Biosynthesis of the Sesquiterpene Kitaviridene through Skeletal Rearrangement with Formation of a Methyl Group Equivalent

A sesquiterpene synthase from Kitasatospora viridis was discovered and shown to produce kitaviridene, a sesquiterpene hydrocarbon with an additional methyl group equivalent in comparison to a regular sesquiterpene. Isotopic labeling experiments together with DFT calculations gave detailed insights into the cyclization cascade toward kitaviridene and explained the formation of the additional methyl group equivalent.