The <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> toxin L-2-amino-4-methoxy-<i>trans</i>-3-butanoic acid (AMB) is a natural product that has been shown to function as a methionine antimetabolite. Previous studies have identified the gene cluster responsible for AMB production, but the detailed mechanistic pathway for AMB synthesis has remained a mystery. By analysis of the non-ribosomal peptide synthetase modular structures and identification of two iron(II)/α-ketoglutarate-dependent oxygenases (AmbC and AmbD), we are now able to propose a plausible biosynthetic pathway by which AMB is generated. This summer, we successfully expressed AmbE, a non-ribosomal peptide synthetase responsible for making AMB, and began efforts to confirm the predicted activities of AmbC and AmbD.

Deciphering AMB biosynthesis

255th National Meeting (2018)

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