The multi-enzyme complexes that synthesize these molecules always end with a thio·esterase module. For 10 points each:
[10h] Name these natural products that consist of alternating methyl·ene and carbonyl groups. As they’re often chemo·toxic, these molecules are popular starting points for the design of new antibiotics.
ANSWER: polyketides
[10e] Thio·esterases cleave the bond between a polyketide’s terminal acetyl group and this co·enzyme. This co·enzyme is also bound to the acetyl groups that enter the Krebs cycle.
ANSWER: coenzyme A [or CoA; or acetyl-CoA]
[10m] Thio·esterases catalyze this type of reaction during macrolide biosynthesis. Non-ribosomal peptides that have undergone this type of reaction have longer half-lives since they can only be cleaved by endo·peptidases and not exo·peptidases.
ANSWER: intramolecular cyclization [or cyclase reactions; or forming a cyclic compound; or ring formation; or ring closing]
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