The Biosynthetic Gene Cluster of Mushroom-Derived Antrocin Encodes Two Dual-Functional Haloacid Dehalogenase-like Terpene Cyclases

Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 2023 Feb 20;62(9):e202215566. doi: 10.1002/anie.202215566. Epub 2023 Jan 23.

ABSTRACT

(-)-Antrocin (1), produced by the medicinal mushroom Antrodia cinnamomea, is a potent antiproliferative compound. The biosynthetic gene cluster of 1 was identified, and the pathway was characterized by heterologous expression. We characterized a haloacid dehalogenase-like terpene cyclase AncC that biosynthesizes the drimane-type sesquiterpene (+)-albicanol (2) from farnesyl pyrophosphate (FPP). Biochemical characterization of AncC, including kinetic studies and mutagenesis, demonstrated the functions of two domains: a terpene cyclase (TC) and a pyrophosphatase (PPase). The TC domain first cyclizes FPP to albicanyl pyrophosphate, and the PPase domain then removes the pyrophosphate to form 2. Intriguingly, AncA (94 % sequence identity to AncC), in the same gene cluster, converts FPP into (R)-trans-γ-monocyclofarnesol instead of 2. Notably, Y283/F375 in the TC domain of AncA serve as a gatekeeper in controlling the formation of a cyclofarnesoid rather than a drimane-type scaffold.

PMID:36583947 | DOI:10.1002/anie.202215566