CROSSREFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of international patent application PCT/EP2011/063048, filed on Jul. 28, 2011 designating the U.S., which international patent application has been published in English language and claims priority from European patent application EP 10 171 576.1, filed on Aug. 2, 2010. The entire contents of these priority applications are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a newly identified polynucleotide as well as to the polypeptide encoded for by the polynucleotide, and to their production and uses, as well as their variants and their uses. In addition, the present invention relates to a method for producing melleolides and related fungal sesquiterpenoids aryl esters by using the newly identified polynucleotide/polypeptide.

Melleolides are characteristic secondary metabolites produced by the homobasidiomyceste genus Armillaria, the species of which are not only regarded as edible mushrooms, but many species are notorious forest parasites, reflecting their ability to form rhizomorphs that allow them to grow across nutrient-poor areas.

Melleolides are protoilludene type sesquiterpenoids and have a potent antimicrobial and cytotoxic activity. Up to now, there are approximately 50 known melleolides and they are almost exclusively produced by this fungal genus. Each molecule comprises a tricyclic sesquiterpenoid skeleton linked to an orsellinic acid-like polyketide side chain via an ester bond. The biosynthesis of protoilludene is thought to involve cyclization of the universal sesquiterpenoid precursor farnesyl diphosphate to protoilluden followed by further modification by cytochrome P450 monooxygenases and subsequent attachment of the polyketide side chain.

Whilst the biosynthesis of some terpenes, in particular of plants originâ€”like menthol, artemisinin or taxolâ€”have been extensively studied in the past, little is known about the synthesis of the vast majority, in particular of terpenes produced by fungi.

The biosynthesis of all terpenes begins with the cyclization and rearrangement of one of three universal precursors, geranyl diphophate, farnesyl diphosphate, or geranylgeranyl diphosphate, to yield monoterpenoids, sesquiterpenoids or diterpenoids, respectively. These cyclization reactions, which are catalyzed by terpene synthases, are among the most complex chemical reactions known in nature.

Generally, plant and fungal terpene synthases show only low level of sequence identity, and whereas several terpene synthases have been isolated from plants, only a few have been reported from microbes. Also, only a very limited number of fungal sesquiterpenoid synthases have been cloned and functionally characterized, including, e.g., trichodiene synthase, aristolochene synthase, and presilphiperfolan-8b-ol synthase. Furthermore, six sesquiterpene synthases from Coprinopsis cinerea (Coprinus cinereus) yielding germacrene A, Î±-muurolene, Î´-cadinene and Î±-cuprenene as major products have recently been characterized.

The biosynthesis of protoilludene type sesquiterpenoidsâ€”also known as melleolides, see aboveâ€”is thought to involve cyclization of the universal sesquiterpenoid precursor farnesyl diphosphate to protoilluden followed by further modification by cytochrome P450 monooxygenases and subsequent attachment of the polyketide chain.

Since in particular melleolides, in medicine, are of high interest due to their antimicrobial and cytotoxic activity, it would be desirable to have them specifically produced or enriched in a controlled way.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide for a new tool by means of which a targeted production, either homologous or heterologous, can be achieved.

SEQUENCE LISTING

The Sequence Listing is submitted as an ASCII text file [7291-90556-01_Sequence_Listing.txt, Jan. 30, 2013, 20.7 KB], which is incorporated by reference herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Several embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the figures and explained in more detail in the following description. In the figures:

FIG. 1 shows a scheme of melleolide I biosynthesis, involving the cyclization of farnesyl diphosphate to 6-protoilludene, oxygenation reactions and the side chain attachment;

FIG. 2 shows the HPLC analysis of A. gallica strain FU02472 submerged culture organic extract. Using available standards two of the observed compound peaks were identified as melleolide I and armillaridin;

FIG. 3A-3F shows non-radioactive and radioactive test assays to confirm that the Pro1 clone expressed in E. coli has protoilludene synthase activity. A/B) Gas chromatograms showing a peak at retention time 8.77 min with characteristic mass spectra. A) Extract from E. coli clone expressing Pro1. B) Extract from A. gallica mycelia. C-F) RadioTLC assays: dash/dot line is start, dashed line is solvent front. C) E. coli pUC19 negative control. D) E. coli Pro1 clone incubated with [1-³H]-GGPP, substrate for diterpene synthases. E) E. coli Pro1 clone incubated with [1-³H]-FPP. F) A. gallica positive control;

