Characterization of QmnD3/QmnD4 for Double Bond Formation in Quartromicin Biosynthesis

In this work, two enzymes responsible for the biogenesis of possible [4 + 2] reaction precursors in the quartromicin biosynthetic pathway were characterized: acetylation of 1 to yield 2 was catalyzed by QmnD3, and subsequent acetic acid elimination of 2 to form double bond product 3 was catalyzed by QmnD4. Site-directed mutagenesis assay of QmnD3 and QmnD4 was investigated, and a general base-catalyzed mechanism for QmnD4 is proposed.