aureus sbnA and sbnB genes are necessary for staphyloferrin B production. We have also shown that S. aureus mutations in sbnA and sbnB are fully complementable selleck chemicals llc in trans by both wild-type copies of each gene as well as through feeding of the molecule L-Dap itself, leading to the renewed production of the staphyloferrin

B molecule. The data support the contention that the enzymes SbnA and SbnB function synergistically as a L-Dap synthase, catalyzing the first committed biosynthetic step towards staphyloferrin B synthesis in S. aureus. Overall, this is the first study that simultaneously investigates the roles of both genes encoding a cohesive L-Dap synthase. The L-Dap molecule is a very unusual and rare amino acid. It is non-proteinogenic but it is often found structurally associated with secondary metabolites such as antibiotics (Table 4). To our knowledge, staphyloferrin B represents the only characterized siderophore that contains L-Dap as part of its structure (Figure 1A). The experiment shown in Figure 2A also reinforces the fact that only L-Dap, and not D-Dap, is incorporated into staphyloferrin B. This is in agreement with initial structural elucidation studies [15], GS1101 the high resolution crystal

structure of the siderophore [28], as well as enzymatic recognition of L-Dap as a substrate by staphyloferrin B NIS synthetases [17]. The only siderophore Arachidonate 15-lipoxygenase with a component similar to L-Dap in its structure is achromobactin

from Pseudomonas syringae [35], which has an overall structure and biosynthetic pathway that is very similar to that of staphyloferrin B. In place of L-Dap, achromobactin contains L-2,4-diaminobutyric acid which is condensed onto a unit of citrate and α-KG at both amino groups. L-2,4-diaminobutyric acid may be synthesized by a putative aminotransferase (AcsF) that is also encoded within the achromobactin biosynthetic gene cluster. In the case of achromobactin, synthesis of this diamino acid substrate requires only one enzyme as opposed to the two enzymes required for synthesis of L-Dap. Biochemical characterization of AcsF, along with its substrate specificity, awaits further investigation. Why some siderophore biosynthetic systems have evolved to select one diamino acid over another is an intriguing biological question. Based on bioinformatics and the emerging diversity of members of the OCD enzyme family, the S. aureus SbnB enzyme likely does not contribute to proline production, and hence would not recognize L-ornithine as a substrate. In agreement with this hypothesis, under the experimental conditions of Li et al. [36] in testing S.