title: Combinatorial biosynthesis of reduced polyketides.
abstract: The bacterial multienzyme polyketide synthases (PKSs) produce a diverse array of products that have been developed into medicines, including antibiotics and anticancer agents. The modular genetic architecture of these PKSs suggests that it might be possible to engineer the enzymes to produce novel drug candidates, a strategy known as 'combinatorial biosynthesis'. So far, directed engineering of modular PKSs has resulted in the production of more than 200 new polyketides, but key challenges remain before the potential of combinatorial biosynthesis can be fully realized.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1GA, UK. kjw21@cus.cam.ac.uk
authors.forename: Kira J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Weissman
authors.forename: Peter F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Leadlay
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000201:enzymology; D020650:Combinatorial Chemistry Techniques; D015195:Drug Design; D005818:Genetic Engineering / Q000379:methods; D018942:Macrolides / Q000737:chemistry; D048630:Polyketide Synthases / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D018942:Macrolides; D048630:Polyketide Synthases