A new era for paclitaxel biosynthesis is coming

Paclitaxel (Taxol) stands out as a tetracyclic diterpenoid natural product derived from the endangered plant Taxus. Recognized as a pivotal broad-spectrum anticancer drug, it has garnered widespread attention due to its low yield, intricate structure, unique anticancer mechanism, and remarkable efficacy (Tong et al., 2021). Although chemists achieved the total synthesis of paclitaxel 30 years ago, after decades of research, the natural biosynthetic pathway for its production remains an enigma (Ajikumar et al., 2010; Malci et al., 2023).