Biosynthesis of the Enterotoxic Pyrrolobenzodiazepine Natural Product Tilivalline

Elisabeth Dornisch, Jakob Pletz, Ronald A. Glabonjat, Florian Martin, Christian Lembacher-Fadum, Margit Neger, Christoph Högenauer, Kevin A. Francesconi, Wolfgang Kroutil, Klaus Zangger, Rolf Breinbauer, Ellen L. Zechner*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The nonribosomal enterotoxin tilivalline was the first naturally occurring pyrrolobenzodiazepine to be linked to disease in the human intestine. Since the producing organism Klebsiella oxytoca is part of the intestinal microbiota and the pyrrolobenzodiazepine causes the pathogenesis of colitis it is important to understand the biosynthesis and regulation of tilivalline activity. Here we report the biosynthesis of tilivalline and show that this nonribosomal peptide assembly pathway initially generates tilimycin, a simple pyrrolobenzodiazepine with cytotoxic properties. Tilivalline results from the non-enzymatic spontaneous reaction of tilimycin with biogenetically generated indole. Through a chemical total synthesis of tilimycin we could corroborate the predictions made about the biosynthesis. Production of two cytotoxic pyrrolobenzodiazepines with distinct functionalities by human gut resident Klebsiella oxytoca has important implications for intestinal disease.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)14753–14757
JournalAngewandte Chemie - International Edition
Volume56
Issue number46
Early online date2017
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2017

Fields of Expertise

  • Human- & Biotechnology

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