How plant cells produce small molecule compounds for drugs

Finnish researchers' research on two plants (tobacco and Egyptian henbane) found new information about the function of genes involved in biosynthesis of plant secondary metabolites. This result can be used to develop the production of valuable drugs in plant cell components.

Plants produce small molecular weight compounds that are used, for example, to attract pollinators and various defense-related reactions. These secondary metabolites are usually produced in small amounts in plants. Moreover, they are usually structurally very complex molecules, so their chemical synthesis is challenging. Alkaloids, such as morphine and paclitaxel, are secondary compounds used as pharmaceuticals. Using cell cultures, these commonly valuable plant based compounds can be produced under controlled conditions.

In this work, a functional genomics-based technique was developed to discover genes involved in plant secondary metabolism. Two new genes were discovered that are thought to be involved in tobacco alkaloid biosynthesis. In addition, the new alkaloids in the tobacco cell culture were isolated and shown to exist in two isomeric forms. When a gene involved in the metabolism of alkaloids in the Egyptian fairy was overexpressed in the hairy roots of tobacco, it was shown that the added purine was efficiently converted into a pharmaceutically valuable scopolamine.

In addition, most of the produced scopolamine is secreted from the cells, which facilitates the recovery of the product. Transport of secondary metabolites was also investigated by overexpressing the yeast transporter gene in tobacco cell culture, and indicated that the PDR5 type transporter can be used to stimulate secretion of secondary metabolites in plant cells.