The biosynthetic gene cluster for caerulomycin A (1) was cloned and characterized from the marine actinomycete Actinoalloteichus cyanogriseus WH1-2216-6, which revealed an unusual hybrid polyketide synthase (PKS)/nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) system. The crmL disruption mutant accumulated caerulomycin L (2) with an extended L-leucine at C-7, implicating an amidohydrolase activity for CrmL. The leucine-removing activity was confirmed for crude CrmL enzymes. Heterologous expression of the 1 gene cluster led to 1 production in Streptomyces coelicolor.

The immunosuppressive agent caerulomycin A features a unique 2,2'-bipyridine core structure and an unusual oxime functionality. Genetic and biochemical evidence confirms that the oxime formation in caerulomycin A biosynthesis is catalyzed by CrmH, a flavin-dependent two-component monooxygenase that is compatible with multiple flavin reductases, from a primary amine via a N-hydroxylamine intermediate. Structure homologue-guided site-directed mutagenesis studies identify four amino acid residues that are essential for CrmH catalysis. This study provides the first biochemical evidence of a two-component monooxygenase that catalyzes oxime formation.