SEARCHPKS

SEARCHPKS identifies and analyzes polyketide synthase (PKS) domains in polypeptide sequences to characterize domain and module organization of modular polyketide synthases, predict acyltransferase domain specificity for starter and extender precursor units, and associate PKS clusters with potential polyketide products.

Key Features:

• Domain Identification: Detects and maps PKS domains and module organization within modular polyketide synthases.
• Specificity Prediction: Predicts acyltransferase (AT) domain specificity for starter and extender precursor units.
• Sequence Homology Analysis: Performs sequence homology analysis of PKS domains to support domain and module swapping experiments.
• Polyketide Product Identification: Links PKS clusters from newly sequenced genomes to candidate polyketide products.

Scientific Applications:

• Natural Product Biosynthesis: Elucidating the biosynthesis of pharmaceutically significant natural products by mapping PKS domain and module organization.
• Synthetic Pathway Design: Correlating chemical structures with domain organization to support design and optimization of synthetic biosynthetic pathways.
• Genetic Engineering: Informing genetic engineering and metabolic pathway manipulation through AT specificity prediction and homology-guided domain swapping.

Methodology:

Computational analysis is grounded in a comprehensive analysis of characterized clusters of modular polyketide synthases compiled in PKSDB.