A5018442310- Plant biochemistry and biosynthesis
- Microbial Natural Products and Biosynthesis
- Marine Sponges and Natural Products
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Plant Pathogens and Fungal Diseases
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Plant and animal studies
- Microbial Metabolism and Applications
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
Maurice Wilkins Centre
2022-2025
Victoria University of Wellington
2018-2025
Indole diterpenes (IDTs) are a large class of highly complex fungal natural products that possess wide array intriguing bioactivities. While IDTs structurally diverse, the first four steps IDT biosynthesis conserved and result typically in formation tetrahydropyran (THP)-ring containing structure, most commonly paspaline. The biosynthetic genes responsible for these extensively studied all collectively define core pathway. Here we show fourth fundamental step, THP ring, is catalysed by...
Terpene cyclases (TCs) catalyze the generation of complex polycyclic terpenoids through elaborate mechanistic cascades. Very little is known about unusual type II TCs responsible for a large diverse family meroterpenoids as indole diterpenoids (IDTs). The radarins are insecticidal and cytotoxic IDTs that possess an core architecture which catalytic machinery unknown. Here, we interrogate genome Aspergillus fresenii to reveal biosynthetic delivering specific radarin scaffold. We demonstrate...
The significant structural diversity and potent bioactivity of the fungal indole diterpenes (IDTs) has attracted considerable interest in their biosynthesis. Although substantial skeletal is generated by action noncanonical terpene cyclases, comparatively little known about these enzymes, particularly those involved generation subgroup containing emindole SA DA, which show alternate terpenoid skeletons. Here, we describe IDT biosynthetic machinery generating unusual architectures from...
Decoration of the core scaffolds indole diterpene (IDT) natural products is key to generating structural and bioactivity diversity. Aminoacylation as a tailoring step rarely linked terpene biosynthesis extremely rare in IDT biosynthesis. Through heterologous pathway reconstruction, we have illuminated genetic biochemical basis for only reported examples aminoacylation biosynthesis, demonstrating unusual involvement monomodular nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS)-like enzymes decoration.
Introduced wasps (Vespula germanica and V. vulgaris) are costly invertebrate pests in New Zealand, with large impacts on the local ecology economy. Wasps eat honeybees (Apis mellifera), which has potentially devastating effects hive health, as well agricultural horticultural industries. Vespex bait, contains fipronil a proteinaceous carrier, recently been introduced for wasp control. In over decade of reported trials, have never observed foraging Vespex, likely because bait no sugars to...
Indole terpenoids make up a large group of secondary metabolites that display an enticing array bioactivities. While indole diterpene (IDT) and rarely sesquiterpene (IST) pathways have been found individually in filamentous fungi, here we show both cluster types are encoded within the genome Tolypocladium album. Through heterologous reconstruction, demonstrate SES encodes for IST biosynthesis can tailor IDT substrates produced by TER cluster.