Sesterterpene ophiobolin biosynthesis involving multiple gene clusters in Aspergillus ustus.
Terpenoids are the most diverse and abundant natural products among which sesterterpenes account for less than 2%, with very few reports on their biosynthesis. Ophiobolins are tricyclic 5-8-5 ring sesterterpenes with potential pharmaceutical application. Aspergillus ustus 094102 from mangrove rizhosphere produces ophiobolin and other terpenes. We obtained five gene cluster knockout mutants, with altered ophiobolin yield using genome sequencing and in silico analysis, combined with in vivo genetic manipulation. Involvement of the five gene clusters in ophiobolin synthesis was confirmed by investigation of the five key terpene synthesis relevant enzymes in each gene cluster, either by gene deletion and complementation or in vitro verification of protein function. The results demonstrate that ophiobolin skeleton biosynthesis involves five gene clusters, which are responsible for C15, C20, C25, and C30 terpenoid biosynthesis.
Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery (Wuhan University), Ministry of Education, and Wuhan University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, PR China.
Hangzhen
H
Chai
Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery (Wuhan University), Ministry of Education, and Wuhan University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, PR China.
Ru
R
Yin
BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China.
Yongfeng
Y
Liu
Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery (Wuhan University), Ministry of Education, and Wuhan University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, PR China.
Huiying
H
Meng
BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China.
Xianqiang
X
Zhou
Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery (Wuhan University), Ministry of Education, and Wuhan University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, PR China.
Guolin
G
Zhou
BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China.
Xupeng
X
Bi
Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery (Wuhan University), Ministry of Education, and Wuhan University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, PR China.
Xue
X
Yang
Key Laboratory of Marine Drugs, Ministry of Education of China, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China.
Tonghan
T
Zhu
Key Laboratory of Marine Drugs, Ministry of Education of China, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China.
Weiming
W
Zhu
Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery (Wuhan University), Ministry of Education, and Wuhan University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, PR China.
Zixin
Z
Deng
Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery (Wuhan University), Ministry of Education, and Wuhan University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, PR China.
Kui
K
Hong
D001230:Aspergillus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D053898:Biosynthetic Pathways; D003198:Computer Simulation; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D055786:Gene Knockout Techniques; D053263:Gene Regulatory Networks; D016681:Genome, Fungal; D005810:Multigene Family; D009154:Mutation; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA / Q000379:methods; D054830:Sesterterpenes / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry
D005656:Fungal Proteins; D054830:Sesterterpenes; C002884:ophiobolins