Polyketide stereocontrol: a study in chemical biology.
The biosynthesis of reduced polyketides in bacteria by modular polyketide synthases (PKSs) proceeds with exquisite stereocontrol. As the stereochemistry is intimately linked to the strong bioactivity of these molecules, the origins of stereochemical control are of significant interest in attempts to create derivatives of these compounds by genetic engineering. In this review, we discuss the current state of knowledge regarding this key aspect of the biosynthetic pathways. Given that much of this information has been obtained using chemical biology tools, work in this area serves as a showcase for the power of this approach to provide answers to fundamental biological questions.
UMR 7365, Ingénierie Moléculaire et Physiopathologie Articulaire (IMoPA), CNRS-Université de Lorraine, Biopôle de l'Université de Lorraine, Campus Biologie Santé, Avenue de la Forêt de Haye, BP 50184, 54505 Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy Cedex, France.
Kira J
KJ
Weissman
chemical biology; polyketide synthases; reduced polyketides; stereocontrol