[Growth and accumulation of shikonin compounds of two kinds of cells in suspension culture of Arnebia euchroma].

Via studying the phenotype, growth curve and secondary metabolites of two kinds of suspension culture cell of Arnebia euchroma, the kinetics parameters of growth and accumulation of shikonin compounds in cell suspension culture of A. euchroma was obtained through simulating and modeling. This Study found that the red high-yielding one was a fine cell line for producing shikonin compounds, and the white low-yielding one may be a mutant.

Artemisinin biosynthesis enhancement in transgenic Artemisia annua plants by downregulation of the β-caryophyllene synthase gene.

Artemisinin is an effective antimalarial drug isolated from the medicinal plant Artemisia annua L. Due to its increasing market demand and the low yield in A. annua, there is a great interest in increasing its production.

Salicylic acid activates artemisinin biosynthesis in Artemisia annua L.

This paper provides evidence that salicylic acid (SA) can activate artemisinin biosynthesis in Artemisia annua L. Exogenous application of SA to A. annua leaves was followed by a burst of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the conversion of dihydroartemisinic acid into artemisinin.

Identification of a Polygonum cuspidatum three-intron gene encoding a type III polyketide synthase producing both naringenin and p-hydroxybenzalacetone.

Benzalacetone synthase (BAS) is a member of the plant-specific type III PKS superfamily that catalyzes a one-step decarboxylative condensation of 4-coumaroyl-CoA with malonyl-CoA to produce p-hydroxybenzalacetone. In our recent work (Ma et al. in Planta 229(3):457-469, 2008), a three-intron type III PKS gene (PcPKS2) was isolated from Polygonum cuspidatum Sieb.

A novel type III polyketide synthase encoded by a three-intron gene from Polygonum cuspidatum.

A type III polyketide synthase cDNA and the corresponding gene (PcPKS2) were cloned from Polygonum cuspidatum Sieb. et Zucc. Sequencing results showed that the ORF of PcPKS2 was interrupted by three introns, which was an unexpected finding because all type III PKS genes studied so far contained only one intron at a conserved site in flowering plants, except for an Antirrhinum majus chalcone synthase gene.

[Advances in sesquiterpene synthases cyclases of Artemisia annua].

Artemisinin,a new and a very potent antimalarial drug, is produced by the plant Artemisia annua L. with a very low yield ranging from 0.01% to 0.

[Metabolic engineering of terpenoids in plants].

Terpenoids are present in all organisms but are especially abundant in plants, with more than 30,000 compounds. Not only do they play an important role in the life of plant, but also have high commercial values. However, the content of many important terpenoids in plant is very low.

Molecular cloning and overexpression of a novel UDP-glucosyltransferase elevating salidroside levels in Rhodiola sachalinensis.

Salidroside is a novel effective adaptogenic drug extracted from the medicinal plant Rhodiola sachalinensis A. Bor. Because this plant is a rare resource and has low yield, there is great interest in enhancing the production of salidroside.

[Advances in molecular regulation of artemisinin biosynthesis].

Artemisinin, a new and a very potent antimalarial drug, is produced by the Chinese medicinal herb Artemisia annua L. It is a sesquiterpene lactone with an endoperoxide bridge and is active against chloroquine resistant forms of Plasmodium falciparum. The relatively low yield (0.

[Effect of factors on callus biomass and synthetic mass of hypericin in Hypericum perforatum].

Objective: To study the effect of several factors on the quantity of hypericin in H. perforatum callus.

Method: High efficiency liquid phase chromatography and plant tissue culture were applied.

Studies on the effects of fpf1 gene on Artemisia annua flowering time and on the linkage between flowering and artemisinin biosynthesis.

The flowering promoting factor1 ( fpf1) from Arabidopsis thaliana was transferred into Artemisia annua L. via Agrobacterium tumefaciens. The fpf1 gene was firstly inserted in the binary vector pBI121 under the control of CaMV 35S promoter to construct the plant expression vector pBIfpf1, then leaf explants of A.

Anther-specific expression of ipt gene in transgenic tobacco and its effect on plant development.

Isopentenyl transferase (ipt) gene from Agrobacterium tumefaciens T-DNA was placed under the control of a TA29 promoter which expresses specifically in anther. The chimeric TA29-ipt gene was transferred to tobacco plants. During flowering, mRNA of the ipt gene in the anthers of the transgenic plants accumulated and the level of iPA + iPs increased 3-4-fold in the leaves, petals, pistils, and stamens compared with those in the wild type plants.