C1 Refereed scientific book
Anthracycline biosynthesis: Genes, enzymes and mechanisms
Authors: Metsa-Ketela M, Niemi J, Mantsala P, Schneider G
Publication year: 2008
Journal:Topics in Current Chemistry
Journal name in sourceANTHRACYCLINE CHEMISTRY AND BIOLOGY I: BIOLOGICAL OCCURENCE AND BIOSYNTHESIS, SYNTHESIS AND CHEMISTRY
Journal acronym: TOP CURR CHEM
Volume: 282
First page : 101
Last page: 140
Number of pages: 40
ISBN: 978-3-540-75814-3
ISSN: 0340-1022
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/128_2007_14
 Abstract 
Anthracyclines are an important family of tetracyclic aromatic polyketides produced via a type II iterative polyketide synthase pathway. The polyaromatic aglycones are modified by a variety of tailoring enzymes, including glycosylation with deoxy- and amino deoxysugars. Several of these compounds are presently in clinical use as anticancer drugs. During the last few years important advances in the molecular genetics, structural biology and enzymology of the biosynthetic pathways of anthracyclines have been made. Insights into the mechanistic features of the enzymes involved are expected to have implications for the production of novel compounds with improved therapeutic profiles by combinatorial biosynthesis.
Anthracyclines are an important family of tetracyclic aromatic polyketides produced via a type II iterative polyketide synthase pathway. The polyaromatic aglycones are modified by a variety of tailoring enzymes, including glycosylation with deoxy- and amino deoxysugars. Several of these compounds are presently in clinical use as anticancer drugs. During the last few years important advances in the molecular genetics, structural biology and enzymology of the biosynthetic pathways of anthracyclines have been made. Insights into the mechanistic features of the enzymes involved are expected to have implications for the production of novel compounds with improved therapeutic profiles by combinatorial biosynthesis.
