Biosynthetic system of camptothecin: An anticancer plant product

Camptothecin is one of the clinically used anticancer compounds derived from plants. We have established a hairy root culture , which efficiently produces camptothecin. The strictosidine synthase cDNA was obtained from , and its properties were characterized using recombinant protein expressed in . The mechanisms of camptothecin transport and self-resistance of producing plant cells have also been investigated. These studies offer a basis for pathway engineering of camptothecin in the future.