Project Details

Terpenoids comprise the largest, most structurally diverse family of natural products with over 80,000 known members.1 Yet, only a fraction have been isolated from bacteria; despite many bacterial terpenoids possessing important biological activities ranging from antibacterial, anticancer, and immunosuppressive.

TS is a continuous lifelong neurodevelopmental condition that is characterized by abrupt involuntary movements called "tics".

For example, the understudied UbiA superfamily is known for products like cyathin Q, which has been reported to be a potent anticancer agent.

This study screens predicted UbiA Terpene Synthase (TS) genes in an engineered terpene precursor overproduction system to identify novel terpene scaffolds. The findings expand terpenoid diversity, provide insights into UbiA TS enzymes, and have implications for drug development and industrial applications