Tomato fruits expressing a bacterial feedback-insensitive 3-deoxy-D-arabino-heptulosonate 7-phosphate synthase of the shikimate pathway possess enhanced levels of multiple specialized metabolites and upgraded aroma

J Exp Bot. 2013 Nov;64(14):4441-52. doi: 10.1093/jxb/ert250. Epub 2013 Sep 4.

Abstract

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) fruit contains significant amounts of bioactive compounds, particularly multiple classes of specialized metabolites. Enhancing the synthesis and accumulation of these substances, specifically in fruits, are central for improving tomato fruit quality (e.g. flavour and aroma) and could aid in elucidate pathways of specialized metabolism. To promote the production of specialized metabolites in tomato fruit, this work expressed under a fruit ripening-specific promoter, E8, a bacterial AroG gene encoding a 3-deoxy-d-arabino-heptulosonate 7-phosphate synthase (DAHPS), which is feedback-insensitive to phenylalanine inhibition. DAHPS, the first enzyme of the shikimate pathway, links between the primary and specialized metabolism derived from aromatic amino acids. AroG expression influenced the levels of number of primary metabolites, such as shikimic acid and aromatic amino acids, as well as multiple volatile and non-volatile phenylpropanoids specialized metabolites and carotenoids. An organoleptic test, performed by trained panellists, suggested that the ripe AroG-expressing tomato fruits had a preferred floral aroma compare with fruits of the wild-type line. These results imply that fruit-specific manipulation of the conversion of primary to specialized metabolism is an attractive approach for improving fruit aroma and flavour qualities as well as discovering novel fruit-specialized metabolites.

Keywords: 3-deoxy-d-arabino-heptulosonate 7-phosphate synthase; Aromatic amino acids; metabolism; shikimate pathway; tomato; volatiles..

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 3-Deoxy-7-Phosphoheptulonate Synthase / metabolism*
  • Amino Acids, Aromatic / biosynthesis
  • Escherichia coli / enzymology*
  • Feedback, Physiological*
  • Fruit / enzymology*
  • Fruit / genetics
  • Fruit / growth & development
  • Metabolic Networks and Pathways
  • Metabolome*
  • Odorants*
  • Plants, Genetically Modified
  • Shikimic Acid / metabolism*
  • Solanum lycopersicum / enzymology*
  • Solanum lycopersicum / genetics
  • Volatile Organic Compounds / metabolism

Substances

  • Amino Acids, Aromatic
  • Volatile Organic Compounds
  • Shikimic Acid
  • 3-Deoxy-7-Phosphoheptulonate Synthase