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Reactivity-based screening for citrulline-containing natural products reveals a family of bacterial peptidyl arginine deiminases

Ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs) are a family of natural products defined by a genetically encoded precursor peptide that is tailored by associated biosynthetic enzymes to form the mature product. Lasso peptides are a class of RiPP defined by an isopeptide linkage between the N-terminal amine and an internal Asp/Glu residue with the C-terminus threaded through the macrocycle. This unique lariat topology, which provides considerable stability towards heat and proteases, has stimulated interest in lasso peptides as potential therapeutics. Post-translational modifications beyond the class-defining, threaded macrolactam have been reported, including one example of arginine deimination to yield citrulline. Although a citrulline-containing lasso peptide (i.e., citrulassin) was serendipitously discovered during a genome-guided campaign, the gene(s) responsible for arginine deimination has remained unknown. Herein we describe the use of reactivity-based screening to discriminate bacteria that produce arginine-versus citrulline-bearing citrulassins, culminating in the discovery and characterization of 11 new lasso peptide variants. Phylogenetic profiling identified a distally encoded peptidyl arginine deiminase (PAD) gene ubiquitous to the citrulline-containing variants. Absence of this gene correlated strongly with citrulassin variants only containing arginine (des-citrulassin). Heterologous expression of the PAD in a non-citrulassin producer resulted in the production of the deiminated analog, confirming PAD involvement in arginine deimination. The family of PADs were then bioinformatically surveyed for a deeper understanding of its genomic context and potential role in post-translational modification of RiPPs.