Work

Out for a RiPP: challenges and advances in genome mining of ribosomal peptides from fungi

Year: 2021

Type: article

Abstract: Covering up to June 2021Ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs) from fungi are an underexplored class of natural products, despite their propensity for diverse bioactivities and unique structural features. Surveys of fungal genomes for biosynthetic gene clusters encoding RiPPs have been limited in their scope due to our incomplete understanding of fungal RiPP biosynthesis. Through recent discoveries, along with earlier research, a clearer picture has been emerging of the biosynthetic principles that underpin fungal RiPP pathways. In this Highlight, we trace the approaches that have been used for discovering currently known fungal RiPPs and show that all of them can be assigned to one of three distinct families based on hallmarks of their biosynthesis, which are in turn imprinted on their corresponding gene clusters. We hope that our systematic exposition of fungal RiPP structural and gene cluster features will facilitate more comprehensive approaches to genome mining efforts in the future.

Source: Natural Product Reports

DOI: 10.1039/d1np00048a

Authors: Simon C. Kessler, Yit-Heng Chooi

Institution: The University of Western Australia

Language: English

Topic: Microbial Natural Products and Biosynthesis

Subfield: Pharmacology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funders: University of Western Australia, Australian Research Council

Awards: The hidden secondary metabolite biosynthetic potential of fungi, Fungal Ribosomally Synthesised and Post-translationally Modified Peptides, G8831862350