Glucosinolate biosynthesis from amino acids

Abstract

Glucosinolates are natural plant products that are derived from aliphatic and aromatic amino acids by certain plants. Glucosinolates may be metabolized to a variety of potentially toxic products via myrosinase-catalysed hydrolysis. The enzyme and substrates are sequestered in different cell compartments and come into contact only upon tissue disruption. Glucosinolate-derived breakdown products are biologically active and influence interactions with insects and microbes as well as human health. In addition, indole glucosinolates contribute to the innate immune system of plants via the regulation of callose deposition in response to pathogen infection. Transcriptional regulation of glucosinolate biosynthesis is an important area of research, as is the spatial distribution of glucosinolates using imaging techniques