title: Chemo-enzymatic synthesis of equisetin.
abstract: We here report that the biosynthesis of equisetin, a fungal tetramate natural product with potent anti-infectious activity, relies on Fsa2, a Diels-Alderase that constructs the trans-decalin system of the molecule in a stereo-selective manner. This finding led to the development of a concise chemo-enzymatic route toward the synthesis of equisetin, which involves facile preparation of a linear polyene precursor via 7-steps and Fsa2 activity for equisetin maturation through an intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction, thus exemplifying the significance of the combination of chemical and biological methods to achieve structurally complex cyclic natural products and their derivatives.
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry and Chemical Processes, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, 3663N Zhongshan Road, Shanghai 200062, China. shgao@chem.ecnu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Xiaojun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Qingfei
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: Wen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Shuanhu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gao