Secologanin synthase which catalyzes the oxidative cleavage of loganin into secologanin is a cytochrome P450

Secologanin synthase, an enzyme catalyzing the oxidative cleavage of the cy clopentane ring in loganin to form secologanin, was detected in microsomal preparations from cell suspension cultures of Lonicera japonica. The reacti on required NADPH and molecular oxygen, and was blocked by carbon monoxide as well as by several other cytochrome P450 inhibitors, indicating that the reaction was mediated by cytochrome P450. Of the substrates examined, only specificity for loganin was demonstrated. A possible reaction mechanism is described. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.