FIG. 4A is the deduced amino acid sequence alignment of fungal sesquiterpene synthases. The sequences of A. gallica protoilludene synthase (clone Pro1; SEQ ID No. 2), Coprinopsis cinerea-muurolene synthase (Cop3; SEQ ID No. 12 â€œCop3â€ ) and Cop5 (a sesquiterpene synthase with yet unknown product; SEQ ID No. 13 â€œCop5â€ ) are compared. Black boxes indicate identical residues for the three sequences; gray boxes indicate identical residues for two of the three sequences. 4B is a Schematic presentation of the A. gallica protoilludene synthase genomic sequence with exons shown as black boxes and conserved DEXXD and NDxxSxxxE motifs;

FIG. 5 shows the determination of A. gallica protoilludene synthase gene copy number by Southern blot hybridization. One clear band is visible in the BamHI and EcoRI lanes (neither enzyme has a target site in the genomic clone), whereas two bands are visible in the HindIII lane (there are two target sites in the clone, 85 bp apart).

According to the invention, this and other objects are achieved by providing an isolated or synthetic or recombinant polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide with protoilludene synthase activity and comprising a sequence selected from the group consisting of:

- a) SEQ ID No. 1 or 14 of the attached sequence listing;
- b) a nucleic acid sequence complementary to SEQ ID No. 1 or 14;
- c) nucleic acid sequences which hybridize under stringent conditions to the nucleic acid sequences defined in a) and b) or their complementary strands.

The objects are further achieved by the use of said polynucleotide or the polypeptide encoded by the polynucleotide for producing melleolides, and by a respective method for producing melleolides.

The objects are completely achieved in that way.

The above mentioned polynucleotide encodes a polypeptide with Protoilludene synthase activity, which hasâ€”according to the inventors' knowledgeâ€”been identified, purified and enzymatically characterized for the first time. This newly identified polynucleotide catalyzes the cyclization of farnesyldiphosphate to protoilludene, the step of which represents the crucial step in the synthesis of melleolides production. Thus, by having identified the gene encoding the protoilludene synthase a valuable and effective tool has been found and generated to influence the production of melleolides, e.g. by overexpressing the newly identified gene in order to generate multiple copies of the protoilludene synthase, by means of which the cyclization rate in the melleolides synthesis is elevated, and, thus, the production of melleolides increased. In that way, highly enriched melleolides may be gained, which are potent antimicrobial and cytotoxic substances and may be used as therapeutic tools in all different fields of treatment and medicine.

According to the present invention, the term â€œpoylnucleotide(s)â€ generally refers to any polyribonucleotide or polydeoxyribonucleotide, which may be unmodified RNA or DNA or modified RNA or DNA. â€œPolynucleotide(s)â€ include, without limitation, single- and double-stranded DNA, DNA that is a mixture of single- and double-stranded regions or single-, double- and triple-stranded regions, single- and double-stranded RNA, and RNA that is mixture of single- and double-stranded regions, hybrid molecules comprising DNA and RNA that may be single-stranded or, more typically, double-stranded, or triple-stranded regions, or a mixture of single- and double-stranded regions. In addition, â€œpolynucleotideâ€ as used herein refers to triple-stranded regions comprising RNA or DNA or both RNA and DNA. The strands in such regions may be from the same molecule or from different molecules. The regions may include all of one or more of the molecules, but more typically involve only a region of some of the molecules. One of the molecules of a triple-helical region often is an oligonucleotide. As used herein, the term â€œpolynucleotide(s)â€ also includes DNAs or RNAs as described above that contain one or more modified bases. Thus, DNAs or RNAs with backbones modified for stability or for other reasons are â€œpolynucleotide(s)â€ as that term is intended herein. Moreover, DNAs or RNAs comprising unusual bases, such as inosine, or modified bases, such as tritylated bases, to name just two examples, are polynucleotides as the term is used herein. It will be appreciated that a great variety of modifications have been made to DNA and RNA that serve many useful purposes known to those of skill in the art. The term â€œpolynucleotide(s)â€ as it is employed herein embraces such chemically, enzymatically or metabolically modified forms of polynucleotides, as well as the chemical forms of DNA and RNA characteristic of viruses and cells, including, for example, simple and complex cells. Also, â€œPolynucleotide(s)â€ also embraces short polynucleotides often referred to as oligonucleotide(s).

