Yoko Nakamura

An auxiliary protein tunes reductase activity in alkaloid biosynthesis

The paper identifies an auxiliary protein, FoGS, that enhances the activity of geissoschizine synthase in producing alkaloid intermediates and controls product stereochemistry.

Conserved early steps of stemmadenine biosynthesis

The paper identifies and characterizes stemmadenine acetate pathway genes from Tabernanthe iboga, reconstitutes the biosynthesis in Nicotiana benthamiana, and identifies shunt products affecting pathway flux.

Enzymatic epimerization of monoterpene indole alkaloids in Kratom

This study identifies an oxidase/reductase pair in Kratom that catalyzes the epimerization of 3S to 3R stereocenters in monoterpene indole alkaloids, enabling access to previously inaccessible compounds.

Independent evolution of ipecac alkaloid biosynthesis

This study shows that ipecac alkaloid biosynthesis evolved independently in two plant species using different monoterpene precursors and non-enzymatic reactions.

It runs in the family: Discovery of enzymes in the oleuropein pathway in Olive (Olea europaea) by comparative transcriptomics

This paper identifies enzymes in the oleuropein biosynthesis pathway in olive using comparative transcriptomics and discovers novel genes involved in the pathway.

Streamlined screening platforms lead to the discovery of pachysiphine synthase from Tabernanthe iboga

The paper identifies two CYP450 enzymes in Tabernanthe iboga responsible for oxidative modifications of tabersonine scaffolds using a streamlined screening strategy in Nicotiana benthamiana.

Phenylphenalenones and Linear Diarylheptanoid Derivatives are Biosynthesized via Parallel Routes in Musella lasiocarpa, the Chinese Dwarf Banana

The paper identifies biosynthetic genes and pathways for phenylphenalenones and linear diarylheptanoid derivatives in Musella lasiocarpa using transcriptomics and biochemical assays.