An N-nitrosating metalloenzyme constructs the pharmacophore of streptozotocin

N-nitroso-containing small molecules, such as the bacterial natural product streptozotocin, are prominent carcinogens(1,2) and important cancer chemotherapeutics(3,4). Despite this functional group’s significant impact on human health, dedicated enzymes involved in N-nitroso assembly have not been identified. Here, we describe a metalloenzyme from streptozotocin biosynthesis (SznF) that catalyzes an oxidative rearrangement of the guanidine group of N(ω)-methyl-L-arginine to generate an N-nitrosourea product. Structural characterization and mutagenesis of SznF uncovered two separate active sites that promote distinct steps in this transformation using different iron-containing metallocofactors. The discovery of this biosynthetic reaction, which has little precedent in enzymology or organic synthesis, expands the catalytic capabilities of non-heme iron-dependent enzymes to include N–N bond formation. We find biosynthetic gene clusters encoding SznF homologs are widely distributed among bacteria, including environmental organisms, plant symbionts, and human pathogens, suggesting an unexpectedly diverse and uncharacterized microbial reservoir of bioactive N-nitroso metabolites.