Biosynthesis of Antinutritional Alkaloids in Solanaceous Crops Is Mediated by Clustered Genes

• DOI: 10.1126/science.1240230
• Publication Date: 2013-06-21T04:39:30Z
• Authors: M. Itkin; U. Heinig; O. Tzfadia; A. J. Bhide; B. Shinde; P. D. Cardenas; S. E. Bocobza; T. Unger; S. Malitsky; R. Finkers; Y. Tikunov; A. Bovy; Y. Chikate; P. Singh; I. Rogachev; J. Beekwilder; A. P. Giri; A. Aharoni
• Keywords: Crops, Agricultural; 0301 basic medicine; 2. Zero hunger; Gene Expression Profiling; pathways; plant; tomato; 15. Life on land; Genes, Plant; Solanaceous Alkaloids; 03 medical and health sciences; Solanum lycopersicum; glycoalkaloids; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; saponins; Multigene Family; potato; Gene Silencing; Nutritive Value; metabolites; Solanum tuberosum

From Nasty to Tasty

Some of our favorite food crops derive from wild relatives that were distasteful or even toxic. Domestication over many years selected for variants with reduced levels of antinutritional compounds. The wild relatives remain valuable, however, for other traits such as resistance to pathogens, but their use in crop development is complicated by the continued presence of unpalatable compounds.

Itkin et al.

(p. 175 , published online 20 June) elucidate the metabolic pathways and genes directing synthesis of some of these antinutritionals in potato and tomato.