Biosynthesis of Amino Acid Derived alpha-Pyrones by an NRPS-NRPKS Hybrid Megasynthetase in Fungi

A nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS)-nonreducing polyketide synthase (NRPKS) hybrid enzyme (AnATPKS) from Aspergillus niger was shown to produce amino acid derived alpha-pyrone natural products (pyrophen and campyrone B). Biochemical characterization of the NRPS module in vitro reveals that the adenylation domain is promiscuous toward a variety of substituted phenylalanine analogues. Using precursor feeding and heterologous expression of AnATPKS and an associated O-methyltransferase (AnOMT), we were able to access a library of substituted pyrophen analogues. Our study paves the way for future combinatorial biosynthesis of diverse alpha-pyrone natural products using NRPS-NRPKS hybrids.