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Updated: May 16, 2026

A Customizable Approach for the Enzymatic Production and Purification of Diterpenoid Natural Products
Published on: October 4, 2019
An alternative route to cyclic terpenes by reductive cyclization in iridoid biosynthesis
Fernando Geu-Flores1, Nathaniel H Sherden, Vincent Courdavault
1Department of Biological Chemistry, John Innes Centre, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK.
Researchers discovered iridoid synthase, an enzyme crucial for producing iridoids, which are plant compounds with medicinal and agricultural uses. This finding opens doors for biotechnological applications and new pest management strategies.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Plant Science
- Enzymology
Background:
- Iridoids are bicyclic monoterpenes with diverse pharmacological activities and roles in pest management.
- Understanding the biosynthesis of iridoids is essential for harnessing their biotechnological potential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the enzymes involved in the iridoid biosynthetic pathway.
- To discover the enzyme responsible for generating the iridoid ring scaffold.
Main Methods:
- Biochemical assays
- Gene silencing
- Co-expression analysis
- Localization studies
Main Results:
- Discovery of iridoid synthase, a plant-derived enzyme.
- Iridoid synthase uses 10-oxogeranial as a substrate, unlike other monoterpene cyclases.
- The enzyme likely involves a reduction step followed by cyclization (Diels-Alder or Michael addition).
- A short-chain reductase was repurposed as a cyclase for iridoid production.
Conclusions:
- Identified a novel biochemical mechanism for cyclic terpene biosynthesis.
- Demonstrated the recruitment of a reductase as a cyclase.
- Paved the way for heterologous production of iridoids in plants and microorganisms.
- Opened prospects for generating artificial cyclic scaffolds using reductases.
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