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Metabolic Engineering in Alkaloid Biosynthesis: Case Studies in Tyrosine- and Putrescine-Derived Alkaloids

Molecular engineering in alkaloid biosynthesis

  • Chapter
Applications of Plant Metabolic Engineering

Abstract

Higher plants produce divergent classes of metabolites. Metabolic engineering offers tremendous potential to improve the productivity and quality of these metabolites. We present here case studies on two types of alkaloids. Nicotine and tropane alkaloids, such as hyoscyamine and scopolamine, which are synthesized from putrescine in several solanaceous plants, and have a common evolutional origin. These alkaloids are synthesized in limited cell types in the root and then transported to aerial parts where they accumulate. On the other hand, isoquinoline alkaloids, such as morphine, sanguinarine, and berberine are synthesized from tyrosine in Magnoliaceae, Ranunculaceae, Berberidaceae, Papaveraceae, and many other species. While this biosynthesis may have a monophyletic origin, it is regulated in a more complicated manner. In this review, we summarize the enzymes and genes in biosynthesis, and the potentials and pitfalls in metabolic engineering for alkaloid production

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plant Gene and Totipotency, Graduate School of Biostudies Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan

    Fumihiko Sato

  2. Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5 Takayama, Ikoma-Nara 630-0192, Japan

    Koji Inai & Takashi Hashimoto

Authors
  1. Fumihiko Sato
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  2. Koji Inai
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  3. Takashi Hashimoto
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Leiden University, The Netherlands

    R. Verpoorte

  2. Heinrich-Heine-Universität, Düsseldorf, Germany

    A.W. Alfermann

  3. Reliance Life Sciences Pvt. Ltd, Navi Mumbai, India

    T.S. Johnson

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Sato, F., Inai, K., Hashimoto, T. (2007). Metabolic Engineering in Alkaloid Biosynthesis: Case Studies in Tyrosine- and Putrescine-Derived Alkaloids. In: Verpoorte, R., Alfermann, A., Johnson, T. (eds) Applications of Plant Metabolic Engineering. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-6031-1_6

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