Targeted Gene Modification of <i>HMGR</i> Enhances Biosynthesis of Terpenoid and Phenylpropanoid Volatiles in Petunia and Lettuce.

ABSTRACT: Terpenoids constitute the largest class of plant-specialized metabolites, playing essential roles throughout the plants' life cycle and having diverse applications for humans in nutrition, medicine, and flavor. 3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGR) is a rate-limiting enzyme of the mevalonate (MVA) pathway, producing sesquiterpenes, saponins, and other terpenoids. HMGR is post-translationally regulated by downstream MVA products through its N-terminal regulatory domain, limiting terpenoid production. To overcome this bottleneck, we employed a virus-based CRISPR/Cas9 system to genetically modify the N-terminal regulatory domain of HMGR in petunia (Petunia × hybrida) and lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.). In petunia, HMGR1-edited lines exhibited vigorous growth

SUBMITTER: Skaliter O 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12898840 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature