Friedelin in plants: metabolism, synthase engineering and production strategies
- 1School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University
- 2State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, Northern Center of China National Rice Research Institute, China National Rice Research Institute
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.
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BibTeX
@article{cui2026friedelin,
title = {{Friedelin in plants: metabolism, synthase engineering and production strategies}},
author = {Qi Cui and Chenglin Shi and Qiannan Li and Junyu Chen and Zheyong Xue and Xiaoxia Shen and Juzhao Liu},
journal = {Frontiers in Plant Science},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.3389/fpls.2026.1890611},
url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2026.1890611/full},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Friedelin in plants: metabolism, synthase engineering and production strategies
AU - Qi Cui
AU - Chenglin Shi
AU - Qiannan Li
AU - Junyu Chen
AU - Zheyong Xue
AU - Xiaoxia Shen
AU - Juzhao Liu
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/02
JO - Frontiers in Plant Science
DO - 10.3389/fpls.2026.1890611
UR - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2026.1890611/full
AB - 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.
SN - 1664-462X
ER -