@article {49193,
	title = {Steroidal scaffold decorations in Solanum alkaloid biosynthesis},
	journal = {Molecular Plant},
	volume = {17},
	year = {2024},
	month = {AUG },
	pages = {1236-1254},
	type = {Article},
	abstract = {<p>
	Steroidal glycoalkaloids (SGAs) are specialized metabolites produced by hundreds of Solanum species, including important vegetable crops such as tomato, potato, and eggplant. Although it has been known that SGAs play important roles in defense in plants and {\textquoteleft}{\textquoteleft}anti-nutritional{\textquoteright}{\textquoteright}effects (e.g., toxicity and bitterness) to humans, many of these molecules have documented anti-cancer, anti-microbial, antiinflammatory, anti-viral, and anti-pyretic activities. Among these, a-solasonine and a-solamargine isolated from black nightshade (Solanum nigrum) are reported to have potent anti-tumor, anti-proliferative, and anti-inflammatory activities. Notably, a-solasonine and a-solamargine, along with the core steroidal aglycone solasodine, are the most widespread SGAs produced among the Solanum plants. However, it is still unknown how plants synthesize these bioactive steroidal molecules. Through comparative metabolomictranscriptome-guided approach, biosynthetic logic, combinatorial expression in Nicotiana benthamiana, and functional recombinant enzyme assays, here we report the discovery of 12 enzymes from S. nigrum that converts the starting cholesterol precursor to solasodine aglycone, and the downstream a-solasonine, a-solamargine, and malonyl-solamargine SGA products. We further identified six enzymes from cultivated eggplant that catalyze the production of a-solasonine, a-solamargine, and malonyl-solamargine SGAs from solasodine aglycone via glycosylation and atypical malonylation decorations. Our work provides the gene tool box and platform for engineering the production of high-value, steroidal bioactive molecules in heterologous hosts using synthetic biology.</p>
},
	keywords = {a-solamargine, Biosynthetic pathway, malonyl-solamargine, Solanum, Specialized metabolites, steroidal glycoalkaloids},
	issn = {1674-2052},
	doi = {10.1016/j.molp.2024.06.013},
	author = {Lucier, Rosalind and Kamileen, Mohamed O. and Nakamura, Yoko and Serediuk, Sofiia and Barbole, Ranjit and Wurlitzer, Jens and Kunert, Maritta and Heinicke, Sarah and O{\textquoteright}Connor, Sarah E. and Sonawane, Prashant D.}
}
@article {49109,
	title = {Unlocking the genetic and biotechnological potential of Gloriosa superba to enhance its alkaloid production},
	journal = {Industrial Crops and Products},
	volume = {211},
	year = {2024},
	month = {MAY},
	pages = {118144},
	type = {Article},
	abstract = {<p>
	Gloriosa superba is a medicinally important plant that produces the pharmaceutically precious colchicine molecule. Colchicine is being used for treating gout, for enhancing the production of interleukin-8 (inhibits human pancreatic cancer) and many other human ailments. Since its seeds and rhizomes (tuberous roots) are the chief sources of colchicine, pharmaceutical industries exploit the natural sources, thus demolishing its habitat. Chemo- and genetic diversity among the G. superba populations exist, but has not been exploited profitably. Scope exists for generating mutants using the chemical mutagens and also via breeding methods to generate superior varieties for commercial cultivation. Innovative methods for breaking seed dormancy and superior colchicine extraction, besides biotechnological interventions are imperative to save the biodiversity and to produce colchicine on a large scale. Biorhizomes produced in vitro hold great promise for biomanufacturing colchicine in bioreactors commercially. Since the biosynthetic pathway of colchicine is now known, isolation of the pathway genes and their heterologous overexpression or the application of synthetic biology methods needs to be explored in future for industrial manufacturing of colchicine. Advances made in the recent past in these fields of colchicine production from G. superba are critically evaluated in this review.</p>
},
	keywords = {Biosynthetic pathway, Colchicine, Genetic diversity, Glory lily, Metabolite elicitation, Omics approaches},
	issn = {0926-6690},
	doi = {10.1016/j.indcrop.2024.118144},
	author = {Mahajan, Yogesh A. and Shinde, Balkrishna A. and Shirke, Harshad A. and Gandra, Jawahar and Suravajhala, Prashanth and Kishor, P. B. Kavi and Kadoo, Narendra Y. and Nikam, Tukaram D.}
}
