Recent efforts in metabolic engineering have permitted the synthesis of strictosidine by yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae).[5] This was accomplished by adding 21 genes and 3 gene deletions.
Research
The involvement of the glucoalkaloid strictosidine in the antimicrobial and antifeedant activity of Catharanthus roseus leaves was studied. Strictosidine and its deglucosylation product, specifically formed by the enzyme strictosidine glucosidase, were found to be active against several microorganisms.[6]
References
^Mizukami H, Nordlöv H, Lee SL, Scott AI (August 1979). "Purification and properties of strictosidine synthetase (an enzyme condensing tryptamine and secologanin) from Catharanthus roseus cultured cells". Biochemistry. 18 (17): 3760–3763. doi:10.1021/bi00584a018. PMID476085.
^Luijendijk TJ, van der Meijden E, Verpoorte R (August 1996). "Involvement of strictosidine as a defensive chemical inCatharanthus roseus". Journal of Chemical Ecology. 22 (8): 1355–66. doi:10.1007/BF02027718. PMID24226242.