Molecular Cloning and Characterization of &lt;italic&gt;S&lt;/italic&gt;-Adenosyl-&lt;sc&gt;L&lt;/sc&gt;-Methionine:Scoulerine-9-&lt;italic&gt;O&lt;/italic&gt;-Methyltransferase from Cultured Cells of &lt;italic&gt;Coptis japonica&lt;/italic&gt;

Enzymatic O-methylation of plant secondary metabolites is an important mechanism for the inactivation of reactive hydroxyl groups and for the modification of their solubility. A cDNA clone (pFOMT3') encoding the gene for the 3'/5'-O-methylation of partially methylated flavonols was isolated from Chrysosplenium americanum (Saxifragaceae). We used a PCR fragment obtained with degenerate oligonucleotides designed from conserved regions of various O-methyltransferases (OMTs). The pFOMT3' cDNA sequence shows about 67-85% similarity to other plant OMT sequences. The recombinant protein expresses strict specificity for positions 3'/5' (meta) of partially methylated flavonols, but does not accept quercetin or caffeic acid for further methylation. Southern blot analysis of the genomic DNA probed with an OMT sequence suggests the presence of a number of related genes in this species, consistent with the multiple enzymatic methylations involved in the biosynthesis of polymethylated flavonols in this plant.

show abstract

The genetic manipulation of medicinal and aromatic plants

Gómez-Galera

et al. 2007

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Medicinal and aromatic plants have always been intimately linked with human health and culture. Plant-derived medicines constitute a substantial component of present day human healthcare systems in industrialized as well as developing countries. They are products of plant secondary metabolism and are involved in many other aspects of a plant's interaction with its immediate environment. The genetic manipulation of plants together with the establishment of in vitro plant regeneration systems facilitates efforts to engineer secondary product metabolic pathways. Advances in the cloning of genes involved in relevant pathways, the development of high throughput screening systems for chemical and biological activity, genomics tools and resources, and the recognition of a higher order of regulation of secondary plant metabolism operating at the whole plant level facilitate strategies for the effective manipulation of secondary products in plants. Here, we discuss advances in engineering metabolic pathways for specific classes of compounds in medicinal and aromatic plants and we identify remaining constraints and future prospects in the field. In particular we focus on indole, tropane, nicotine, isoquinoline alcaloids, monoterpenoids such as menthol and related compounds, diterpenoids such as taxol, sequiterpenoids such as artemisinin and aromatic amino acids.

show abstract

scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.

Contact Info

customersupport@researchsolutions.com

10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614

Henderson, NV 89052, USA

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Blog Terms and Conditions API Terms Privacy Policy Contact Cookie Preferences Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information

Made with 💙 for researchers

Part of the Research Solutions Family.

Molecular Cloning and Characterization of <italic>S</italic>-Adenosyl-<sc>L</sc>-Methionine:Scoulerine-9-<italic>O</italic>-Methyltransferase from Cultured Cells of <italic>Coptis japonica</italic>

Cited by 24 publications

References 0 publications

Physiological roles for secondary metabolites in plants: some progress, many outstanding problems

Physiological roles for secondary metabolites in plants: some progress, many outstanding problems

cDNA cloning and characterization of a 3?/5?-O-methyltransferase for partially methylated flavonols from Chrysosplenium americanum

The genetic manipulation of medicinal and aromatic plants

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About