Enzymatic Synthesis of Methylated Terpene Analogues Using the Plasticity of Bacterial Terpene Synthases

Abstract

Methylated analogues of isopentenyl diphosphate were synthesised and enzymatically incorporated into methylated terpenes. A detailed stereochemical analysis of the obtained products is presented. The methylated terpene precursors were also used in conjunction with various isotopic labellings to gain insights into the mechanisms of their enzymatic formation.

Keywords: configuration determination; enzyme catalysis; isotopes; substrate analogues; terpenoids.