The Hailes and Ward groups make novel alkaloids using the previously undiscovered activity of a plant enzyme norcoclaurine synthase

Congratulations to Professor Helen Hailes on her recent publication "Enzyme catalysed Pictet-Spengler formation of chiral 1,1'-disubstituted- and spiro-tetrahydroisoquinolines" in Nature Communications. 

In Nature Commications Lichman et al describe how ketones can be accepted by the plant enzyme and give ready access to a new family of alkaloids.

The full paper can be viewed through her recent publications link.