Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 20, 2025

Biosynthesis of a Flavonol from a Flavanone by Establishing a One-pot Bienzymatic Cascade
Published on: August 14, 2019
Flavoprotein StnP2 Catalyzes the β-Carboline Formation during the Streptonigrin Biosynthesis
Xiaozheng Wang1, Dekun Kong2, Tingting Huang1
1State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Research Laboratory on Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences & Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China.
Abstract:
β-Carboline (βC) alkaloids constitute a large family of indole alkaloids that exhibit diverse pharmacological properties, such as antitumor, antiviral, antiparasitic, and antimicrobial activities. Here, we report that a flavoprotein StnP2 catalyzes the dehydrogenation at C1-N2 of a tetrahydro-β-carboline (THβC) generating a 3,4-dihydro-β-carboline (DHβC), and the DHβC subsequently undergoes a spontaneous dehydrogenation to βC formation involved in the biosynthesis of the antitumor agent streptonigrin. Biochemical characterization showed that StnP2 catalyzed the highly regio- and stereo-selective dehydrogenation, and StnP2 exhibits promiscuity toward different THβCs. This study provides an alternative kind of enzyme catalyzing the biosynthesis of βC alkaloids and enhances the importance of flavoproteins.
Related Concept Videos
Amino Acid Biosynthetic Pathways
Biosynthesis of Nucleic Acids
Biosynthesis in Bacteria
Peptidoglycan Synthesis
Synthesis of α-Substituted Carbonyl Compounds: The Stork Enamine Reaction
Phase II Reactions: Sulfation and Conjugation with α-Amino Acids

