Acetylajmaline esterase explained

Acetylajmaline esterase
Ec Number:	3.1.1.80
Cas Number:	110183-46-5

The enzyme acetylajmaline esterase (EC 3.1.1.80, AAE, 2β(R)-17-O-acetylajmalan:acetylesterase, acetylajmalan esterase; systematic name 17-O-acetylajmaline O-acetylhydrolase)^{[1] [2]} catalyses the following reactions:

(1) 17-O-acetylajmaline + H₂O

\rightleftharpoons ajmaline + acetate

(2) 17-O-acetylnorajmaline + H₂O

\rightleftharpoons norajmaline + acetate

This plant enzyme mediates the last stages in the biosynthesis of the indole alkaloid ajmaline.

Notes and References

1. Polz L, Schübel H, Stöckigt J . Characterization of 2β(R)-17-O-acetylajmalan: acetylesterase--a specific enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of the Rauwolfia alkaloid ajmaline . Zeitschrift für Naturforschung C . 42 . 4 . 333–42 . April 1987 . 2955586 .
2. Ruppert M, Woll J, Giritch A, Genady E, Ma X, Stöckigt J . Functional expression of an ajmaline pathway-specific esterase from Rauvolfia in a novel plant-virus expression system . Planta . 222 . 5 . 888–98 . November 2005 . 16133216 . 10.1007/s00425-005-0031-0 .