Structural diversification of macrolactones by substrate-flexible cytochrome P450 monooxygenases

The substrate flexibilities of several cytochrome P450 monooxygenases involved in macrolide biosynthesis were investigated to test their potential for the generation of novel macrolides. PikC hydroxylase in the pikromycin producer Streptomyces venezuelae accepted oleandomycin as an alternative substrate and introduced a hydroxy group at the C-4 position, which is different from the intrinsic C-12 hydroxylation position in the natural substrate. This is the first report of C-4 hydroxylation activity of cytochrome P450 monooxygenase involved in the biosynthesis of 14-membered macrolides. EryF hydroxylase from the erythromycin biosynthetic pathway of Saccharopolyspora erythraea and OleP oxidase from the oleandomycin biosynthetic pathway of Streptomyces antibioticus also showed a certain degree of plasticity towards alternative substrates. In particular, EryF and OleP were found to oxidize a 12-membered macrolactone as an alternative substrate. These results demonstrate the potential usefulness of these enzymes to diversify macrolactones by post-PKS oxidations.