (rebeccamycin, staurosporine) include a decarboxylative fusion of two tryptophan units. However, in the case of violacein, one of the tryptophans experiences an unusual 1-->2 shift of the indole ring. The violacein biosynthetic gene ... >> More

  The biosynthetic pathways for violacein and for indolocarbazoles (rebeccamycin, staurosporine) include a decarboxylative fusion of two tryptophan units. However, in the case of violacein, one of the tryptophans experiences an unusual 1-->2 shift of the indole ring. The violacein biosynthetic gene cluster was previously reported to consist of four genes, vioABCD. Here we studied the violacein pathway through expression of vio genes in Escherichia coli and Streptomyces albus. A pair of genes (vioAB), responsible for the earliest steps in violacein biosynthesis, was functionally equivalent to the homologous pair in the indolocarbazole pathway (rebOD), directing the formation of chromopyrrolic acid. However, chromopyrrolic acid appeared to be a shunt product, not a violacein intermediate. In addition to vioABCD, a fifth gene (vioE) was essential for violacein biosynthesis, specifically for production of the characteristic 1-->2 shift of the indole ring. We also report new findings on the roles played by the VioC and VioD oxygenases, and on the origin of violacein derivatives of the chromoviridans type. << Less

  Chembiochem 7:1231-1240(2006) [PubMed] [EuropePMC]

• Violacein and related tryptophan metabolites produced by Chromobacterium violaceum: biosynthetic mechanism and pathway for construction of violacein core.

  Hoshino T.

  Violacein is a natural violet pigment produced by several gram-negative bacteria, including Chromobacterium violaceum, Janthinobacterium lividum, and Pseudoalteromonas tunicata D2, among others. This pigment has potential medical applications as antibacterial, anti-trypanocidal, anti-ulcerogenic, ... >> More

  Violacein is a natural violet pigment produced by several gram-negative bacteria, including Chromobacterium violaceum, Janthinobacterium lividum, and Pseudoalteromonas tunicata D2, among others. This pigment has potential medical applications as antibacterial, anti-trypanocidal, anti-ulcerogenic, and anticancer drugs. The structure of violacein consists of three units: a 5-hydroxyindole, an oxindole, and a 2-pyrrolidone. The biosynthetic origins of hydrogen, nitrogen, and carbon in the pyrrolidone nucleus were established by feeding experiments using various stable isotopically labeled tryptophans (Trps). Pro-S hydrogen of CH(2) at the 3-position of Trp is retained during biosynthesis. The nitrogen atom is exclusively from the α-amino group, and the skeletal carbon atoms originate from the side chains of the two Trp molecules. All three oxygen atoms in the violacein core are derived from molecular oxygen. The most interesting biosynthetic mechanism is the 1,2-shift of the indole nucleus on the left side of the violacein scaffold. The alternative Trp molecule is directly incorporated into the right side of the violacein core. This indole shift has been observed only in violacein biosynthesis, despite the large number of natural products having been isolated. There were remarkable advances in biosynthetic studies in 2006-2008. During the 3 years, most of the intermediates and the complete pathway were established. Two independent processes are involved: the enzymatic process catalyzed by the five proteins VioABCDE or the alternative nonenzymatic oxidative decarboxylation reactions. The X-ray crystallographic structure of VioE that mediates the indole rearrangement reaction was recently identified, and the mechanism of the indole shift is discussed here. << Less

  Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 91:1463-1475(2011) [PubMed] [EuropePMC]

  This publication is cited by 15 other entries.

• Biochemical characterization and substrate specificity of the gene cluster for biosyntheses of K-252a and its analogs by in vitro heterologous expression system of Escherichia coli.

  Chiu H.T., Lin Y.C., Lee M.N., Chen Y.L., Wang M.S., Lai C.C.

  The indolocarbazole family of natural products has attracted great attention because of their unique structural features and potential therapeutic applications. Structurally distinct in the family, K-252a is characterized by an unusual dihydrostreptose moiety cross-bridged to K-252c aglycone with ... >> More

  The indolocarbazole family of natural products has attracted great attention because of their unique structural features and potential therapeutic applications. Structurally distinct in the family, K-252a is characterized by an unusual dihydrostreptose moiety cross-bridged to K-252c aglycone with two C-N linkages. K-252a has served as a valuable lead for treatments of various cancers and neurodegenerative disorders. Recent cloning of the nok gene cluster for biosyntheses of K-252a and its analogs from Nocardiopsis sp. K-252 (NRRL15532) has revealed the nokABCD genes indispensible for K-252c biosynthesis and the key gene (nokL) coding for N-glycosylation. Herein, we report the first, successful demonstration of in vitro sugar transferase activity of indolocarbazole N-glycosyltransferase (NokL) by use of soluble protein expressed from Escherichia coli. Notably, NokL was found to exhibit peculiar mode of substrate promiscuity. Moreover, NokA and NokB reactions were biochemically characterized thoroughly by natural and alternative (e.g. fluoro-) substrates and by ammonium hydroxide (NH(4)OH). Interestingly, the in vitro expression of NokA revealed high substrate stereoselectivity, giving several indole-3-pyruvic acid-derived compounds, including indol-3-carboxaldehyde (ICA) and indole-3-acetic acid. The use of NH(4)OH successfully dissected the in vitro NokA/NokB coupled reaction, revealing mechanistic insight into the enzymes and their cross-talking relationship. Also, a simple, useful method to synthesize K-252d, ICA and chromopyrrolic acid (the NokB product) was developed by the E. coli expression systems of NokL, NokA and NokA/NokB, respectively. Together with NokA and NokB, NokL may serve as a useful tool for combinatorial engineering of K-252a and its analogs for improved therapeutic values. << Less

