Chemical and molecular (cDNA - SRAP) approaches from precursor-directed biosynthesis experiments in Uncaria guianensis

• Grant number: 16/18799-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: December 01, 2016
• End date: November 30, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Organic Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Adriana Aparecida Lopes
• Grantee: Bruno Musquiari
• Host Institution: Universidade de Ribeirão Preto (UNAERP). Campus Ribeirão Preto. Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 13/07349-9 - Oxindole alkaloids from Uncaria tomentosa: biosynthetic studies and alkaloids analogues obtained by precursor-directed biosynthesis, AP.JP

Abstract

Natural products represent a successful alternative in searching for new drugs. The following project proposal is precursor-directed biosynthesis (BDP) procedures to obtain natural products analogues. The target of this structural diversification is class of alkaloids; pentacyclic oxindole alkaloids (POA) and tetracyclic oxindole alkaloids (TOA) accumulated in the specie U. guianensis. Previous studies have successfully demonstrated the incorporation of fluoro-tryptamine precursors into AOP and AOT biosynthesis from U. guianensis. However, the incorporation of fluorinated tryptophan precursors seems be toxic to the plantlets. Thus, we propose a chemical (HPLC-DAD-MS / MS) and molecular (cDNA-SRAP) investigations of plantlets incubated with L-5-fluoro-tryptophan and and/or DL-5-fluoro-tryptophan, and (DL)-5-fluoro-tryptamine. These analyses, especially molecular approach, will bring meaningful information about gene expression differences that may be related to the primary and/or secondary U. guianensis metabolism. (AU)