Genetic discovery: Plant could revolutionize new medicines!

Genetic discovery: Plant could revolutionize new medicines!

The nightshade family, which includes plants such as physalis and the sleepberry (Withania somnifera), is known for its ability to produce bioactive steroids called withanolides. These substances are increasingly being used in traditional plant medicine, and their potential for developing novel drugs, for example for treating cancer, is currently the focus of intensive research. A multidisciplinary research team led by Prof. Dr. Jakob Franke from Leibniz University Hannover and Prof. Dr. Boas Pucker from the University of Bonn has made significant progress in deciphering the biosynthesis of these active ingredients. The project is funded with around 511,000 euros by the German Research Foundation until 2026 uni-hannover.de reported.

As part of their research, the scientists compared the genome sequences of withanolide-producing and non-producing nightshades. A gene region was discovered that is crucial for the formation of withanolides. The first steps of the corresponding metabolic pathway could be recreated in model organisms such as baker's yeast and Nicotiana benthamiana. The knowledge gained should not only support the complete elucidation of the withanolide metabolic pathway, but could also serve as a basis for the development of new pesticides and active pharmaceutical ingredients.

Medical relevance of withanolide

Withanolides have numerous health-related properties that are increasingly being recognized in the scientific literature. Studies show that the sleep berry can reduce stress and improve sleep quality. In addition, the anti-inflammatory and calming effects of these substances are highlighted, which supports their use as therapeutic agents in modern medicine. Research papers like those published in the journal Nature Communications published, deal intensively with the chemical aspects and the pharmaceutical evaluation of withanolides.

However, the biosynthesis of withanolides in plants is not fully understood, as Professor Claude Becker from the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich notes. In his group, a gene cluster was identified that is responsible for the synthesis of the active ingredients in the ground cherry (Physalis grisea). The complex contains genes for enzymes connected in series in a biosynthetic pathway, which ensure common regulation and inheritance of the genes involved. This discovery provides information about the different divisions and regulations in the gene cluster, which are epigenetically influenced and enable differentiated chemical defense in above- and below-ground plant parts.

The comparative genetic studies show that the duplication of the gene cluster does not occur in tomatoes and potatoes, for example, which makes this area of ​​biosynthesis within the nightshade family special. The research thus opens up new perspectives for the extraction and use of withanolides in both agriculture and pharmaceuticals.

Overall, research on nightshade plants offers valuable insights that could be crucial for the future development of innovative medicines and herbal products. The field of epigenetics also opens up new perspectives on the biosynthetic potential of these plants. The promising results lay the foundation for further studies and applications in herbal medicine research, such as lmu.de reported.