Sarpagan-Ajmalan-Type Indoles: Biosynthesis, Structural Biology, and Chemo-Enzymatic Significance.

The biosynthetic pathway of the monoterpenoid indole alkaloid ajmaline in the genus Rauvolfia, in particular Rauvolfia serpentina Benth. ex Kurz, is one of the few pathways that have been comprehensively uncovered. Every step in the progress of plant alkaloid biosynthesis research is due to the endeavors of several generations of scientists and the advancement of technologies.

Using Strictosidine Synthase to Prepare Novel Alkaloids.

The Pictet-Spenglerasestrictosidine synthase (STR) has been characterized as the central enzyme in the biosynthesis of around 2000 monoterpenoid indole alkaloids in plants. In the light of a high therapeutic value and huge scaffold diversity these alkaloids represent, STR as an enzyme has attracted great attentions in recent years, intending to be utilized in the formation of new interesting alkaloids with unusual substitution pattern or even with novel scaffolds. For outlining the application potential that STR possesses, together with insight into the reaction mechanism catalyzed by STR, strategies and methods for exploring the applicability of STR have been updated in this article by taking R.