Discovering enzymes from plant alkaloid biosynthesis

植物产生各种被称为生物碱的含氮分子，其中许多具有生物活性并被用作药物(如吗啡、长春花碱)。这些化合物通常结构复杂，使用传统的合成化学形成具有挑战性。通过发现和表征参与生物碱生物合成的酶，将有可能利用这些酶在体外或使用合成生物学方法产生生物碱或其衍生物。该项目将涉及从植物中发现和表征生物合成酶。首先，将使用RNA测序来确定候选基因，然后使用重组技术克隆和表达这些酶。相关的酶活性将使用质谱仪进行鉴定。新发现的生物合成酶将进行生化表征，并用于合成复杂的生物碱。这个项目的目的是了解植物是如何产生复杂分子的，以便开发制造高价值化合物的技术。

Plants produce a variety of nitrogen-containing molecules known as alkaloids,many of which are bioactive and used as medicines (e.g. morphine,vinblastine). These compounds are often structurally complex andchallenging to form using traditional synthetic chemistry. By discovering andcharacterising the enzymes that are involved in alkaloid biosynthesis, it willbe possible to use these to produce alkaloids or their derivatives in vitro orusing synthetic biology approaches.This project will involve the discovery and characterisation of biosyntheticenzymes from plants. Initially gene candidates will be identified using RNA-sequencing and then cloned and the enzymes expressed using recombinanttechnologies. Relevant enzyme activities will identified using mass-spectrometry. Newly discovered biosynthetic enzymes will be biochemicallycharacterised and used to synthesise complex alkaloids. The aim of thisproject is to understand how plants produce complex molecules in order todevelop technologies to make high-value compounds.