Oxidative Carbon Backbone Rearrangement in Rishirilide Biosynthesis

The structural diversity of type II polyketides is largely generated by tailoring enzymes. In rishirilide biosynthesis by Streptomyces bottropensis, ¹³C-labeling studies previously implied extraordinary carbon backbone and side-chain rearrangements. In this work, we employ gene deletion experiments and in vitro enzyme studies to identify key biosynthetic intermediates and expose intricate redox tailoring steps for the formation of rishirilides A, B, and D and lupinacidin A. First, the flavin-dependent RslO5 reductively ring-opens the epoxide moiety of an advanced polycyclic intermediate to form an alcohol. Flavin monooxygenase RslO9 then oxidatively rearranges the carbon backbone, presumably via lactone-forming Baeyer–Villiger oxidation and subsequent intramolecular aldol condensation. While RslO9 can further convert the rearranged intermediate to rishirilide D and lupinacidin A, an additional ketoreductase RslO8 is required for formation of the main products rishirilide A and rishirilide B. This work provides insight into the structural diversification of aromatic polyketide natural products via unusual redox tailoring reactions that appear to defy biosynthetic logic.