Silencing of a second dimethylallyltryptophan synthase of Penicillium roqueforti reveals a novel clavine alkaloid gene cluster.

Penicillium roqueforti produces several prenylated indole alkaloids, including roquefortine C and clavine alkaloids. The first step in the biosynthesis of roquefortine C is the prenylation of tryptophan-derived dipeptides by a dimethylallyltryptophan synthase, specific for roquefortine biosynthesis (roquefortine prenyltransferase). A second dimethylallyltryptophan synthase, DmaW2, different from the roquefortine prenyltransferase, has been studied in this article. Silencing the gene encoding this second dimethylallyltryptophan synthase, dmaW2, proved that inactivation of this gene does not prevent the production of roquefortine C, but suppresses the formation of other indole alkaloids. Mass spectrometry studies have identified these compounds as isofumigaclavine A, the pathway final product and prenylated intermediates. The silencing does not affect the production of mycophenolic acid and andrastin A. A bioinformatic study of the genome of P. roqueforti revealed that DmaW2 (renamed IfgA) is a prenyltransferase involved in isofumigaclavine A biosynthesis encoded by a gene located in a six genes cluster (cluster A). A second three genes cluster (cluster B) encodes the so-called yellow enzyme and enzymes for the late steps for the conversion of festuclavine to isofumigaclavine A. The yellow enzyme contains a tyrosine-181 at its active center, as occurs in Neosartorya fumigata, but in contrast to the Clavicipitaceae fungi. A complete isofumigaclavines A and B biosynthetic pathway is proposed based on the finding of these studies on the biosynthesis of clavine alkaloids.