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Updated: Mar 9, 2026

A Customizable Approach for the Enzymatic Production and Purification of Diterpenoid Natural Products
Published on: October 4, 2019
β-Lactone Synthetase Found in the Olefin Biosynthesis Pathway
James K Christenson1,2, Jack E Richman1,2, Matthew R Jensen1,2
1Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics, University of Minnesota , Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States.
Abstract:
The first β-lactone synthetase enzyme is reported, creating an unexpected link between the biosynthesis of olefinic hydrocarbons and highly functionalized natural products. The enzyme OleC, involved in the microbial biosynthesis of long-chain olefinic hydrocarbons, reacts with syn- and anti-β-hydroxy acid substrates to yield cis- and trans-β-lactones, respectively. Protein sequence comparisons reveal that enzymes homologous to OleC are encoded in natural product gene clusters that generate β-lactone rings, suggesting a common mechanism of biosynthesis.
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