(1) Department of Applied Chemistry and Microbiology, University of Helsinki, PO Box 56, Viikki Biocenter, Viikinkaari 9, FIN-00014, Finland;(2) Valio Ltd, R&D, PO Box 30, FIN-00039 Valio, Helsinki, Finland
Abstract:
Background
Microcystins are small cyclic heptapeptide toxins produced by a range of distantly related cyanobacteria. Microcystins are synthesized on large NRPS-PKS enzyme complexes. Many structural variants of microcystins are produced simulatenously. A recombination event between the first module of mcyB (mcyB1) and mcyC in the microcystin synthetase gene cluster is linked to the simultaneous production of microcystin variants in strains of the genus Microcystis.