title: Enzymatic catalysis of the Diels-Alder reaction in the biosynthesis of natural products.
abstract: Recent studies on enzymes catalyzing the Diels- Alder reaction. often named "Diels-Alderases", clearlydemonstrated the involvement of this synthetically useful reaction in the biosynthesis of natural products.This review covers natural Diels-Alder type cycloadducts. synthetic efforts on the chemical feasibility ofthe biosynthctic Diels - Alder reaction and a brief history of studies on Diels-Alderases. In addition,reaction mechanisms of artificial and natural Diels--Alderases are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Division of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Hokkaido University, Kita-ku Kita 10 Jo Nishi 8 Chome, Sapporo 060-0810, Japan.
authors.forename: Hideaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Oikawa
authors.forename: Tetsuo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tokiwano
mesh_terms: D000470:Alkaloids / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D001688:Biological Products / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D002384:Catalysis; D003500:Cyclization; D018942:Macrolides / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D015394:Molecular Structure; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D013729:Terpenes / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D001688:Biological Products; D018942:Macrolides; D013729:Terpenes