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Biosynthesis of lignans

Aryltetralin lignans such as podophyllotoxin and 6-methoxypodophyllotoxin have antiproliferative properties and can be used as precursors for semi-synthetic anti-cancer drugs (e.g. etoposide, teniposide). Plant cell cultures of different species (e.g. Linum spec., Podophyllum spec.) are able to accumulate podophyllotoxin and related lignans and could therefore serve as alternative sources for lignans. In order to know more about lignan biosynthesis and accumulation, important enzymes involved in this biosynthetic pathway, especially O-methyltransferases and cytochrome P450-dependent enzymes, are characterized and the corresponding cDNAs/genes cloned.