A Late‐Stage Intermediate in Salinomycin Biosynthesis Is Revealed by Specific Mutation in the Biosynthetic Gene Cluster

Abstract

Say “when”: Analysis of the biosynthetic gene cluster for the polyether antibiotic and anticancer agent salinomycin (1) shows that its core structure is synthesised by a nine-multienzyme modular polyketide synthase. Deletion of the salC gene, which is required for oxidative cyclisation, has led to the detection of a novel metabolite whose structure reveals the timing of a key dehydration step. Detailed facts of importance to specialist readers are published as ”Supporting Information”. Such documents are peer-reviewed, but not copy-edited or typeset. They are made available as submitted by the authors. Please note: The publisher is not responsible for the content or functionality of any supporting information supplied by the authors. Any queries (other than missing content) should be directed to the corresponding author for the article.