Recent advances in the elucidation of enzymatic function in natural product biosynthesis [version 2; referees: 2 approved]

Abstract

With the successful production of artemisinic acid in yeast, the promising potential of synthetic biology for natural product biosynthesis is now being realized. The recent total biosynthesis of opioids in microbes is considered to be another landmark in this field. The importance and significance of enzymes in natural product biosynthetic pathways have been re-emphasized by these advancements. Therefore, the characterization and elucidation of enzymatic function in natural product biosynthesis are undoubtedly fundamental for the development of new drugs and the heterologous biosynthesis of active natural products. Here, discoveries regarding enzymatic function in natural product biosynthesis over the past year are briefly reviewed.

Keywords

• Agriculture & Biotechnology
• Antimicrobials & Drug Resistance
• Applied Microbiology
• Biocatalysis
• Biomacromolecule-Ligand Interactions
• Cancer Therapeutics
• Directed Molecular Evolution
• Drug Discovery & Design
• Health Systems & Services Research
• Immunopharmacology & Hematologic Pharmacology
• Macromolecular Assemblies & Machines
• Macromolecular Chemistry
• Microbial Physiology & Metabolism
• Neuropharmacology & Psychopharmacology
• Pain Management: Acute Clinical
• Pain Management: Chronic Clinical
• Plant Biochemistry & Physiology
• Plant Genetics & Gene Expression
• Plant Genomes & Evolution
• Small Molecule Chemistry