Mining methods and typical structural mechanisms of terpene cyclases

Abstract Terpenoids, formed by cyclization and/or permutation of isoprenes, are the most diverse and abundant class natural products with a broad range significant functions. One family critical enzymes involved in terpenoid biosynthesis is terpene cyclases (TCs), also known as synthases (TSs), which responsible for forming ring structure backbone functionally terpenoids. With recent advances biotechnology, researches on have gradually shifted from genomic mining novel enzyme resources to analysis their structures mechanisms. In this review, we summarize both new methods structural mechanisms some typical cyclases, helpful discovery, engineering application more TCs.