Genus level analysis of PKS-NRPS and NRPS-PKS hybrids reveals their origin in Aspergilli

摘要

Secondary metabolites (SMs), non-growth associated compounds, have been subject to research efforts due to their wide range of bioactivities. Polyketides like sterigmatocystin and aflatoxin, two potent mycotoxins [ ], cause food spoilage; while others like the cholesterol lowering lovastatins can be used as medical drugs [ ]. Many SMs are promising leads for anti-cancer drugs as e.g. the non-ribosomal peptide malformins [ ]. The enzyme classes producing these distinct compounds — polyketide synthases (PKSs) and non-ribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs) — are also seen in PKS-NRPS or NRPS-PKS hybrids, seemingly chimeric genes creating a chimeric compound. The products of hybrids are often bioactive, e.g. the mycotoxins cyclopiazonic acid, pyranonigrin, and cytochalasin. [ – ].