Logo
 Home | Sitemap | Contact us | Search | Language
Left Right
Home >> Plant Biotechnology and Genomics >> Genetically Modified-GM Crops and Floricultural Plants >> Genes for Other Insecticidal Secondary Metabolites


Genes for other insecticidal secondary metabolites

Secondary metabolites produced by plants have also been implicated in resistance to insect attack. However, biosynthesis of each of these metabolites involves a series of steps (sometimes even more than one biosynthetic pathway may be involved), each controlled by a separate gene. Furthermore, these genes are tissue specific in expression.

These features make the production of transgenic plants difficult in this case. Protease inhibitors discussed in the previous section are also secondary metabolites, but their transfer is easier, since each is single gene controlled.

The production of transgenic plants by transfer of genes for entire multi-enzyme biosynthetic pathway (or for its augmentation) has now been possible (see later for vitamin A). For this purpose not only the transfer of genes is required, but the gene expression needs to be regulated, otherwise it leads to 'yield penalty' and also to toxic effect when consumed by humans and livestock.

Defined promoter sequences are now available, which will, allow in the transgenic plants, a control over temporal and spatial expression of genes for biosynthetic pathways of secondary metabolites. Utilizing these facilities, transgenic plants with insect resistance due to secondary metabolites will be available in future.

 

Left Right