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Updated: Oct 1, 2025
08:56
Transient Expression in Nicotiana Benthamiana Leaves for Triterpene Production at a Preparative Scale
Published on: August 16, 2018
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[Oxidosqualene cyclases in triterpenoids biosynthesis: a review]
Cuiyu Chen1, Yaru Pang1, Quanbing Chen1
1Institute of Biochemical Engineering, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 102488, China.
Summary
Oxidosqualene cyclases (OSCs) are key plant enzymes. This review details OSCs
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Plant Science
- Natural Product Chemistry
Background:
- Triterpenoids are diverse plant metabolites with significant economic value and physiological activities.
- Oxidosqualene cyclases (OSCs) are crucial enzymes responsible for the cyclization of 2,3-oxidosqualene.
- OSCs generate a wide array of sterols and plant triterpenoids, contributing to natural product structural diversity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current research progress on oxidosqualene cyclases.
- To elucidate the unclear mechanisms behind the diversified cyclization of 2,3-oxidosqualene catalyzed by OSCs.
- To provide insights for protein and metabolic engineering of triterpene cyclases.
Main Methods:
- Review of research on catalytic functions of OSCs.
- Analysis of molecular evolutionary relationships between OSC genes and proteins.
- Examination of protein structures, molecular simulations, and molecular calculations related to OSCs.
Main Results:
- Summarized the catalytic functions and structural diversity generated by OSCs.
- Highlighted the importance of understanding gene-protein relationships in OSC evolution.
- Presented findings from structural and computational analyses of OSCs.
Conclusions:
- The mechanism of 2,3-oxidosqualene cyclization by OSCs remains an active area of research.
- A comprehensive understanding of OSCs' catalytic function, evolution, and structure is essential.
- This review serves as a reference for future protein and metabolic engineering efforts targeting triterpene cyclases.
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