Catharanthus terpenoid indole alkaloids: biosynthesis and regulation |
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Authors: | Magdi El-Sayed Rob Verpoorte |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Pharmacognosy, Section of Metabolomics, Institute of Biology Leiden, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands;(2) Department of Botany, Aswan Faculty of Science, South Valley University, Aswan, Egypt |
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Abstract: | Catharanthus roseus is still the only source for the powerful antitumour drugs vinblastine and vincristine. Some other pharmaceutical compounds
from this plant, ajmalicine and serpentine are also of economical importance. Although C. roseus has been studied extensively and was subject of numerous publications, a full characterization of its alkaloid pathway is
not yet achieved. Here we review some of the recent work done on this plant. Most of the work focussed on early steps of the
pathway, particularly the discovery of the 2-C-methyl-d-erythritol 4-phosphate (MEP)-pathway leading to terpenoids. Both mevalonate and MEP pathways are utilized by plants with
apparent cross-talk between them across different compartments. Many genes of the early steps in Catharanthus alkaloid pathway have been cloned and overexpressed to improve the biosynthesis. Research on the late steps in the pathway
resulted in cloning of several genes. Enzymes and genes involved in indole alkaloid biosynthesis and various aspects of their
localization and regulation are discussed. Much progress has been made at alkaloid regulatory level. Feeding precursors, growth
regulators treatments and metabolic engineering are good tools to increase productivity of terpenoid indole alkaloids. But
still our knowledge of the late steps in the Catharanthus alkaloid pathway and the genes involved is limited. |
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Keywords: | Indole alkaloids Biosynthesis Catharanthus Indole pathway MEP pathway Regulation Terpenoids |
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