Neotyphodium uncinatum and Neotyphodium siegelii are fungal symbionts (endophytes) of meadow fescue (MF; Lolium pratense), which they protect from insects by producing loline alkaloids. High levels of lolines are produced following insect damage or mock herbivory (clipping). Although loline alkaloid levels were greatly elevated in regrowth after clipping, loline-alkaloid biosynthesis (LOL) gene...

Sacred lotus is rich in biologically active compounds, particularly benzylisoquinoline alkaloids (BIAs). Here, we report on isolation of genes encoding (S)-norcoclaurine synthase (NCS) in sacred lotus, which is a key entry-enzyme in BIA biosynthesis. Seven NCS genes, designated NnNCS1 through NnNCS7, were identified in the sacred lotus genome, and five are located next to each other within a 83...

Recently medium conditions have been developed which stimulate the formation of the indole alkaloid ajmalicine in cell suspension cultures of Catharanthus roseus [6]. When cells were subjected to these conditions the alkaloid accumulation was preceded by a 12-fold increase of the specific activity of tryptophan decarboxylase. The enzyme activity showed a maximum two days after the cell transfer...

The isocarbostyril alkaloid narciclasine, also known as lycoricidinol, was discovered in Narcissus species (Amaryllidaceae) in 1967. A few years later, the 60S subunit of ribosomes, and thus protein biosynthesis, were shown to be directly targeted by narciclasine. Due to its selective and highly potent cytotoxic action on cancer cells, narciclasine was intensively investigated as an antitumor c...