Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 31, 2026

A Customizable Approach for the Enzymatic Production and Purification of Diterpenoid Natural Products
Published on: October 4, 2019
Diterpene Synthases as Gatekeepers of Bioactive Diterpenoids: A Resource for Discovery and Engineering toward
Lei Zhang1,2,3,4, Shengli Wang1,2,3,4, Qiannan Hao1,2,3,4
1State Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China.
Abstract:
Diterpenoids represent a large and structurally diverse class of natural products, some of which are widely used in the medicine, agriculture, cosmetics, and food industries. However, the application of most diterpenoids faces challenges, such as complex sources, low yields, and insufficient purity. Using synthetic biology and metabolic engineering to construct microbial cell factories for diterpenoid production is an emerging strategy that overcomes the limitations of plant extraction and chemical synthesis. Diterpene synthases (diTPSs) serve as gatekeepers and rate-limiting enzymes in diterpenoid biosynthesis, representing a key bottleneck for large-scale production. In this Review, we summarize the biological activities and practical applications of representative diterpenoids according to their chemical structures. Then, we compile 562 functionally characterized diTPSs from previous studies to establish a comprehensive functional database. Through integrated bioinformatic analyses, we elucidate the catalytic mechanisms, product diversity, and phylogenetic distribution of the different functional diTPS classes. Finally, we discuss future directions for the development of diTPSs as core functional elements in synthetic biology, providing a foundation for ongoing research in this field.
Related Concept Videos
Diels–Alder Reaction Forming Cyclic Products: Stereochemistry
Diels–Alder Reaction: Characteristics of Dienes
Characteristics of the diene
Conformation
The simplest example of a diene is 1,3-butadiene, an acyclic conjugated π system. At room temperature, the molecule exists as a mixture of s-cis and s-trans conformers by virtue of rotation around the carbon–carbon single bond. Although the s-trans isomer is more stable, the...
Amino Acid Biosynthetic Pathways
Diels–Alder Reaction Forming Bridged Bicyclic Products: Stereochemistry
Diels–Alder Reaction: Characteristics of Dienophiles
Characteristics of Dienophiles
Generally, the best dienophiles are alkenes containing electron-withdrawing substituents such as carbonyl, nitrile, and nitro groups. The feasibility of a Diels–Alder reaction depends on...
[4+2] Cycloaddition of Conjugated Dienes: Diels–Alder Reaction

