Redirecting RiPP biosynthetic enzymes to proteins and backbone-modified substrates

Ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs) are peptide-derived natural products that include the FDA-approved analgesic ziconotide 1,2 as well as compounds with potent antibiotic, antiviral, and anticancer properties. 3 RiPP enzymes known as cyclodehydratases and dehydrogenases represent an exceptionally well-studied enzyme class. 3 These enzymes work together to catalyze intramolecular, interresidue condensation 3,4 and aromatization reactions that install oxazoline/oxazole and thiazoline/thiazole heterocycles within ribosomally produced polypeptide chains. Here we show that the previously reported enzymes MicD-F and ArtGox accept backbone-modified monomers, including aramids and beta-amino acids, within leader-free polypeptides, even at positions immediately preceding or following the site of cyclization/dehydrogenation. The products are sequence-defined chemical polymers with multiple, diverse, non-alpha-amino acid subunits. We show further that MicD-F and ArtGox can install heterocyclic backbones within protein loops and linkers without disrupting the native tertiary fold. Calculations reveal the extent to which these heterocycles restrict conformational space; they also eliminate a peptide bond. Both features could improve the stability or add function to linker sequences now commonplace in emerging biotherapeutics. Moreover, as thiazoles and thiazoline heterocycles are replete in natural products, 5–7 small molecule drugs, 8,9 and peptide-mimetic therapeutics, 10 their installation in protein-based biotherapeutics could improve or augment performance, activity, stability, and/or selectivity. This work represents a general strategy to expand the chemical diversity of the proteome beyond and in synergy with what can now be accomplished by expanding the genetic code.