The application of enzyme resources in the synthesis of natural products

Jin Wang, Haoran Dong, Xiaoguang Lei

SCIENTIA SINICA Chimica, 2025, 55(5): 1196-1202.

With the continuous elucidation of biosynthetic enzymes for natural products, the application of enzymes asunique biological resources in the total synthesis of natural products has become increasingly widespread, driving thechemoenzymatic strategy to emerge as a research hotspot in this field. The use of enzymes not only enhances theprecision and efficiency of natural product synthesis but also expands the boundaries of traditional chemical synthesis,promoting the in-depth development and utilization of natural product resources. Based on the research practices of ourgroup and representative work from other domestic groups over the past three years, this article systematicallysummarizes the three major application dimensions of enzyme-catalyzed reactions in natural product synthesis:providing new synthetic starting points, driving the construction of complex scaffolds, and facilitating precise late-stagemodifications. This provides a reference for the further application of enzyme resources in natural product synthesis.