Artemisia annua mutant impaired in artemisinin synthesis demonstrates importance of nonenzymatic conversion in terpenoid metabolism

Significance The antimalarial artemisinin is a sesquiterpene lactone produced by glandular secretory trichomes on the leaves of Artemisia annua . Using a mutant impaired in artemisinin synthesis, we demonstrate the importance of nonenzymatic conversions in terpenoid metabolism and highlight the ability of A. annua glandular secretory trichomes to redirect flux into a sesquiterpene epoxide. The research presented offers insight into the mechanism of the final steps of artemisinin synthesis in A. annua , with significant implications for future production of secondary compounds in native versus heterologous host systems.