Figure 1. Cascade catalysis in biosynthesis.

In nature, transform-specific enzymes in continuous catalytic cascades rapidly produce common biosynthetic intermediates and natural products. Preakuammicine serves as a biosynthetic precursor to a range of structurally diverse members of the Strychnos, Aspidosperma and Kopsia alkaloid families, including strychnine and vincadifformine. Et, ethyl; Gluc, glucose; Me, methyl.