title: A review of tobacco BY-2 cells as an excellent system to study the synthesis and function of sterols and other isoprenoids.
abstract: In plants, two pathways are utilized for the synthesis of isopentenyl diphosphate (IPP), the universal precursor for isoprenoid biosynthesis. In this paper we review findings and observations made primarily with tobacco BY-2 cells (TBY-2), which have proven to be an excellent system in which to study the two biosynthetic pathways. A major advantage of these cells as an experimental system is their ability to readily take up specific inhibitors and stably- and/or radiolabeled precursors. This permits the functional elucidation of the role of isoprenoid end products and intermediates. Because TBY-2 cells undergo rapid cell division and can be synchronized within the cell cycle, they constitute a highly suitable test system for determination of those isoprenoids and intermediates that act as cell cycle inhibitors, thus giving an indication of which branches of the isoprenoid pathway are essential. Through chemical complementation; and use of precursors, intracellular compartmentation can be elucidated, as well as the extent to which the plastidial and cytosolic pathways contribute to the syntheses of specific groups of isoprenoids (e.g., sterols) via exchange of intermediates across membranes. These topics are discussed in the context of the pertinent literature.
authors.affiliation: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut de Biologie Moléculaire des Plantes (UPR 2357), Département Fonctions et Biosynthèse des Isoprénoïdes, Université Louis Pasteur, F-67083 Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: Andréa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hemmerlin
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gerber
authors.forename: Jean-François
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Feldtrauer
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wentzinger
authors.forename: Marie-Andrée
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hartmann
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tritsch
authors.forename: Jean-François
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Hoeffler
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rohmer
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Bach
mesh_terms: D002460:Cell Line; D008954:Models, Biological; D013261:Sterols / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D013729:Terpenes / Q000378:metabolism*; D014026:Nicotiana / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D013261:Sterols; D013729:Terpenes