â€œPolypeptide(s)â€ refers to any peptide or protein comprising two or more amino acids joined to each other by peptide bonds or modified peptide bonds. â€œPolypeptide(s)â€ refers to both short chains, commonly referred to as peptides, oligopeptides and oligomers and to longer chains generally referred to as proteins. Polypeptides may contain amino acids other than the 20 gene encoded amino acids. â€œPolypeptide(s)â€ include those modified either by natural processes, such as processing and other post-translational modifications, but also by chemical modification techniques. Such modifications are well described in basic texts and in more detailed monographs, as well as in a voluminous research literature, and they are well known to those of skill in the art. It will be appreciated that the same type of modification may be present in the same or varying degree at several sites in a given polypeptide. Also, a given polypeptide may contain many types of modifications. Modifications can occur anywhere in a polypeptide, including the peptide backbone, the amino acid side-chains, and the amino or carboxyl termini. Modifications include, for example, acetylation, acylation, ADP-ribosylation, amidation, covalent attachment of flavin, covalent attachment of a heme moiety, covalent attachment of a nucleotide or nucleotide derivative, covalent attachment of a lipid or lipid derivative, covalent attachment of phosphotidylinositol, cross-linking, cyclization, disulfide bond formation, demethylation, formation of covalent cross-links, formation of cysteine, formation of pyroglutamate, formylation, gamma-carboxylation, glycosylation, GPI anchor formation, hydroxylation, iodination, methylation, myristoylation, oxidation, proteolytic processing, phosphorylation, prenylation, racemization, glycosylation, lipid attachment, sulfation, gamma-carboxylation of glutamic acid residues, hydroxylation and ADP-ribosylation, selenoylation, sulfation, transfer-RNA mediated addition of amino acids to proteins, such as arginylation, and ubiquitination. Polypeptides may be branched or cyclic, with or without branching. Cyclic, branched and branched circular polypeptides may result from post-translational natural processes and may be made by entirely synthetic methods, as well.

â€œIsolatedâ€ means altered â€œby the hand of manâ€ from its natural state, i.e., if it occurs in nature, it has been changed or removed from its original environment, or both. For example, a polynucleotide or a polypeptide naturally present in a living organism is not â€œisolated,â€ but the same polynucleotide or polypeptide separated from the coexisting materials of its natural state is â€œisolatedâ€ , as the term is employed herein. Similarly, a â€œsyntheticâ€ sequence, as the term is used herein, means any sequence that has been generated synthetically and not directly isolated from a natural source. â€œRecombinantâ€ means genetically engineered DNA prepared by transplanting or splicing genes from one species into the cells of a host organism of a different species. Such DNA becomes part of the host's genetic makeup and is replicated.

The term â€œpolynucleotide encoding a polypeptideâ€ as used herein encompasses polynucleotides that include a sequence encoding a polypeptide of the invention, particularly protoilludene synthase of Amillaria gallica, having the amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID No. 2. The term also encompasses polynucleotides that include a single continuous region or discontinuous regions encoding the polypeptide (for example, interrupted by integrated phage or an insertion sequence or editing) together with additional regions that also may contain coding and/or non-coding sequences.

â€œVariant(s)â€ as the term is used herein, is a polynucleotide or polypeptide that differs from a reference polynucleotide or polypeptide respectively, but retains essential properties. A typical variant of a polynucleotide differs in nucleotide sequence from another, reference polynucleotide. Changes in the nucleotide sequence of the variant may or may not alter the amino acid sequence of a polypeptide encoded by the reference polynucleotide. Nucleotide changes may result in amino acid substitutions, additions, deletions, fusions and truncations in the polypeptide encoded by the reference sequence, as discussed below. A typical variant of a polypeptide differs in amino acid sequence from another, reference polypeptide. Generally, differences are limited so that the sequences of the reference polypeptide and the variant are closely similar overall and, in many regions, identical. A variant and reference polypeptide may differ in amino acid sequence by one or more substitutions, additions, deletions in any combination. A substituted or inserted amino acid residue may or may not be one encoded by the genetic code. A variant of a polynucleotide or polypeptide may be a naturally occurring such as an allelic variant, or it may be a variant that is not known to occur naturally. Non-naturally occurring variants of polynucleotides and polypeptides may be made by mutagenesis techniques, by direct synthesis, and by other recombinant methods known to the persons skilled in the art.

