Lantibiotics are synthesized on ribosomes as prepeptides and
post-translationally modified to a mature form. These modifications
include dehydrations and cyclizations. Compounds and related methods of
generating compounds, modified by dehydration, cyclization, or
dehydration and cyclization, are disclosed. The disclosure includes in
vitro approaches to effecting dehydration and cyclization leading to
production of biologically active compounds such as lantibiotics and
variants thereof. Synthetic variants and methods including combinatorial
approaches for generating diverse lantibiotics and other compounds are
disclosed. The invention has broad potential for applications including
food, agricultural, and medical industries.
