Complete biosynthetic pathways for cephalotaxinone and homoerythratine were elucidated from the endangered plant Cephalotaxus fortunei. Thirteen key enzymes were identified, including two homologous cytochrome P450 enzymes that catalyze a rare divergent oxidation process governing alkaloid scaffold diversification. Full pathway reconstitution in Nicotiana benthamiana establishes a foundation for the sustainable production of the anticancer agent homoharringtonine.

The development of genetically encoded fluorescent reporters, along with their corresponding knock-in mouse lines for labeling α-Syn inclusions, enables diverse applications in studying the propagation and pathological effects of α-Syn inclusions in the live brain.