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Plants possess an intricate array of specialized metabolites, many of which hold significant value for pharmaceutical and industrial applications to human society. However, the exploration of specialized metabolic pathways that underlie specific chemical traits in nonmodel plants has been a technical challenge. This exploration has historically lagged, especially when compared to the more advanced studies of bacterial systems. Recent advancements in the fields of genomics, metabolomics, phylogenomics, and synthetic biology have now ushered in a new era. These developments enable a more efficient and in-depth workflow for investigating previously unknown specialized metabolic systems in nonmodel plant hosts. In my upcoming presentation, I will discuss our team's current efforts in decoding and elucidating unknown specialized metabolic pathways in a variety of medicinal plants, leveraging this innovative workflow. These case studies demonstrate that we are entering a golden age for exploring the largely untapped and rich world of plant natural product biochemistry. This era promises to unlock a wealth of knowledge and potential applications, further bridging the gap between plant biochemistry and human benefits.
Jing‐Ke Weng (Fri,) studied this question.