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Xu H, Köllner TG, Chen F, Dickschat JS. Functional and Mechanistic Characterization of the 4,5-diepi-Isoishwarane Synthase from the Liverwort Radula lindenbergiana. Chembiochem 2024; 25:e202400104. [PMID: 38372483 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202400104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2024] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
The microbial type sesquiterpene synthase RlMTPSL4 from the liverwort Radula lindenbergiana was investigated for its products, showing the formation of several sesquiterpene hydrocarbons. The main product was structurally characterized as the new compound 4,5-diepi-isoishwarane, while the side products included the known hydrocarbons germacrene A, α-selinene, eremophilene and 4,5-diepi-aristolochene. The cyclization mechanism towards 4,5-diepi-isoishwarane catalyzed by RlMTPSL4 was investigated through isotopic labeling experiments, revealing the stereochemical course for the deprotonation step to the neutral intermediate germacrene A, a reprotonation for its further cyclization, and a 1,2-hydride shift along the cascade. The absolute configuration of 4,5-diepi-isoishwarane was determined using a stereoselective deuteration approach, revealing an absolute configuration typically observed for a microbial type sesquiterpene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Houchao Xu
- Kekulé Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bonn, Gerhard-Domagk-Straße 1, 53121, Bonn, Germany
| | - Tobias G Köllner
- Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Hans-Knöll-Straße 8, 07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Feng Chen
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee, 2431 Joe Johnson Drive, Knoxville, TN, 37996-4561, USA
| | - Jeroen S Dickschat
- Kekulé Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bonn, Gerhard-Domagk-Straße 1, 53121, Bonn, Germany
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2
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Ye D, Shao YZ, Li WR, Cui ZJ, Gong T, Yang JL, Wang HQ, Dai JG, Feng KP, Ma M, Ma SG, Liu YB, Zhu P, Yu SS. Characterization and Engineering of Two Highly Paralogous Sesquiterpene Synthases Reveal a Regioselective Reprotonation Switch. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202315674. [PMID: 38327006 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202315674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Sesquiterpene synthases (STPSs) catalyze carbocation-driven cyclization reactions that can generate structurally diverse hydrocarbons. The deprotonation-reprotonation process is widely used in STPSs to promote structural diversity, largely attributable to the distinct regio/stereoselective reprotonations. However, the molecular basis for reprotonation regioselectivity remains largely understudied. Herein, we analyzed two highly paralogous STPSs, Artabotrys hexapetalus (-)-cyperene synthase (AhCS) and ishwarane synthase (AhIS), which catalyze reactions that are distinct from the regioselective protonation of germacrene A (GA), resulting in distinct skeletons of 5/5/6 tricyclic (-)-cyperene and 6/6/5/3 tetracyclic ishwarane, respectively. Isotopic labeling experiments demonstrated that these protonations occur at C3 and C6 of GA in AhCS and AhIS, respectively. The cryo-electron microscopy-derived AhCS complex structure provided the structural basis for identifying different key active site residues that may govern their functional disparity. The structure-guided mutagenesis of these residues resulted in successful functional interconversion between AhCS and AhIS, thus targeting the three active site residues [L311-S419-C458]/[M311-V419-A458] that may act as a C3/C6 reprotonation switch for GA. These findings facilitate the rational design or directed evolution of STPSs with structurally diverse skeletons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Ye
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, People's Republic of China
| | - Yi-Zhen Shao
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, People's Republic of China
| | - Wen-Rui Li
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhen-Jia Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, People's Republic of China
| | - Ting Gong
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, People's Republic of China
| | - Jin-Ling Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, People's Republic of China
| | - Hai-Qiang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, People's Republic of China
| | - Jun-Gui Dai
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, People's Republic of China
| | - Ke-Ping Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, People's Republic of China
| | - Ming Ma
- Department State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Institution School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, People's Republic of China
| | - Shuang-Gang Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, People's Republic of China
| | - Yun-Bao Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, People's Republic of China
| | - Ping Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, People's Republic of China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Biosynthesis of Natural Products, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, People's Republic of China
| | - Shi-Shan Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, People's Republic of China
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Huang ZY, Taizoumbe KA, Liang C, Goldfuss B, Xu JH, Dickschat JS. Spiroluchuene A Synthase: A Cyclase from Aspergillus luchuensis Forming a Spirotetracyclic Diterpene. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023; 62:e202315659. [PMID: 37962519 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202315659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
The diterpene synthase AlTS was identified from Aspergillus luchuensis. AlTS catalyses the formation of the diterpene hydrocarbon spiroluchuene A, which exhibits a novel skeleton characterised by a spirocyclic ring system. The cyclisation mechanism towards this compound was elucidated through isotopic labelling experiments in conjunction with DFT calculations and metadynamic simulations. The biosynthetic intermediate luchudiene, besides the derivative spiroluchuene B, was captured from an enzyme variant obtained through site-directed mutagenesis. With its 10-membered ring luchudiene is structurally related to germacrenes and can undergo a Cope rearrangement to luchuelemene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng-Yu Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Shanghai Collaborative Innovation Centre for Biomanufacturing, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Kizerbo A Taizoumbe
- Kekulé-Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bonn, Gerhard-Domagk-Straße 1, 53121, Bonn, Germany
| | - Chengqin Liang
- College of Pharmacy, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, 541004, China
| | - Bernd Goldfuss
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cologne, Greinstraße 4, 50939, Cologne, Germany
| | - Jian-He Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Shanghai Collaborative Innovation Centre for Biomanufacturing, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Jeroen S Dickschat
- Kekulé-Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bonn, Gerhard-Domagk-Straße 1, 53121, Bonn, Germany
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Hu H, Li D, Bai R, Zhang W, Luo H, Yu E. Chemodiversity and Bioactivity of the Essential Oils of Juniperus and Implication for Taxonomy. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:15203. [PMID: 37894884 PMCID: PMC10607841 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242015203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Revised: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The essential oils of Juniperus are highly beneficial medicinally. The present study aimed to assess the chemodiversity and bioactivity of Juniperus formosana, Juniperus przewalskii, Juniperus convallium, Juniperus tibetica, Juniperus komarovii, and Juniperus sabina essential oils from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The results revealed 92 components in six essential oils: α-pinene (2.71-17.31%), sabinene (4.91-19.83%), and sylvestrene (1.84-8.58%) were the main components. Twelve components were firstly reported in Juniperus oils, indicating that the geographical location and climatic conditions of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau produced the unique characteristics of Juniperus essential oils. The chemodiversity of Juniperus essential oils varied greatly, with J. sabina having the most recognized components (64) and the highest chemodiversity (Shannon-Wiener index of 3.07, Simpson's diversity index of 0.91, and Pielou evenness of 0.74). According to the chemodiversity of essential oils, the six plants were decided into the α-pinene chemotype (J. formosana), hedycaryol chemotype (J. przewalskii, J. komarovii, J. convallium, J. tibetica), and sabinene chemotype (J. sabina). PCA, HCA and OPLS-DA showed that J. formosana and J. sabina were distantly related to other plants, which provides a chemical basis for the classification of Juniperus plants. Furthermore, bioactivity tests exhibited certain antioxidant and antibacterial effects in six Juniperus oils. And the bioactivities of J. convallium, J. tibetica, and J. komarovvii were measured for the first time, broadening the range of applications of Juniperus. Correlation analysis of components and bioactivities showed that δ-amorphene, β-udesmol, α-muurolol, and 2-nonanone performed well in the determination of antioxidant activity, and α-pinene, camphene, β-myrcene, as well as (E)-thujone, had strong inhibitory effects on pathogenic bacteria, providing a theoretical basis for further research on these components.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huizhong Hu
- College of Forestry, Northwest A & F University, Yangling 712100, China; (H.H.); (R.B.); (W.Z.); (H.L.); (E.Y.)
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Economic Plant Resources Development and Utilization, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Dengwu Li
- College of Forestry, Northwest A & F University, Yangling 712100, China; (H.H.); (R.B.); (W.Z.); (H.L.); (E.Y.)
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Economic Plant Resources Development and Utilization, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Ruxue Bai
- College of Forestry, Northwest A & F University, Yangling 712100, China; (H.H.); (R.B.); (W.Z.); (H.L.); (E.Y.)
