2011/04/30 by Gabriele Siedenburg, Dieter Jendrossek · 1 citation
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Chemistry · Medicine · #Antioxidant Activity and Oxidative Stress #Biochemistry #Biology #Chemistry #Cyclase #Enzyme #Hopanoids #Natural product bioactivities and synthesis #Plant biochemistry and biosynthesis #Squalene #Stereochemistry #Triterpene
paper · doi:10.1128/aem.00300-11
openalex publication_date 2011/04/30 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/15
Hopanoids and sterols are members of a large group of cyclic triterpenoic compounds that have important functions in many prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms. They are biochemically synthesized from linear precursors (squalene, 2,3-oxidosqualene) in only one enzymatic step that is catalyzed by squalene-hopene cyclase (SHC) or oxidosqualene cyclase (OSC). SHCs and OSCs are related in amino acid sequences and probably are derived from a common ancestor. The SHC reaction requires the formation of five ring structures, 13 covalent bonds, and nine stereo centers and therefore is one of the most complex one-step enzymatic reactions. We summarize the knowledge of the properties of triterpene cyclases and details of the reaction mechanism of Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius SHC. Properties of other SHCs are included.