Terpene Biosynthesis

There are over 30,000 terpenoid natural products known. Many of these are from plants, where they play important roles in the ecological chemistry involved in interactions with insects and pathogens. Terpenoids can accumulate to high levels in some plant species and are significant components of essential oils that have found important uses in the flavour and fragrance industry. Others are of pharmaceutical importance. Our research involves the isolation and exploitation of key genes involved in the biosynthesis of terpenoids of relevance to industry or for plant protection applications.

Projects

  • cDNA cloning, functional expression and characterisation of sesquiterpene synthases. (Ian Prosser)
  • Synthesis of labelled isoprenoid diphosphate substrates and analogues for probing enzyme mechanisms (Andy Humphries)

In conjunction with Alison Huttly and John Pickett labs

  • Putting insects off the scent – expression of sesquiterpene synthases in transgenic plants and analysis of the effects on insect behaviour.
In conjunction with the Keith Edwards lab (University of Bristol)
  • Improved Striga control in Maize and Sorghum :- An EU-INCO-Dev programme – ISCIMAS.
We are concerned with the genes involved biosynthesis of Striga germination stimulants in maize roots. To identify these genes we are screening tagged maize collections and carrying out metabolite analysis of roots and root exudates. (Vicky Child)
Other partners in this project –
  • Plant Research International, Wageningen, the Netherlands
  • Institute d'Economie Rurale (RER), Mali
  • Institute de l'Environment et des Recherches Agricoles, Burkina Faso
  • Dept Theoretical Production Ecology, Wageningen University, Netherlands
  • International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Nigeria
Ian Prosser