Charting an Unexplored Streptococcal Biosynthetic Landscape Reveals a Unique Peptide Cyclization Motif. Author Leah Bushin, Kenzie Clark, István Pelczer, Mohammad Seyedsayamdost Publication Year 2018 Type Journal Article Abstract Peptide natural products are often used as signals or antibiotics and contain unusual structural modifications, thus providing opportunities for expanding our understanding of Nature's therapeutic and biosynthetic repertoires. Herein, we have investigated the under-explored biosynthetic potential of Streptococci, prevalent bacteria in mammalian microbiomes that include mutualistic, commensal, and pathogenic members. Using a new bioinformatic search strategy, in which we linked the versatile radical S-adenosylmethionine (RaS) enzyme superfamily to an emerging class of natural products in the context of quorum sensing control, we identified numerous, uncharted biosynthetic loci. Focusing on one such locus, we identified an unprecedented post-translational modification, consisting of a tetrahydro[5,6]benzindole cyclization motif in which four unactivated positions are linked by two C-C bonds in a regio- and stereospecific manner by a single RaS enzyme. Our results expand the scope of reactions that microbes have at their disposal in concocting complex ribosomal peptides. Keywords Quorum Sensing, Escherichia coli, Bacterial Proteins, Computational Biology, S-Adenosylmethionine, Amino Acid Sequence, Multigene Family, Protein Processing, Post-Translational, Peptides, Cyclic, Oxidoreductases, Cyclization, Indoles, Streptococcus Journal J Am Chem Soc Volume 140 Issue 50 Pages 17674-17684 Date Published 2018 Dec 19 ISSN Number 1520-5126 DOI 10.1021/jacs.8b10266 Alternate Journal J Am Chem Soc PMID 30398325 PubMedGoogle ScholarBibTeXEndNote X3 XML