title: Transcription factors in alkaloid biosynthesis.
abstract: Higher plants produce a large variety of low-molecular weight secondary compounds. Among them, nitrogen-containing alkaloids are the most biologically active and are often used pharmaceutically. Whereas alkaloid chemistry has been intensively investigated, alkaloid biosynthesis, including the relevant biosynthetic enzymes, genes and their regulation, and especially transcription factors, is largely unknown, as only a limited number of plant species produce certain types of alkaloids and they are difficult to study. Recently, however, several groups have succeeded in isolating the transcription factors that are involved in the biosynthesis of several types of alkaloids, including bHLH, ERF, and WRKY. Most of them show Jasmonate (JA) responsiveness, which suggests that the JA signaling cascade plays an important role in alkaloid biosynthesis. Here, we summarize the types and functions of transcription factors that have been isolated in alkaloid biosynthesis, and characterize their similarities and differences compared to those in other secondary metabolite pathways, such as phenylpropanoid and terpenoid biosyntheses. The evolution of this biosynthetic pathway and regulatory network, as well as the application of these transcription factors to metabolic engineering, is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Gene and Totipotency, Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa, Sakyo, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasuyuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Fumihiko
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sato
mesh_terms: D000470:Alkaloids / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D010944:Plants / Q000378:metabolism*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D014157:Transcription Factors
keywords: Alkaloid biosynthesis; Jasmonate signaling; Secondary metabolism; Transcription factor; Transcriptional regulation