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Polyketide genes in the marine sponge P lakortis simplex : a new group of mono‐modular type I polyketide synthases from sponge symbionts

2013; Wiley; Volume: 5; Issue: 6 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1111/1758-2229.12081

1758-2229

Gerardo Della Sala, Thomas Hochmuth, Valeria Costantino, Roberta Teta, William H. Gerwick, Lena Gerwick, Jörn Piel, Alfonso Mangoni,

Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies

Summary Sponge symbionts are a largely unexplored source of new and unusual metabolic pathways. Insights into the distribution and function of metabolic genes of sponge symbionts are crucial to dissect and exploit their biotechnological potential. Screening of the metagenome of the marine sponge Plakortis simplex led to the discovery of the swf family, a new group of mono‐modular type I polyketide synthase/fatty acid synthase ( PKS / FAS ) specifically associated with sponge symbionts. Two different examples of the swf cluster were present in the metagenome of P . simplex . A third example of the cluster is present in the previously sequenced genome of a poribacterium from the sponge Aplysina aerophoba but was formerly considered orthologous to the wcb/rkp cluster. The swf cluster was also found in six additional species of sponges. Therefore, the swf cluster represents the second group of mono‐modular PKS , after the sup A family, to be widespread in marine sponges. The putative swf operon consists of swf A (type I PKS/FAS ), swf B (reductase and sulphotransferase domains) and swf C (radical S ‐adenosylmethionine, or radical SAM ). Activation of the acyl carrier protein ( ACP ) domain of the SwfA protein to its holo‐form by co‐expression with S vp is the first functional proof of swf type genes in marine sponges. However, the precise biosynthetic role of the swf clusters remains unknown.