Aster tataricus is a plant native to Siberia, Japan and Northern China. The roots of Aster tataricus are tradionally used in Chinese medicinal herb teas due to antibacterial and antiviral activities of compounds present in these roots. Amongst the secondary metabolites which have been isolated from these roots are astins and astin derivatives. Astins have been shown to have anti-tumour activity indicating an use in cancer therapy. However, only very low amounts of astins can be isolated from the plant. It is also difficult to synthesise them chemically without environmental impacts.
Astins are dichlorinated, cyclic pentapeptides containing non-proteinogenic amino acids indicating a biosynthesis via non-ribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPS) and the involvement of one or two halogenases in the biosynthesis.
The aim of the project is to detect the genes of the astin biosynthesis “gene cluster” and to use the genes to enhance astin production in organ cultures like hairy roots or callus.