Nikkomycins are peptidyl nucleoside antibiotics with potent activities against phytopathogenic and human pathogenic fungi. The sanM and sanN genes are required for the nikkomycin biosynthesis of Streptomyces ansochromogenes. In the present study, interaction between SanM and SanN was identified by yeast two-hybrid and co-immunoprecipitation assays. Moreover, SanM and SanN were heterologously expressed and purified. Further biochemical assay demonstrated that the SanM-SanN interaction is essential for SanM aldolase activity but not for SanN dehydrogenase activity. SanM converts piconaldehyde and 2-oxobutyrate to 4-pyridyl-2-oxo-4-hydroxyisovalerate in nikkomycin biosynthesis by interacting with SanN. Steady state kinetics analysis revealed that K-m and k(cat)/K-m of SanM are 123.2 mu M and 11.4 mM(-1) s(-1) for picolinaldehyde, while 335.6 mu M and 4.0 mM(-1) s(-1) for 2-oxobutyrate, respectively. However, SanN as a dehydrogenase is independent of SanM. (C) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.