Revisiting decade-old questions in proanthocyanidin biosynthesis: current understanding and new challenges

• DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1373975
• Publication Date: 2024-03-26T04:32:06Z
• Authors: Nan Lu
• Keywords: 0301 basic medicine; 570; 0303 health sciences; Plant culture; leucocyanidin reductase; Plant Science; proanthocyanidins; anthocyanidin reductase; condensed tannins; anthocyanin; SB1-1110

Proanthocyanidins (PAs), one of the most abundant natural polymers found in plants, are gaining increasing attention because their beneficial effects for agriculture and human health. The study PA biosynthesis has been active decades, progress drastically accelerated since discovery key enzymes such as Anthocyanidin Reductase (ANR), Leucoanthocyanidin (LAR), transcription factors Transparent Testa 2 (TT2) 8 (TT8) early 2000s. Scientists raised some compelling questions regarding about two decades ago hope that addressing these would lead to an enhanced understanding plants. These focus on nature starter extension units biosynthesis, stereochemistry monomers intermediates, how where polymerization or condensation steps work subcellularly. Here, I revisit long-standing provide update made toward answering them. Because advanced technologies genomics, bioinformatics metabolomics, we now have a much-improved functionalities identities intermediates pathway. Still, several questions, particularly ones related intracellular transportation deposition, well enzyme subcellular localization, largely remain be explored. Our various plant species led new set open suggesting future research directions gain more comprehensive biosynthesis.