title: Over-expression of rate-limiting enzymes to improve alkaloid productivity.
abstract: Benzylisoquinoline alkaloids are one of the most important groups of secondary metabolites and include the economically important analgesic morphine and the antimicrobial agent berberine. To improve the productivity of these alkaloids, we investigated the effects of putative rate-limiting step enzymes in alkaloid biosynthesis. We constructed several over-expression vectors for biosynthetic enzymes and introduced them into cultured California poppy, a model isoquinoline alkaloid-producing plant. HPLC/LC-MS analysis of transgenic cells revealed that these enzymes varied in their ability to increase alkaloid production. We describe the use of a rate-limiting step gene to improve alkaloid productivity.
authors.affiliation: Division of Integrated Life Science, Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomoya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takemura
authors.forename: Yit-lai
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Chow
authors.forename: Takehiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Todokoro
authors.forename: Takuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Okamoto
authors.forename: Fumihiko
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sato
mesh_terms: D016960:Agrobacterium tumefaciens / Q000235:genetics; D044182:Benzylisoquinolines / Q000378:metabolism*; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018744:DNA, Plant / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D031675:Eschscholzia / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression; D005818:Genetic Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000235:genetics; D007700:Kinetics; D018749:RNA, Plant / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014170:Transformation, Genetic
chemical_list: D044182:Benzylisoquinolines; D018744:DNA, Plant; D018749:RNA, Plant; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System