Abstract
Genetic knowledge on biosynthetic pathways and the regulation thereof is
of crucial importance to bypass the low-product yield of various secondary
metabolites in plant cells. To facilitate gene discovery in plant secondary
metabolism, we have developed a comprehensive profiling approach that is based
on functional genomics and can be applied on any plant system without a need
for prior sequence knowledge. Jasmonate-induced changes have been monitored on
the transcript and alkaloid profiles of tobacco and two other medicinal
plants. Using cDNA-AFLP based transcript profiling, an inventory of hundreds
of genes, potentially involved in plant secondary metabolism, has been built.
A technology platform, especially driven towards the exploitation of plant
cell cultures, for high-throughput isolation and functional analysis of these
genes, has been established.
At present, more than 50 tobacco BY-2 full-length open reading frames have
been isolated and are currently subjected to functional analysis. In our
tobacco BY-2 model system the overexpression of 22 genes resulted in three
lines exhibiting an altered alkaloid accumulation pattern compared to
controls. The genes derived from the tobacco transcriptional profiling are
also used for the transformation of other plant species. So far, one of the
tested genes has strongly influenced the tropane alkaloid biosynthesis, which
is partly the same as for nicotine alkaloids.
We have developed a technology platform called SOLUCEL that allows creating a
novel toolbox for metabolic engineering of plant cells. It can be applied (i)
to enhance the production of marketed high-value pharmaceuticals in plant
cell cultures (ii) to develop reliable and reproducible sources of
plant-derived molecules with potential pharmaceutical value, and (iii) to
increase the chemical diversity of plant based molecules through Combinatorial
Biochemistry.
Original language | English |
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Publication status | Published - 2004 |
MoE publication type | Not Eligible |
Event | Germany – Japan Seminar on Molecular Regulation of Plant Secondary Metabolism - Chiba, Japan Duration: 20 Sept 2004 → 23 Sept 2004 |
Seminar
Seminar | Germany – Japan Seminar on Molecular Regulation of Plant Secondary Metabolism |
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Country/Territory | Japan |
City | Chiba |
Period | 20/09/04 → 23/09/04 |