71144-38-2Relevant academic research and scientific papers
Multienzyme One-Pot Cascades Incorporating Methyltransferases for the Strategic Diversification of Tetrahydroisoquinoline Alkaloids
Andexer, Jennifer N.,Cárdenas-Fernández, Max,Hailes, Helen C.,Méndez-Sánchez, Daniel,Richter, Michael,Roddan, Rebecca,Siegrist, Jutta,Subrizi, Fabiana,Thair, Benjamin,Wang, Yu,Ward, John M.
supporting information, p. 18673 - 18679 (2021/07/19)
The tetrahydroisoquinoline (THIQ) ring system is present in a large variety of structurally diverse natural products exhibiting a wide range of biological activities. Routes to mimic the biosynthetic pathways to such alkaloids, by building cascade reactions in vitro, represents a successful strategy and can offer better stereoselectivities than traditional synthetic methods. S-Adenosylmethionine (SAM)-dependent methyltransferases are crucial in the biosynthesis and diversification of THIQs; however, their application is often limited in vitro by the high cost of SAM and low substrate scope. In this study, we describe the use of methyltransferases in vitro in multi-enzyme cascades, including for the generation of SAM in situ. Up to seven enzymes were used for the regioselective diversification of natural and non-natural THIQs on an enzymatic preparative scale. Regioselectivites of the methyltransferases were dependent on the group at C-1 and presence of fluorine in the THIQs. An interesting dual activity was also discovered for the catechol methyltransferases used, which were found to be able to regioselectively methylate two different catechols in a single molecule.
Design and Use of de novo Cascades for the Biosynthesis of New Benzylisoquinoline Alkaloids
Wang, Yu,Tappertzhofen, Nadine,Méndez-Sánchez, Daniel,Bawn, Maria,Lyu, Boyu,Ward, John M.,Hailes, Helen C.
supporting information, p. 10120 - 10125 (2019/06/27)
The benzylisoquinoline alkaloids (BIAs) are an important group of secondary metabolites from higher plants and have been reported to show significant biological activities. The production of BIAs through synthetic biology approaches provides a higher-yielding strategy than traditional synthetic methods or isolation from plant material. However, the reconstruction of BIA pathways in microorganisms by combining heterologous enzymes can also give access to BIAs through cascade reactions. Most importantly, non-natural BIAs can be generated through such artificial pathways. In the current study, we describe the use of tyrosinases and decarboxylases and combine these with a transaminase enzyme and norcoclaurine synthase for the efficient synthesis of several BIAs, including six non-natural alkaloids, in cascades from l-tyrosine and analogues.
