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PSNA Newsletter 2 PSNA NEWS Phytochemical Society of North America Sociedad Fitoquímica de América del Norte Société Phytochimique de L’Amerique du Nord Volume 43, Number 1 April 2003 PRESIDENT’S LETTER Invitation to Peoria In August, our Society will have its used models. Today many are no the project leader have a good track annual meeting in the city of Peoria, longer extensively used. Are there record? e) For young scientists, do Illinois. This year’s topic is the use of specific criteria one should consider they have the potential to carry out the model systems to study secondary me- when choosing a model system? Fea- proposed research? In reality, there is tabolism. As in recent years, the or- sibility, of course, is an important one. no single model system to use in the ganizers chose a hot and important This is the reason why Arabidopsis study of living organisms. A genetic topic for phytochemists. At the begin- was adopted as a model. In several approach using Arabidopsis might al- ning of any research project or career cases, choosing the model will de- low a breakthrough in one area, but a questions emerge about the appropri- pend on who is funding the research. biochemical approach using a lily ate model system to study a specific This is not a trivial issue. Today, it is might make a greater contribution in problem. In fact, we use several model harder than ever to fund and main- another. The goal is to bring a diver- plants for studies in biochemistry, mo- tain a productive research group. Of- sity of approaches into play to solve lecular and cell biology, including ten, granting agencies expect that the fundamental plant problems (see R. Arabidopsis thaliana, Nicotiana proposal reports research objectives Goldberg, Plant Cell, 8: 347, 1996). tabacum, Zea mays, Oryza sativa, and as preliminary results. Few panels are Plants share their metabolic pathways others. The genome of some of these disposed to fund novel ideas and high- with many organisms. This is true in plants has been sequenced and some risk projects. Thus, few researchers secondary metabolism even when the proteomes are on the way. Choosing are able to take this risk. I know sev- final product is different. Please come a model is not an easy task, particu- eral top scientists that are working on to Peoria and share the experience of larly in the case of secondary metabo- light projects just to obtain funding the model you are working on. lism. During the 1980s and 1990s, and, in parallel, they perform more several groups developed several exciting, risky research. As a current Victor Loyola-Vargas models. Catharanthus roseus, member of a grant panel, my major Centro de Investigación Lithospermum erythrorhizon, Coptis questions are: (a) Is there an impor- Cientifica de Yucatán japonica and several tropane alkaloid- tant question to answer? (b) Is there a Mérida, Yucatán, México producing plants, such as Datura, At- contribution to knowledge? (c) Is the [email protected] ropa, Duboisia were among the most project leader well trained? (d) Does √ Will It Play in Peoria? - 2003 Annual Meeting Preview IN THIS ISSUE √ Eric Conn - 50 Years of Plant Biochemistry √ Hail to the Chief - Meet Our New Prez! √ Annual Meeting Forms and Information √ What Phytochemists Do When They’re Really Bored EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 2003 PSNA President Annual Meeting Victor Loyola-Vargas Centro de Investigación Cientifica de Yucatán Mérida, Yucatán, México Secondary 01-9-981-39-43 (phone) 01-9-981-39-00 (fax) Metabolism in [email protected] CONTENTS Model Systems President-Elect Daneel Ferreira NCNPR, School of Pharmacy 1 President’s Letter The University of Mississippi August 9 - 13, 2003 University, MS 38677, USA Invitation to Peoria 662-915-1572 (phone) Peoria, Illinois 662-915-7062 (fax) 3 Preview of the 2003 [email protected] Annual Meeting The Phytochemical Society of Past-President Secondary Metabolism North America (PSNA) is a Richard A. Dixon Sam Roberts Noble Foundation in Model Systems nonprofit scientific organization whose membership is open to 2510 Sam Noble Parkway anyone with an interest in phy- Ardmore, OK 73401, USA 5 Phytochemical 580-221-7301 (phone) tochemistry and the role of plant 580-221-7380 (fax) Pioneers substances in related fields. An- [email protected] Eric Conn nual membership dues are U.S. $40 for regular members and $20 Secretary and Newsletter Editor 12 Goodfellas for student members. Annual Peter J. Facchini meetings featuring symposium Dept. of Biological Sciences Meet Some Members of Your topics of current interest and con- University of Calgary Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada Executive Committee tributed papers by conference 403-220-7651 (phone) participants are held throughout 403-289-9311 (fax) 14 Annual