Compositions and methods for dehydration and cyclization of peptides, synthetic compounds, and lantibiotics

Lantibiotics are synthesized on ribosomes as prepeptides and post-translationally modified to a mature form. These modifications include dehydrations and cyclizations. Compounds and related methods of generating compounds, modified by dehydration, cyclization, or dehydration and cyclization, are disclosed. The disclosure includes in vitro approaches to effecting dehydration and cyclization leading to production of biologically active compounds such as lantibiotics and variants thereof. Synthetic variants and methods including combinatorial approaches for generating diverse lantibiotics and other compounds are disclosed. The invention has broad potential for applications including food, agricultural, and medical industries.