The relationships among phytohormones and benzylisoquinoline alkaloids during early development of Papaver rhoeas L.

Benzylisoquinoline alkaloids (BIAs) constitute a diverse class of plant secondary metabolites (SM) that exhibit a myriad of pharmacological activities. While there have been tremendous efforts to chemically synthesize high-value BIAs, this approach is not economical due to their complex chemistry. Also, production of BIAs using traditional means also has several drawbacks. An alternative is the reconstitution of BIA biosynthetic pathways in suitable microbial hosts. A potential factor to enhance the microbe-based production of BIAs is the removal of regulatory restrictions or stimulation of relevant pathways. Plant hormones are a class of naturally occurring, small organic molecules that coordinate a comprehensive suite of physiological processes in plants at very low concentrations. Because plant hormones play important roles in regulating several signaling networks involved in plants, including the production of SM defence compounds, I hypothesize that phytohormones regulate BIA metabolism.

Faculty Supervisor:

Neil Emery

Student:

Partner:

Max-Planck-Institut für Chemische Energiekonversion

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Life Sciences (not health); Environmental Science and Technology; Agriculture and Food

University:

Trent University

Program: