Petersen Maike
Institut für Pharmazeutische Biologie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Deutschhausstr. 17A, D-35037 Marburg, Germany.
Phytochemistry. 2007 Nov-Dec;68(22-24):2847-60. doi: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2007.07.029. Epub 2007 Sep 18.
This review will give selected examples of topics of current research into plant secondary metabolism. Besides detection, isolation and characterisation of enzymes and genes involved in the formation of natural products, the structures of enzymes after crystallisation are now being investigated and this information gives us hints on the catalytic mechanisms as well as probable evolutionary origins of these enzymes. Manipulation of natural product formation is achieved by overexpression or down-regulation of genes encoding biosynthetic enzymes or regulators (transcription factors) as well as by transfer of those genes into foreign organisms (bacteria, yeast, plants). Techniques, strategies and methods are used to investigate plant secondary metabolism ensuring that this field remains challenging.
本综述将列举一些当前关于植物次生代谢研究主题的实例。除了对参与天然产物形成的酶和基因进行检测、分离和表征外,目前还在研究酶结晶后的结构,这些信息为我们提供了有关这些酶的催化机制以及可能的进化起源的线索。通过对编码生物合成酶或调节因子(转录因子)的基因进行过表达或下调,以及将这些基因转移到异源生物体(细菌、酵母、植物)中,可以实现对天然产物形成的调控。人们运用各种技术、策略和方法来研究植物次生代谢,这确保了该领域始终具有挑战性。