Tropane alkaloids biosynthesis involves an unusual type III polyketide synthase and non-enzymatic condensation

Abstract

Tropane alkaloids are medicinally significant plant metabolites generated by an unusual condensation of ornithine-derived and malonyl-CoA precursors. Here, Huang et al. show that pyrrolidine ketide synthase catalyzes a single round of condensation, which is followed by a non-enzymatic Mannich-like condensation.