Dynamics of secondary metabolites in varieties of Casearia sylvestris and initial studies of genes related to enzymes GGPP synthase and shikimate dehydrogenase (DHS)

Abstract

Casearia sylvestris is an arboreous species widely spread throughout Brazil and much used in folk medicine. Clerodane diterpenes and gallic acid derivatives are the secondary metabolites related to anti-ulcerogenic and antitumor activities, and inhibitors of metalloproteinases from snake venom, respectively. Another striking feature of this species is its recognized morphological and anatomical plasticity, characterized by two extremes varieties: var. lingua, which occurs in areas of Cerrado, and var. sylvestris, common in areas of Atlantic Rain Forest. Considering that there are information of genetic diversity among these varieties and important differences in the profile of secondary metabolites, this project proposes to conduct studies on metabolic dynamics (circadian and seasonal) in terpenes and gallic acid derivatives, using for that one tree of C . sylvestris var. lingua and the other of var. sylvestris, aimed a detailed characterization of these metabolites produced by this plant. Additionally, preliminary studies will be carried out on molecular biology in order to start the characterization of genes related to key enzymes (SDH and GGPP) involved in the production of diterpenes and gallates.(AU)