{
  "abstract": "Friedelin (FD) is a pentacyclic triterpenoid with significant pharmacological potential and serves as the biosynthetic precursor to the anti-obesity drug celastrol. Despite its value, FD availability is limited by low natural abundance and the stereochemical complexity of chemical synthesis. This article critically reviews the state-of-the-art in FD research, spanning natural distribution, extraction methodologies, and the molecular basis of its biosynthesis. The structural evolution of friedelin synthases (FDSs), contrasting the mechanisms of multifunctional versus single-function enzymes, was analyzed. Furthermore, a comprehensive roadmap for sustainable production, integrating “Push-Block-Regulate-Store” metabolic engineering strategies with novel insights into transcriptional regulation, was provided. It is proposed that the convergence of AI-driven enzyme design, transporter engineering, and CRISPR-based precision breeding will overcome current yield bottlenecks, enabling the industrial-scale biomanufacturing of FD and its derivatives.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University",
    "State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, Northern Center of China National Rice Research Institute, China National Rice Research Institute"
  ],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 7,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Qi Cui"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Chenglin Shi"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Qiannan Li"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Junyu Chen"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Zheyong Xue"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Xiaoxia Shen"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Juzhao Liu"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/6qjgv2wa4azsj.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.3389/fpls.2026.1890611",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "6qjgv2wa4azsj",
  "issns": [
    "1664-462X"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2026.1890611/full",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [],
  "openalex": null,
  "pdf_url": null,
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-11-02",
  "publisher": "Frontiers Media SA",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/6qjgv2wa4azsj.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-03T00:24:40Z",
      "native_id": "10.3389/fpls.2026.1890611",
      "source": "crossref",
      "url": "https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2026.1890611/full"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "issn:1664-462X",
      "subfield": "plant-biology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Friedelin in plants: metabolism, synthase engineering and production strategies",
  "title_text": "Friedelin in plants: metabolism, synthase engineering and production strategies",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-04T00:25:40Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/6qjgv2wa4azsj",
  "venue": "Frontiers in Plant Science",
  "versions": []
}