Volume 39, Issue 16 p. 2795

Cover Picture

K. Ulrich Wendt Dr.

K. Ulrich Wendt Dr.

Institut für Organische Chemie und Biochemie Albertstrasse 21, 79104 Freiburg (Germany) Fax: (+49) 761-203-6161

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Georg E. Schulz Prof. Dr.

Georg E. Schulz Prof. Dr.

Institut für Organische Chemie und Biochemie Albertstrasse 21, 79104 Freiburg (Germany) Fax: (+49) 761-203-6161

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Elias J. Corey Prof. Dr.

Elias J. Corey Prof. Dr.

Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology Harvard University 12 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138 (USA) Fax: (+1) 617-496-5688

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David R. Liu Prof. Dr.

David R. Liu Prof. Dr.

Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology Harvard University 12 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138 (USA) Fax: (+1) 617-496-5688

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Abstract

The cover picture shows the X-ray structure of a squalene–hopene cyclase (ribbon diagram) in the center. Squalene and 2,3-oxidosqualene cyclases catalyze the formation of up to five rings and nine stereocenters in transformations that are both complex and elegant. The triterpenes which are arranged around the structure outline the principal reaction pathways for the enzymatic conversion of oxidosqualene (upper semicircle) and squalene (lower semicircle). Further details about these fascinating reactions are discussed by Schulz, Liu et al. on p. 2812 ff.

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