Metabolic Engineering of Yeast and Plants for the Production of the Biologically Active Hydroxystilbene, Resveratrol

Abstract

Resveratrol, a stilbenic compound deriving from the phenyalanine/polymalonate route, being stilbene synthase the last and key enzyme of this pathway, recently has become the focus of a number of studies in medicine and plant physiology. Increased demand for this molecule for nutraceutical, cosmetic and possibly pharmaceutic uses, makes its production a necessity. In this context, the use of biotechnology through recombinant microorganisms and plants is particularly promising. Interesting results can indeed arise from the potential of genetically modified microorganisms as an alternative mechanism for producing resveratrol. Strategies used to tailoring yeast as they do not possess the genes that encode for the resveratrol pathway, will be described. On the other hand, most interest has centered in recent years, on STS gene transfer experiments from various origins to the genome of numerous plants. This work also presents a comprehensive review on plant molecular engineering with the STS gene, resulting in disease resistance against microorganisms and the enhancement of the antioxidant activities of several fruits in transgenic lines.

MALDI Mass Spectrometry Imaging for the Simultaneous Location of Resveratrol, Pterostilbene and Viniferins on Grapevine Leaves

“…Phytoalexins are of great interest because they are biosynthetized in response to biotic or abiotic stress. They are also well known for inducing an antifungal activity [13][14][15][16][17][18] and, for example, we observed by MSI experiment a co-localization of resveratrol and pterostilbene (trimethoxystilbene) at the infection site on the leaf abaxial side (Cabernet Sauvignon) [12] after infection by downy mildew. MSI allowed the identification and mapping of resveratrol and pterostilbene but the biosynthesis of some other stilbenes is also expected to be induced in grapevine leaves and even berries in response to pathogen infection or UV irradiation [19][20][21].…”

Research Article Coupled transcript and metabolite identification: insights on induction and synthesis of resveratrol in peanut, wild relatives and synthetic allotetraploid.

“…Besides, it also synthesizes resveratrol (trans-3,5,4'-trihydroxystilbene) (Jeandet et al, 2012), that is a phytoalexin that is part of defense system to biotic and abiotic stresses, such as UV irradiation (Chung et al, 2003). It is also a powerful antioxidant that has been considered therapeutic for humans (Baur and Sinclair, 2006).…”

Role of Phytoalexins in Plant-Microbe Interactions and Human Health

“…But it does not seem to be effective against leukemia. However, it seems to have some anticancer activities in hepatoma, lung carcinoma and intestinal tumors [10].Several studies provide evidence of the cardioprotective activity of phytoalexins such as indoles and stilbenes [10,31]. Some other phytoalexins like the steroid glycoalkaloids from potato or the dimeric sesquiterpene gossypol from cotton display a certain level of toxicity for humans.…”