Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 22, 2026

A Customizable Approach for the Enzymatic Production and Purification of Diterpenoid Natural Products
Published on: October 4, 2019
Shikimate pathway modulates the elicitor-stimulated accumulation of fragrant 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzaldehyde in
Anish Kundu1, Narendra Jawali, Adinpunya Mitra
1Natural Product Biotechnology Group, Agricultural and Food Engineering Department, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur 721302, India.
Abstract:
Enzymatic route to fragrant 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzaldehyde (MBALD) formation in Hemidesmus indicus roots is not known. Earlier studies with H. indicus excised roots suggested a possible origin of MBALD via central phenylpropanoid pathway. Different elicitors (e.g., chitosan, methyl jasmonate, yeast extract) were tested for their relative efficiency in uplifting MBALD accumulation in roots, amongst which, treatment with yeast extract for 18 h showed maximum accumulation in excised roots. As benzoate pathways originate either directly from shikimate or via phenylpropanoid pathway, this study aimed at finding the roles of shikimate pathway in uplifting/enhancing MBALD accumulation in H. indicus roots upon elicitation. In fact, a sharp increase in shikimate dehydrogenase (SKDH; E.C. 1.1.1.25) along with phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL; E.C. 4.3.1.24) activities was noted on a time-course basis in yeast extract-treated roots as compared to the untreated ones. PAL as well as phenylpropanoid C₂ side-chain cleavage activities (leading to p-hydroxybenzaldehyde, the first benzoate product formed in the MBALD pathway) were compared in elicited roots, non-elicited roots and glyphosate-treated elicited roots at different concentrations of glyphosate. It was observed that glyphosate treatment, in addition to 25% suppressions of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase and C₂ chain-cleavage enzyme activities as compared to elicited one, also resulted in around 40% suppression of MBALD accumulation, when used in conjunction with yeast extract treatment; in contrast, shikimic acid content was increased as compared to glyphosate untreated ones. These findings suggest that shikimate pathway plays an important role in modulating MBALD biosynthesis in H. indicus roots.
More Related Videos
08:56Transient Expression in Nicotiana Benthamiana Leaves for Triterpene Production at a Preparative Scale
Published on: August 16, 2018
09:27Functional Complementation Analysis (FCA): A Laboratory Exercise Designed and Implemented to Supplement the Teaching of Biochemical Pathways
Published on: June 24, 2016
Related Concept Videos
C4 Pathway and CAM
C4 Pathway
The C4 pathway is used by plants such as...
Reactions of Aldehydes and Ketones: Baeyer–Villiger Oxidation
The carbonyl center is activated by...
Phase II Reactions: Methylation Reactions
The mechanism of methylation unfolds in two stages. The first stage sees a methyltransferase enzyme facilitating the transfer of a methyl group from S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) to the substrate, forming S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH). The second stage involves further metabolism of SAH into homocysteine, which can be recycled...
Cell Signaling in Plants
The Calvin Benson Cycle
Amino Acid Biosynthetic Pathways