title: Exploiting the Biosynthetic Potential of Type III Polyketide Synthases.
abstract: Polyketides are structurally and functionally diverse secondary metabolites that are biosynthesized by polyketide synthases (PKSs) using acyl-CoA precursors. Recent studies in the engineering and structural characterization of PKSs have facilitated the use of target enzymes as biocatalysts to produce novel functionally optimized polyketides. These compounds may serve as potential drug leads. This review summarizes the insights gained from research on type III PKSs, from the discovery of chalcone synthase in plants to novel PKSs in bacteria and fungi. To date, at least 15 families of type III PKSs have been characterized, highlighting the utility of PKSs in the development of natural product libraries for therapeutic development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 8 Medical Drive, Singapore 117597, Singapore. bchlimy@nus.edu.sg.|NUS Synthetic Biology for Clinical and Technological Innovation, Centre for Life Sciences, National University of Singapore, 28 Medical Drive, Singapore 117456, Singapore. bchlimy@nus.edu.sg.
authors.forename: Yan Ping
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 8 Medical Drive, Singapore 117597, Singapore. bchmdkg@nus.edu.sg.|NUS Synthetic Biology for Clinical and Technological Innovation, Centre for Life Sciences, National University of Singapore, 28 Medical Drive, Singapore 117456, Singapore. bchmdkg@nus.edu.sg.
authors.forename: Maybelle K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Go
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 8 Medical Drive, Singapore 117597, Singapore. wen_shan_yew@nuhs.edu.sg.|NUS Synthetic Biology for Clinical and Technological Innovation, Centre for Life Sciences, National University of Singapore, 28 Medical Drive, Singapore 117456, Singapore. wen_shan_yew@nuhs.edu.sg.
authors.forename: Wen Shan
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Yew
mesh_terms: D000214:Acyl Coenzyme A / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D000217:Acyltransferases / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001419:Bacteria / Q000737:chemistry / Q000201:enzymology*; D057487:Enzyme Therapy; D004798:Enzymes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D005658:Fungi / Q000737:chemistry / Q000201:enzymology*
chemical_list: D000214:Acyl Coenzyme A; D004798:Enzymes; D000217:Acyltransferases; C020141:flavanone synthetase
keywords: chalcone synthase; polyketide; precursor-directed combinatorial biosynthesis; stilbene synthase; synthetic enzymology