Deacetoxycephalosporin-C synthase (DAOCS)

Deacetoxycephalosporin-C synthase (DAOCS) is a mononuclear, ferrous-dependent oxygenase enzyme (EC 1.14.20.1) essential in the biosynthesis of cephalosporin antibiotics in fungi such as *Acremonium chrysogenum* and bacteria like *Streptomyces clavuligerus*.[2][3][4][5][8] It catalyzes the ring expansion of penicillin N into deacetoxycephalosporin C, a key transformation in converting penicillins into cephalosporins.[4][5][7][8] The enzyme requires 2-oxoglutarate, molecular oxygen, and Fe(II) as cofactors, producing succinate, CO2, and H2O as byproducts.[2][4] DAOCS is a central biosynthetic target in industrial production of cephalosporin antibiotics and substrate engineering[3][7]. Isoforms with varying substrate specificity have been identified in multiple actinomycetes and fungi[7].

Other names

DAOC synthasepenicillin N expandasedeacetylcephalosporin C synthaseexpandase

Catalyzes the ring expansion of penicillin N to deacetoxycephalosporin C by oxidative cyclization using molecular oxygen and 2-oxoglutarate as cofactors[2][3][4][5][8].