A Novel Regio-Specific Cyclosporin Hydroxylase Gene Revealed Through the Genome Mining of Pseudonocardia Autotrophica
March 2014
in “
Journal of Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology
”
TLDR Scientists found a new gene in a bacterium that can modify an immunosuppressant drug, potentially helping to treat hair loss.
In the 2014 study, researchers discovered a new gene, CYP-pal, in Pseudonocardia autotrophica that specifically hydroxylates cyclosporin A (CsA) at the 9th N-methyl leucine, a modification important for creating non-immunosuppressive derivatives potentially useful for hair loss treatment. Out of 31 cytochrome P450 hydroxylase genes found in P. autotrophica, only the inactivation of CYP-pal stopped the hydroxylation of CsA. The role of CYP-pal was further confirmed through gene complementation and expression in Streptomyces coelicolor. This study's findings highlight the potential for biotechnological applications in the selective modification of CsA for therapeutic use.
