Targeted Gene Inactivations Expose Silent Cytochalasans in Magnaporthe grisea NI980.
Chongqing WangVerena HantkeRussell J CoxElizabeth J SkellamPublished in: Organic letters (2019)
The biosynthetic gene cluster encoding the phytotoxin pyrichalasin H 5 was discovered in Magnaporthe grisea NI980, and the late-stage biosynthetic pathway of 5 was fully elucidated using targeted gene inactivations resulting in the isolation of 13 novel cytochalasans. This study reveals that the nonproteinogenic amino acid O-methyltyrosine is the true precursor of 5, and other cryptic cytochalasans and mutasynthesis experiments produce novel halogenated pyrichalasin H analogues.