A Unique Class of Cyclases with a Kinase Fold Catalyzes Enethiol-Mediated Macrocyclization of Aminovinyl-Cysteine Motifs in Lanthipeptides
2-Aminovinyl-cysteine (AviCys) motifs represent a unique class of macrocyclic structures found in many ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs). Despite their essential role in bioactivity, their biosynthetic machinery, particularly the cyclases catalyzing Avi-(Me)-Cys macrocyclization, has not been fully characterized. Herein, we report the discovery and biosynthetic elucidation of class V lanthipeptides rosin A1-A3, which feature a lanthionine (Lan) macrocycle and a C-terminal 2-aminovinyl-3-methyl-cysteine (AviMeCys) macrocycle. Rosins promote the migration of human foreskin fibroblast (HSF) cells, representing the first examples of lanthipeptides with cell migration-promoting activity. Comprehensive <i>in vitro</i> reconstitution revealed that the regio- and stereoselective AviMeCys macrocyclization is catalyzed by RosX, a newly identified cyclase with a kinase-like fold. Therefore, RosX-like cyclases, originally misannotated as kinase-like proteins, represent a unique class of cyclases that utilize the enethiol group for AviCys/AviMeCys macrocyclization. Furthermore, we demonstrate that Lan formation in rosins follows a substrate-controlled cyclization pathway with kinetic acceleration by the complex of kinase RosK and lyase RosY, which is distinct from the AviMeCys macrocyclization. This study resolves the long-standing ambiguity of enzymatic AviCys macrocyclization and provides a basis for biosynthetic exploration and bioengineering of AviCys-containing natural products across RiPP subfamilies.
Authors
- Xiangqian Xie (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5118-6111)
- Jiangtao Gao (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9669-4718)
- Lijuan Liao (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1753-6373)
- Wen Guo
- Hongwei Yao (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2383-1942)
- Huan Wang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1585-6760)
- Jingxue Wang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6705-815X)
- Mengxin Sun
- Yin‐Zheng Xia
Institutions
- Soochow University (CN)
- Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University (CN)
- Nanjing University (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- ACS Central Science
- Published
- 2025-06-18
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1021/acscentsci.5c00569
- Primary Topic
- Microbial Natural Products and Biosynthesis
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- National Natural Science Foundation of China
- Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province
- National Key Research and Development Program of China