Biosynthesis of cinchona alkaloids - PubMed
5 hours ago
- #metabolic-engineering
- #biosynthesis
- #cinchona-alkaloids
- Cinchona alkaloids, studied for over 250 years, have significant impacts in medicine and basic science.
- Key examples include quinine (antimalarial drug) and cinchonidine (chiral catalyst).
- The biosynthesis pathway of the quinoline-quinuclidine scaffold was largely unknown until this study.
- Researchers discovered genes responsible for the biosynthesis of cinchona alkaloids.
- Unusual biosynthetic transformations and a previously unreported quaternary amine intermediate were identified.
- Heterologous expression in Nicotiana benthamiana produced dihydroquini(di)none, dihydrocinchoni(di)none, and cinchoni(di)none.
- The platform also converted halogenated tryptamine substrates into dihydrocinchoni(di)none analogues.
- These findings open avenues for metabolic engineering to produce cinchona alkaloids and their derivatives.