Systems and Quantitative Biology

Strigolactones (SLs) are a class of phytohormones that play crucial and diverse roles in plant growth and development. Initially discovered in root exudates, SLs function as chemical signals in interactions with parasitic weeds and symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. They have also been recognized as a novel class of hormones involved in regulating above-ground plant structure. However, the low abundance and restricted presence of SLs in specific times and locations within plants make them challenging to detect and study. The extremely low accessibility to SLs hampers foundational research and practical applications of SLs. Recently, we have successfully established a microbial biosynthetic platform using Escherichia coli-Saccharomyces cerevisiae consortia for the production of various SLs. This platform provides a convenient and versatile approach to investigate SL biosynthesis, evolution, and lays the groundwork for developing microbial production processes for SLs. By utilizing this SL-producing platform, we have been able to identify functional enzymes involved in SL biosynthesis and uncover novel SLs. Significantly, this approach allows us to link these newly discovered SLs with their trace presence in plants, revealing their essential biological functions.