• Oksman-Caldentey, Kirsi-Marja
• Inze, Dirk

Abstract

SOLUCEL technology is based on the current advancement in understandingplant genomes, and on the development of novel tools for high throughputselecting and testing genes involved in the production of plant secondarymetabolites. It can be applied (i) to enhance the production of marketedhigh-value pharmaceuticals in plant cell cultures (ii) to develop reliable andreproducible sources of plant-derived molecules with potential pharmaceuticalvalue, and (iii) to increase the chemical diversity of plant based moleculesthrough Combinatorial Biochemistry. We have developed this technology usingthe nicotine alkaloid biosynthesis pathway as a model system. A few exampleswill be given of how overexpressing some novel genes can be used either totailor cell cultures to enhance the production of nicotine alkaloids or todirect biosynthetic pathways in related plant species. Furthermore, thesenovel genes may play an important role in secondary metabolism as masterregulators in general.

Topics

• impedance spectroscopy