Biotechnological Approaches to Optimize the Production of Amaryllidaceae Alkaloids

Biomolecules. 2022 Jun 25;12(7):893. doi: 10.3390/biom12070893.

Abstract

Amaryllidaceae alkaloids (AAs) are plant specialized metabolites with therapeutic properties exclusively produced by the Amaryllidaceae plant family. The two most studied representatives of the family are galanthamine, an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor used as a treatment of Alzheimer's disease, and lycorine, displaying potent in vitro and in vivo cytotoxic and antiviral properties. Unfortunately, the variable level of AAs' production in planta restricts most of the pharmaceutical applications. Several biotechnological alternatives, such as in vitro culture or synthetic biology, are being developed to enhance the production and fulfil the increasing demand for these AAs plant-derived drugs. In this review, current biotechnological approaches to produce different types of bioactive AAs are discussed.

Keywords: amaryllidaceae alkaloids; bioactive molecules; biosynthesis; biotechnological approach; in vitro cultures; synthetic biology.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acetylcholinesterase
  • Amaryllidaceae Alkaloids* / pharmacology
  • Amaryllidaceae*
  • Cholinesterase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Galantamine

Substances

  • Amaryllidaceae Alkaloids
  • Cholinesterase Inhibitors
  • Galantamine
  • Acetylcholinesterase

Grants and funding

This work was funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada—Discovery Grants Program Award No RGPIN-2021-03218 to I.D-P and by the Canada Research Chair on Plant Specialized Metabolism Award No 950-232164 to Isabel Desgagne-Penix. Many thanks are extended to the Canadian taxpayers and to the Canadian government for supporting the Discovery and the Canada Research Chairs Program.