Mechanistic Studies of the Kinase Domains of Class IV Lanthipeptide Synthetases

Abstract

Lanthipeptides, which belong to the superfamily of ribosomally synthesized and posttranslationally-modified peptides (RiPPs), are associated with interesting biological activities. Lanthipeptides can be subdivided into four classes that are defined by the characteristics of the corresponding posttranslational-modification enzymes. Class IV lanthipeptide synthetases consist of an N-terminal lyase, a central kinase, and a C-terminal cyclase domain. Here, we present the first in-depth characterization of such a kinase domain from the globisporin-maturation enzyme SgbL that originates from Streptomyces globisporus sp. NRRL B-2293. Catalytic residues were identified by alignments with homologs and structure modelling. Their roles were confirmed by employing proteins with Ala substitutions in in vitro modification and fluorescence polarization binding assays. Furthermore, the protein region that is binding the leader peptide was identified by hydrogen-deuterium exchange (HDX) – mass spectrometry experiments. By fusion of this protein region to the maltose binding protein, a protein was generated that can specifically bind the SgbA leader peptide, albeit with reduced binding affinity compared to full length SgbL. Combined, the results of this study provide a firmer grasp of how lanthipeptide biosynthesis is accomplished by class IV synthetases and suggest by homology analysis that biosynthetic mechanisms are similar in class III lanthipeptide processing enzymes.