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Fungal meroterpenoids are a diverse group of hybrid natural products with impressive structural complexity and high potential as drug candidates. In this work, we evaluate the promiscuity of the early structure diversity-generating step in fungal meroterpenoid biosynthetic pathways: the multibond-forming polyene cyclizations catalyzed by the yet poorly understood family of fungal meroterpenoid cyclases. In total, 12 unnatural meroterpenoids were accessed chemoenzymatically using synthetic substrates. Their complex structures were determined by 2D NMR studies as well as crystalline-sponge-based X-ray diffraction analyses. The results obtained revealed a high degree of enzyme promiscuity and experimental results which together with quantum chemical calculations provided a deeper insight into the catalytic activity of this new family of non-canonical, terpene cyclases. The knowledge obtained paves the way to design and engineer artificial pathways towards second generation meroterpenoids with valuable bioactivities based on combinatorial biosynthetic strategies.

An uncharacterized terpene cyclase from Streptomyces pratensis was identified as (+)-(1(10) E,4 E,6 S,7 R)-germacradien-6-ol synthase. The enzyme product exists as two interconvertible conformers, resulting in complex NMR spectra. For the complete assignment of NMR data, all fifteen (13C1)FPP isotopomers (FPP=farnesyl diphosphate) and (13C15)FPP were synthesized and enzymatically converted. The products were analyzed using various NMR techniques, including 13C, 13C COSY experiments. The (13C)FPP isotopomers were also used to investigate the thermal rearrangement and EI fragmentation of the enzyme product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Feeding of (2,3,4,5,6-13C5)mevalonolactone to the fungus Hypomyces odoratus resulted in a completely labeled sesquiterpene ether. The connectivity of the carbon atoms was easily deduced from a 13C,13C COSY spectrum, revealing a structure that was different from the previously reported structure of hypodoratoxide, even though the reported 13C NMR data matched. A structural revision of hypodoratoxide is thus presented. Its absolute configuration was tentatively assigned from its co-metabolite cis-dihydroagarofuran. Its biosynthesis was investigated by feeding of (3-13C)- and (4,6-13C2)mevalonolactone, which gave insights into the complex rearrangement of the carbon skeleton during terpene cyclization by analysis of the 13C,13C couplings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]