Cover Picture

The cover picture shows the X-ray structure of a squalene-hopene cyclase (ribbon diagram) in the center. Squalene and 2,3-oxidosqualene cyclases catalyze the formation of up to five rings and nine stereocenters in transformations that are both complex and elegant. The triterpenes which are arranged around the structure outline the principal reaction pathways for the enzymatic conversion of oxidosqualene (upper semicircle) and squalene (lower semicircle). Further details about these fascinating reactions are discussed by Schulz, Liu et al. on p. 2812 ff.