Deciphering the late steps of rifamycin biosynthesis

Nat Commun. 2018 Jun 14;9(1):2342. doi: 10.1038/s41467-018-04772-x.

Abstract

Rifamycin-derived drugs, including rifampin, rifabutin, rifapentine, and rifaximin, have long been used as first-line therapies for the treatment of tuberculosis and other deadly infections. However, the late steps leading to the biosynthesis of the industrially important rifamycin SV and B remain largely unknown. Here, we characterize a network of reactions underlying the biosynthesis of rifamycin SV, S, L, O, and B. The two-subunit transketolase Rif15 and the cytochrome P450 enzyme Rif16 are found to mediate, respectively, a unique C-O bond formation in rifamycin L and an atypical P450 ester-to-ether transformation from rifamycin L to B. Both reactions showcase interesting chemistries for these two widespread and well-studied enzyme families.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cloning, Molecular
  • DNA / chemistry
  • Fermentation
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Models, Chemical
  • Mutation
  • NADP / chemistry
  • Rifamycins / biosynthesis*
  • Substrate Specificity

Substances

  • Rifamycins
  • rifamycin L
  • NADP
  • rifamycin B
  • DNA
  • rifamycin SV
  • rifamycin S
  • rifamycin O