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Updated: May 23, 2026
07:59
A Customizable Approach for the Enzymatic Production and Purification of Diterpenoid Natural Products
Published on: October 4, 2019
Fusicoccanes: diterpenes with surprising biological functions
Albertus H de Boer1, Ingrid J de Vries-van Leeuwen
1Department of Structural Biology, Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences, Vrije Universiteit, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands. bert.de.boer@falw.vu.nl
Trends in Plant Science
|April 3, 2012
Summary
Fusicoccin, a plant toxin, targets key transport proteins in both plant and animal cells. Recent research reveals its fungal origins and diverse biological activities in plants, expanding its utility.
Area of Science:
- Plant biology
- Biochemistry
- Cell biology
Background:
- Fusicoccanes are diterpenes with a characteristic 5-8-5 ring structure.
- Fusicoccin is a well-established tool in plant physiology, targeting the P-type H(+)-ATPase.
- 14-3-3 proteins are crucial in cell biology and interact with fusicoccin.
Observation:
- Crystallography studies reveal broader specificity for other fusicoccanes.
- Recent evidence indicates fusicoccanes can act on animal cells.
- The fungal biosynthetic pathway for fusicoccanes has been discovered.
Findings:
- Fusicoccanes are versatile tools with applications in both plant and animal biology.
- Plants, including liverworts and higher plants, produce fusicoccanes with significant biological activities.
Implications:
- Fusicoccanes offer a versatile molecular tool for research in plant and animal cell biology.
- Understanding fusicoccanes' biosynthesis and activity can lead to novel applications in agriculture and medicine.
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