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New genes in alkaloid metabolism and transport
April 2003
April 2003
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Abstract
The biosynthetic pathway of plant alkaloids is composed of several distinct enzymes
of varying substrate specificities. Homology-based cloning of candidate genes and
their subsequent functional testing in heterologous expression systems are accelerating
the pace at which the gene catalogues of alkaloid biosynthesis are expanding. Availability
of diverse genes involved in the biosynthesis, catabolism, transport, and regulation
of pharmaceutically important alkaloids should steadily advance our molecular understanding
of alkaloid biology and will enable us to devise more rational strategies for metabolic
engineering.