Role of vacuolar transporter proteins in plant secondary metabolism: Catharanthus roseus cell culture

Here the current status of knowledge on some well-characterized transporters located in the vacuolar membrane is reviewed. As different cellular compartments and even different cells may be involved in certain steps of a biosynthetic pathway, the regulation of the flux is not only dependent on structural genes encoding enzymes catabolizing certain steps but also transport has a major regulatory function. The aim of the present review is to give an overview of the present knowledge of transport of secondary metabolites in plants, and to use this information in the context of our knowledge about Catharanthus roseus alkaloid biosynthesis. This should lead to further insight in the possible role of various transporters in the regulation of the biosynthesis of these alkaloids.