Anatoxin-a and homoanatoxin-a are deadly neurotoxins from cyanobacteria.
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The biosynthesis of these two alkaloids has been deciphered recently.
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The cluster of genes ana has been identified in four cyanobacterial genomes.
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The biosynthetic reaction pathway has been reconstituted in vitro.
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Dihydroanatoxin-a is also biosynthesized by the same pathway.