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Abstract:
Terpenoids are the largest group of plant-specialized metabolites and include many valuable bioactive compounds, such as the blockbuster anticancer drugs vincristine and vinblastine, that are monoterpenoid indole alkaloids from the medicinal plant Catharanthus roseus (Madagascar periwinkle). A master regulator was discovered that activates the biosynthesis of the iridoids, the monoterpenoid precursors of vinblastine and vincristine, and the rate-limiting branch in their biosynthetic pathway. This master regulator can be used to boost production of iridoids and monoterpenoid indole alkaloids in C. roseus cell cultures and thus represents an interesting tool for the metabolic engineering of the sustainable production of these high-value compounds in cultures of the endogenous plant species.
