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Regulation of the terpene moiety biosynthesis of Catharanthus roseus terpene indole alkaloids

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Abstract

Precursor feeding experiments have shown that the terpene moiety biosynthesis is the most rate-limiting step of terpenoid indole alkaloids (TIA) produced by Catharanthus roseus suspension cells. The biosynthesis of TIA terpene moiety is strictly regulated by hormones: auxin inhibits, jasmonate stimulates and cytokinin and ethylene enhance their biosynthesis. Biochemical analyses coupled to molecular approaches have outlined a regulatory cross-talk between two metabolite pathways leading to the biosynthesis of terpene precursors. Terpenes derivatives produced through the mevalonic acid (MVA) pathway regulate the activity of the 2-C-methyl-d-erythritol 4-phosphate (MEP) non-mevalonate pathway producing the precursor of the TIA terpene moiety. This cross-talk involves regulatory prenylated proteins and acts on the regulation of the expression of early steps of monoterpenoid biosynthesis (ESMB) genes. The expression of the genes involved in the TIA terpene moiety biosynthesis is regulated in part by a general TIA transcription factor, ORCA3, and other unidentified transcription factors. This review sums up the essential information obtained at the metabolic, physiological, biochemical and molecular levels of regulation of TIA terpene moiety biosynthesis in C. roseus. We propose a synthetic scheme of the general regulatory network emerging from these experimental data, and discuss the related hypothesis and prospect in elucidating other key events involved in the regulation of TIA terpene moiety biosynthesis.

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Abbreviations

CaaX-PTases:

CaaX-prenyltransferases

2,4-D:

2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid

DMAPP:

Dimethylallyl diphosphate

ESMB genes:

Early steps of monoterpenoid biosynthesis genes

IPP:

Isopentenyl diphosphate

MeJa:

Methyl Jasmonate

MEP:

2-C-methyl-d-erythritol 4-phosphate

MVA:

Mevalonic acid

ORCA3:

Octadecanoid-derivative Responsive Catharanthus AP2-domain protein 3

PFT:

Protein farnesyltransferase

PGGT-I:

Type I protein geranylgeranyltransferase

RabGGTase:

Rab geranylgeranyltransferase

TIA:

Terpenoid indole alkaloids

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Acknowledgements

This work is supported financially by the Région Centre and the Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer (Comité d’Indre et Loire). Authors are grateful to Dr Pratap Pati, Guru Nanak Dev University, India for critical reading of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Université François-Rabelais de Tours, EA 2106 “Biomolécules et Biotechnologies Végétales”, Unité sous Contrat reconnue par l’Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Facteurs de Transcription et Ingénierie Métabolique Végétale, Laboratoire de Physiologie Végétale, UFR Sciences et Techniques, Parc de Grandmont, 37200, Tours, France

    Sabah Hedhili, Vincent Courdavault & Nathalie Giglioli-Guivarc’h

  2. IFR 127 Génomique et Biologie Intégrative des Plantes, Pascal Gantet Université Montpellier II Biochimie et Physiologie Végétales Bat 15, Université Montpellier II, UMR PIA 1096, Place Eugène Bataillon, CC 002, 34095, Montpellier cedex 05, France

    Pascal Gantet

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  1. Sabah Hedhili
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  2. Vincent Courdavault
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  3. Nathalie Giglioli-Guivarc’h
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  4. Pascal Gantet
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Correspondence to Pascal Gantet.

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Hedhili, S., Courdavault, V., Giglioli-Guivarc’h, N. et al. Regulation of the terpene moiety biosynthesis of Catharanthus roseus terpene indole alkaloids. Phytochem Rev 6, 341–351 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11101-006-9021-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11101-006-9021-5

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