Nature Communications (Jun 2017)
Cryptic indole hydroxylation by a non-canonical terpenoid cyclase parallels bacterial xenobiotic detoxification
Abstract
The biosynthesis of xiamycin, an antimicrobial bacterial indolosesquiterpenoid, involves an unusual cyclization cascade. Here, the authors characterise the XiaF enzyme, which resembles xenobiont-degrading enzymes and is responsible for a hidden indole hydroxylation step that triggers the cyclization reaction.