Expanding the structural diversity of terpenes by synthetic biology approaches

Rong Chen*, Ming Wang, Jay D. Keasling, Tianyuan Hu, Xiaopu Yin*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReviewpeer-review

Abstract

Terpenoids display chemical and structural diversities as well as important biological activities. Despite their extreme variability, the range of these structures is limited by the scope of natural products that canonically derive from interconvertible five-carbon (C5) isoprene units. New approaches have recently been developed to expand their structural diversity. This review systematically explores the combinatorial biosynthesis of noncanonical building blocks via the coexpression of the canonical mevalonate (MVA) pathway and C-methyltransferases (C-MTs), or by using the lepidopteran mevalonate (LMVA) pathway. Unnatural terpenoids can be created from farnesyl diphosphate (FPP) analogs by chemobiological synthesis and terpene cyclopropanation by artificial metalloenzymes (ArMs). Advanced technologies to accelerate terpene biosynthesis are discussed. This review provides a valuable reference for increasing the diversity of valuable terpenoids and their derivatives, as well as for expanding their potential applications.

Original languageEnglish
JournalTrends in Biotechnology
Volume42
Issue number6
Pages (from-to)699-713
ISSN0167-7799
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2024

Keywords

  • Artificial metalloenzyme
  • C-methyltransferase
  • Noncanonical terpene
  • Synthetic biology

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