Navigating Amaryllidaceae alkaloids: bridging gaps and charting biosynthetic territories

• Published in: Journal of experimental botany 2024-06
• Main Authors: Liyanage, Nuwan Sameera, Awwad, Fatima, Gonçalves dos Santos, Karen Cristine, Jayawardena, Thilina U, Mérindol, Natacha, Desgagné-Penix, Isabel
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0022-0957; 1460-2431
• DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erae187

Amaryllidaceae alkaloid (AA) biosynthesis has garnered significant attention in recent years, particularly with the commercialization of galanthamine as a treatment for the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. A significant amount of research work over the last eight decades has focused on the understanding of AA biosynthesis, starting from early radiolabelling studies to recent multi-omics analysis with modern biotechnological advancements. Those studies enabled the identification of hundreds of metabolites, the characterization of biochemical pathways, and an understanding of the environmental stimuli and of the molecular regulation of these pharmaceutically and agriculturally important metabolites. Despite numerous studies, there remain significant gaps in understanding the biosynthesis of AAs in Amaryllidaceae plants. As such, further research is needed to fully elucidate the metabolic pathways and facilitate their production. This review aims to provide a comprehensive summary of the current state of knowledge on AA biosynthesis, from elicitation of expression of transcription factors in the cell nucleus to alkaloid transport in the apoplast, and to highlight the challenges that need to be overcome for further advancement.