UCLA

The biosynthesis of pyrroindomycins A and B features a complexity-building [4 + 2] cycloaddition cascade, which generates the spirotetramate core under the catalytic effects of monofunctional Diels-Alderases PyrE3 and PyrI4. We recently showed that the main functions of PyrI4 include acid catalysis and induced-fit/conformational selection. We now present quantum mechanical and molecular dynamics studies implicating a different mode of action by PyrE3, which prearranges an anionic polyene substrate into a high-energy reactive conformation at which an inverse-electron-demand Diels-Alder reaction can occur with a low barrier. Stereoselection is realized by strong binding interactions at the endo stereochemical relationship and a local steric constraint on the endo-1,3-diene unit. These findings, illustrating distinct mechanisms for PyrE3 and PyrI4, highlight how nature has evolved multiple ways to catalyze Diels-Alder reactions.