The glucoalkaloid strictosidine has been converted under cell-free conditions into
10-deoxysarpagine (= normacusine B) in the presence of a crude soluble enzyme extract
and microsomal protein isolated from cell suspensions of Rauwolfia serpentina. The enzymatic formation of this alkaloid bearing the C-5/C-16 bond (sarpagan-bridge),
which is characteristic for all sarpagine- and ajmaline-type alkaloids, is dependent
on NADPH and oxygen. Inhibition studies indicate that for the synthesis of 10-deoxysarpagine
a cytochrome P450 dependent monoxygenase is necessary.
Sarpagine-ajmaline alkaloids - enzymatic biosynthesis - sarpagan-bridge - 10-deoxysarpagine
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Rauwolfia serpentina cell cultures