In addition, the term â€œHost cellâ€ is presently defined as a cell which has been transformed or transfected, or is capable of transformation or transfection by an exogenous polynucleotide sequence.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the isolated polynucleotide consists of the SEQ ID No. 1 or 14 and encodes a polypeptide with protoilludene synthase activity. SEQ ID No. 1 represents the genomic sequence, whilst SEQ ID No. 14 represents the cDNA.

SEQ ID Nos. 1 and 14 as disclosed in the attached sequence listing are the genomic sequence and the cDNA, respectively, of the protoilludene synthase as identified and characterized from Amillaria gallica. It is to be understood that also variants thereof, which have at least a sequence identity of 90%â€”and that might even be found in other Amillaria speciesâ€”are also suitable and part of the invention, since with the newly indentified protoilludene synthase a valuable tool is provided by means of which similar protoilludene synthases, i.e. protoilludene synthases that slightly differ from SEQ ID Nos. 1 or 14, may be identified by sequence comparison and subsequent enzymatically testing.

The invention also relates to vectors that comprise a polynucleotide or polynucleotides of the invention, host cells that are genetically engineered with vectors of the invention and the production of polypeptides of the invention by recombinant techniques. Cell-free translation systems can also be employed to produce such polypeptides using RNAs derived from the DNA constructs of the invention.

Thus, and in addition, the invention also concerns a vector, containing a nucleic acid sequence as defined above, encoding a polypeptide with protoilludene activity, the nucleic acid sequence being operably linked to control sequences recognized by a host cell transformed with the vector. According to one aspect of the invention, the vector is an expression vector, and, according to another aspect, the vector can be present in the form of a plasmid, cosmid, phage, liposome, or virus.

For recombinant production, host cells can be genetically engineered to incorporate expression systems or portions thereof or polynucleotides of the invention. Introduction of a polynucleotide into the host cell can be effected by methods described in many standard laboratory manuals, such as Davis et al., Basic Methods in Molecular Biology, (1986), and Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, 2nd Ed., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. (1989).

Thus, the polynucleotide according to the invention, may, e.g., be comprised in a vector which is to be stably transformed/transfected into host cells. In the vector, the polynucleotide of the invention is under control of an inducible promoter, so that the expression of the gene/polynucleotide can be specifically targeted, and, if desired, the gene may be overexpressed in that way.

A great variety of expression systems can be used to produce the polypeptides of the invention. Such vectors include, among others, chromosomal, episomal and virus-derived vectors, e.g., vectors derived from bacterial plasmids, from bacteriophage, from transposons, from yeast episomes, from insertion elements, from yeast chromosomal elements, from viruses, and vectors derived from combinations thereof, such as those derived from plasmid and bacteriophage genetic elements, such as cosmids and phagemids. The expression system constructs may contain control regions that regulate as well as engender expression. Generally, any system or vector suitable to maintain, propagate or express polynucleotides and/or to express a polypeptide in a host may be used for expression in this regard. The appropriate DNA sequence may be inserted into the expression system by any of a variety of well-known and routine techniques, such as, for example, those set forth in Sambrook et al., see above.

In view of the above, the invention also concerns an isolated, recombinant or synthetic polypeptide consisting of an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of:

- (a) an amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 2;
- b) an amino acid sequence of an allelic variant of an amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID No. 2, wherein said allelic variant is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule that hybridizes under stringent conditions to the opposite strand of a nucleic acid molecule shown in SEQ ID No. 1 or 14;
- c) an amino acid sequence of an ortholog of an amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID No. 2, wherein said ortholog is encoded by a nucleic acid molecule that hybridizes under stringent conditions to the opposite strand of a nucleic acid molecule shown in SEQ ID No. 1 or 14; and
- (d) a fragment of an amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID No. 2, wherein said fragment comprises at least 10 contiguous amino acids.

