Molecular Regulation of Isoprenoid Metabolism in Plant-Pathogen Interactions

9729590 Chappell植物类异戊二烯包括一组结构多样的化合物;一些是植物生长和发育所必需的，另一些是植物-环境相互作用的重要介质。 例如，当减毒病原体被添加到茄科植物细胞培养物中时，培养物停止固醇产生（必需代谢物），而是合成和分泌抗生素倍半萜烯。 甾醇生物合成的下降与一种关键酶（角鲨烯合酶）的抑制相关，而倍半萜生物合成的诱导与另一种关键酶（倍半萜环化酶）的诱导相关。 PI的长期目标是了解这种控制是如何施加到这两种关键酶上的。 目前的目标是评估两个特定的信号分子如何协调这种调节，并研究几种分子机制如何有助于调节角鲨烯合酶和甾醇代谢。 这些研究应该提供重要的见解，如何利用基因工程技术操纵这一途径以提高价值。

9729590 Chappell Plant isoprenoids comprise a structurally diverse group of compounds; some are essential for plant growth and development and others are important mediators of plant-environment interactions. For example, when attenuated pathogens are added to solanaceous plant cell cultures, the cultures cease sterol production (essential metabolite), and instead synthesize and secrete antibiotic sesquiterpenes. The decline in sterol biosynthesis has been correlated with the suppression of one key enzyme (squalene synthase), and the induction of sesquiterpene biosynthesis with the induction of another key enzyme (sesquiterpene cyclase). The PI's long range goal is to understand how this control is imposed onto these two key enzymes. The current objectives are to evaluate how two particular signal molecules might orchestrate this regulation, and to examine how several molecular mechanisms might contribute to the regulation of squalene synthase and sterol metabolism. These studies should provide important insights into how this pathway can be manipulated for enhanced value using genetic engineering technology.