Discovering enzymes from plant alkaloid biosynthesis

Plants produce a variety of nitrogen-containing molecules known as alkaloids,
many of which are bioactive and used as medicines (e.g. morphine,
vinblastine). These compounds are often structurally complex and
challenging to form using traditional synthetic chemistry. By discovering and
characterising the enzymes that are involved in alkaloid biosynthesis, it will
be possible to use these to produce alkaloids or their derivatives in vitro or
using synthetic biology approaches.
This project will involve the discovery and characterisation of biosynthetic

enzymes from plants. Initially gene candidates will be identified using RNA-
sequencing and then cloned and the enzymes expressed using recombinant

technologies. Relevant enzyme activities will identified using mass-
spectrometry. Newly discovered biosynthetic enzymes will be biochemically

characterised and used to synthesise complex alkaloids. The aim of this
project is to understand how plants produce complex molecules in order to
develop technologies to make high-value compounds.