Nonribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs) produce vital natural products but have proven recalcitrant to biosynthetic engineering. Now, a combination of yeast surface display and fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) has been used to reprogram an L-Phe-incorporating module for β-Phe. The resulting module is highly selective and functions efficiently in NRPS pathways.
- David L. Niquille
- Douglas A. Hansen
- Donald Hilvert