Enzymology and molecular biology of alkaloid biosynthesis

Kutchan, Toni M.; Dittrich, Heinz; Bracher, Daniel; Zenk, Meinhart H.

doi:10.1016/s0040-4020(01)86487-5

Cited by 87 publications

(62 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…Elicitation of cell cultures with fungal cell wall components has long been known to result in the synthesis of low molecular weight compounds (4). The biosynthetic pathways leading to these compounds have, in the case of flavonoids and benzolc]phenanthridine alkaloids, been completely elucidated (28,29), and the principal genes and certain elements governing their regulation have been identified (13). This elicitation process is now known to proceed with gene activation leading, ultimately, to the synthesis ofbiosynthetic enzymes and the metabolites they form.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Jasmonic acid is a signal transducer in elicitor-induced plant cell cultures.

Gundlach¹,

Müller²,

Kutchan³

et al. 1992

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

1,017

562

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To deter pathogenic microorganisms and herbivores, plants have developed an inducible chemical defense system. It is known that the induced synthesis of low molecular weight compounds can be provoked by exposing cultured cells to fungal cell wall fragments. In this study we show that endogenous jasmonic acid and its methyl ester accumulate rapidly and transiently after treatment of plant cell suspension cultures of RauvolJ' canescens and Eschscholtia caisfornica with a yeast elicitor. Thirty-six plant species tested in cell suspension culture could be elicited with respect to the accumulation of secondary metabolites by exogenously supplied methyl jasmonate. Addition of methyl jasmonate initiates de novo transcription of genes, such as phenylalanine ammonia lyase, that are known to be involved in the chemical defense mechanisms of plants. These data demonstrate the integral role of jasmonic acid and its derivatives in the intracellular signal cascade that begins with interaction of an elicitor molecule with the plant cell surface and results, ultimately, in the accumulation of secondary compounds.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Jasmonic acid is a signal transducer in elicitor-induced plant cell cultures.

Gundlach¹,

Müller²,

Kutchan³

et al. 1992

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

1,017

562

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“…For example, the unique biosynthetic pathways from the common branch point intermediate (S)-reticuline to either morphine (reviewed in Brochmann-Hanssen, 1985) or sanguinarine (reviewed in Kutchan and Zenk, 1993) are well established (Figure 1). Many of the enzymes that catalyze these multistep pathways have also been characterized (Zenk, 1985;Gerardy and Zenk, 1993;Kutchan and Zenk, 1993). However, despite extensive work on alkaloid chemistry and the characterization of many biosynthetic enzymes, the molecular mechanisms that regulate the activity of key enzymes and control the synthesis of specific alkaloids are not well understood.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Phloem-Specific Expression of Tyrosine/Dopa Decarboxylase Genes and the Biosynthesis of Isoquinoline Alkaloids in Opium Poppy.

1995

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Tyrosineklopa decarboxylase (TYDC) catalyzes the formation of tyramine and dopamine and represents the first steps in the biosynthesis of the large and diverse group of tetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloids. Opium poppy accumulates morphine in aerial organs and roots, whereas sanguinarine, which is derived from a distinct branch pathway, accumulates only in roots. Expression of the TYDC gene family in opium poppy was investigated in relation to the organ-specific biosynthesis of these different types of alkaloids. Members of the TYDC gene family are classified into two groups (represented by TYDCl and TYDCP) and are differentially expressed. In the mature plant, TYDCP-like transcripts are predominant in stems and are also present in roots, whereas TYDCl-like transcripts are abundant only in roots. In situ hybridization analysis revealed that the expression of TYDC genes is developmentally regulated. TYDC transcripts are associated with vascular tissue in mature roots and stems but are also expressed in cortical tissues at earlier stages of development. Expression of TYDC genes is restricted t o metaphloem and to protoxylem in the vascular bundles of mature aerial organs. Localization of TYDC transcripts in the phloem is consistent with the expected developmental origin of laticifers, which are specialized internal secretory cells that accompany vascular tissues in all organs of select species and that contain the alkaloid-rich latex in aerial organs. The differential expression of TYDC genes and the organ-dependent accumulation of different alkaloids suggest a coordinated regulation of specific alkaloid biosynthetic genes that are ultimately controlled by specific developmental programs.

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“…Zenk. This pathway, encompassing 21 conversions, 20 of which are enzymatic and one of which is a spontaneous skeletal rearrangement, is the single longest secondary metabolic pathway to have been completely elucidated at the enzyme leve1 (summarized in Kutchan and Zenk, 1993;Kammerer et al, 1994). A cDNA encoding one of seven inducible enzymes from this pathway, the berberine bridge enzyme (Figure 3), has been isolated (Dittrich and Kutchan, 1991).…”

Section: Benzylisoquinoline Alkaloidsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This scenario is indicative of de novo transcription of phytoalexin biosynthetic genes, which also occurs during stress-induced phenylpropanoid metabolism (see Dixon and Paiva, 1995, this issue). Methyl jasmonate induces the accumulation of low molecular weight compounds in a large number of plant species in culture (Gundlach et al, 1992), and both methyl jasmonate and the jasmonic acid biosynthetic precursor 124x0-phytodienoic acid induce transcription of the single bbel gene in E. californica cell cultures (Kutchan, 1993b;Kutchan and Zenk, 1993). It has recently been shown that the Pseudomonas syringae von Hall phytotoxin, coronatine, mimics 124x0-phytodienoic acid in its ability to induce a series of physiological responses such as tendril coiling, secondary metabolite accumulation in cell culture, and bbel transcription in E. californica (Weiler et al, 1994).…”

Section: Berberine Bridge Enzymementioning

confidence: 99%