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Prenyltransferases as key enzymes in primary and secondary metabolism

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Abstract

Attachment of isoprene units to various acceptors by prenylation plays an important role in primary and secondary metabolism of living organisms. Protein prenylation belongs to posttranslational modification and is involved in cellular regulation process. Prenylated secondary metabolites usually demonstrate promising biological and pharmacological activities. Prenyl transfer reactions catalyzed by prenyltransferases represent the key steps in the biosynthesis and contribute significantly to the structural and biological diversity of these compounds. In the last decade, remarkable progress has been achieved in the biochemical, molecular, and structural biological investigations of prenyltransferases, especially on those of the members of the dimethylallyltryptophan synthase (DMATS) superfamily. Until now, more than 40 of such soluble enzymes are identified and characterized biochemically. They catalyze usually regioselective and stereoselective prenylations of a series of aromatic substances including tryptophan, tryptophan-containing peptides, and other indole derivatives as well as tyrosine or even nitrogen-free substrates. Crystal structures of a number of prenyltransferases have been solved in the past 10 years and provide a solid basis for understanding the mechanism of prenyl transfer reactions.

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Acknowledgments

The works in the authors’ laboratory were supported in part by a grant from Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Li844/4-1 to S.-M. Li). Julia Winkelblech is partially financed by the LOEWE program of the State of Hessen (SynMikro to S.-M. Li). Aili Fan is a recipient of a scholarship from China scholarship council.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Pharmazeutische Biologie und Biotechnologie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Deutschhausstrasse 17A, D-35037, Marburg, Germany

    Julia Winkelblech, Aili Fan & Shu-Ming Li

  2. Zentrum für Synthetische Mikrobiologie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, D-35032, Marburg, Germany

    Julia Winkelblech & Shu-Ming Li

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  1. Julia Winkelblech
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  2. Aili Fan
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  3. Shu-Ming Li
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Correspondence to Shu-Ming Li.

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Winkelblech, J., Fan, A. & Li, SM. Prenyltransferases as key enzymes in primary and secondary metabolism. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 99, 7379–7397 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-015-6811-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-015-6811-y

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