Abstract: Disclosed is a family of P450 monooxygenases, each member of which regioselectively oxidizes avermectin to 4″-keto-avermectin. The P450 monooxgenases find use in methods and formulations for making emamectin from avermectin. Also disclosed are methods for purifying the P450 monooxygenases of the invention, binding agents that specifically bind to the P450 monooxygenases of the invention, and genetically engineered cells that express the P450 monooxygenases of the invention. Also disclosed are ferredoxins and ferredoxin reductases that are active with the P450 monooxygenases of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the production of pyrrolnitrin in a host via recombinant expression of the polypeptides needed to biologically synthesize pyrrolnitrin. Genes isolated from P. fluorescens, P. pyrrocinia, B. cepacia, and M. fulvus that encode polypeptides necessary to produce pyrrolnitrin are provided, along with methods for identifying and isolating genes needed to recombinantly biosynthesize pyrrolnitrin from any organism capable of producing pyrrolnitrin. The isolated genes may be transformed and expressed in a desired host organisms to produce pyrrolnitrin according to the invention for a variety of purposes, including protecting the host from a pathogen, developing the host as a biocontrol agent, and producing large, uniform amounts of pyrrolnitrin.