MULTIPLE LEVELS OF CONTROL IN THE REGULATION OF ALKALOID BIOSYNTHESIS

摘要

Alkaloids are a diverse group of natural products represented by more than 12, 000 structures in about 20% of plant species. These nitrogenous compounds function in the defense of plants against herbivores and pathogens, and are widely exploited as pharmaceuticals, stimulants, and posions due to their potent morphine and codine, the muscle relaxant(+)-tubocurarine, the antibiotics saguinarine and berberine, the anticancer agent vinblastine, the antiarrythimc ajmaline, the pupil diator atropine, and the sedative scopolamine(Fig.7.1).