title: The Amaryllidaceae alkaloids: biosynthesis and methods for enzyme discovery.
abstract: Amaryllidaceae alkaloids are an example of the vast diversity of secondary metabolites with great therapeutic promise. The identification of novel compounds in this group with over 300 known structures continues to be an area of active study. The recent identification of norbelladine 4'-O-methyltransferase (N4OMT), an Amaryllidaceae alkaloid biosynthetic enzyme, and the assembly of transcriptomes forNarcissussp.aff. pseudonarcissusandLycoris aureahighlight the potential for discovery of Amaryllidaceae alkaloid biosynthetic genes with new technologies. Recent technical advances of interest include those in enzymology, next generation sequencing, genetic modification, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), and mass spectrometry (MS).
authors.affiliation: Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, 63132 St. Louis, Missouri, 975 N. Warson Rd., St. Louis, MO.
authors.forename: Matthew B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Kilgore
authors.affiliation: Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, 63132 St. Louis, Missouri, 975 N. Warson Rd., St. Louis, MO.
authors.forename: Toni M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Kutchan
keywords: Galanthamine; haemanthamine; mass spectrometry; next generation sequencing; nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy