Mehran Dastmalchi
Assistant Professor
Campus
UTSC
CSB Appointment
Full
Research Areas
Biotechnology, Genetics / Genomics, Metabolomics, Molecular Biology, Plant Biology, Structural Biology
Education
Ph.D. Western University 2015, B.Sc. Honours, University of Toronto 2009
Primary Undergraduate Department
Department of Biological Sciences
Graduate Programs
Cell and Systems Biology
Research Description
We investigate the rich landscape of plant specialized metabolism—molecules that plants produce to communicate with and defend against the environment. Our work spans diverse species, particularly the Fabaceae (legume) and Apocynaceae (dogbane) families, with a focus on gene discovery, enzyme function, and regulation of biosynthetic pathways. We are interested in the evolution and divergence of enzyme function and the transport and compartmentalization of metabolites. We seek to understand and deploy plant-derived pathways in heterologous hosts such as engineered yeast. Novel fermentation platforms can advance synthetic biology as a tool for discovery and production of high-value metabolites for human health and agriculture.
Contact Information
Office: SY224
Lab: SY270/SW326
Email
Mailing Address
Department of Biological Sciences
University of Toronto
1265 Military Trail
Scarborough, ON M1C 1A4
Canada
Publications
2025
Chalcone isomerase-like (CHIL) impedes the lactone shunt and modulates flux partitioning in isoflavonoid biosynthesis
Raytek LM, Saltzman BC, Sharma M, Lee SG, Dastmalchi M
2025, Biochemical Engineering Journal, 10.1016/j.bej.2025.109853
2024
Characterization of a vacuolar importer of secologanin in Catharanthus roseus
Li F, Shahsavarani M, Handy-Hart C, Côté A, Brasseur-Trottier X, Montgomery V, Beech RN, Liu L, Bayen S, Qu Y, De Luca V, Dastmalchi M
2024, Communications Biology, 10.1038/s42003-024-06624-5
2022
A lesion-mimic mutant of Catharanthus roseus accumulates the opioid agonist, akuammicine
Li F, Bordeleau S, Kim KH, Turcotte J, Davis B, Liu L, Bayen S, De Luca V, Dastmalchi M
2022, Phytochemistry, 10.1016/j.phytochem.2022.113422
2021
Elusive partners: a review of the auxiliary proteins guiding metabolic flux in flavonoid biosynthesis
Dastmalchi M
2021, The Plant Journal, 10.1111/tpj.15446
2019
Neopinone isomerase is involved in codeine and morphine biosynthesis in opium poppy
Dastmalchi M, Chen X, Hagel JM, Chang L, Chen R, Ramasamy S, Yeaman S, Facchini PJ
2019, Nature Chemical Biology, 10.1038/s41589-019-0247-0