Bacterial biotransformation of 3α(S)-strictosidine to the monoterpenoid indole alkaloid vallesiachotamine

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0031-9422(97)01116-3

3α(S)-Strictosidine produced by heterologously expressed strictosidme synthase from Rauwolfia serpentina was used in biotransformation experiments with a series of 22 bacterial strains.All strains tested were found to deglucosylate and rearrange the alkaloid to vallesiachotamine, thereby providing an example of how gene technology and microbial biotransformation can be combined for the biotechnological production of alkaloidal natural products. - Keywords: Rauwolfia serpentina, Spodoptera frugiperda, baculovirus, strictosidine synthase, vallesiachotamine.