Alkaloid Biosynthesis and Transport

• Alkaloid biosynthesis. Alkaloids are a class of natural products that have had an enormous impact on the quality of human life. Their impressive range of bioactivities has led to utilization as pharmaceuticals, stimulants, and pesticides (e.g. morphine, caffeine, nicotine). Our group specializes in the discovery of plant enzymes involved in the conversion of simple metabolic building blocks into complex alkaloid structures.

• Alkaloid transport. Very often, plant alkaloids are accumulated in tissues that are different from the ones that produce them. Our group investigates the long-distance networks translocating alkaloids from biosynthesis sites to storage sites, with emphasis on the discovery of transporter proteins.

• Synthetic biology. We use our discoveries to devise strategies for the cost-effective production of medicinal alkaloids in production hosts such as yeast or the model plant Nicotiana benthamiana. In cases where toxic alkaloids accumulate in promising crop plants, we use novel breeding technologies to remove the toxic alkaloids from the edible parts of the plant in a selective manner.

M.Sc. and B.Sc. projects are currently available for motivated students wishing to work with us. Please send a brief motivation letter as well as transcript list (courses taken and grades obtained) to group leader Fernando Geu-Flores at feg@plen.ku.dk