title: Identification of the putative bryostatin polyketide synthase gene cluster from "Candidatus Endobugula sertula", the uncultivated microbial symbiont of the marine bryozoan Bugula neritina.
abstract: The bryostatins are protein kinase C modulators with unique structural features and potential anticancer and neurological activities. These complex polyketides were isolated from the marine bryozoan Bugula neritina, but recent studies indicate that they are produced by the uncultured symbiotic bacterium "Candidatus Endobugula sertula" ("E. sertula"). Here we present the putative biosynthetic genes: five modular polyketide synthase (PKS) genes, a discrete acyltransferase, a beta-ketosynthase, a hydroxy-methyl-glutaryl CoA synthase (HMG-CS), and a methyltransferase. The cluster was sequenced in two closely related "E. sertula" strains from different host species. In one strain the gene cluster is contiguous, while in the other strain it is split into two loci, with one locus containing the PKS genes and the other containing the accessory genes. Here, we propose a hypothesis for the biosynthesis of the bryostatins. Thirteen PKS modules form the core macrolactone ring, and the pendent methyl ester groups are added by the HMG-CS gene cassette. The resulting hypothetical compound bryostatin 0 is the common basis for the 20 known bryostatins. As "E. sertula" is to date uncultured, heterologous expression of this biosynthetic gene cluster has the potential of producing the bioactive bryostatins in large enough quantities for development into a pharmaceutical.
authors.affiliation: Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Marine Biology Research Division, and Center for Marine Biotechnology and Biomedicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093-0202, USA.
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sudek
authors.forename: Nicole B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Lopanik
authors.forename: Laura E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Waggoner
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hildebrand
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Haibin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Amrish
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: David H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Sherman
authors.forename: Margo G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Haygood
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D054713:Bryostatins; D002013:Bryozoa / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics*; D002140:California; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D018942:Macrolides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D015394:Molecular Structure; D048630:Polyketide Synthases / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000187:drug effects; D012313:RNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D054713:Bryostatins; D018942:Macrolides; C046785:bryostatin 1; D012313:RNA; D048630:Polyketide Synthases; D004247:DNA; D011493:Protein Kinase C