Research advances in molecular mechanism of nicotine biosynthesis

Nicotine is the major alkaloid in tobacco and its biosynthesis is controlled by a variety of factors including developmental stage,phytohormones,and biotic and abiotic stresses.Progress in nicotine biosynthesis pathway and related enzymes,related regulators,and methods in gene isolation and function analysis was reviewed.Additional insights into regulating gene expression and engineering nicotine biosynthesis in tobacco plant were proposed.