ENGINEERING OF MODULAR POLYKETIDE SYNTHASES TO PRODUCE NOVEL POLYKETIDES

Polyketides are important natural products produced by Actinomycetes a nd other organisms via the polymerization of coenzyme A-activated carb oxylic acids. Modular polyketide synthases are large multifunctional e nzymes that direct the biosynthetic process using a dedicated 'module' for each polymerization reaction, which specifies the unit to be poly merized, its oxidation state and stereochemistry. Over the past two ye ars proof-of-principle has been demonstrated for technologies that mod ify or exchange modules to create hybrid enzymes that catalyze the bio synthesis of novel polyketides.