Complexity and simplicity in the biosynthesis of enediyne natural products

The review highlights the recent progress on the elucidation of the biosynthetic mechanism of enediyne natural products. A large body of knowledge has been gathered from the genetic, biochemical and structural studies since the sequencing of the first two enediyne gene clusters in 2002. Primary attention is devoted to the novel pathways and enzymes in the biosynthesis of the enediyne warhead as well as the peripheral moieties.