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Engineering Plant Synthetic Pathways for the Biosynthesis of Novel Antifungals.

ABSTRACT: Plants produce a wealth of biologically active compounds, many of which are used to defend themselves from various pests and pathogens. We explore the possibility of expanding upon the natural chemical diversity of plants and create molecules that have enhanced properties, by engineering metabolic pathways new to nature. We rationally broaden the set of primary metabolites that can be utilized by the core biosynthetic pathway of the natural biopesticide, brassinin, producing in planta a novel class of compounds that we call crucifalexins. Two of our new-to-nature crucifalexins are more potent antifungals than brassinin and, in some instances, comparable to commercially used fungicides. Our findings highlight the potential to push the boundaries of plant metabolism for the biosynthesis of new biopesticides.

SUBMITTER: Calgaro-Kozina A

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7453567 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Engineering Plant Synthetic Pathways for the Biosynthesis of Novel Antifungals.

Calgaro-Kozina Amy A Vuu Khanh M KM Keasling Jay D JD Loqué Dominique D Sattely Elizabeth S ES Shih Patrick M PM

ACS central science 20200720 8

Plants produce a wealth of biologically active compounds, many of which are used to defend themselves from various pests and pathogens. We explore the possibility of expanding upon the natural chemical diversity of plants and create molecules that have enhanced properties, by engineering metabolic pathways new to nature. We rationally broaden the set of primary metabolites that can be utilized by the core biosynthetic pathway of the natural biopesticide, brassinin, producing <i>in planta</i> a n ...[more]

PMID: 32875080

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