CAREER: Coordinating Primary and Secondary Metabolic Activities for Enhancing Terpenoid Indole Alkaloid Production from Catharanthus roseus Cultures

Northeastern University, Boston MA

Investigators

Abstract

0134511 Lee The objective of the proposed research is to develop techniques to significantly increase terpenoid indole alkaloid (TIA) production from cell cultures of C. roseus. The proposed hypothesis is that to maximize the production of secondary metabolites such as TIAs, the relative flows of precursors and energy resources at various levels must be balanced. The proposed specific aims for achieving this balance for increasing TIA production are to: (1) increase flux to both primary and secondary metabolism, (2) maximize the metabolic flux to TIA production while maintaining an appropriate metabolic flux to cellular machinery for supporting essential cellular activities, (3) tune the flux between the glycolysis, citric acid, and pentose phosphate pathways for maximum secondary metabolite production, and (4) characterize the optimum balance the various pathways and activities. This research could produce results to increase the yield of important antitumor and antihypertensive compounds.