  Mol Biosyst 5:1192-1203(2009) [PubMed] [EuropePMC]

• Enzymatic generation of the chromopyrrolic acid scaffold of rebeccamycin by the tandem action of RebO and RebD.

  Howard-Jones A.R., Walsh C.T.

  During the biosynthesis of the fused six-ring indolocarbazole scaffolds of rebeccamycin and staurosporine, two molecules of L-tryptophan are processed to a pyrrole-containing five-ring intermediate known as chromopyrrolic acid. We report here the heterologous expression of RebO and RebD from the r ... >> More

  During the biosynthesis of the fused six-ring indolocarbazole scaffolds of rebeccamycin and staurosporine, two molecules of L-tryptophan are processed to a pyrrole-containing five-ring intermediate known as chromopyrrolic acid. We report here the heterologous expression of RebO and RebD from the rebeccamycin biosynthetic pathway in Escherichia coli, and tandem action of these two enzymes to construct the dicarboxypyrrole ring of chromopyrrolic acid. Chromopyrrolic acid is oxidized by six electrons compared to the starting pair of L-tryptophan molecules. RebO is an L-tryptophan oxidase flavoprotein and RebD a heme protein dimer with both catalase and chromopyrrolic acid synthase activity. Both enzymes require dioxygen as a cosubstrate. RebD on its own is incompetent with L-tryptophan but will convert the imine of indole-3-pyruvate to chromopyrrolic acid. It displays a substrate preference for two molecules of indole-3-pyruvic acid imine, necessitating a net two-electron oxidation to give chromopyrrolic acid. << Less

  Biochemistry 44:15652-15663(2005) [PubMed] [EuropePMC]

  This publication is cited by 8 other entries.

• In vitro biosynthesis of violacein from L-tryptophan by the enzymes VioA-E from Chromobacterium violaceum.

  Balibar C.J., Walsh C.T.

  The purple chromobacterial pigment violacein arises by enzymatic oxidation and coupling of two molecules of l-tryptophan to give a rearranged pyrrolidone-containing scaffold in the final pigment. We have purified five contiguously encoded proteins VioA-E after expression in Escherichia coli and de ... >> More

  The purple chromobacterial pigment violacein arises by enzymatic oxidation and coupling of two molecules of l-tryptophan to give a rearranged pyrrolidone-containing scaffold in the final pigment. We have purified five contiguously encoded proteins VioA-E after expression in Escherichia coli and demonstrate the full 14-electron oxidation pathway to yield the final chromophore. The flavoenzyme VioA and the heme protein VioB work in conjunction to oxidize and dimerize l-tryptophan to a nascent product that can default to the off pathway metabolite chromopyrrolic acid. In the presence of VioE, the intermediate instead undergoes on-pathway [1,2] indole rearrangement to prodeoxyviolacein. The last two enzymes in the pathway are flavin-dependent oxygenases, VioC and VioD, that act sequentially. VioD hydroxylates one indole ring at the 5-position to yield proviolacein, and VioC then acts on the other indole ring at the 2-position to create the oxindole and complete violacein formation. << Less

  Biochemistry 45:15444-15457(2006) [PubMed] [EuropePMC]

  This publication is cited by 20 other entries.

• Molecular analysis of the rebeccamycin L-amino acid oxidase from Lechevalieria aerocolonigenes ATCC 39243.

  Nishizawa T., Aldrich C.C., Sherman D.H.

  Rebeccamycin, a member of the tryptophan-derived indolocarbazole family, is produced by Lechevalieria aerocolonigenes ATCC 39243. The biosynthetic pathway that specifies biosynthesis of this important metabolite is comprised of 11 genes spanning 18 kb of DNA. A presumed early enzyme involved in el ... >> More

