Type II polyketide synthases (PKSs) normally synthesize polycyclic aromatic compounds, but the potential for the synthesis of further diverse skeletons remains under investigated. Here, the authors report the discovery of the type II PKS machinery for the biosynthesis of a five-membered nonaromatic skeleton contained in the nonproteinogenic amino acid cispentacin and the plant toxin coronatine.
- Genki Hibi
- Taro Shiraishi
- Tomohisa Kuzuyama