Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 11, 2026

The Madagascar Hissing Cockroach as an Alternative Non-mammalian Animal Model to Investigate Virulence, Pathogenesis, and Drug Efficacy
Published on: November 24, 2017
Missing enzymes in the biosynthesis of the anticancer drug vinblastine in Madagascar periwinkle
Lorenzo Caputi1, Jakob Franke1, Scott C Farrow1
1Department of Biological Chemistry, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK.
Abstract:
Vinblastine, a potent anticancer drug, is produced by Catharanthus roseus (Madagascar periwinkle) in small quantities, and heterologous reconstitution of vinblastine biosynthesis could provide an additional source of this drug. However, the chemistry underlying vinblastine synthesis makes identification of the biosynthetic genes challenging. Here we identify the two missing enzymes necessary for vinblastine biosynthesis in this plant: an oxidase and a reductase that isomerize stemmadenine acetate into dihydroprecondylocarpine acetate, which is then deacetoxylated and cyclized to either catharanthine or tabersonine via two hydrolases characterized herein. The pathways show how plants create chemical diversity and also enable development of heterologous platforms for generation of stemmadenine-derived bioactive compounds.
Related Concept Videos
Biosynthesis in Bacteria
Biosynthesis of Polysaccharides
Biosynthesis of Lipids
Enzymes
Enzyme deficiencies can often translate into life-threatening diseases. For example, a genetic abnormality resulting in the deficiency of the enzyme G6PD...
Antihypertensive Drugs: Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors
Biosynthesis of Nucleic Acids