  Rebeccamycin, a member of the tryptophan-derived indolocarbazole family, is produced by Lechevalieria aerocolonigenes ATCC 39243. The biosynthetic pathway that specifies biosynthesis of this important metabolite is comprised of 11 genes spanning 18 kb of DNA. A presumed early enzyme involved in elaboration of the rebeccamycin aglycone is encoded by rebO, located at the left-hand region of the reb gene cluster. The deduced protein product, RebO (51.9 kDa), is an L-amino acid oxidase (L-AAO) that has 27% identity to an L-AAO from Scomber japonicus (animal, mackerel) and is a member of the family of FAD-dependent oxidase enzymes. In order to study the biochemical properties of this key enzyme, the rebO gene was overexpressed and purified from Escherichia coli. Biochemical characterization showed that RebO is dimeric, with a molecular mass of approximately 101 kDa. Further analysis revealed that the enzyme contains a noncovalently bound FAD cofactor and is reoxidized at the expense of molecular oxygen by producing one molecule of hydrogen peroxide. Based on kinetic studies, RebO shows significant preference for 7-chloro-L-tryptophan, suggesting its likely role as the natural early pathway substrate. Furthermore, the native RebO enzyme has evident, albeit limited, flexibility as shown by bioconversion studies with unnatural substrates. This work provides the first analysis of a structural enzyme involved in construction of this important class of indolocarbazole natural products. << Less

  J. Bacteriol. 187:2084-2092(2005) [PubMed] [EuropePMC]

  This publication is cited by 1 other entry.

• Biosynthesis of violacein, structure and function of L-tryptophan oxidase VioA from Chromobacterium violaceum.

  Fuller J.J., Ropke R., Krausze J., Rennhack K.E., Daniel N.P., Blankenfeldt W., Schulz S., Jahn D., Moser J.

  Violacein is a natural purple pigment of Chromobacterium violaceum with potential medical applications as antimicrobial, antiviral, and anticancer drugs. The initial step of violacein biosynthesis is the oxidative conversion of l-tryptophan into the corresponding α-imine catalyzed by the flavoenzy ... >> More

  Violacein is a natural purple pigment of Chromobacterium violaceum with potential medical applications as antimicrobial, antiviral, and anticancer drugs. The initial step of violacein biosynthesis is the oxidative conversion of l-tryptophan into the corresponding α-imine catalyzed by the flavoenzyme l-tryptophan oxidase (VioA). A substrate-related (3-(1H-indol-3-yl)-2-methylpropanoic acid) and a product-related (2-(1H-indol-3-ylmethyl)prop-2-enoic acid) competitive VioA inhibitor was synthesized for subsequent kinetic and x-ray crystallographic investigations. Structures of the binary VioA·FADH2 and of the ternary VioA·FADH2·2-(1H-indol-3-ylmethyl)prop-2-enoic acid complex were resolved. VioA forms a "loosely associated" homodimer as indicated by small-angle x-ray scattering experiments. VioA belongs to the glutathione reductase family 2 of FAD-dependent oxidoreductases according to the structurally conserved cofactor binding domain. The substrate-binding domain of VioA is mainly responsible for the specific recognition of l-tryptophan. Other canonical amino acids were efficiently discriminated with a minor conversion of l-phenylalanine. Furthermore, 7-aza-tryptophan, 1-methyl-tryptophan, 5-methyl-tryptophan, and 5-fluoro-tryptophan were efficient substrates of VioA. The ternary product-related VioA structure indicated involvement of protein domain movement during enzyme catalysis. Extensive structure-based mutagenesis in combination with enzyme kinetics (using l-tryptophan and substrate analogs) identified Arg(64), Lys(269), and Tyr(309) as key catalytic residues of VioA. An increased enzyme activity of protein variant H163A in the presence of l-phenylalanine indicated a functional role of His(163) in substrate binding. The combined structural and mutational analyses lead to the detailed understanding of VioA substrate recognition. Related strategies for the in vivo synthesis of novel violacein derivatives are discussed. << Less

  J. Biol. Chem. 291:20068-20084(2016) [PubMed] [EuropePMC]

• Biosynthesis of violacein: a genuine intermediate, protoviolaceinic acid, produced by VioABDE, and insight into VioC function.

  Shinoda K., Hasegawa T., Sato H., Shinozaki M., Kuramoto H., Takamiya Y., Sato T., Nikaidou N., Watanabe T., Hoshino T.

  A biosynthetic intermediate of violacein produced by the mixed enzymes of VioABDE was elucidated to be 5-(5-hydroxy-1H-indol-3-yl)-3-(1H-indol-3-yl)-1H-pyrrole-2-carboxylic acid, named protoviolaceinic acid, indicating that VioC, responsible for the final biosynthetic step, works to oxygenate at t ... >> More

  A biosynthetic intermediate of violacein produced by the mixed enzymes of VioABDE was elucidated to be 5-(5-hydroxy-1H-indol-3-yl)-3-(1H-indol-3-yl)-1H-pyrrole-2-carboxylic acid, named protoviolaceinic acid, indicating that VioC, responsible for the final biosynthetic step, works to oxygenate at the 2-position of the right side indole ring, and that the oxygenation reaction to form the central pyrrolidone core proceeds in a non-enzymatic fashion. << Less

  Chem. Commun. (Camb.) 2007:4140-4142(2007) [PubMed] [EuropePMC]

  This publication is cited by 15 other entries.