Characterization of sesquiterpene lactone biosynthesis in sunflower glandular trichomes

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Otmar Spring
• Subject Area: Plant Biochemistry and Biophysics
• Term: from 2006 to 2011
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 28811944

Sesquiterpene lactones (STL) are typical secondary metabolites of Asteraceae. The compounds show a broad spectrum of highly interesting pharmacological, antimicrobial, toxicological and biocide properties and are of major ecological and taxonomic importance. Biosynthetic steps leading to the sesquiterpenoid backbones have been elucidated during the past decade, whereas subsequent steps that lead to production of an enormous variety of compounds with different properties have not yet been investigated in detail. Moreover, very little is known about the subcellular localisation of participating enzymes and the time frame of expression of genes involved in STL biosynthesis. The proposed project will shed light on some of these points. For the studies, glandular trichomes from anther appendages of sunflower will be used and may serve as a model system for Asteraceae in general. These trichomes can be isolated in well defined developmental stages and will be used for expression studies. Two putative sesquiterpene synthases of sunflower, recently identified in living trichome cells, will be expressed and characterised. These enzymes will be used for antibody production and their subcellular localisation within trichome cells as well as their tissue specificity in sunflower will be investigated. The results of this study will provide key information for future investigations in STL biosynthesis and ecological function.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Participating Person: Dr. Jens Göpfert