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Late Steps of Indole Alkaloid Biosynthesis in Catharanthus roseus

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Overview of Indole Alkaloid Biosynthesis in Catharanthus roseus

In this lecture, the focus is on the late biosynthetic steps converting tabersonine to vindoline, a key intermediate for pharmacologically important alkaloids in Catharanthus roseus. For a broader context on the early stages, see Comprehensive Overview of Early Biosynthesis of Indole Alkaloids.

Influence of Light on Alkaloid Production

  • Dark-grown Catharanthus seedlings accumulate high levels of tabersonine.
  • Upon light exposure, tabersonine converts to vindoline, which couples with catharanthine forming compounds like vincristine and vinblastine.

Biosynthetic Pathway: Tabersonine to Vindoline

Seven enzymatic steps transform tabersonine into vindoline:

  1. Hydroxylation: Tabersonine is hydroxylated to 16-hydroxy tabersonine by T16H (a cytochrome P450 enzyme) on the external face of the endoplasmic reticulum. This step requires NADPH, oxygen, and releases NADP.
  2. Methylation: 16-hydroxy tabersonine is methylated via 16-O-methyltransferase using S-adenosyl methionine.
  3. Hydration & Oxidoreduction: Two enzymes, T3O (tabersonine 3-oxidase) and T3R (tabersonine 3-reductase), coordinate to produce 16-methoxy-23-dihydro-3-hydroxy tabersonine.
  4. N-Methylation: N-methyltransferase catalyzes conversion to desacetoxyvindoline, localized on the thylakoid membranes of chloroplasts.
  5. Hydroxylation: Desacetoxyvindoline is hydroxylated by D4H (a 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenase) in the cytosol.
  6. Acetylation: Desacetylvindoline acetyltransferase transforms deacetylvindoline to vindoline, also cytosolic.

Subcellular Localization

  • Pathway enzymes are distributed across the endoplasmic reticulum, chloroplast thylakoid membranes, and the cytosol.
  • This spatial separation underlines complex intracellular transport during alkaloid biosynthesis.

Alkaloid Biosynthesis in Root Tissues

  • In roots, tabersonine is metabolized differently, producing oxidized intermediates such as lochnericine and minovincinine derivatives.
  • Enzymes like T9H (tabersonine 19-hydroxylase), MAT (minovincinine-19-O-acetyltransferase), and T67E (tabersonine 6,7-epoxidase) mediate these root-specific modifications.
  • Some steps remain partially characterized at the molecular level. This differential regulation is further explored in Environmental Regulation of Indole Alkaloid Biosynthesis in Catharanthus roseus.

Metabolic Engineering Implications

Summary and Pathway Map

  • The lecture culminates in a schematic integrating strictosidine-derived pathways across plant organs.
  • Distinct metabolite pools and enzyme distributions between shoots (aerial parts) and roots are emphasized.

This comprehensive review highlights the crucial late-stage biosynthetic steps of vindoline and root-specific indole alkaloid modifications, providing foundational knowledge for advancing metabolic engineering in Catharanthus roseus.

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Related Summaries

Environmental Regulation of Indole Alkaloid Biosynthesis in Catharanthus roseus

Environmental Regulation of Indole Alkaloid Biosynthesis in Catharanthus roseus

This lecture explores how environmental factors like light and elicitors influence the production of valuable indole alkaloids in Catharanthus roseus. It details differences in culture systems, the role of hairy root cultures, and how elicitors such as jasmonic acid enhance alkaloid biosynthesis through gene expression modulation.

Metabolic Engineering of Indole Alkaloid Biosynthesis: Case Studies in Plants and Yeast

Metabolic Engineering of Indole Alkaloid Biosynthesis: Case Studies in Plants and Yeast

This lecture explores metabolic engineering approaches to enhance early steps of indole alkaloid biosynthesis through gene overexpression and heterologous expression systems such as tobacco, periwinkle, and yeast. Key insights include challenges in pathway bottlenecks, gene expression effects, and the use of hairy root cultures for efficient alkaloid production.

Comprehensive Overview of Early Biosynthesis of Indole Alkaloids

Comprehensive Overview of Early Biosynthesis of Indole Alkaloids

This lecture provides an in-depth exploration of indole alkaloids, covering their basic structures, diverse examples, and the early stages of their biosynthesis. Key biosynthetic pathways in plants such as Catharanthus roseus, Rauvolfia serpentina, and Cinchona species are examined, highlighting important intermediates like strictosidine and the enzymatic processes leading to complex alkaloid formation.

Light-Regulated Transcription Factors Control Vindoline Biosynthesis in Catharanthus

Light-Regulated Transcription Factors Control Vindoline Biosynthesis in Catharanthus

This lecture explores the regulatory role of transcription factors CRPIF1 and CRGATA1 in light-induced vindoline biosynthesis from tabersonine in Catharanthus roseus. It details how light exposure modulates the degradation and activity of these transcription factors, ultimately controlling the expression of key biosynthetic genes and vindoline accumulation.

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Elicitor-Induced Modulation of Indole Alkaloid Biosynthesis in Catharanthus Roseus

This lecture explores how elicitor treatments, specifically using East extract, activate molecular pathways that enhance indole alkaloid accumulation in Catharanthus roseus. It details the biosynthetic steps, signal transduction involving jasmonic acid, and the transcription factors regulating key genes like strictosidine synthase (STR) and tryptophan decarboxylase (TDC).

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