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Updated: Oct 2, 2025
07:59
A Customizable Approach for the Enzymatic Production and Purification of Diterpenoid Natural Products
Published on: October 4, 2019
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Multilevel interactions between native and ectopic isoprenoid pathways affect global metabolism in rice
Lucía Pérez1, Rui Alves2, Laura Perez-Fons3
1Department of Plant Production and Forestry Science, School of Agrifood and Forestry Science and Engineering (ETSEA), University of Lleida-Agrotecnio Center, Av. Alcalde Rovira Roure 191, 25198, Lleida, Spain.
Transgenic Research
|February 24, 2022
Summary
Engineered isoprenoid production in rice using an ectopic plastidial mevalonate (MVA) pathway increased fatty acids and phytohormones. Survival required WR1 expression to replenish acetyl-CoA, demonstrating metabolic pathway crosstalk.
Area of Science:
- Plant biochemistry and metabolic engineering.
- Understanding isoprenoid biosynthesis pathways in plants.
Background:
- Isoprenoids are vital natural products synthesized through cytosolic mevalonate (MVA) and plastidial methylerythritol phosphate (MEP) pathways.
- Detailed understanding of these pathways is crucial for effective isoprenoid metabolic engineering.
Purpose of the Study:
- To circumvent strict native MVA pathway regulation by expressing an ectopic plastidial MVA pathway.
- To increase isopentenyl diphosphate (IPP) and dimethylallyl diphosphate (DMAPP) accumulation in plant plastids.
Main Methods:
- Introduction of plastid-targeted MVA pathway genes (HMGS, tHMGR, MK, PMK, MVD) and nuclear-targeted WR1 into rice.
- Endosperm-specific expression and evaluation of metabolic, transcriptomic, metabolomic, and phenotypic impacts.
Main Results:
- Ectopic MVA pathway enhanced endogenous cytosolic MVA genes and suppressed the native MEP pathway.
- Increased production of sterols, tocopherols, fatty acids, abscisic acid, gibberellins, and lutein observed.
- WR1 expression was essential for plant survival by replenishing plastid acetyl-CoA.
Conclusions:
- Ectopic plastidial MVA pathway engineering is feasible in rice, altering endogenous metabolism.
- Successful implementation requires WR1 to maintain metabolic homeostasis, highlighting pathway crosstalk.
- This approach offers potential for enhancing valuable isoprenoid-derived compounds in plants.
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