An Enzyme-Mediated Aza-Michael Addition Is Involved in the Biosynthesis of an Imidazoyl Hybrid Product of Conidiogenone B.

Meleagrin B is a terpene-alkaloid hybrid natural product that contains both the conidiogenone and meleagrin scaffold. Their derivatives show diverse biological activities. We characterized the biosynthesis of (-)-conidiogenone B (1), which involves a diterpene synthase and a P450 monooxygenase. In addition, an α,β-hydrolase (Con-ABH) was shown to catalyze an aza-Michael addition between 1 and imidazole to give 3S-imidazolyl conidiogenone B (6). Compound 6 was more potent than 1 against Staphylococcus aureus strains.