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Updated: May 13, 2026
07:59
A Customizable Approach for the Enzymatic Production and Purification of Diterpenoid Natural Products
Published on: October 4, 2019
Long non-coding RNAs regulate monoterpene indole alkaloid biosynthesis in Catharanthusroseus
Farzaneh Aram1, Seyed Hassan Marashi2, Ahmad Tahmasebi3
1Institute of Biotechnology, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran; Department of Biotechnology and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran.
Plant Physiology and Biochemistry : PPB
|May 11, 2026
Summary
Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) regulate the biosynthesis of valuable medicinal compounds in Catharanthus roseus. Specific lncRNAs can either decrease or increase the production of anti-cancer alkaloids, offering targets for metabolic engineering.
Area of Science:
- Plant Molecular Biology
- Metabolomics
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are increasingly identified in plants, but their functions in specialized metabolism are largely unknown.
- Catharanthus roseus produces medically important anti-cancer monoterpene indole alkaloids (MIAs) like vinblastine and vincristine.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the regulatory roles of lncRNAs in the MIA biosynthesis pathway of Catharanthus roseus.
- To identify and validate lncRNAs that influence MIA accumulation for potential metabolic engineering.
Main Methods:
- Systems biology approach to identify candidate lncRNAs associated with MIA levels.
- Transient overexpression of candidate lncRNAs in C. roseus leaves.
- Quantitative analysis of alkaloid levels and gene expression (D4H, DAT, PRX1, SS, MPK6).
- Transcriptomic data analysis under methyl jasmonate treatment.
Main Results:
- Crlnc440 negatively regulated MIA biosynthesis, significantly reducing vindoline, vinblastine, anhydrovinblastine, and serpentine upon overexpression.
- Crlnc343 and Crlnc1096 positively regulated MIA biosynthesis, with their overexpression substantially increasing vinblastine, anhydrovinblastine, and catharanthine.
- Organ-specific expression patterns and differential expression under methyl jasmonate treatment were observed for the studied lncRNAs.
Conclusions:
- lncRNAs play diverse regulatory roles in specialized plant metabolism.
- Specific lncRNAs (Crlnc440, Crlnc343, Crlnc1096) are key regulators of MIA biosynthesis in C. roseus.
- These lncRNAs represent promising targets for metabolic engineering to enhance the production of valuable alkaloids.
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