# Alkaloid Biosynthetic Studies

> **NIH NIH R01** · BOSTON UNIVERSITY (CHARLES RIVER CAMPUS) · 2021 · $313,500

## Abstract

Project Summary / Abstract
 Alkaloid biosynthetic studies
 C-H activation is one of the key strategies to introduce structural and functional diversities into natural
products in both chemical synthesis and biosynthesis. Non-heme iron enzymes are one of the key classes of
C-H activating enzymes. In this work, we will conduct mechanistic studies of several non-hydroxylation
reactions catalyzed by non-heme iron enzymes, including endoperoxidation, epoxidation, dehydrogenation,
and oxidative C-S bond formation. These functional groups are key to the biological activities of many natural
products.
 In Aim 1, we focus on the distal type of -ketoglutarate dependent non-heme iron enzymes because this is
a relatively unexplored class of enzymes. There are two mechanistic models in explaining the activities of
these enzymes and we will examine them using carefully selected enzymes (FtmOx1, CnsJ, and PhyH)
because these enzymes all have two completely different activities. In Aim 2, we will conduct mechanistic
studies on non-heme iron enzymes in ergothioneine and ovothiol biosynthesis. There are two mechanistic
models proposed based on theoretical calculations. In this aim, using unnatural amino acid containing
enzymes, we will differentiate between the two models.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10298407
- **Project number:** 1R01GM140040-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** BOSTON UNIVERSITY (CHARLES RIVER CAMPUS)
- **Principal Investigator:** Pinghua Liu
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $313,500
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-08-01 → 2025-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10298407

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10298407, Alkaloid Biosynthetic Studies (1R01GM140040-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10298407. Licensed CC0.

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