Also, the invention refers to a host cell containing a vector as defined above and in particular a host cell which is selected from the group consisting of fungi including yeast, bacteria, insects, animal and plant cells.

According to another aspect of the invention, a host cell is used, with the nucleic acid encoding the polypeptide with protoilludene synthase activity being adapted to the codon usage of the respective host cell.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the host cell is a homobasidiomyceste, in particular a homobasidiomyceste of the genus Armillaria, in particular Armillaria gallica, Armillaria mellea, Armillaira ostoyae, and other members of the genus Armillaria.

Yet another aspect of the invention concerns a method for producing melleolides comprising the steps of:

- a. growing, under suitable nutrient conditions permissive for the production of the Melleolides, a host cell as defined claimed above; and
- b. isolating said Melleolides from the host cell or the medium of its growth.

According to an aspect of the invention, the melleolide is selected from melleolide I, armillaridine, melleolide A, melleolide F, melleolide B, melleolide K, armillyl evernitate, armillarin, arnamiol, melleolide J, armillarivin, 10-alpha-hydroxy-melleolide, armillyl orsellinate, melleolide E, 1-O-trifluoroacetyl-melleolide E, melleolide H, 5â€²-O-methyl-melledonal, melledonal, arnamial, melleolide C, melleolide D, melledonal A, melledonal C, melledonol.

According to yet another aspect, the method comprising the above mentioned steps consist of the following steps:

- i. growing, under suitable nutrient conditions, host cells transformed or transfected to comprise a nucleic acid sequence selected from a) SEQ-ID-No. 1 or 14 from the enclosed sequence protocol, b) a nucleic acid sequence complementary to SEQ ID No. 1 or 14, and c) nucleic acid sequences which hybridize under stringent conditions to the nucleic acid sequences defined in a) and b) or their complementary strands;
- ii. overexpressing the nucleic acid sequence;
- iii. thus, enhancing melleolides production in the host cell, and
- iv. isolating said melleolides from the host cell or the medium of its growth.

With the disclosed method and the targeted overexpression of the protoilludene synthase it is possible to accumulate melleolides in the host cell or in the medium the host cells are contained in. It is to be understood that it lies within the skill and knowledge of a person skilled in the art, to supplement the host cell(s) or host cell culture with additional and/or essential precursors or other substances, nutrients or metabolites that might be necessary to complete or assist the enhanced melleolides production.

Accordingly, the present invention also relates to melleolides obtained by the method as defined above. The thus generated melleolides can be efficiently used as medicaments, e.g., for treating any bacteria-caused infection or disease.

In view of the above, the invention also refers to the use of a polynucleotide, the vector, or the polypeptide as defined above, respectively, for the production of melleolides.

It is to be understood, that the production of melleolides according to the invention can be performed by means of a heterologous or homologous overexpression of the polynucleotide encoding for protoilludene synthase. Systems and methods, as well as the respective suitable host cells will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the teaching of this invention.

Further advantages follow from the description of the embodiments and the attached drawings.

It goes without saying that the abovementioned features and the features which are still to be explained below can be used not only in the respectively specified combinations, but also in other combinations or on their own, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In FIG. 1, a plausible scheme of melleolide I biosynthesis is shown, involving the cyclization of farnesyl diphosphate to 6-protoilludene, oxygenation reactions and the side chain attachment.

Example 1Generation of Protein Extracts

Armillaria gallica strain FU02472 was established from basidiocarps collected near Traunsee, Austria, and was propagated in submerged culture in batches of 500 mL Erlenmeyer shake flasks containing 200 mL of YMG medium at 23Â° C. with agitation at 140 rpm. Mycelia were harvested from the culture broth by filtration, shock-frozen with liquid nitrogen and stored at âˆ’80Â° C. Escherichia coli strain TOP10 (Invitrogen, Karlsruhe, Germany) was used for cloning and strain BL21 (DE3) CodonPlus (Agilent, Karlsruhe, Germany) was used for heterologous protein expression, along with the Gatewayâ„¢ compatible vector pDEST14 (Invitrogen).