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Economic Plant Resources Development and Utilization, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Weiping Zhang
- College of Forestry, Northwest A & F University, Yangling 712100, China; (H.H.); (R.B.); (W.Z.); (H.L.); (E.Y.)
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Economic Plant Resources Development and Utilization, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Hong Luo
- College of Forestry, Northwest A & F University, Yangling 712100, China; (H.H.); (R.B.); (W.Z.); (H.L.); (E.Y.)
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Economic Plant Resources Development and Utilization, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Enping Yu
- College of Forestry, Northwest A & F University, Yangling 712100, China; (H.H.); (R.B.); (W.Z.); (H.L.); (E.Y.)
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Economic Plant Resources Development and Utilization, Yangling 712100, China
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Chhalodia AK, Xu H, Tabekoueng GB, Gu B, Taizoumbe KA, Lauterbach L, Dickschat JS. Functional characterisation of twelve terpene synthases from actinobacteria. Beilstein J Org Chem 2023; 19:1386-1398. [PMID: 37736393 PMCID: PMC10509563 DOI: 10.3762/bjoc.19.100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Fifteen type I terpene synthase homologs from diverse actinobacteria that were selected based on a phylogenetic analysis of more than 4000 amino acid sequences were investigated for their products. For four enzymes with functions not previously reported from bacterial terpene synthases the products were isolated and their structures were elucidated by NMR spectroscopy, resulting in the discovery of the first terpene synthases for (+)-δ-cadinol and (+)-α-cadinene, besides the first two bacterial (-)-amorpha-4,11-diene synthases. For other terpene synthases with functions reported from bacteria before the products were identified by GC-MS. The characterised enzymes include a new epi-isozizaene synthase with monoterpene synthase side activity, a 7-epi-α-eudesmol synthase that also produces hedycaryol and germacrene A, and four more sesquiterpene synthases that produce mixtures of hedycaryol and germacrene A. Three phylogenetically related enzymes were in one case not expressed and in two cases inactive, suggesting pseudogenisation in the respective branch of the phylogenetic tree. Furthermore, a diterpene synthase for allokutznerene and a sesterterpene synthase for sesterviolene were identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anuj K Chhalodia
- Kekulé-Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bonn, Gerhard-Domagk-Straße 1, 53121 Bonn, Germany
| | - Houchao Xu
- Kekulé-Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bonn, Gerhard-Domagk-Straße 1, 53121 Bonn, Germany
| | - Georges B Tabekoueng
- Kekulé-Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bonn, Gerhard-Domagk-Straße 1, 53121 Bonn, Germany
| | - Binbin Gu
- Kekulé-Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bonn, Gerhard-Domagk-Straße 1, 53121 Bonn, Germany
| | - Kizerbo A Taizoumbe
- Kekulé-Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bonn, Gerhard-Domagk-Straße 1, 53121 Bonn, Germany
| | - Lukas Lauterbach
- Kekulé-Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bonn, Gerhard-Domagk-Straße 1, 53121 Bonn, Germany
| | - Jeroen S Dickschat
- Kekulé-Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bonn, Gerhard-Domagk-Straße 1, 53121 Bonn, Germany
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Xu H, Dickschat JS. Germacrene B - a central intermediate in sesquiterpene biosynthesis. Beilstein J Org Chem 2023; 19:186-203. [PMID: 36865023 PMCID: PMC9972886 DOI: 10.3762/bjoc.19.18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Germacranes are important intermediates in the biosynthesis of eudesmane and guaiane sesquiterpenes. After their initial formation from farnesyl diphosphate, these neutral intermediates can become reprotonated for a second cyclisation to reach the bicyclic eudesmane and guaiane skeletons. This review summarises the accumulated knowledge on eudesmane and guaiane sesquiterpene hydrocarbons and alcohols that potentially arise from the achiral sesquiterpene hydrocarbon germacrene B. Not only compounds isolated from natural sources, but also synthetic compounds are dicussed, with the aim to give a rationale for the structural assignment for each compound. A total number of 64 compounds is presented, with 131 cited references.
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Affiliation(s)
- Houchao Xu
- Kekulé-Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bonn, Gerhard-Domagk-Straße 1, 53121 Bonn, Germany
| | - Jeroen S Dickschat
- Kekulé-Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bonn, Gerhard-Domagk-Straße 1, 53121 Bonn, Germany
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