Terpenoid indole alkaloids regulation

Geerlings A, Martinez-Lozano Ibanez M, Memelink J, van der Heijden R, Verpoorte R (2000) The strictosidine 6-D-glucosidase gene from Catharanthus roseus is regulated coordinately with other terpenoid-indole alkaloid biosynthetic genes and the encoded enzyme is located in the endoplasmic reticulum. J Biol Chem 275 3051-3056... 

Regulation of the Terpenoid Indole Alkaloid Biosynthetic Pathway 111... 

MEIJER, A.H., VERPOORTE, R., HOGE, J.H.C., Regulation of enzymes and genes involved in terpenoid indole alkaloid biosynthesis in Catharanthus roseus. J. Plant Res., 1993, Special Issue 3, 145-164. 

Goddijn, O.J.M. (1992) Regulation of terpenoid indole alkaloid biosynthesis in Catha-ranthus roseus the tryptophan decarboxylase gene. Ph.D. Thesis, Leiden University. 

Transcription factors that upregulate strictosidine synthase (132), as well as a transcription factor that coordinately upregu-lates expression of several terpenoid indole alkaloid biosynthetic genes, have been found (133). Several zinc finger proteins that act as transcriptional repressors to tryptophan decarboxylase and strictosidine synthase also have been identified (134). Manipulation of these transcription factors may allow tight control of the regulation of terpenoid indole alkaloid production. Interestingly, expression of a transcription factor from Arabidopsis thaliana in C. roseus cell cultures results in an increase in alkaloid production (135). 

Regulation of the biosynthesis of terpenoid indole alkaloid biosynthesis in the plant... 

As similar pathways may be differently regulated in different species, and as one cannot extrapolate findings for one plant to another plant, we particularly focus on the regulation of the biosynthesis of terpenoid indole alkaloids in C. roseus. Even within one plant the pathway might be differently regulated in different tissues. Findings from related plant species thus are not fully covered only where necessary is a comparison made of C. roseus with related plant species. 

In the present review we divide the pathway leading to the Catharanthus alkaloids into five parts (Fig. 2). The first two concern the biosynthesis of tryptophan and geraniol diphosphate they are similar to (or even part of) primary metabolism and occur in all plant species. Whether these pathways in C. roseus are differently regulated, or whether even an additional pathway exists parallel to the normal primary metabolism, is a question not yet answered. The third and the fourth part coneern the steps from tryptophan to tryptamine and from geraniol to secologanin, respectively. Both pathways occur also in other plants, including plants that do not produce terpenoid indole alkaloids. The fifth part is the condensation of secologanin and tryptamine to strictosidine and the subsequent conversion into a plethora... 

Plant aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylases (AADCs) catalyze the initial reactions in the formation of terpenoid indole alkaloids (TIAs) such as quinine and strychnine, and benzyliso-quiuoline alkaloids (BIAs) such as morphine and codeine (Fig. 3). L-tryptophan decarboxylase (TDC) initiates TIA synthesis with the formation of tryptamine. TDC is encoded by two genes in Cola accuminata TDCl is expressed as part of a developmentally regulated chemical defense system, whereas TDC2 is induced after elicitation with yeast extract or methyl jas-monate (MI). 

Kulshrestha, M., Patra, B. et al. (2011) The transcription factor CrWRKYl positively regulates the terpenoid indole alkaloid biosynthesis in Catharanthus roseus. Plant Physiol, 157, 2081-2093. 

Shanks, J.V. et al (2013) The ORCA2 transcription factor plays a key role in regulation of the terpenoid indole alkaloid pathway. BMC Plant Biol, 13,... 

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