Biosynthesis of cyclopropane in natural products

This review discusses the diverse enzymatic pathways in the biosynthesis of cyclopropane, a unique structural motif with important biochemical properties.

Biosynthesis of fungal polyketides by collaborating and trans-acting enzymes

Investigations into fungal polyketide biosynthesis have revealed many examples of megasynthases and trans-acting accessory enzymes. This review collates the different classes of collaborating enzymes, demonstrating common themes and rarer examples.

Challenges and opportunities for cheat therapy in the control of bacterial infections

Bacterial pathogens can be highly social, communicating and cooperating within multi-cellular groups to make us sick. Manipulating these behaviors might have therapeutic benefits.

Natural withanolides, an update

This review summarizes the research progress on the structural classification, biological activities and mechanisms, metabolism and pharmacokinetic investigations, biosynthesis, and synthesis and structural modifications of the withanolides.

Hot off the press

A personal selection of 32 recent papers is presented covering various aspects of current developments in bioorganic chemistry and novel natural products such as asporychalasin from Aspergillus oryzae.

Anthracyclines: biosynthesis, engineering and clinical applications

Anthracyclines are important anticancer drugs. We discuss recent insights into the biosynthetic pathways and bioactivities of anthracyclines, and evaluate the discovery and engineering of effective derivatives with less severe side effects.

Synthesis of rearranged indole diterpenes of the paxilline type

Paxilline indole diterpenes have fascinated chemists for the past several decades. This review highlights the diversity of strategies and tactics that have been employed in the corresponding area of organic synthesis, from inception to the present.

From solo to duet, intersections of natural product assembly with self-resistance

It has become a ‘received wisdom’ that there are universal links between natural product (NP) self-resistance and biosynthesis, which needs interpretation. This review highlights evidence of intersection between NP self-resistance and biosynthesis.

Harnessing intercellular signals to engineer the soil microbiome

This review covers intercellular signalling in the soil microbiome and its importance in regulating key beneficial functions. We consider the possibilities for how we can engineer soil microbiome signalling to unlock tangible benefits to crops.

Semi-synthesis as a tool for broadening the health applications of bioactive olive secoiridoids: a critical review

Semi-synthesis is an effective strategy to obtain both natural and synthetic analogues of the olive secoiridoids, starting from easy accessible natural compounds.