Themed collection Fungal Natural Products
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Editorial: Fungal natural products themed issue
Nat. Prod. Rep., 2014,31, 1241-1241
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4NP90033B
Aflatoxin and deconstruction of type I, iterative polyketide synthase function
In this viewpoint highlights are drawn from a deep analysis of the multifaceted problem of aflatoxin biosynthesis, one of the most highly rearranged polyketide natural products known.
Nat. Prod. Rep., 2014,31, 1260-1265
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4NP00092G
Explorations of fungal biosynthesis of reduced polyketides – a personal viewpoint
This viewpoint on biosynthesis of reduced polyketides in fungi traces evolution of the research area over more than 4 decades.
Nat. Prod. Rep., 2014,31, 1253-1259
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4NP00091A
Fungal polyketide biosynthesis – a personal perspective
A personal summary of 40 years research in fungal polyketide biosynthesis is presented and developments in the field in the authors and other laboratories over that period are highlighted.
Nat. Prod. Rep., 2014,31, 1247-1252
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4NP00065J
Fungal type III polyketide synthases
This article covers the recent literature on fungal type III polyketide synthases (PKSs).
Nat. Prod. Rep., 2014,31, 1306-1317
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4NP00096J
Biosynthesis of the ergot alkaloids
An update on new developments in the field of ergot alkaloid biosynthesis since 2011 is highlighted.
Nat. Prod. Rep., 2014,31, 1328-1338
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4NP00062E
Discovering the secondary metabolite potential encoded within entomopathogenic fungi
This highlight discusses the secondary metabolite potential of the insect pathogens Metarhizium and Beauveria, including a bioinformatics analysis of secondary metabolite genes for which no products are yet identified. (Top picture is a mole cricket infected with Beauveria bassiana and the bottom picture is a wasp infected with Beauveria bassiana.)
Nat. Prod. Rep., 2014,31, 1287-1305
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4NP00054D
Spatial and temporal control of fungal natural product synthesis
This highlight summarizes some major breakthroughs in understanding the genes and regulation of fungal natural product synthesis and introduces the current state of knowledge on the spatial and temporal control of their biosynthetic machineries.
Nat. Prod. Rep., 2014,31, 1277-1286
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4NP00083H
Reconstructing fungal natural product biosynthetic pathways
Molecular biology plays a vital role in contemporary natural product research. Responding to developments in whole genome sequencing, heterologous expression systems are being refined to accommodate whole fungal biosynthetic pathways.
Nat. Prod. Rep., 2014,31, 1339-1347
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4NP00084F
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Fungal siderophore metabolism with a focus on Aspergillus fumigatus
This Highlight provides an overview of fungal siderophore metabolism and its role in physiology, cellular differentiation, interaction with other organisms, as well as potential clinical applications.
Nat. Prod. Rep., 2014,31, 1266-1276
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4NP00071D
Biosynthesis of fungal indole alkaloids
This review provides a summary of recent research advances in elucidating the biosynthesis of fungal indole alkaloids.
Nat. Prod. Rep., 2014,31, 1474-1487
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4NP00073K
Traversing the fungal terpenome
Fungi are prolific producers of a vast array of structurally diverse terpenoid natural products. Classes of terpenoids identified from Ascomycota and Basidiomycota include the sesquiterpenoids, the diterpenoids and the triterpenoids. This review will provide an overview of their known diversity and biosynthesis with a special emphasis on genomic resources available for pathway discovery.
Nat. Prod. Rep., 2014,31, 1449-1473
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4NP00075G
New insights into the echinocandins and other fungal non-ribosomal peptides and peptaibiotics
Non-ribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs) are a primary modality for fungal peptidic natural product assembly and are responsible for some of the best known, most useful, and most destructive fungal metabolites.
Nat. Prod. Rep., 2014,31, 1348-1375
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4NP00046C
Fungal natural products in research and development
This review focuses on new fungal natural products published from 2009 to 2013 highlighting the originality of the structures and their biological potential. Additionally progress in the use or the biological activity of known compounds or new derivatives is emphasized.
Nat. Prod. Rep., 2014,31, 1425-1448
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4NP00060A
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Oxidative rearrangements during fungal biosynthesis
Oxidative rearrangements are key reactions during the biosyntheses of many secondary metabolites in fungi.
Nat. Prod. Rep., 2014,31, 1405-1424
https://doi.org/10.1039/C4NP00059E
Epidithiodioxopiperazines. occurrence, synthesis and biogenesis
Nearly twenty distinct families of epidithiodioxopiperazine alkaloids have been isolated and characterized since the seminal discovery of gliotoxin in 1936. Herein, we discuss the occurrence, synthesis and biogenesis of these unusual fungal natural products.
Nat. Prod. Rep., 2014,31, 1376-1404
https://doi.org/10.1039/C3NP70097F
Fungal metabolites with anticancer activity
The review discusses the reported sources, structures and biochemical studies aimed at the exploitation of the anticancer potential associated with fungal secondary metabolites.
Nat. Prod. Rep., 2014,31, 617-627
https://doi.org/10.1039/C3NP70078J
Methods of discovery and techniques to study endophytic fungi producing fuel-related hydrocarbons
Some endophytic fungi are capable of making a plethora of hydrocarbons having fuel potential. One of the major fuel-like products, among others, is cineole as produced by Nodulisporium spp. Methods for measuring hydrocarbon production by microorganisms are summarized as well as information on the products, genomes, and potential importance of these organisms as fuel producers.
Nat. Prod. Rep., 2014,31, 259-272
https://doi.org/10.1039/C3NP70129H
About this collection
Natural Product Reports is delighted to present a themed collection dedicated to Fungal Natural Products. Guest-edited by Professors Sheryl Tsai (UC Irvine) and Greg Challis (University of Warwick), the collection features contributions from leaders in the field and highlights the emerging impact of fungal biology on natural product chemistry.
This collection is also dedicated to three colleagues who have made seminal contribution to the fungal natural product research: Prof. Thomas Simpson, Craig Townsend, and John Vederas. The recent advancement in fungal biology related to natural product biosynthesis, enzymology and biochemistry has bridged a key knowledge gap, especially in elucidating how fungi creates such a huge diverse array of natural products.
We hope you enjoy this selection!