Identification of Kibdelomycin and Related Biosynthetic Gene Clusters and Characterization of the C-Branching of Amycolose.

Many bacterial natural products contain C-branched sugars, including components from the outer cell wall or antibiotically active metabolites. The enzymatic C-branching of keto sugars leading to longer side chains (≥C) is catalyzed by thiamine diphosphate (ThDP)-dependent enzymes. Chiral tertiary α-hydroxy ketones are formed in this process.