Wednesday, September 28, 2011

A natural prodrug activation mechanism in nonribosomal peptide synthesis




















A new mechanism for the cleavage and activation of nonribosomally made peptides and peptide-polyketide hybrids that are apparently operational in several different bacteria has been identified. This process includes the cleavage of a precursor molecule by a membrane-bound and D-asparagine–specific peptidase, as shown here in the biosynthesis of the antibiotic xenocoumacin from Xenorhabdus nematophila.


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