Biosynthesis of Vinblastine

Metabolite and Molecular Characterization of Mitragyna speciosa Identifies Developmental and Genotypic Effects on Monoterpene Indole and Oxindole Alkaloid Composition

“…17 One of the best-characterized MIAproducing species is Catharanthus roseus, mainly due to its production of the bisindole alkaloids vincristine and vinblastine, both of which are currently in use as chemotherapeutic drugs. 19,20 M. speciosa is a tetraploid species (2n = 4x = 44) with a genome size of ∼1.45−1.56 Gb. 21,22 Comparative genomics investigating eight MIA-producing species, including M. speciosa, suggests that genomic loci involved in the MIA pathway are conserved.…”

“…The range of chemical diversity in MIAs primarily originates from the central intermediate and common precursor strictosidine, formed by the condensation of the indoleamine tryptamine and the iridoid monoterpene secologanin catalyzed by strictosidine synthase (STR; EC: 4.3.3.2 ; Scheme ). One of the best-characterized MIA-producing species is Catharanthus roseus , mainly due to its production of the bisindole alkaloids vincristine and vinblastine, both of which are currently in use as chemotherapeutic drugs. , …”