The biosynthesis of atropine starting from l-phenylalanine first undergoes a transamination forming phenylpyruvic acid which is then reduced to phenyl-lactic acid. Coenzyme A then couples phenyl-lactic acid with tropine forming littorine, which then undergoes a radical rearrangement initiated with a P450 enzyme forming hyoscyamine aldehyde. A dehydrogenase then reduces the aldehyde to a primary alcohol making (−)-hyoscyamine, which upon racemization forms atropine.
The biosynthesis of atropine starting from l-phenylalanine first undergoes a transamination forming phenylpyruvic acid which is then reduced to phenyl-lactic acid Coenzyme A then couples phenyl-lactic acid with tropine forming littorine which then undergoes a radical rearrangement initiated with a P450 enzyme forming hyoscyamine aldehyde A dehydrogenase then reduces the aldehyde to a primary alcohol making (−)-hyoscyamine which upon racemization forms atropine