Cytochrome P450 and -methyltransferase catalyze the final steps in the biosynthesis of the anti-addictive alkaloid ibogaine from .

Monoterpenoid indole alkaloids are a large (∼3000 members) and structurally diverse class of metabolites restricted to a limited number of plant families in the order Gentianales. or iboga (Apocynaceae) is native to western equatorial Africa and has been used in traditional medicine for centuries. Howard Lotsof is credited with bringing iboga to the attention of Western medicine through his accidental discovery that iboga can alleviate opioid withdrawal symptoms.

Missing enzymes in the biosynthesis of the anticancer drug vinblastine in Madagascar periwinkle.

Vinblastine, a potent anticancer drug, is produced by (Madagascar periwinkle) in small quantities, and heterologous reconstitution of vinblastine biosynthesis could provide an additional source of this drug. However, the chemistry underlying vinblastine synthesis makes identification of the biosynthetic genes challenging. Here we identify the two missing enzymes necessary for vinblastine biosynthesis in this plant: an oxidase and a reductase that isomerize stemmadenine acetate into dihydroprecondylocarpine acetate, which is then deacetoxylated and cyclized to either catharanthine or tabersonine via two hydrolases characterized herein.