Maoecrystal B

Phytochemistry. 2012 Apr;76:32-9.

IeCPS2 is potentially involved in the biosynthesis of pharmacologically active Isodon diterpenoids rather than gibberellin.[Pubmed: 22284743]

METHODS AND RESULTS:
Based on tissue-specific expression and metabolic localization studies, the IeCPS2 transcripts were detected in young and mature leaves where the dominant ent-kaurane diterpenoid Maoecrystal B accumulates, whereas no detectable expression of IeCPS2 was observed in germinating seeds where the gibberellin biosynthetic pathway is usually active. In addition, no evidence for Maoecrystal B was found in germinating seeds. On the other hand, IeCPS1 transcripts significantly accumulated in germinating seeds as well as in leaves.
CONCLUSIONS:
The biochemical and molecular genetic evidence thus indicated that IeCPS2 is a copalyl diphosphate synthase potentially involved in the biosynthesis of Isodon diterpenoids in leaves, while IeCPS1 is more probably relevant to gibberellin formation and may, in addition, participate in Isodonent-kaurane diterpenoid production.

J Asian Nat Prod Res. 2006 Sep;8(6):545-54.

An attempt to enlarge the B ring of maoecrystal B, an ent-kaurane-type diterpene.[Pubmed: 16931431]

METHODS AND RESULTS:
An attempt to enlarge the B ring of Maoecrystal B (6), an ent-kaurane-type diterpene from Isodon eriocalyx (Labiatae), to obtain the desired compound 23 via six steps, led to the novel rearranged diterpene compound 22.