Structural diversification of taxanes by whole-cell biotransformation

The structural diversification of four 4(20),11(12)-taxadienes (sinenxan A and its two derivatives, and yunanxane) by microbial/plant whole-cell enzymatic transformation has been achieved; 53 derivatives have been obtained, and 41 of them are new compounds. The occurred reactions exhibited diversity, including hydroxylation, epoxidation, oxidation, hydrolysis, acylation, O-alkylation, O-glycosylation, rearrangement, etc. In addition, one chemical derivative, 9α-cinnamoyl sinenxan A from one enzymatic product 9α-hydroxyl sinenxan A, displayed significant reversal activity toward three MDR tumor cell lines (A549/taxol, KB/VCR, and HCT-8).