Post-modification Enzymes Involved in the Biosynthesis of Plant Terpenoids

Abstract

Terpenoids are called terpenome for their structural diversities. Besides their important roles in plant growth, development and environmental responses, terpenoids have been widely used in medicine and organic chemicals. The biosynthesis of terpenoids in plants can be conceptually divided into three discrete processes: the formation of terpene precursors, the construction of terpene skeletons, followed by the complex post-modifications. After the skeleton construction by terpene synthases (TPS), diverse reactions catalyzed by the responsible post-modification enzymes result in tens of thousands of terpenoids. In this paper, with our preliminary studies on the biosynthesis of Isodon diterpenes, a number of representative post-modification enzymes of plant terpenoids formation reported in recent years are reviewed, which include P450 monooxidases, double-bond reductases, acyltransferases and glycosyltransferases.