Characterization of the β‐Methylaspartate‐α‐decarboxylase (CrpG) from the Cryptophycin Biosynthetic Pathway

Abstract

More pieces for the puzzle. The β-methylaspartate-α-decarboxylase (CrpG) from the cryptophycin biosynthetic pathway was cloned, over-expressed, and purified. We found that CrpG decarboxylates (2S,3R)-3-methylaspartic acid to form 3-amino-2(R)-methylpropionic acid, which is subsequently incorporated into Unit C of cryptophycins (see scheme).