Recombinant Macrocyclic Lanthipeptides Incorporating Non-Canonical Amino Acids

Nisin is a complex lanthipeptide that has broad spectrum antibacterial activity. In efforts to broaden the structural diversity of this ribosomally synthesized lantibiotic, we now report the recombinant expression of Nisin variants that incorporate noncanonical amino acids (ncAAs) at discrete positions. This is achieved by expressing the nisA structural gene, cyclase (nisC) and dehydratase (nisB), together with an orthogonal nonsense suppressor tRNA/aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase pair in Escherichia coli. A number of ncAAs with novel chemical reactivity were genetically incorporated into NisA, including an α-chloroacetamide-containing ncAA that allowed for the expression of Nisin variants with novel macrocyclic topologies. This methodology should allow for the exploration of lanthipeptide variants with new or enhanced activities.