Strictosidine activation in Apocynaceae: towards a "nuclear time bomb"?

ABSTRACT:

Background

The first two enzymatic steps of monoterpene indole alkaloid (MIA) biosynthetic pathway are catalysed by strictosidine synthase (STR) that condensates tryptamine and secologanin to form strictosidine and by strictosidine beta-D-glucosidase (SGD) that subsequently hydrolyses the glucose moiety of strictosidine. The resulting unstable aglycon is rapidly converted into a highly reactive dialdehyde, from which more than 2,000 MIAs are derived. Many studies were conducted to elucidate the biosynthesis and regulation of pharmacologically valuable MIAs such as vinblastine and vincristine in Catharanthus roseus or ajmaline in Rauvolfia serpentina. However, very few reports focused on the MIA physiological functions.

Results

In this study we showed that a strictosidine poo

SUBMITTER: Guirimand G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3095312 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature