Plant biochemistry and biosynthesis

Identification and Optimization of Kratom Strictosidine Pathway Enabled by Yeast Multiplex Engineering

This study identifies and optimizes the kratom strictosidine biosynthetic pathway using yeast multiplex engineering, increasing strictosidine production by 62%.

Discovery of the rosalexin pathway expands the modular network of maize diterpenoid chemical defenses.

The paper discovers and characterizes the rosalexin biosynthesis pathway in maize, showing its role in antifungal defense and genetic variation across genotypes.

Discovery of Scrophularia nodosa harpagoside synthase, a novel BAHD cinnamoyltransferase, bridges a key gap in the iridoid biosynthetic pathway

The paper identifies and characterizes harpagoside synthase, a BAHD cinnamoyltransferase, as the enzyme responsible for the final step in harpagoside biosynthesis in Scrophularia nodosa.

Discovery of a Plant Pictet-Spenglerase with R-Stereoselectivity

The paper identifies an STR ortholog in Pogonopus speciosus that produces the 3R epimer of strictosidine, revealing amino acids responsible for stereoselectivity and enabling engineered switches in stereoselectivity.

Elucidation and functional characterization of natural sweetener biosynthesis in hortensia species

This study identifies metabolites and genes involved in the biosynthesis of the sweetener phyllodulcin in Hydrangea species through metabolomic and transcriptomic analysis.

Metabolic Engineering Boosts Strigolactone Production in Nicotiana benthamiana and Uncovers a Novel P450 Function

The paper enhances strigolactone production in Nicotiana benthamiana through metabolic engineering and identifies a novel P450 enzyme function in sorgolactone biosynthesis.

ABA-responsive transcription factor CbNAC63 is involved in modulating biosynthesis of triterpenoid saponins in Conyza blinii

The paper identifies CbNAC63 as a transcription factor that integrates ABA and cold signals to enhance triterpenoid saponin biosynthesis in Conyza blinii.

WGT-aware analysis reveals increased complexity in the yohimbane biosynthesis pathway of Rauvolfia tetraphylla

The paper reanalyzes sequencing data to reveal complex homeologous gene organization and chimeric genes in the yohimbane biosynthesis pathway of Rauvolfia tetraphylla.

FoTO1 is an epoxide isomerase in paclitaxel biosynthesis

This study identifies FoTO1 as an epoxide isomerase that facilitates the productive rearrangement of taxadiene-4(5)-epoxide in paclitaxel biosynthesis.

Iterative and modular expression of Botryococcus braunii genes enhances isoprenoid production in the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum

This study transfers specialized terpenoid biosynthesis genes from Botryococcus braunii into the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum to enhance isoprenoid production.

FoTO1 orchestrates Taxol biosynthesis through catalytic and non-catalytic mechanisms

This paper identifies FoTO1 as a dual-function enzyme that enhances Taxol biosynthesis through catalytic conversion and non-catalytic organization of P450s in plants.

Telomere-to-telomere gap-free genome assembly integrated with multi-omics uncovers shading mediated regulation of leaf aroma biosynthesis in aromatic crop Pandanus amaryllifolius

The paper presents a gap-free genome assembly of Pandanus amaryllifolius and identifies shading's effect on leaf aroma biosynthesis through multi-omics analysis.

The ABCG1 transporter facilitates sesquiterpene accumulation in Marchantia polymorpha oil bodies.

The paper identifies ABCG1 as critical for sesquiterpene retention in Marchantia polymorpha oil bodies through overexpression and CRISPR disruption experiments.

Capsanthin/Capsorubin Synthase Expression in Tomato Alters Carotenoid Pools, Enhancing Provitamin A and Flavor Volatiles

This study overexpresses pepper CCS in tomato to enhance provitamin A and flavor volatiles, increasing carotenoid levels and meeting dietary requirements.

The role of two GLYCOALKALOID METABOLISM genes in α-tomatine biosynthesis and basal defense in tomato

This study investigates the role of two GAME genes in tomatine biosynthesis and fungal defense in tomato, finding that SlGAME4 affects glycoalkaloid synthesis and susceptibility to Botrytis cinerea.

