Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 27, 2026

A Customizable Approach for the Enzymatic Production and Purification of Diterpenoid Natural Products
Published on: October 4, 2019
[Research advances of diterpene synthase]
Yun-fei He1, Wei Gao, Ta-si Liu
1Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China.
Diterpene synthases are key to producing diverse diterpenoids. This review covers recent advances in diterpene biosynthesis, enzyme mechanisms, and synthetic biology applications.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry and Natural Products Chemistry
- Focuses on diterpenes, a significant class of natural compounds with diverse biological activities.
Context:
- Diterpenes are widely distributed in nature, and their valuable properties are increasingly recognized.
- The diversity of diterpenoid end-products is directly linked to the variety of diterpene synthases involved in their biosynthesis.
Purpose:
- To review recent advancements in the biosynthesis pathways of diterpenes.
- To explore the different types, cloning, and catalytic mechanisms of diterpene synthases.
- To discuss the applications of synthetic biology in diterpene production.
Summary:
- This paper examines the latest research on diterpene biosynthesis, highlighting the crucial role of diterpene synthases.
- It details the classification, gene cloning, and catalytic mechanisms of these enzymes.
- The review also covers the potential of synthetic biology for engineering diterpene production.
Impact:
- Provides a comprehensive overview of diterpene biosynthesis and diterpene synthase research.
- Offers insights into the structural and functional diversity of diterpene synthases.
- Highlights the potential for biotechnological applications in natural product synthesis.
Related Concept Videos
Diels–Alder Reaction Forming Cyclic Products: Stereochemistry
Diels–Alder Reaction: Characteristics of Dienes
Characteristics of the diene
Conformation
The simplest example of a diene is 1,3-butadiene, an acyclic conjugated π system. At room temperature, the molecule exists as a mixture of s-cis and s-trans conformers by virtue of rotation around the carbon–carbon single bond. Although the s-trans isomer is more stable, the...
[4+2] Cycloaddition of Conjugated Dienes: Diels–Alder Reaction
Diels–Alder Reaction Forming Bridged Bicyclic Products: Stereochemistry
Stability of Conjugated Dienes
A comparison of the enthalpies of hydrogenation of dienes reveals that conjugated dienes release less heat on hydrogenation, rendering them more stable than their nonconjugated analogs.
Structure of Conjugated Dienes
Conjugated dienes are compounds characterized by the presence of alternating double and single bonds. In a conjugated system like 1,3-butadiene, the unhybridized 2p orbital on each carbon overlaps continuously, allowing the π electrons to be delocalized across the entire molecule. In contrast, this type of overlap does not occur in cumulated and isolated dienes, such as 2,3-pentadiene and 1,4-pentadiene, respectively. Instead, the π electrons remain localized between the double...

