- Results as:
- Print view
- Endnote (RIS)
- BibTeX
- Table: CSV | HTML
Publications
Publications
Books and chapters
Books and chapters
This page was last modified on 27 Jan 2025 27 Jan 2025 .
Research Mission and Profile
Molecular Signal Processing
Bioorganic Chemistry
Biochemistry of Plant Interactions
Cell and Metabolic Biology
Independent Junior Research Groups
Program Center MetaCom
Publications
Good Scientific Practice
Research Funding
Networks and Collaborative Projects
Symposia and Colloquia
Alumni Research Groups
Publications
Leaves of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) are covered with glandular trichomes that produce sucrose esters and diterpenoids in varying quantities, depending on cultivar type. The bicyclic diterpene Z‐abienol is the major labdanoid present in some oriental tobacco cultivars, where it constitutes a precursor of important flavours and aromas. We describe here the identification and characterization of two genes governing the biosynthesis of Z‐abienol in N. tabacum. As for other angiosperm labdanoid diterpenes, the biosynthesis of Z‐abienol proceeds in two steps. NtCPS2 encodes a class‐II terpene synthase that synthesizes 8‐hydroxy‐copalyl diphosphate, and NtABS encodes a kaurene synthase‐like (KSL) protein that uses 8‐hydroxy‐copalyl diphosphate to produce Z‐abienol. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that NtABS belongs to a distinct clade of KSL proteins that comprises the recently identified tomato (Solanum habrochaites) santalene and bergamotene synthase. RT‐PCR results show that both genes are preferentially expressed in trichomes. Moreover, microscopy of NtCPS2 promoter‐GUS fusion transgenics demonstrated a high specificity of expression to trichome glandular cells. Ectopic expression of both genes, but not of either one alone, driven by a trichome‐specific promoter in transgenic Nicotiana sylvestris conferred Z‐abienol formation to this species, which does not normally produce it. Furthermore, sequence analysis of over 100 tobacco cultivars revealed polymorphisms in NtCPS2 that lead to a prematurely truncated protein in cultivars lacking Z‐abienol, thus establishing NtCPS2 as a major gene controlling Z‐abienol biosynthesis in tobacco. These results offer new perspectives for tobacco breeding and the metabolic engineering of labdanoid diterpenes, as well as for structure–function relationship studies of terpene synthases.
Publications
Glandular trichomes cover the surface of many plant species. They exhibit tremendous diversity, be it in their shape or the compounds they secrete. This diversity is expressed between species but also within species or even individual plants. The industrial uses of some trichome secretions and their potential as a defense barrier, for example against arthropod pests, has spurred research into the biosynthesis pathways that lead to these specialized metabolites. Because complete biosynthesis pathways take place in the secretory cells, the establishment of trichome‐specific expressed sequence tag libraries has greatly accelerated their elucidation. Glandular trichomes also have an important metabolic capacity and may be considered as true cell factories. To fully exploit the potential of glandular trichomes as breeding or engineering objects, several research areas will have to be further investigated, such as development, patterning, metabolic fluxes and transcription regulation. The purpose of this review is to provide an update on the methods and technologies which have been used to investigate glandular trichomes and to propose new avenues of research to deepen our understanding of these specialized structures.
Books and chapters
0
Books and chapters
Many plant species have evolved specialized organs dedicated to the production of a restricted number of secondary metabolites. These organs have secretory tissues which can lead to very significant accumulations of products, in the range of mg per g of fresh weight. These natural cell factories are therefore interesting targets for metabolic engineering. Plant glandular trichomes in particular have attracted interest because of the relative ease to isolate them and to analyse the compounds they produce because they are secreted onto the leaf surface. Depending on the species, trichomes can produce a variety of metabolites. Terpenoids however are particularly well represented and have been used by humans in a variety of industries, including as aroma, fragrance and pharmaceutical ingredients. Tobacco trichomes produce diterpenoids in large amounts and were therefore chosen as a model system for engineering the biosynthesis of this important class of compounds. We present here our strategy and first results, which bode well for the future of glandular trichomes as engineered natural cellular factories.
This page was last modified on 27 Jan 2025 27 Jan 2025 .

