Presented by Vonny Salim
Medicinal plants have long been a rich source of bioactive compounds, such as alkaloids, which exhibit potent anticancer properties. These naturally occurring compounds play crucial roles in combating cancer by targeting specific cellular pathways, therefore positioning them as important chemotherapeutic agents. Despite their clinical significance, the extraction and purification of key compounds are constrained by low yields from plant sources. Recent advancements in genomic tools have accelerated the discovery and functional characterization of key biosynthetic enzymes. More recently, synthetic biology has enabled the reconstitution of these pathways in microbial systems, which has led to higher yields and the potential to create novel alkaloid derivatives. Through the integration of multi-omics approaches, we have identified key enzymes and their associated pathways and uncovered insights into their substrate-binding specificities, regioselectivity, and potential for enzyme engineering. Molecular modeling studies, including the integration of holographic immersive visualization technologies, have provided critical information on how to modulate these enzymes to diversify alkaloid structures with enhanced medicinal properties. These strategies collectively highlight the potential of engineered platforms and offer exciting prospects for the sustainable, large-scale production of plant-derived anticancer agents, further advancing the development of novel cancer therapeutics.
