Identification and Characterization of Two Se6OMTs from Stephania Epigaea Offer Novel Insights into the Biosynthetic Pathway of Cepharanthine
February 2025
in “
Metabolites
”
TLDR The research found enzymes in Stephania epigaea that help make cepharanthine.
This study explores the biosynthetic pathway of cepharanthine in the plant Stephania epigaea by identifying and characterizing two O-methyltransferases, Se6OMT1 and Se6OMT3. These enzymes are crucial for the methylation process in the production of bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids, including cepharanthine. Se6OMT1 shows substrate specificity, while Se6OMT3 exhibits broader substrate promiscuity, efficiently catalyzing methylation at multiple positions on various substrates. The findings provide insights into the enzymatic functions and potential substrates of Se6OMTs, contributing to a better understanding of alkaloid biosynthesis and laying the groundwork for potential metabolic engineering and synthetic biology applications to enhance cepharanthine production.