Meeting Flyer the United States, Canada, and [email protected] Mexico. PSNA meetings provide participants with exposure to the Treasurer 15 Will it Play in Peoria? cutting-edge research of promi- Charles L. Cantrell Get to Know Our Host City nent international scientists, but Hauser Inc. are still small enough to offer in- 4161 Specialty Place Longmont, CO 80504 16 2003 Annual Meeting formality and intimacy that are 720-652-7009 (phone) Symposia Speakers conducive to the exchange of 303-772-8166 (fax) ideas. This newsletter is circu- [email protected] lated to members to keep them 18 Registration, Abstract informed of upcoming meetings Editor-in-Chief John T. Romeo and developments within the so- and Accommodation Department of Biology Forms ciety, and to provide a forum for University of South Florida the exchange of information and Tampa, FL 33620, USA ideas. If you would like addi- 813-974-3250 (phone) 21 Phytochemistry Word tional information about the 813-974-3263 (fax) [email protected] Find PSNA, or if you have material For Those Really Slow Days that you would like included in the newsletter, please contact the ADVISORY COUNCIL 22 New RAP Volume PSNA Secretary and Newsletter Editor. Annual dues and changes Peter Constabel (2003) of address should be sent to the Jonathon Poulton (2003) Margaret Essenberg (2004) 23 Book Order Form PSNA Treasurer. Also check the Felipe Vazquez-Flota (2004) PSNA website at www.psna- Vincenzo De Luca (2005) online.org for regular updates. Joe Chappell (2005) 24 Membership Form Johnathan Gershenzon (2005) PREVIEW OF THE 2003 ANNUAL MEETING Secondary metabolism in model systems The increasing pace of genomic data lated human diseases. In addition, the plex glucosinolates (Jim Tokuhisa; base development for numerous crop increasingly popular Art Neish Young Max-Planck-Institute for Chemical species has had an enormous impact Investigator Minisymposium will be Ecology) and phenyl-propanoids on the approaches presently being animated with 5 presentations on dif- (Clint Chapple) will be explored. proposed for doing research on the ferent aspects of phytochemistry and Since many of these pathways also cell biology, biochemistry, molecular plant-insect interactions. exist in the other model crops being biology and metabolic engineering of considered in this meeting, it will be natural product pathways. This is interesting to see how the Arabidopsis based on the realization that there is Arabidopsis thaliana model will continue to impact com- a uniform message being transmitted mercially important field crops like from extensive sequencing of Over the past ten years, genetic ap- corn, rice and soybean. genomes from many different species proaches in Arabidopsis have provided of plants. This involves the repeated insights into aspects of phenyl- identification of identical classes of propanoid and glucosinolate biosyn- Legumes genes that are responsible for the di- thesis that had eluded investigators verse secondary metabolism path- using conventional biochemical ap- Legumes are a rich source of protein, ways within different plant species. proaches. Further, the Arabidopsis carbohydrate, and fat together with vi- Since information of this genome was sequenced and research- tamins and minerals that have made type has begun to facilitate the rapid ers interested in phytochemistry began them ideal vegetable sources for hu- cloning and characterization of re- to realize that it contained a treasure man and animal nutrition. The rich lated pathways in many more species trove of genes involved in natural and varied secondary product chem- of plants, the pace of discovery of product biosynthesis. As genes in- istry of legumes like soybeans are also how plants have evolved to manufac- volved in exotic secondary metabo- extremely important since they may ture their amazing diversity of sec- lism pathways were being cloned in help prevent human diseases. In the ondary products should increase rap- medicinal plants like Catharanthus case of forage legumes the presence idly in the next few years. This trend roseus, Atropa belladonna, Papaver or absence of different secondary has certainly been apparent in the last somniferum and Taxus canadensis, metabolites appears to be required to few meetings held by the PSNA several homologues of mostly un- improve their forage quality. The where symposia on diverse themes known function were being discovered symposium being organized by Mark like Regulation of Phytochemicals by in the growing Arabidopsis database. Gijzen from the Agriculture Canada Molecular Techniques, Phytochemis- Recent attempts to functionally char- Research Station in London, Ontario try in the Genomics and acterize the biosynthetic roles of these will include presentations by Richard Postgenomics Eras and most recently
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