Redirecting tropane alkaloid metabolism reveals pyrrolidine alkaloid diversity in Atropa belladonna

Summary Plant‐specialized metabolism is complex, with frequent examples of highly branched biosynthetic pathways, and shared chemical intermediates. As such, many plant‐specialized metabolic networks are poorly characterized. The N‐methyl Δ1‐pyrrolinium cation is a simple pyrrolidine alkaloid and precursor of pharmacologically important tropane alkaloids. Silencing of pyrrolidine ketide synthase (AbPyKS) in the roots of Atropa belladonna (Deadly Nightshade) reduces tropane alkaloid abundance and causes high N‐methyl Δ1‐pyrrolinium cation accumulation. The consequences of this metabolic shift on alkaloid metabolism are unknown. In this study, we utilized discovery metabolomics coupled with AbPyKS silencing to reveal major changes in the root alkaloid metabolome of A. belladonna. We discovered and annotated almost 40 pyrrolidine alkaloids that increase when AbPyKS activity is reduced. Suppression of phenyllactate biosynthesis, combined with metabolic engineering in planta, and chemical synthesis indicates several of these pyrrolidines share a core structure formed through the nonenzymatic Mannich‐like decarboxylative condensation of the N‐methyl Δ1‐pyrrolinium cation with 2‐O‐malonylphenyllactate. Decoration of this core scaffold through hydroxylation and glycosylation leads to mono‐ and dipyrrolidine alkaloid diversity. This study reveals the previously unknown complexity of the A. belladonna root metabolome and creates a foundation for future investigation into the biosynthesis, function, and potential utility of these novel alkaloids.