Homolog of tocopherol C methyltransferases catalyzes N methylation in anticancer alkaloid biosynthesis.

ABSTRACT: Madagascar periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus) is the sole source of the anticancer drugs vinblastine and vincristine, bisindole alkaloids derived from the dimerization of the terpenoid indole alkaloids vindoline and catharanthine. Full elucidation of the biosynthetic pathways of these compounds is a prerequisite for metabolic engineering efforts that will improve production of these costly molecules. However, despite the medical and commercial importance of these natural products, the biosynthetic pathways remain poorly understood. Here we report the identification and characterization of a C. roseus cDNA encoding an S-adenosyl-L-methionine-dependent N methyltransferase that catalyzes a nitrogen methylation involved in vindoline biosynthesis. Recombinant enzyme produced in Escherichia coli i

SUBMITTER: Liscombe DK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2973921 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature