What is it about?

Tropane alkaloids (TAs) are heterocyclic nitrogenous metabolites found across seven orders of angiosperms, including Malpighiales (Erythroxylaceae) and Solanales (Solanaceae). Despite the well-established euphorigenic properties of Erythroxylaceae TAs like cocaine, their biosynthetic pathway remains incomplete. Using yeast as a screening platform, an international research team led by IPK Leibniz Institute identified and characterized the missing steps of TA biosynthesis in Erythroxylum coca.

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Why is it important?

Tropane alkaloids are a particular class of plant derived compounds that have been exploited by mankind since the domestication of medicinal plants. The distribution of these alkaloids is scattered amongst the flowering plants and the two most studied families include those from the Solanaceae (tomato, tobacco, potato relatives) and the Erythroxylaceae (coca). The WHO lists several tropane alkaloids as some of the most important medicines in the modern day pharmacopeia. However other compounds such as cocaine are more infamous for their narcotic and euphorigenic properties. It is critical to understand how plants produce these alkaloids in order for mankind to continue to build upon nature and develop new useful medicines.

Perspectives

The most significant portions of the findings now confirms that tropane biosynthesis has independently evolved at least twice during the evolution of flowering plants. This is important because the current study shows that you can mix and match the Solanaceae and Erythroxylaceae genes and produce tropanes. In layman’s terms, the research provides multiple tools for synthetic biologists to begin designing the tropane alkaloid pathway in organisms that have never produced them before, and with the ability to use different enzymes for similar steps, it is possible to optimize or modify those steps for specific chemical outcomes.

John D'Auria
Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK Gatersleben)

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This page is a summary of: Elucidation of tropane alkaloid biosynthesis in Erythroxylum coca using a microbial pathway discovery platform, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, November 2022, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2215372119.
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