Use of heterologous expressed polyketide synthase and small molecule foldases to make aromatic and cyclic compounds

A method of producing a library of polyketide-derived aromatic, polyaromatic, cyclic, and polycyclic compounds, wherein the carbon atom chain length of the polyketide backbone of the compounds is selected from two or more of 6-31 carbon atoms, comprising the steps of:

• a. providing one or more heterogeneous populations of recombinant cells, wherein each cell in the one or more populations comprises:
• i. a transgene encoding a heterologous type III polyketide synthase capable of forming a linear non-reduced polyketide compound, wherein the carbon atom chain length of the polyketide backbone of the formed compound is selected from 6-31 carbon atoms;
• and
• ii. a transgene encoding a first heterologous heterologous small molecule foldase enzyme capable of catalyzing the formation of one or more region-specific intramolecular carbon-carbon or carbon-oxygen bonds in a linear non-reduced polyketide compound, wherein the carbon atom chain length of the polyketide backbone of the compound is one or more of 6-31 carbon atoms,
• wherein the heterologous small molecule foldase enzyme is a bacterial or fungal enzyme, and wherein the genus from which said bacterial or fungal enzyme is derived is different from the genus from which the PKSIII enzyme is derived, and
• wherein the one or more populations of recombinant cells comprises cells capable of producing polyketide-derived aromatic, polyaromatic, cyclic, and/or polycyclic compounds, wherein the carbon atom chain length of the polyketide backbone of the compounds is selected from two or more of 6-31 carbon atoms;
• and
• b. incubating and/or culturing the one or more heterogeneous populations of recombinant cells in a culture medium to support synthesis of the library of polyketide-derived aromatic, polyaromatic, cyclic, and polycyclic compounds.