title: Transcription factor Agamous-like 12 from Arabidopsis promotes tissue-like organization and alkaloid biosynthesis in Catharanthus roseus suspension cells.
abstract: In Catharanthus roseus, monomeric terpenoid indole alkaloids (TIAs) are biosynthesized in specific tissues, particularly in roots, but failed to be produced by in vitro undifferentiated suspension cells. In this paper, we describe the impact of the root-specific MADS-box transcription factor Agamous-like 12 (Agl12) from Arabidopsis thaliana on the differentiation of suspension cells from C. roseus. The expression of Agl12 is sufficient to promote an organization of suspension cells into globular parenchyma-like aggregates but is insufficient by itself to induce complete morphological root differentiation. Agl12 expression selectively increases the expression of genes encoding enzymes involved in the early biosynthesis steps of the terpenic precursor of alkaloids. The transgenic cell lines expressing Agl12 produced significant amounts of ajmalicine, an antihypertensive TIA that normally accumulates in C. roseus roots. The present paper indicates that transcription factors involved in tissue or organ differentiation may constitute new metabolic engineering tools that could help to design in vitro cultured cells able to produce specific valuable secondary metabolites.
authors.affiliation: Université de Tours Unité sous Contrat reconnue par l'Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Facteurs de Transcription et Ingénierie Métabolique Végétale, UFR des Sciences et Techniques et UFR des Sciences Pharmaceutiques, Tours, France.
authors.forename: Grégory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Montiel
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Breton
authors.forename: Martine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thiersault
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Burlat
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jay-Allemand
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gantet
mesh_terms: D026342:AGAMOUS Protein, Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000470:Alkaloids / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D030008:Catharanthus / Q000502:physiology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D024861:Genetic Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D015202:Protein Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D046509:Tissue Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods; D014162:Transfection / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D026342:AGAMOUS Protein, Arabidopsis; D000470:Alkaloids; D011994:Recombinant Proteins