Discovery of McbB, an Enzyme Catalyzing the β‐Carboline Skeleton Construction in the Marinacarboline Biosynthetic Pathway

Abstract

Three genes, mcbABC, that drive the biosynthesis of marinacarbolines, have been elucidated through genome mining, gene inactivation, heterologous expression, feeding, and site-directed mutagenesis experiments. McbB is highlighted as a novel enzyme for the β-carboline core construction, which involves a Pictet-Spengler cyclization process and requiring E97 for biochemical activity.