Steviol glycoside biosynthesis

• Published in: Phytochemistry (Oxford) Vol. 68; no. 14; pp. 1855 - 1863
• Main Authors: Brandle, J.E., Telmer, P.G.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Ltd 01.07.2007; Elsevier
• Subjects: Asteraceae; biochemical pathways; Biological and medical sciences; Biological Transport; Biosynthesis; chemistry; cytochrome P-450; Diterpene glycoside; Diterpenes, Kaurane; Diterpenes, Kaurane - biosynthesis; Diterpenes, Kaurane - chemistry; diterpenoids; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; genetics; Glucosyltransferase; glycosides; Glycosides - biosynthesis; Glycosides - chemistry; Glycosides - genetics; Glycosyltransferases; Glycosyltransferases - metabolism; herbaceous plants; Metabolism; Metabolism. Physicochemical requirements; Molecular Structure; Multienzyme Complexes; Multienzyme Complexes - metabolism; P450; perennials; physiological transport; Plant physiology and development; Stevia; Stevia rebaudiana; steviol; Terpene cyclase; Terpenes; Terpenes - metabolism; Vacuoles; Vacuoles - metabolism; Asteraceae; Terpene cyclase; Stevia rebaudiana; Biosynthesis; Diterpene glycoside; P450; Stevia; Glucosyltransferase; Terpenoid; Genomics; Plant leaf; Compositae; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Diterpene; Spermatophyta; Glycoside; Gibberellic acid
• ISSN: 0031-9422; 1873-3700
• DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2007.02.010

Steviol glycosides are found in high concentrations in the leaves of the Paraguayan perennial herb Stevia rebaudiana, their intense sweetness and high concentration in Stevia leaf tissue has made them the subject of research interest for over 100 years. The convergence of genomics and plant biochemistry has led to the rapid elucidation of the genes coding for the various enzymes in the biosynthetic pathway. Steviol glycosides are found in high concentrations in the leaves of the Paraguayan perennial herb Stevia rebaudiana and their intense sweetness, as well as high concentration in Stevia leaf tissue, has made them the subject of research interest for over 100 years. Steviol glycosides are diterpenoids whose biosynthetic pathways share four steps in common with gibberellic acid formation. The convergence of genomics and plant biochemistry has led to the rapid elucidation of the genes coding for the various enzymes in the biosynthetic pathway. Functional characterization of the enzymes coded for by those genes is on-going. The first committed step in the pathway is the synthesis of the aglycone steviol and the various glycosides found in the leaf tissue result from the elaboration of steviol by a number of glucosyltransferases.