Functional characterization and molecular engineering of a O-methyltransferase involved in bis-benzylisoquinoline alkaloids biosynthesis from Nelumbo nucifera

This paper characterizes Nn7OMT, an O-methyltransferase from Nelumbo nucifera, and improves its substrate specificity through protein engineering.

Uncovering the molecular basis of high morphinan product efficiency in opium poppy through Multi-omics integrated analysis with multi-capsules

This study identifies molecular mechanisms and genetic differences contributing to higher morphine production in opium poppy subspecies Shan Yang compared to Lan Tian.

Evolutionary origin of terpenoid biosynthesis in termites

This study identifies a gene family in termites responsible for terpenoid biosynthesis, revealing evolutionary mechanisms and functional enzymes involved in producing diverse terpenoids.

Elucidation of gene clusters underlying withanolide biosynthesis in ashwagandha through yeast metabolic engineering

This study identifies gene clusters involved in withanolide biosynthesis in ashwagandha using yeast metabolic engineering and characterizes key enzymes in the pathway.

ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL 5 regulates light-mediated squalene biosynthesis and development in Arabidopsis thaliana

This study identifies ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL 5 as a light-regulated repressor of squalene biosynthesis in Arabidopsis thaliana through direct promoter binding and gene regulation.

Real-time tracking of intracellular prenyl phosphate pools in the marine diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum with a metabolite protein-based biosensor

The paper introduces a biosensor to monitor intracellular prenyl phosphate levels in diatoms and demonstrates its use in tracking metabolic perturbations and subcellular localization.

Parallel evolution of plant alkaloid biosynthesis from bacterial-like decarboxylases

This study identifies OLADOs, a new class of eukaryotic decarboxylases involved in alkaloid biosynthesis, showing their parallel evolution from bacterial-like enzymes.

Steviol glycoside biosynthesis pathway gene expression profiling of transformed and non-transformed plant leaf tissues of Stevia rebaudiana (Bertoni)

This paper compares gene expression and metabolite levels in transformed and non-transformed Stevia rebaudiana plants to assess the impact of genetic modification on steviol glycoside biosynthesis.

Conserved early steps of stemmadenine biosynthesis

The paper identifies and characterizes stemmadenine acetate pathway genes from Tabernanthe iboga, reconstitutes the biosynthesis in Nicotiana benthamiana, and identifies shunt products affecting pathway flux.

Branch-Enabling N-Methyltransferase in Golgi Reconciles Divergent Models of Galanthamine Biosynthesis

This study identifies LaTMT2 as a Golgi-localized N-methyltransferase that resolves competing models of galanthamine biosynthesis and provides a target for metabolic engineering.

Insights into cannabinoid biosynthesis in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii : successes with NphB and limitations of CBDAS expression

This study expresses cannabinoid biosynthesis enzymes in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, showing functional NphB but limited CBDAS activity, highlighting challenges in enzyme expression and pathway reconstruction.

MARTS-DB: A Database of Mechanisms And Reactions of Terpene Synthases

MARTS-DB is a manually curated database of terpene synthase mechanisms and reactions, providing over 2,600 reactions and supporting computational analysis and machine learning.

Structure and Mechanism of Avermitilol Synthase, a Sesquiterpene Cyclase that Generates a Highly Strained 6-6-3 Tricyclic Alcohol

This paper investigates the mechanism of avermitilol synthase, revealing how trapped water molecules influence product specificity through structural and enzymological studies.

Ancient gene clusters govern the initiation of monoterpenoid indole alkaloid biosynthesis and C3 stereochemistry inversion

This study identifies and characterizes a conserved oxidase-reductase pair responsible for C3 stereochemistry inversion in monoterpenoid indole alkaloids and traces the evolutionary origin of the gene clusters involved.

Investigating the dynamics of precursor availability for sesquiterpenoid production in the cytoplasm and plastid of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

This study investigates sesquiterpenoid production in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii by expressing patchoulol synthase in different subcellular compartments and optimizing carbon sources to maximize yield.