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Updated: Aug 7, 2026
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A Customizable Approach for the Enzymatic Production and Purification of Diterpenoid Natural Products
Published on: October 4, 2019
Transaminases engineering and their cascade systems for natural product synthesis
Yi-Xin Li1,2,3, Chao Lin1,2,3, Zi-Yu Guan1,2,3
1State Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Synthesis and Conversion, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310014, P.R. China.
Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology
|August 5, 2026
Summary
Transaminases (TAs) are green chemistry tools for synthesizing chiral amines. This review highlights their use in complex natural product synthesis via multi-enzyme cascades, offering a framework for sustainable strategies.
Area of Science:
- Biocatalysis and Green Chemistry
- Enzymology
- Organic Synthesis
Background:
- Transaminases (TAs) are versatile enzymes for stereoselective amination under mild conditions.
- Existing reviews primarily focus on chiral amine synthesis, neglecting complex natural product applications.
- This review addresses the gap by focusing on TA applications in natural product synthesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review transaminase characteristics, mechanisms, cofactor roles, and enzymatic properties.
- To discuss advances in protein engineering and multi-enzyme cascade systems.
- To highlight transaminase-mediated cascade systems in natural product synthesis.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature review of transaminase research.
- Analysis of catalytic mechanisms, cofactor dynamics, and enzymatic properties.
- Examination of protein engineering strategies and multi-enzyme cascade design.
Main Results:
- Detailed discussion of transaminase types, mechanisms, and properties.
- Overview of protein engineering and multi-enzyme cascade advancements.
- Exemplification of transaminase-mediated cascades in natural product synthesis.
Conclusions:
- Transaminases are powerful tools for green synthesis of chiral amines and complex molecules.
- Multi-enzyme cascade systems featuring transaminases offer efficient routes to natural products.
- This review provides a framework for developing sustainable synthetic strategies using transaminases.
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