Characterization of spermidine hydroxycinnamoyl transferases from eggplant ( Solanum melongena L.) and its wild relative Solanum richardii Dunal

A key enzyme in eggplant and its wild relatives could be used to develop stress-resistant plants and fruits with health-giving properties. Spermidine hydroxycinnamoyl transferase (SHT) catalyzes the final step in production of antioxidants called hydroxycinnamic acid amides (HCAAs). These antioxidants play critical roles in plant growth, development and stress responses, and are also known to act against cancers, microbial diseases and high blood pressure. Tianbao Yang and Bruce Whitaker at Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, USA, and coworkers characterized SHT in both cultivated eggplant and one of its wild relatives. They found that the activity of SHT in the wild plant was much higher than that in cultivated eggplant. The wild SHT could therefore be used to engineer new eggplant varieties with increased levels of HCAAs, giving greater tolerance to environmental stresses and more nutritional benefits.