Glandular Trichomes and Isoprenoid Biosynthesis

This project was originally funded by the DFG in the frame of the ERA-CAPS programme in collaboration with Rob Schuurink (University of Amsterdam), Marc Boutry (Université Catholique de Louvain), and Yoram Eyal (Agricultural Research Organization, Israel). After the end of the DFG funding, we pursued the work on tobacco trichomes and localization of enzymes of the plastidial isoprenoid pathway. We found that blocking diterpene biosynthesis in tobacco trichomes had unexpected consequences on the transcriptional regulation of genes involved in isoprenoid biosynthesis. In addition, we are now investigating the consequences of high-light stress on metabolism in general and on the MEP pathway in particular. The reason for focusing on the MEP pathway is that it delivers precursors for several compounds that play essential roles in photosynthesis (chlorophyll, carotenoids, plastoquinones)

Members involved

• Kathleen Helmstedt (PhD Student)
• Gerd Balcke (IPB scientist)
• Anja Henning (IPB technician)