Biosynthetic origin of the 2,2-dimethylchromen ring: formation of deguelin by a cyclase enzyme from Tephrosia vogellii

Abstract

An enzyme from Tephrosia vogellii which converts rot-2′-enonic acid into the 6′,6′-dimethylchromen deguelin has been isolated and purified; the 5′-hydroxy-6′,6′-dimethyl compound is not an intermediate, nor has an intermediate been observed.