In vitro biosynthesis of [Thr2, Leu5, D-Hiv8, Leu10]cyclosporin, a cyclosporin-related immunosuppressive peptolide.

We were able to prepare an enzyme fraction from crude extracts of the mycelium of the fungus Cylindrotrichum Bonorden, which is capable of synthesizing the new peptolide SDZ 214-103 under consumption of the constitutive amino acids, D-2-hydroxyisovaleric acid, ATP and S-adenosyl-L-methionine. The enzyme does not synthesize CyA, while cyclosporin synthetase does not synthesize the peptolide. Peptolide synthetase has a high molecular weight in the same range as cyclosporin synthetase (about 1.5 MDa).