Elymoclavine
# Elymoclavine

Elymoclavine is an ergot alkaloid (ergoline alkaloid). It can be produced from C. fusiformis from Pennisetum typhoideum. It is a precursor in the biosynthesis of D-(+)-lysergic acid. Ergot alkaloids are natural products derived from L-tryptophan. They are often toxic for humans and animals. Despite that they are also well known for their pharmacological activities.

## Biosynthesis

The main building blocks for biosynthesis of elymoclavine are tryptophan (Trp) and DMAPP. DMATrp is obtained after electrophilic substitution followed by addition (Step A below). Then an amine is methylated by an N-methyltransfersase (Step B). Next, the allyl alcohol is oxidized to the diene (Step C). After 1,4-elimination, the diene undergoes an epoxidation (Step D). Then decarboxylation is followed by the 6-member ring formation and epoxide opened to form terminal alcohol (Step E). Obtained chanoclavine gets oxidized to chanoclavine aldehyde (Step F). Then the second 6-member ring forms and agroclavine is obtained after additional reductase (Steps G and H). Finally elymoclavine is generated after an oxidation (Step I). The last step is NADPH-dependent, and it is suggested that cytochrome P450 is the catalyst.