To produce protein extracts from Armillaria, A. gallica cell culture was disrupted in the mortar frozen with liquid nitrogen. Five volumes of extraction buffer (50 mM MES, 20 mM MgCl₂, 5 mM 2-mercaptoenthanol, 10% (v/v) glycerol and 0.1 g/g mycelia PVPP, pH 6.5) were added to the powder. After additional treatment with an Ultraturrax (12.000 rpm for 1 min) the protein extract was cleared by centrifugation (5.000 rpm for 10 min at 4Â° C.). The protein concentration was determined by Quick Start Bradford Protein Assay (Biorad). All protein quantification assays were done in triplicates.

Escherichia coli protein extracts were prepared by resolving the cell pellet from cultivation in the described extraction puffer and cells were lysed under constant cooling by two rounds of Microfluidizer treatment.

Protoilludene synthase activity was determined using [1-³H]-farnesyl diphosphate (PPP) (20 Ci/mmol) (Biotend) in assay buffer (50 mM MOPS, 20 mM MgCl₂, 5 mM 2-mercaptoethanol, pH 7.2). Standard protoilludene synthase activity measurements were performed with 500 nM of [1-³H]-FPP for 2 min followed by quenching with ethyl acetate. Part of the organic extract was then spotted onto silica-gel TLC plates and separated using 9:1 cyclohexane:ethyl acetate as the solvent, prior to analysis in a radio-TLC reader (Raytest, Straubenhardt). For the determination of K_Mvalues the reactions were stopped by quenching with 100 mM EDTA (final concentration) followed by extraction with n-pentane, purification by silica gel column chromatography and quantitation by liquid scintillation counting. All kinetic activity assays were performed in triplicate. Mass spectrometry analysis of solvent extracts was performed on a QP2010S quadrupole mass spectrometer (Shimadzu) equipped with an Rxiâ„¢-5 ms (0.25 mm ID, 30 m length) column (Restek) using the following temperature program: 80Â° C. for 20 min, followed by heating the column at an rate of 15Â° C./min to 300Â° C. with a final constant temperature of 300Â° C. for 4 min. Fragmentation was achieved by electric ionization at 1 keV.

Example 2cDNA Library Construction and Sequencing

An A. gallica CloneMinerâ„¢ cDNA library (Invitrogen) was constructed according the manufacturer's protocol using cesium chloride-density-gradient and A. gallica strain FU02472 mRNA purified by Oligotex (Qiagen, Hilden). Recombinant E. coli were selected on 2YT-agar plates containing 50 Î¼g/mL kanamycin, and 2800 randomly-picked colonies were transferred to 96-well microtiter plates containing 200 Î¼L 2YT medium per well, with 50 Î¼g/mL kanamycin for selection. The plates were incubated at 37Â° C. with continuous shaking at 160 rpm for approx 12 h. A. gallica cDNAs were amplified directly from the culture using forward primer 5â€²-CTC GCG TTA ACG CTA GCA TGG ATG-3â€² (SEQ ID No. 3) and reverse primer 5â€²-GTG AGT CGT ATT ACA TGG TCA TAG CTG-3â€² (SEQ ID No. 4). PCR products were cleaned and sequenced (Fraunhofer IME Aachen, Functional and Applied Genomics Group) using primer 5â€²-CGA CGG CCA GTC TTA AGC TCG GGC-3â€² (SEQ ID No. 5) on an Applied Biosystems 3730 DNA Analyzer. Sequence data were analyzed using CLC Combined Workbench 3 software (CLC bio), the Lasergene Package (DNASTAR) NCBI BLASTx and Local BLAST.

Example 3Heterologous Expression of A. Gallica Protoilludene Synthase in E. coli

Where cDNA sequencing identified potential terpene synthase clones, the corresponding pENTRY vectors were used in LR recombination reactions involving the pDEST14 destination vector. The resulting expression constructs were then introduced into E. coli BL21 (DE3) Codon plus cells (Stratagene) for heterologous expression. Recombinant bacteria were cultivated in Ferenbach-baffled flasks and were induced with 1 mM IPTG when the OD₆₀₀reached 0.5. The induced bacteria were maintained at 28Â° C. for 8 h with constant shaking at 160 rpm. Cells were then harvested by centrifugation, resuspended in protoilludene assay buffer and lysed using a microfluidizer.

