Enzymatic assembly of the bis-indole core of rebeccamycin

J Am Chem Soc. 2006 Jan 25;128(3):724-5. doi: 10.1021/ja056749x.

Abstract

Rebeccamycin is a member of the family of indolocarbazole antibiotics with broad spectrum antitumor activity. The indolocarbazole framework is derived from two molecules of tryptophan, but very little is known about the enzymes involved in rebeccamycin biosynthesis. Here, we show that RebD is responsible for all catalytic steps forming the central pyrrole ring of chlorochromopyrrolic acid from two molecules of chloroindolepyruvic acid. This transformation does not require any additional cofactors and constitutes the first step of bis-indole formation in the biosynthesis of rebeccamycin.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Actinomycetales / enzymology*
  • Actinomycetales / genetics
  • Actinomycetales / metabolism
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism*
  • Carbazoles / metabolism*
  • Escherichia coli / enzymology
  • Escherichia coli / genetics
  • Heme-Binding Proteins
  • Hemeproteins / metabolism*
  • Indoles / metabolism*
  • Recombinant Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Recombinant Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Carbazoles
  • Heme-Binding Proteins
  • Hemeproteins
  • Indoles
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • heme protein, bacteria
  • rebeccamycin