Campus Units
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Roy J. Carver Department of
Document Type
Article
Publication Version
Accepted Manuscript
Publication Date
2012
Journal or Book Title
Natural Product Reports
Volume
29
Issue
10
First Page
1153
Last Page
1175
DOI
10.1039/C2NP20059G
Abstract
The complexity of terpenoid natural products has drawn significant interest, particularly since their common (poly)isoprenyl origins were discovered. Notably, much of this complexity is derived from the highly variable cyclized and/or rearranged nature of the observed hydrocarbon skeletal structures. Indeed, at least in some cases it is difficult to immediately recognize their derivation from poly-isoprenyl precursors. Nevertheless, these diverse structures are formed by sequential elongation to acyclic precursors, most often with subsequent cyclization and/or rearrangement. Strikingly, the reactions used to assemble and diversify terpenoid backbones share a common carbocationic driven mechanism, although the means by which the initial carbocation is generated does vary. High-resolution crystal structures have been obtained for at least representative examples from each of the various types of enzymes involved in producing terpenoid hydrocarbon backbones. However, while this has certainly led to some insights into the enzymatic structure–function relationships underlying the elongation and simpler cyclization reactions, our understanding of the more complex cyclization and/or rearrangement reactions remains limited. Accordingly, selected examples are discussed here to demonstrate our current understanding, its limits, and potential ways forward.
Copyright Owner
The Royal Society of Chemistry
Copyright Date
2012
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Recommended Citation
Gao, Yang; Honzatko, Richard B.; and Peters, Reuben J., "Terpenoid synthase structures: a so far incomplete view of complex catalysis" (2012). Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology Publications. 117.
https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/bbmb_ag_pubs/117
Comments
This is a manuscript of an article published as Gao, Y., Honzatko, R.B., Peters, R.J. (2012) “Terpenoid synthase structures: a so far incomplete view of complex catalysis”, Nat. Prod. Rep., 29(10):1153-1175, doi: 10.1039/C2NP20059G. Posted with permission.