Reaction: acetyl-CoA + 16-epivellosimine = CoA + vinorine
For diagram click here.
Systematic name: acyl-CoA:16-epivellosimine O-acetyltransferase (cyclizing)
Comments: The reaction proceeds in two stages. The indole nitrogen of 16-epivellosimine interacts with its aldehyde group giving an hydroxy-substituted new ring. This alcohol is then acetylated. Also acts on gardneral (11-methoxy-16-epivellosimine). Generates the ajmalan skeleton, which forms part of the route to ajmaline.
Links to other databases: BRENDA, EXPASY, KEGG, Metacyc, PDB, CAS registry number: 88844-97-7
References:
1. Pfitzner, A., Polz, L. and Stöckligt, J. Properties of vinorine synthase the Rauwolfia enzyme involved in the formation of the ajmaline skeleton. Z. Naturforsch. C: Biosci. 41 (1986) 103-114.
2. Bayer, A., Ma, X. and Stöckigt, J. Acetyltransfer in natural product biosynthesis—functional cloning and molecular analysis of vinorine synthase. Bioorg. Med. Chem. 12 (2004) 2787-2795. [PMID: 15110860]
3. Ma, X., Koepke, J., Bayer, A., Linhard, V., Fritzsch, G., Zhang, B., Michel, H. and Stöckigt, J. Vinorine synthase from Rauvolfia: the first example of crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction analysis of an enzyme of the BAHD superfamily. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1701 (2004) 129-132. [PMID: 15450182]
4. Ma, X., Koepke, J., Panjikar, S., Fritzsch, G. and Stöckigt, J. Crystal structure of vinorine synthase, the first representative of the BAHD superfamily. J. Biol. Chem. 280 (2005) 13576-13583. [PMID: 15665331]