Cyclo-farnesyl Diphosphate-Dependent Prenylation in Fungi

A conserved two-gene cassette in fungi was discovered by genome mining, which encodes a UbiA family intramembrane prenyltansferase (VviA) and a haloacid dehalogenase-like hydrolase family terpene cyclase (VviB), respectively. A series of <i>in vivo</i> and <i>in vitro</i> investigations revealed that VviA exclusively uses VviB-synthesized drim-8-ene diphosphate (cyclo-farnesyl diphosphate) as the native prenyl donor to catalyze prenylation on d-mannitol, showcasing a previously unidentified function of UbiA-type prenyltransferases and a new prenylation manner in fungi.