Fig. 1: The complete biosynthetic pathway to the ergopeptides.

Beginning with tryptophan through the key intermediate and the focus of this work, DLA. Alternative branches of the ergot pathway are indicated by the faded regions. Colored arrows indicate the stages of the pathway. Green: early pathway common to all ergot producing species, leading to the first major branch point of the pathway at chanoclavine-I-aldehyde. The early pathway consists of four steps, requiring five enzymes (DmaW, EasF, EasC, EasE, and EasD). Blue: middle and late pathway accounting for the diversification of ergoline products found in the various lineages of ergot producing species. This stage of the pathway consists of two steps, requiring at least three enzymes (EasA, EasG, and CloA). Orange: Alternative branches of the pathway that lead to other ergoline derivatives.