title: Identification of a cluster of genes that directs desferrioxamine biosynthesis in Streptomyces coelicolor M145.
abstract: Desferrioxamines are a structurally related family of tris-hydroxamate siderophores that form strong hexadentate complexes with ferric iron. Desferrioxamine B has been used clinically for the treatment of iron overload in man. We have unambiguously identified desferrioxamine E as the major desferrioxamine siderophore produced by Streptomyces coelicolor M145 and have identified a cluster of four genes (desA-D) that directs desferrioxamine biosynthesis in this model actinomycete. On the basis of comparative sequence analysis of the proteins encoded by these genes, we propose a plausible pathway for desferrioxamine biosynthesis. The desferrioxamine biosynthetic pathway belongs to a new and rapidly emerging family of pathways for siderophore biosynthesis, widely distributed across diverse species of bacteria, which is biochemically distinct from the better known nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) pathway used in many organisms for siderophore biosynthesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK.
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Barona-Gómez
authors.forename: Ursula
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Anastassios E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Giannakopulos
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Derrick
authors.forename: Gregory L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Challis
mesh_terms: D003676:Deferoxamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D005810:Multigene Family; D048372:Streptomyces coelicolor / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D003676:Deferoxamine