Structural control of polyketide formation in plant-specific polyketide synthases.
Jez, J.M., Austin, M.B., Ferrer, J., Bowman, M.E., Schroder, J., Noel, J.P.(2000) Chem Biol 7: 919-930
- PubMed: 11137815 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/s1074-5521(00)00041-7
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
1EE0 - PubMed Abstract: 
Polyketide synthases (PKSs) generate molecular diversity by utilizing different starter molecules and by controlling the final length of the polyketide. Although exploitation of this mechanistic variability has produced novel polyketides, the structural foundation of this versatility is unclear. Plant-specific PKSs are essential for the biosynthesis of anti-microbial phytoalexins, anthocyanin floral pigments, and inducers of Rhizobium nodulation genes. 2-Pyrone synthase (2-PS) and chalcone synthase (CHS) are plant-specific PKSs that share 74% amino acid sequence identity. 2-PS forms the triketide methylpyrone from an acetyl-CoA starter molecule and two malonyl-CoAs. CHS uses a p-coumaroyl-CoA starter molecule and three malonyl-CoAs to produce the tetraketide chalcone. Our goal was to elucidate the molecular basis of starter molecule selectivity and control of polyketide length in this class of PKS.
Organizational Affiliation: 
Structural Biology Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.