BIOMIMETIC ONE-POT SYNTHESIS OF VINBLASTINE - NAD(P)H-MEDIATED VINBLASTINE SYNTHESIS FROM THE PRODUCT OF FMN-MEDIATED VINDOLINE-CATHARANTHINE COUPLING UNDER NEAR-ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT

Vinblastine (VLB) is an antineoplastic agent contained in leaves of Ca tharanthus roseus. One-pot synthesis of VLB from vindoline and cathara nthine, biosynthetic precursors in the plant, was achieved under biomi metic conditions. FMN-mediated coupling of vindoline and catharanthine under irradiation with near-ultraviolet light was followed by NAD(P)H -mediated direct conversion of the coupling product to VLB in the dark . The yield of VLB was governed by the level of NAD(P)H added, and the highest yield was obtained by incubation with 10 mM NAD(P)H for 5 h. It is postulated, as one concept of VLB biosynthesis, that similar non -enzymic VLB synthesis may occur in the plant leaves.