Mechanistic Characterisation of a Diterpene Synthase for Chryseojoostenes A–E from <i>Chryseobacterium Joostei</i>

G Georges B. Tabekoueng (Kekulé Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry University of Bonn Gerhard‐Domagk‐Straße 1 53121 Bonn Germany) H Heng Li K Kexin Yang (School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University) L Lukas Lauterbach (Kekulé Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry University of Bonn Gerhard‐Domagk‐Straße 1 53121 Bonn Germany) B Bernd Goldfuss (Institute of Organic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Cologne, Greinstraße 4, 50939 Cologne, Germany) J Jeroen S. Dickschat (Kekulé Institute for Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bonn, Gerhard-Domagk-Straße 1, 53121 Bonn, Germany)

Abstract

AbstractA diterpene synthase from Chryseobacterium joostei was characterised and produces the five unique compounds chryseojoostenes A–E. Chryseojoostenes D and E were produced in too low amounts for isolation from the wildtype enzyme, but extensive site‐directed mutagenesis resulted in an enzyme variant in which the production of these compounds was enhanced. The biosynthesis of the enzyme products was investigated in detail through a combined experimental and computational approach, indicating a complex hydrogen scrambling during terpene cyclisation and a long‐range proton shift towards chryseojoostene E. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations revealed that a similar long range hydrogen shift is involved in the formation of an even fragment ion (m/z 216), characterising the unique chemistry of the chryseojoostene skeleton. Further insights into the cyclisation mechanism were obtained by enzymatic conversion of two substrate analogs with reduced reactivity.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 64, Issue 43
Published October 20, 2025
ISSN 1433-7851
Publisher Wiley

Journal Info

Angewandte Chemie International Edition

Wiley

ISSN: 1433-7851 Physical Sciences

Authors (6)

G

Georges B. Tabekoueng

Kekulé Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry University of Bonn Gerhard‐Domagk‐Straße 1 53121 Bonn Germany

H

Heng Li

K

Kexin Yang

School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University

L

Lukas Lauterbach

Kekulé Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry University of Bonn Gerhard‐Domagk‐Straße 1 53121 Bonn Germany

B

Bernd Goldfuss

Institute of Organic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Cologne, Greinstraße 4, 50939 Cologne, Germany

J

Jeroen S. Dickschat

Kekulé Institute for Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bonn, Gerhard-Domagk-Straße 1, 53121 Bonn, Germany