title: Isolation of a metabolite from the pks island provides insights into colibactin biosynthesis and activity.
abstract: Colibactin is a structurally uncharacterized, genotoxic natural product produced by commensal and pathogenic strains of E. coli that harbor the pks island. A new metabolite has been isolated from a pks(+) E. coli mutant missing an essential biosynthetic enzyme. The unusual azaspiro[2.4] bicyclic ring system of this molecule provides new insights into colibactin biosynthesis and suggests a mechanism through which colibactin and other pks-derived metabolites may exert genotoxicity.
authors.affiliation: †Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States.
authors.forename: Carolyn A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Brotherton
authors.affiliation: †Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States.
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.affiliation: ‡Small Molecule Mass Spectrometry Facility, Faculty of Arts and Sciences Division of Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States.
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Byrd
authors.affiliation: †Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States.
authors.forename: Emily P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Balskus
mesh_terms: D004249:DNA Damage; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D061065:Polyketides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D010455:Peptides; D061065:Polyketides; C569566:colibactin