The use of RNA interference for the metabolic engineering of plants (Review)

The metabolic engineering of plants is aimed at the realization of new biochemical reactions by transgenic cells. These reactions are determined by enzymes encoded by foreign or self-modified genes. Plants are considered to be the most interesting objects for metabolic engineering. Although they are characterized by the same pathways for the synthesis of basic biological compounds, plants differ by the astonishing diversity of their products: sugars, aromatic compounds, fatty acids, steroid compounds, and other biologically active substances. RNA interference aimed at modifying metabolic pathways is a powerful tool that allows for the obtainment of plants with new valuable properties. The present review discusses the main tendencies for research development directed toward the obtainment of transgenic plants with altered metabolism.