3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA-like synthases direct the formation of methyl and ethyl side groups in the biosynthesis of the antibiotic myxovirescin A

Abstract

Deletion of taF, a homologue of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA synthase (HMGS), causes a switch in the myxovirescin programming algorithm and leads to the production of a novel myxovirescin analogue with a shorter side chain. These results provide the first in vivo evidence for the role of HMGS-like enzymes in the incorporation of both acetate- and propionate-derived units into polyketide scaffolds. (Chemical Equation Presented). © 2007 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA.