Mai-Truc Pham

Recent developments in single-cell -omic and metabolite imaging technologies and the increasing availability of high-quality genome assemblies are having a transformative impact on the way research is carried out into plant specialised metabolism. Integrating these technologies into pathway discovery projects is therefore highly advantageous. Here, we present a general introduction into methods and workflows in specialised metabolism research. We review a range of recent methodologies, highlighting what they might be used for and common pitfalls which may be encountered. Finally, we provide a practical guide on how these technologies may be incorporated into a specialised metabolic pathway discovery pipeline for researchers who are new to the field.

Piperazine-derived diazabicycles are privileged structures found in natural products and synthetic chemical entities, including therapeutic agents. Herein, we deciphered the biosynthesis of two unique classes of diazabicyclic alkaloids, fischerazines A-C. Notably, we characterized a multifunctional P450 monooxygenase NfiC that installs ortho-dihydroxyl groups on the dibenzyl-piperazines, in turn triggering a range of NfiC-catalyzed and spontaneous cyclization events.