Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 7, 2026
07:59
A Customizable Approach for the Enzymatic Production and Purification of Diterpenoid Natural Products
Published on: October 4, 2019
Alkaloid biosynthesis: metabolism and trafficking
Jörg Ziegler1, Peter J Facchini
1Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada. joerg.ziegler@ucalgary.ca.
Annual Review of Plant Biology
|February 7, 2008
Summary
Plant alkaloids are diverse compounds produced by thousands of enzymes. Recent advances in genomics and metabolic engineering are accelerating the discovery and understanding of alkaloid biosynthesis pathways.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Plant Science
- Genomics
Background:
- Alkaloids are a diverse group of nitrogen-containing plant compounds, with an estimated 12,000 known types.
- Their biosynthesis involves numerous enzymes and complex pathways within plants.
- Understanding these pathways is crucial for various applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advancements in the characterization of alkaloid biosynthetic enzymes.
- To highlight the impact of genomics and other technologies on alkaloid research.
- To explore the regulatory mechanisms of alkaloid metabolism.
Main Methods:
- Genomic approaches for discovering biosynthetic enzyme cDNAs.
- Structural biochemistry and molecular/cell biology for enzyme characterization.
- Metabolic engineering and gene expression analyses in transgenic plants.
Main Results:
- Genomics has significantly accelerated the identification of novel alkaloid biosynthetic enzymes.
- Advanced technologies provide deeper insights into enzyme function and regulation.
- Transgenic plant studies reveal new aspects of metabolic control.
Conclusions:
- Modern technologies are revolutionizing the study of plant alkaloids.
- Further research promises enhanced understanding and biotechnological applications of alkaloid metabolism.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Amino Acid Biosynthetic Pathways
Amino acid biosynthesis is essential for cell growth, protein synthesis, and metabolic regulation. Cells generate essential and non-essential amino acids from metabolic intermediates to sustain vital biological functions. These intermediates originate from key metabolic pathways: glycolysis, the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, and the pentose phosphate pathway. Important precursors include α-ketoglutarate, pyruvate, oxaloacetate, phosphoenolpyruvate, and erythrose-4-phosphate, which provide...
01:16Drug Biotransformation: Overview
Pharmaceutical substances known as xenobiotics are predominantly lipophilic and nonionized. This enables them to permeate lipid bilayers, such as cell membranes, and interact with intracellular target receptors. Lipophilic drugs have an advantage in crossing biological barriers and reaching their intended sites of action. However, lipophilic drugs often have a restricted capacity for renal expulsion or elimination from the body. When these drugs enter the kidneys and undergo glomerular...
01:28Drug Biotransformation: Overview
Biotransformation, also known as drug metabolism, is a vital physiological process that chemically alters drugs, facilitating their elimination from the body and terminating their action. This process involves two main phases: phase I and phase II reactions. Phase I reactions, including oxidation, reduction, and hydrolysis, introduce or unmask polar functional groups on the drug molecule, thereby increasing its water solubility. By enhancing water solubility, the drug becomes more hydrophilic...
01:14Drug Metabolism: Phase II Reactions
Phase II reactions are essential for the detoxification and elimination of drugs from the body. These reactions involve the conjugation of parent drugs or their phase I metabolites with endogenous molecules, resulting in more hydrophilic drug conjugates. The primary conjugation reactions in this phase are sulfation and glucuronidation. Both sulfation and glucuronidation typically produce biologically inactive metabolites. However, in some cases involving prodrugs, active metabolites may be...
01:24Biosynthesis in Bacteria
Biosynthesis in bacteria is a fundamental anabolic process that generates essential macromolecules, including proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, and polysaccharides. These macromolecules are critical for cellular growth, replication, and function. The process is tightly regulated and energetically linked to catabolic pathways to ensure optimal resource utilization.Biosynthetic pathways begin with precursor metabolites such as pyruvate, acetyl-CoA, and glucose-6-phosphate derived from glycolysis,...
01:19Phase I Reactions: Oxidation of Aliphatic and Aromatic Carbon-Containing Systems
Phase I biotransformation reactions are integral to drug metabolism, predominantly involving oxidative, reductive, and hydrolytic transformations. Chief among these are oxidative reactions, which enhance the hydrophilicity of xenobiotics and introduce polar functional groups to facilitate their elimination from the body.
Oxidation reactions are fundamental in aromatic carbon-containing systems. An example is the hydroxylation of phenobarbital, a process that transforms it into...
Oxidation reactions are fundamental in aromatic carbon-containing systems. An example is the hydroxylation of phenobarbital, a process that transforms it into...