A single amino acid residue controls acyltransferase activity in a polyketide synthase from Toxoplasma gondii

Type I polyketide synthases (PKSs) are multidomain, multimodule enzymes capable of producing complex polyketide metabolites. These modules contain an acyltransferase (AT) domain, which selects acyl-CoA substrates to be incorporated into the metabolite scaffold. Herein, we reveal the sequences of three AT domains from a polyketide synthase (TgPKS2) from the apicomplexan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. Phylogenic analysis indicates these ATs (AT1, AT2, and AT3) are distinct from domains in well-characterized microbial biosynthetic gene clusters. Biochemical investigations revealed that AT1 and AT2 hydrolyze malonyl-CoA but the terminal AT3 domain is non-functional. We further identify an on-off switch'' residue that controls activity such that a single amino acid change in AT3 confers hydrolysis activity while the analogous mutation in AT2 eliminates activity. This biochemical analysis of AT domains from an apicomplexan PKS lays the foundation for further molecular and structural studies on PKSs from T. gondii and other protists.

Automated summary

We reveal the sequences of three acyltransferase domains from a polyketide synthase in Toxoplasma gondii and find them distinct from domains in well-characterized microbial biosynthetic gene clusters. Biochemical investigations show that two domains, AT1 and AT2, hydrolyze malonyl-CoA while the terminal domain, AT3, is non-functional. Furthermore, we identify an on-off switch residue that controls activity, with a single amino acid change in AT3 conferring hydrolysis activity and the analogous mutation in AT2 eliminating activity. This study lays the foundation for further molecular and structural studies on polyketide synthases from T. gondii and other protists.