Abstract
Eyewitnesses are sometimes asked to identify a culprit from a line-up of people associated with a crime scene. An enzyme — iridoid synthase — that catalyses an unusual reaction has been identified by a similar approach. See Letter p.138 This paper reports the identification of iridoid synthase, a key enzyme in the biosynthesis of iridoids, a large family of bicyclic natural products that possess anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antifungal and antibacterial activities. The enzyme produces a bicyclic ring system via a novel NAD(P)H-dependent cascade reaction. Knowledge of its structure and function should contribute towards efforts aimed at modifying and reconstituting iridoid and related pathways in crop plants or microbes for agricultural and pharmaceutical purposes.
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