Influence of Agrobacterium oncogenes on secondary metabolism of plants

The transgenic hairy root cultures have revolutionized the role of tissue culture of plants in the production of secondary metabolites. It was shown that hairy roots often exhibit about the same or higher biosynthetic capacity for secondary metabolite production comparing to their normal roots. Using this methodology, a big number of chemical compounds has been synthesized. The role of single rol genes in secondary metabolite production was studied. Stimulatory effect on the production of secondary metabolites has been shown for genes rolA, rolB, rolC . These genes are present in naturally trasgenic Linaria and Nicotiana plants that are discussed as a model for study of possible evolutionary function of rol genes in the control of secondary metabolites.