6β-Hydroxyhyoscyamine epoxidase
6β-Hydroxyhyoscyamine epoxidase is an enzyme that plays a crucial role in the biosynthesis of tropane alkaloids, a class of alkaloids that includes important compounds such as hyoscyamine and scopolamine. These alkaloids are primarily found in plants of the Solanaceae family, which includes species like Atropa belladonna, Datura stramonium, and Hyoscyamus niger.
Function[edit | edit source]
6β-Hydroxyhyoscyamine epoxidase catalyzes the conversion of 6β-hydroxyhyoscyamine to scopolamine through an epoxidation reaction. This reaction is a key step in the biosynthetic pathway of scopolamine, an alkaloid with significant pharmacological properties, including anticholinergic and sedative effects.
Mechanism[edit | edit source]
The enzyme utilizes molecular oxygen (O2) and requires cofactors such as NADPH and FAD for its activity. The reaction mechanism involves the formation of an epoxide intermediate, which is then converted to scopolamine.
Biological Significance[edit | edit source]
Scopolamine, the product of the reaction catalyzed by 6β-Hydroxyhyoscyamine epoxidase, is used in medicine for its anticholinergic properties. It is commonly used to treat motion sickness, postoperative nausea, and to induce sedation. The enzyme's role in the biosynthesis of scopolamine makes it a target for metabolic engineering to enhance the production of this valuable compound in medicinal plants.
Related Enzymes[edit | edit source]
6β-Hydroxyhyoscyamine epoxidase is part of a larger family of enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of tropane alkaloids. Other related enzymes include:
Research and Applications[edit | edit source]
Research on 6β-Hydroxyhyoscyamine epoxidase focuses on understanding its structure, function, and potential applications in biotechnology. By manipulating the expression of this enzyme in plants, scientists aim to increase the yield of scopolamine and other tropane alkaloids for pharmaceutical use.
See Also[edit | edit source]
- Tropane alkaloid
- Hyoscyamine
- Scopolamine
- Solanaceae
- Atropa belladonna
- Datura stramonium
- Hyoscyamus niger
References[edit | edit source]
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
