Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 10, 2026

Biosynthesis of a Flavonol from a Flavanone by Establishing a One-pot Bienzymatic Cascade
Published on: August 14, 2019
Engineering of flavonoid O-methyltransferase for a novel regioselectivity
Eun Ji Joe1, Bong-Gyu Kim, Byoung-Chan An
1Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Bio/Molecular Informatics Center, Konkuk University, Seoul 143-701, Korea.
Abstract:
An O-methyltransferase isolated from poplar, POMT7, was identified as a flavone 7-O-methyltransferase. In order to generate a mutant of POMT-7 having a novel regioselectivity, we conducted an error-prone polymerase chain reaction. More than 100 mutants were screened and one of the mutants (POMT-M1) Asp257Gly, methylated the 3-hydroxyl group of flavonols in addition to 7-hydrdoxyl group. The mutation changed asparagine residue at the position of 257 into glycine. The kinetic parameters showed that the wild type POMT7 was better activity toward kaempferol and quercetin than the POMT7-M1. Using E. coli transformant expressing POMT7-M1, 58 microM of 3, 7-O-dimethylquercetin and 70 microM of 3, 7-O-dimethylkaempferol from 100 microM of corresponding substrate were synthesized successfully.
Related Concept Videos
Regioselective Formation of Enolates
Regioselectivity and Stereochemistry of Hydroboration
Hydroboration proceeds in a concerted fashion with the attack of borane on the π bond, giving a cyclic four-centered transition state. The –BH2 group is bonded to the less substituted carbon and –H to the more substituted carbon. The concerted nature requires the simultaneous addition of –H and –BH2 across the same face of the alkene giving syn stereochemistry.
Regioselectivity of Electrophilic Additions-Peroxide Effect
E2 Reaction: Stereochemistry and Regiochemistry
When a substrate with two different β hydrogens undergoes an E2 elimination, the presence of a strong base can yield two regioisomeric alkenes. The more-substituted alkene is the major product and...
Thermal Electrocyclic Reactions: Stereochemistry
Selection Rules: Thermal Activation
Conjugated systems containing an even number of π-electron pairs undergo a conrotatory ring closure. For example, thermal electrocyclization of (2E,4E)-2,4-hexadiene, a conjugated diene containing two π-electron pairs, gives trans-3,4-dimethylcyclobutene.
Limitations of Friedel–Crafts Reactions

