Oxford University Innovation Ltd

University Court of the University of St. Andrews

The University Court of the University of Aberdeen

James Naismith

Nicholas James Westwood

Wael Houssen Ibrahim

Marcel Jaspars

Jesko Koehnke

Andrew Bent

Nicholas Westwood

Ying Ge

Greg Mann

Margaret Smith

This invention relates to an engineered leader-independent heterocyclase (also known as a cyclodehydratase) comprising a defined cyanobactin leader sequence which drives the efficient conversion of heterocyclisable amino acids, such as Ser, Thr and Cys, within a peptide substrate lacking a leader sequence into heterocycles produce a homogenous heterocycle-containing product. This may be useful in biotechnology and chemical synthesis.

Modified heterocyclase

This invention relates to the in vitro production of cyclic peptides using cyanobacterial enzymes, such as patellamide biosynthesis enzymes. Linear peptide substrates are cyclized using an isolated cyanbacterial macrocyclase, such as PatG fromspp. Before cyclization, residues in the linear peptide substrates may be heterocyclized using isolated cyanbacterial heterocyclasses, such as PatD or TruD heterocyclase. Methods of the invention may be useful, for example, for the production of cyclic peptidyl molecules, including cyclotides, such as katalas, and cyanobactins, such as patellamides and telomestatins, for example for use in the development of therapeutics.

In vitro production of cyclic peptides

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St. Andrews, United Kingdom

James Naismith