Ginkgolides biosynthesis

Recently, a key player in the ginkgolide biosynthesis has been isolated and characterized A cDNA that encodes G. biloba levopimaradiene synthase, a diterpene synthase involved in ginkgolide biosynthesis, was isolated and characterized. Similarly, a new geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase gene from G. biloba, was characterized. ... 

Schwarz, M. Arigoni, D. Ginkgolide biosynthesis. In Comprehensive Natural Products Chemistry. Oxford, UK Elsevier, 1999, 367-400. 

Schepmann, H. G. Pang, J. Matsuda, S. P. T. Cloning and characterization of Ginkgo biloba levopimaradiene synthase, which catalyzes the first comitted step in ginkgolide biosynthesis. Arch. Biochem. Biophys., 2001, 392 263-269. 

While Ginkgo biloba achieves total biosynthesis of ginkgolides with great ease, it is only recently that chemical synthesis of these compounds has been accomplished. Initially, only the synthesis of hexahydro-5/f-dicyclopen-ta[6,clfuran-5a(6//)-ol, which represents the main framework of ginkgolides (rings A,B,D), was achieved [185]. Recently, however, using a sophisticated... 

Nakanishi K, Habaguchi K 1971 Biosynthesis of ginkgolide B, its diterpenoid nature, and origin of the tert-butyl group. J Am Chem Soc 93 3546-3547... 

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