Biosynthesis-assisted Structure Elucidation of Colibactin, the Genotoxic Metabolite Produced by Commensal Microbiota

Abstract

Colibactin, a secondary metabolite produced by a commensal Escherichia coli harboring pks island, exhibits a genotoxicity to mammalian cells and progresses to colorectal cancer. Regardless of potential risk for the promotion of cancer by colibactin, which shows neither a biological mechanism of action nor determination of chemical structure. Analysis of a genetic mutant of colibactin-producing E. coli enabled us to provide biosynthetic intermediates and shunt products associated with a partial structure of colibactin. This review covers the recent findings of the biosynthesis and implication of chemical structure of colibactin.