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.

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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
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0.00

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article

A Unique Class of Cyclases with a Kinase Fold Catalyzes Enethiol-Mediated Macrocyclization of Aminovinyl-Cysteine Motifs in Lanthipeptides

Xiangqian Xie, Jiangtao Gao, Lijuan Liao, Wen Guo et al.
1 links
ACS Central Science
Microbial Natural Products and Biosynthesis
article

A Unique Class of Cyclases with a Kinase Fold Catalyzes Enethiol-Mediated Macrocyclization of Aminovinyl-Cysteine Motifs in Lanthipeptides

Xiangqian Xie, Jiangtao Gao, Lijuan Liao, Wen Guo, Hongwei Yao, Huan Wang, Jingxue Wang, Mengxin Sun, Yin‐Zheng Xia
article en

Abstract

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.

ACS Central ScienceVol. 11(7)
Soochow University (CN), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University (CN), Nanjing University (CN)
National Natural Science Foundation of China, Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province, National Key Research and Development Program of China
Openalex Percentile: Top 84%
Microbial Natural Products and Biosynthesis
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