Metabolic engineering of Streptomyces peucetius for biosynthesis of N,N-dimethylated anthracyclines

Daunorubicin and doxorubicin, two anthracycline polyketides produced by Streptomyces peucetius, are potent anticancer agents that are widely used in chemotherapy, despite severe side effects. Recent advances have highlighted the potential of producing improved derivatives with reduced side effects by incorporating L-rhodosamine, the N,N-dimethyl analogue of the native amino sugar moiety.