Convergence in the biosynthesis of acetogenic natural products from plants, fungi, and bacteria

The biosynthesis of chrysophanol and the naphthylisoquinoline alkaloids were investigated. These polyketidic compounds are produced convergently in a organism-specific manner. In prokaryotes, chrysophanol is formed via folding mode S or S′ and in eukaryotes via mode F. Furthermore, the naphthylisoquinoline alkaloids are the only tetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloids not derived from amino acids.