Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
Journal | NATURAL PRODUCT REPORTS |
---|---|
Date | Accepted/In press - 21 Jul 2020 |
Date | Published (current) - 3 Aug 2021 |
Issue number | 1 |
Volume | 38 |
Number of pages | 27 |
Pages (from-to) | 103-129 |
Original language | English |
Alkaloids from plants are characterised by structural diversity and bioactivity, and maintain a privileged position in both modern and traditional medicines. In recent years, there have been significant advances in elucidating the biosynthetic origins of plant alkaloids. In this review, I will describe the progress made in determining the metabolic origins of the so-called true alkaloids, specialised metabolites derived from amino acids containing a nitrogen heterocycle. By identifying key biosynthetic steps that feature in the majority of pathways, I highlight the key roles played by modifications to primary metabolism, iminium reactivity and spontaneous reactions in the molecular and evolutionary origins of these pathways.
Funding Information:
The author acknowledges support from a UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship (MR/S01862X/1).
Publisher Copyright:
© The Royal Society of Chemistry.
Copyright:
Copyright 2021 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
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