A dedicated glutathione S-transferase mediates carbon-sulfur bond formation in gliotoxin biosynthesis

J Am Chem Soc. 2011 Aug 17;133(32):12322-5. doi: 10.1021/ja201311d. Epub 2011 Jul 22.

Abstract

Gliotoxin is a virulence factor of the human pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus , the leading cause of invasive aspergillosis. Its toxicity is mediated by the unusual transannular disulfide bridge of the epidithiodiketopiperazine (ETP) scaffold. Here we disclose the critical role of a specialized glutathione S-transferase (GST), GliG, in enzymatic sulfurization. Furthermore, we show that bishydroxylation of the diketopiperazine by the oxygenase GliC is a prerequisite for glutathione adduct formation. This is the first report of the involvement of a GST in enzymatic C-S bond formation in microbial secondary metabolism.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aspergillus fumigatus / enzymology*
  • Aspergillus fumigatus / metabolism
  • Carbon / metabolism
  • Gliotoxin / metabolism*
  • Glutathione Transferase / metabolism*
  • Sulfur / metabolism*

Substances

  • Gliotoxin
  • Sulfur
  • Carbon
  • Glutathione Transferase