Requires Ca2+. The enzyme, which belongs to the Stig cyclases, has been characterized from multiple species of the cyanobacterial genera Fischerella and Westiellopsis. Stig cyclases catalyse a three step process including a Cope rearrangement, 6-exo-trig cyclization and electrophilic aromatic substitution. The enzyme is a heterodimer of two different proteins (AmbU1 and AmbU4). On their own, AmbU1 catalyses a different reaction, producing 12-epi-hapalindole U (cf. EC 5.5.1.32, 12-epi-hapalindole U synthase) while AmbU4 appears to be inactive. Formation of hapalindole U leads to the biosynthesis of additional terpenoid indole alkaloids such as hapalindole G, ambiguine H, and ambiguine A.
Discovery of a Calcium-Dependent Enzymatic Cascade for the Selective Assembly of Hapalindole-Type Alkaloids: On the Biosynthetic Origin of Hapalindole U.
