This handbook provides comprehensive reference information on
the efficient production of secondary metabolites from plants by transgenesis and other genetic
manipulation strategies. It reviews and summarizes selected important case
studies in genetic methods applied to enhance the production of a given
metabolite or a group of related or derived compounds. Readers will find reference information on a multitude of techniques and methods,
including traditional breeding and screening; over-expression of genes
encoding key enzymes; functional genomics approaches; metabolic engineering
of the relevant biosynthetic pathways; indirect genetic approaches to improve
metabolite production, including Agrobacterium mediated transformations. Furthermore,
combinatorial biochemistry approaches to engineer secondary metabolic
pathways are summarized, which can offer access to new structures or to the design
of novel compounds.
Since many commercially valuable substances are still
extracted from plants, being largely inaccessible to efficient modern
laboratory synthesis methods, this book provides a valuable resource of
information for biotechnological approaches that can help to find alternative
and more efficient methods for the production of natural secondary
metabolites. Thus adjusted production methods, with the help of tailored
plant systems, can potentially help to release the stress on plants, which
are currently suffering from extensive human harvesting, and to conserve
global biodiversity.
Readers will find comprehensive reference information
on plant genetic manipulation toward more efficient synthesis, accumulation
and production of target secondary metabolites. The handbook will appeal to researchers and professionals, but also graduate students and
scholars working in the fields of biotechnology, genetic engineering,
medicinal plant research, pharmacy, and phytochemistry.