Example 4Genomic DNA Isolation and Southern Blot Hybridization

A. gallica genomic DNA was isolated using the cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) method, and 120 Î¼g was digested with 50 units of BamHI, EcoRI or HindIII (NEB Biolabs) as appropriate, for 8 h. The digested DNA was fractionated by 0.7% agarose gel electrophoresis at a constant 50 V overnight, transferred to a positively charged nylon membrane (Roche) and prehybridized with RotiÂ®-Hybri-Quick (Roth) containing single stranded salmon sperm DNA. Two nucleic acid probes (Ëœ400 bp) were synthesized by PCR using forward primer 5â€²-CCT TCC TGA TAC TCT TGC CAA CTG-3â€² (SEQ ID No. 6) and reverse primer 5â€²-CCT CCT CCG TCG AGA CGT CCG AGT AC-3â€² (SEQ ID No. 7) for probe 1, and forward primer 5â€²-GTC ATC AAT CAT CCG GTT ATC AAA G-3â€² (SEQ ID No. 8) and reverse primer 5â€²-CTT GGG CAT CAG CGT TAT CCA CCT C-3â€² (SEQ ID No. 9) for probe 2. These products were labelled with Î±-³²P-dATP (Hartmann Analytic) using the DecaLabelâ„¢ DNA Labeling Kit (Fermentas) according to the manufacturer's recommendations.

Example 5Isolation of an A. Gallica Protoilludene Synthase Genomic Clone

The genomic clone encompassing the A. gallica protoilludene synthase gene was isolated by amplifying 100 ng of A. gallica genomic DNA using forward primer 5â€²-GGG GAC AAG TTT GTA CAA AAA AGC AGG CTT CGA AGG AGA TAG AAC CAT GTC TCA ACG CAT CTT CCT TCC TG-3â€² (SEQ ID No. 10), reverse primer 5â€²-GGG GAC CAC TTT GTA CAA GAA AGC TGG GTT TAG AGA TGA AAT CCG TCA ACA ATT TGA GG-3â€² (SEQ ID No. 11) and HerculaseÂ® II Fusion DNA Polymerase (Stratagene) in a 50-Î¼l reaction. The PCR product was purified and sequenced as described above

Example 6Results and Discussion

A putative honey mushroom (Amillaria gallica) protoilluden synthase was isolated and characterized by establishing a cell culture (FU02472) from a mushroom specimen collected near Traunsee, Austria. The culture was cultivated in liquid YM6.3 medium allowing melleolide production. After approximately 500 h of fermentation the culture was harvested and the melleolide product profile was determined by LC-UV-MS using appropriate reference substances. The major melleolides produced by FU02472 were identified as melleolide I and armillaridine (see FIG. 2).

The melleolide accumulation profile and protoilluden synthase activity were investigated over time by sampling the culture at different time points. Enzyme activity was tested by incubationg soluble enzyme extracts from the culture with radioactive-labeled farnesyl diphosphate. Organic extracts from these reactions were then analyzed by radio-TLC (see FIG. 3) Variable laveels of protoilludene synthase activity were observed in all the crude protein extracts we tested, generating a strongly non-polar product with an Rf value of 0.7 (tentatively identified as 6-protoilludene) and a product with an Rf value of 0.1 (tentatively identified as farnesol). The identity of both products was later confirmed by GC-MS (see below). Thermally-inactivated control fractions were unable to convert farnesyl diphosphate into non-polar products. The highest protoilludene synthase activity was observed after 185 h in culture, and this time point was therefore chosen for enzyme purification.

Next, it was determined whether the putative protoilludene synthase activity in the soluble protein fraction was indeed due to protoilludene synthase enzyme activity present in the fungal extract. Therefore, cold farnesyl diphosphate was spiked with tritium labeled material and incubated with the soluble protein extract from FU02472 for 12 h. The radioactive material fraction, which was then analyzed by radio-TLC and GC-MS to confirm the Rf values and identities of the products. The mass spectrum of the extracted product yielded ions at m/z 175(100%), 119(91%), 105(59%) 133(35%), 91 (40%), 189 (17%), 161 (15%) and 147 (14%) with the molecular parent ion at m/z 204 (24%). The observed fragmentation pattern matched that previously reported for the sesquiterpenoids 6-protoilludene (see FIG. 2). Surprisingly, the GC-Ms analysis did not reveal the presence of 7-protoilludene, suggesting that an allylic rearrangement from the 6(7) to the 7(8) position had occurred, as observed in the final melleolide end products. A similar allylic rearrangement has been described in the synthesis of paclitaxel for the conversion of taxa-4(5),11(12)-diene to taxa-4(20),11(12)-diene to taxa4(5), 11(12)-diene-5-ol, which is catalyzed by a cytochrome P450-dependent monooxygenase (Jennewein et al., 2004). Therefore, applicants propose that a similar cytochrome P450 dependent monooxygenase step is involved that catalyzes both the allylic rearrangement and the hydroxylation reaction during melleolide biosynthesis.

