Chemical mechanisms involved during the biosynthesis of tropolones

- Tropolones are bioactive natural products produced by plants, fungi and bacteria.
- Tropolones are biosynthesised by ring expansion of alkylated aromatic rings.
- Tropolones are derived v*ia polyketide, alkaloid, terpene and shikimate pathways.
- Tropolone biosynthesis in fungi is understood at a molecular level, but their biosynthesis in plants and bacteria is only understood v*ia labelling studies.
- Significant opportunity exists for more detailed studies of plant and bacterial tropolone biosynthesis and for metabolic engineering in fungi.