Identification and characterization of piperine synthase from black pepper, Piper nigrum L.

Schnabel et al. identify and characterize piperine synthase in developing black pepper fruits which catalyses the formation of piperine from piperoyl coenzyme A and piperidine. A member of BAHD-type acyltransferases, this enzyme can be useful for bio-production of a broad range of medicinally relevant piperamides.