NATURAL PRODUCTS

Project Leaders Rod Casey, Claire Domoney, Stanislav Kopriva, Trevor Wang and Anne Osbourn (from summer 2005).

This theme focuses on the function and evolutionary origin of natural product diversity.

Oxylipins. These plant compounds are derived by oxygenation of polyunsaturated fatty acids, and have roles in plant response to stress. They have many potential applications as 'green' plant protectants, flavours, fragrances and chemical feedstocks. Work is in collaboration with colleagues in the Department of Biological Chemistry, and is directed at understanding the enzymes that catalyse the synthesis of this diverse family of chemicals. Information from this study can be used to generate novel enzymes that will synthesise new oxylipins with further potential industrial applications. (Rod Casey)

Isoflavonoids. These compounds are produced in legumes, and are important in the nutritional quality of fodder and as potential pharmaceuticals. With Cathie Martin (Department of Cell and Developmental Biology) and with colleagues at the Institute of Environmental and Grasslands Research we are discovering how expression of the genes encoding enzymes of isoflavonoid synthesis is regulated, and using metabolite profiling technology to explore the function of these compounds in the plant. (Trevor Wang)

Pea seed proteins. Work on nutritionally important pea seed proteins is funded by DEFRA and the European Union, and is in collaboration with Noel Ellis and colleagues in the Department of Crop Genetics. We are identifying genetic variation and genetic markers of use to breeders. The research has also shown that the trypsin-chymotrypsin inhibitors of pea seeds have anticancer properties. These are being explored through external collaborations. (Claire Domoney)

Triterpenes. We are exploring the origin and function of plant compounds derived from triterpenes. Genetics, transcriptome analysis, proteomics, and biochemistry are being applied to dissect the pathways of synthesis in cereals and in Arabidopsis. We wish to understand the recent evolution of the gene families involved, in particular the "inheritance" of enzymes of this pathway from pathways of primary metabolism. This work provides testable models for the diversification of pathways of secondary metabolism in general. A major research area is the role of the triterpene saponins in the interactions between plants and fungal pathogens. (Anne Osbourn)

The sulphated metabolome. In a new project, we will explore the origins of diversity of the sulphated metabolome. Remarkably little is known about the nature, synthesis and function of sulphur-containing secondary metabolites in plants, but they are probably important in plant defence against stress. We will develop specific metabolite-profiling technology for sulphated compounds, and use it to characterise plants lacking particular enzymes likely to be central to sulphur metabolism. (Stanislav Kopriva)