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Rebecca Rodden: Acceptance and Kinetic Resolution of α-Methyl-Substituted Aldehydes by Norcoclaurine Synthases
In this paper, we report the acceptance of a novel substrate type for the enzyme, norcoclaurine synthase, involved in plant alkaloid production.
The use of enzymes to synthesise small molecules is advantageous over traditional organic synthetic methods as the reactions are performed in a more selective and environmentally-friendly manner. Norococlaurine synthase can be used to produce molecules containing the tetrahydroisoquinoline moiety which is found in many drug molecules, so there is interest in producing analogues for the discovery of novel pharmaceuticals.
The use of enzymes to synthesise small molecules is advantageous over traditional organic synthetic methods as the reactions are performed in a more selective and environmentally-friendly manner. Norococlaurine synthase can be used to produce molecules containing the tetrahydroisoquinoline moiety which is found in many drug molecules, so there is interest in producing analogues for the discovery of novel pharmaceuticals.
Norcoclaurine synthase (NCS) catalyzes a stereoselective Pictet–Spengler reaction to give the key intermediate, (S)-norcoclaurine in benzylisoquinoline alkaloid biosynthesis. This family of alkaloids contains many bioactive molecules including morphine and berberine. Recently, NCS has been demonstrated to accept a variety of aldehydes and some ketones as substrates, leading to a range of chiral tetrahydroisoquinoline (THIQ) products. (Click here to read full publication)