Further characterization of the enzyme was carried out using partially purified A. gallica protoilludene synthase, titium-labeled farnesyl diphsophate and radio-TLC analysis. These experiments revealed a K_mfor farnesyl diphosphate of 0.53 Î¼M. As expected, it was found that the enzyme activity was absolutely dependent on divalent metal ions. The highest protoilludene synthase activity was achieved in the presence of 5 mM MgCl₂falling by 75% when replaced with MnCl₂. The temperature optimum was 22Â° C. with nearly complete loss of activity at >35Â° C. Several buffering systems were tested at 50 mM, with optimal activity at pH7.2 (MOPS buffer). The activity fell by 50% at pH 5.8 (MES buffer) and pH8.5 (Tris buffer). The enzyme was also very sensitive to the presence of ethanol, with concentrations as low as 5% causing a dramatic reduction in activity.

Attempts to purify the protoilludene synthase protein of A. gallica to homogeneity from fungal mycelium and determine the N-terminal amino acid sequence by Edman sequencing proved unsuccessful, but showed that the enzyme was likely a 45 kDa monomer. A cDNA library was constructed from the FU02472 mycelial culture and analysis of the sequences from 2592 randomly chosen clones led to the identification of six partial sequences with homology to fugal terpene synthases, e.g. from Coprinopsis cinerea (Coprinus cinereus). Five of these sequences (two full length cDNAs, one partial cDNA and two clones containing introns) represented a single putative protoilludene sythase gene, designated Pro1. The remaining sequence, a partial cDNA approximately 600 bp in length, represented a distinct gene designated Pro2. The two putative enzymes showed approximately 55% identity at the amino acid level over Ëœ200 residues available for comparison. Further analysis of Pro1 revealed an open reading frame 1042 bp in length, encoding a protein with 347 amino acid residues and a predicted molecular mass of 40 kDa. The Pro1 polypeptide contained DEXXD and NDxxSxxxE motifs in the appropriate orientation as is characteristic for other terpene synthases. The Pro1 amino acid sequence was used to search GenBank, revealing close relationships with the Cop3 and Cop5 sesquiterpene synthases from the basidiomycete Coprinopsis cinerea (32.6% and 33% identity respectively). Cop3 is a-muurolene synthase, whereas the precise function of Cop5 remains to be determined. No significant homology was observed between Pro1 and terpene synthases from ascomyceta or plants.

Heterologous expression of Pro1 in Escherichia coli resulted in a crude soluble protein extract possessing sufficient sesquiterpene synthase activity to convert 80% of the 0.5 Î¼M tritium-labeled farnesyl diphosphate substrate into a product matching the properties of 6-protoilludene (Rf=0.7) within 5 min. Incubation of the same lysate with gernaylgeranyl diphosphate did not produce significant amounts of a more less polar product (<1%) and neither farnesyl diphosphate nor geranylgeranyl diphosphate were converted into less polar products when using E. coli control lasates derived from the empty vector control (see FIG. 3). Characterization of the heterologous teerpene synthase using cold farnesyl diphosphate, extracted with pentane and analysis of the organic extract by GC-MS revealed the formation of a product with an identical retention time and mass spectrum as the native protoilluden synthase.

The 1270 full length Pro1 cDNA clone was used to design primers allowing amplification of the corresponding genomic DNA sequence (FIG. 4.). Analysis of the 1645 bp product revealed the presence of eight introns and nine exons, some as short as 50 bp. Previous analysis of plant terpene synthases genes has revealed few introns. Southern blots, using two oligonucleotide probes representing the 5â€² and 3â€² termini of the Pro1 clone, respectively, show that there is only one copy of the Pro1 gene in the A. gallica genome (FIG. 5).