Some thiamine diphosphate-dependent enzymes are powerful biocatalysts, forming carbon–carbon bonds between two α-keto acids, but their catalytic properties have been poorly understood. Now the substrate selectivity and catalytic stereoselectivity of two representative enzymes, CsmA and BbmA, have been fully characterized. Enzymatic total synthesis using these enzymes generates diverse carboligation products.
- Tan Liu
- Guiyang Wang
- Ming Ma