Analysis of vitamin D receptor binding affinities of enzymatically synthesized triterpenes including ambrein and unnatural onoceroids.

Onoceroids are a rare family of triterpenes. One representative onoceroid is ambrein, which is the main component of ambergris used as a traditional medicine. We have previously identified the onoceroid synthase, BmeTC, in Bacillus megaterium and succeeded in creating ambrein synthase by introducing mutations into BmeTC.