Improved virus-induced gene silencing allows discovery of a serpentine synthase gene in Catharanthus roseus.

ABSTRACT: Specialized metabolites are chemically complex small molecules with a myriad of biological functions. To investigate plant-specialized metabolite biosynthesis more effectively, we developed an improved method for virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS). We designed a plasmid that incorporates fragments of both the target gene and knockdown marker gene (phytoene desaturase, PDS), which identifies tissues that have been successfully silenced in planta. To demonstrate the utility of this method, we used the terpenoid indole alkaloid (TIA) pathway in Madagascar periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus) as a model system. Catharanthus roseus is a medicinal plant well known for producing many bioactive compounds, such as vinblastine and vincristine. Our VIGS method enabled the discovery of a previously unkno

SUBMITTER: Yamamoto K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8491018 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature