Expressed sequence tag analysis of khat (Catha edulis) provides a putative molecular biochemical basis for the biosynthesis of phenylpropylamino alkaloids
Genet. mol. biol
; 34(4): 640-646, 2011. ilus
Article
in English
| LILACS
| ID: lil-605922
Responsible library:
BR1.1
ABSTRACT
Khat (Catha edulis Forsk.) is a flowering perennial shrub cultivated for its neurostimulant properties resulting mainly from the occurrence of (S)-cathinone in young leaves. The biosynthesis of (S)-cathinone and the related phenylpropylamino alkaloids (1S,2S)-cathine and (1R,2S)-norephedrine is not well characterized in plants. We prepared a cDNA library from young khat leaves and sequenced 4,896 random clones, generating an expressed sequence tag (EST) library of 3,293 unigenes. Putative functions were assigned to > 98 percent of the ESTs, providing a key resource for gene discovery. Candidates potentially involved at various stages of phenylpropylamino alkaloid biosynthesis from L-phenylalanine to (1S,2S)-cathine were identified.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
LILACS
Main subject:
Phenylpropanolamine
/
Catha
Language:
English
Journal:
Genet. mol. biol
Journal subject:
Genetics
Year:
2011
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Canada
/
Israel
Institution/Affiliation country:
Ben-Gurion University of The Negev/IL
/
Medicinal and Spice Crops, Newe Ya'ar Research Center/IL
/
University of Calgary/CA
/
University of Western Ontario/CA