Plant anthranoid biosynthesis

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Ludger Beerhues
• Subject Area: Plant Biochemistry and Biophysics
• Term: from 2014 to 2018
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 251406072

Anthranoid-containing plants are medicinally used as laxatives. Biosynthesis of the anthranoid scaffold is believed to be catalyzed by octaketide synthase, a type III polyketide synthase. Three available recombinant enzymes form a linear octaketide intermediate but fail to catalyze its correct cyclization into an anthranoid product. Thus, an accessory cyclase may be involved, as recently detected in cannabinoid biosynthesis. We will carry out biochemical studies using elicitor-treated Cassia bicapsularis cell cultures, whose cell-free extracts are capable of forming anthranoids. Molecular studies will be performed using genome and transcriptome sequences of Hypericum perforatum, which contains the naphthodianthrone hypericin.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants