1
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Aghaali Z, Naghavi MR. Engineering of CYP82Y1, a cytochrome P450 monooxygenase: a key enzyme in noscapine biosynthesis in opium poppy. Biochem J 2023; 480:2009-2022. [PMID: 38063234 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20230243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2023] [Revised: 10/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
Protein engineering provides a powerful base for the circumvention of challenges tied with characteristics accountable for enzyme functions. CYP82Y1 introduces a hydroxyl group (-OH) into C1 of N-methylcanadine as the substrate to yield 1-hydroxy-N-methylcanadine. This chemical process has been found to be the gateway to noscapine biosynthesis. Owning to the importance of CYP82Y1 in this biosynthetic pathway, it has been selected as a target for enzyme engineering. The insertion of tags to the N- and C-terminal of CYP82Y1 was assessed for their efficiencies for improvement of the physiological performances of CYP82Y1. Although these attempts achieved some positive results, further strategies are required to dramatically enhance the CYP82Y1 activity. Here methods that have been adopted to achieve a functionally improved CYP82Y1 will be reviewed. In addition, the possibility of recruitment of other techniques having not yet been implemented in CYP82Y1 engineering, including the substitution of the residues located in the substrate recognition site, formation of the synthetic fusion proteins, and construction of the artificial lipid-based scaffold will be discussed. Given the fact that the pace of noscapine synthesis is constrained by the CYP82Y1-catalyzing step, the methods proposed here are capable of accelerating the rate of reaction performed by CYP82Y1 through improving its properties, resulting in the enhancement of noscapine accumulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahra Aghaali
- Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Reza Naghavi
- Division of Plant Biotechnology, Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Agricultural and Natural Resources College, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran
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2
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Liu X, Zhang P, Zhao Q, Huang AC. Making small molecules in plants: A chassis for synthetic biology-based production of plant natural products. JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY 2023; 65:417-443. [PMID: 35852486 DOI: 10.1111/jipb.13330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Plant natural products have been extensively exploited in food, medicine, flavor, cosmetic, renewable fuel, and other industrial sectors. Synthetic biology has recently emerged as a promising means for the cost-effective and sustainable production of natural products. Compared with engineering microbes for the production of plant natural products, the potential of plants as chassis for producing these compounds is underestimated, largely due to challenges encountered in engineering plants. Knowledge in plant engineering is instrumental for enabling the effective and efficient production of valuable phytochemicals in plants, and also paves the way for a more sustainable future agriculture. In this manuscript, we briefly recap the biosynthesis of plant natural products, focusing primarily on industrially important terpenoids, alkaloids, and phenylpropanoids. We further summarize the plant hosts and strategies that have been used to engineer the production of natural products. The challenges and opportunities of using plant synthetic biology to achieve rapid and scalable production of high-value plant natural products are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyu Liu
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Design for Plant Cell Factory of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Department of Biology, School of Life Sciences, SUSTech-PKU Institute of Plant and Food Science, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Peijun Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Design for Plant Cell Factory of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Department of Biology, School of Life Sciences, SUSTech-PKU Institute of Plant and Food Science, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Qiao Zhao
- Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology (SIAT), the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Ancheng C Huang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Design for Plant Cell Factory of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Department of Biology, School of Life Sciences, SUSTech-PKU Institute of Plant and Food Science, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China
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3
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Zhao L, Zhu Y, Jia H, Han Y, Zheng X, Wang M, Feng W. From Plant to Yeast-Advances in Biosynthesis of Artemisinin. MOLECULES (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 27:molecules27206888. [PMID: 36296479 PMCID: PMC9609949 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27206888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Malaria is a life-threatening disease. Artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) is the preferred choice for malaria treatment recommended by the World Health Organization. At present, the main source of artemisinin is extracted from Artemisia annua; however, the artemisinin content in A. annua is only 0.1-1%, which cannot meet global demand. Meanwhile, the chemical synthesis of artemisinin has disadvantages such as complicated steps, high cost and low yield. Therefore, the application of the synthetic biology approach to produce artemisinin in vivo has magnificent prospects. In this review, the biosynthesis pathway of artemisinin was summarized. Then we discussed the advances in the heterologous biosynthesis of artemisinin using microorganisms (Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae) as chassis cells. With yeast as the cell factory, the production of artemisinin was transferred from plant to yeast. Through the optimization of the fermentation process, the yield of artemisinic acid reached 25 g/L, thereby producing the semi-synthesis of artemisinin. Moreover, we reviewed the genetic engineering in A. annua to improve the artemisinin content, which included overexpressing artemisinin biosynthesis pathway genes, blocking key genes in competitive pathways, and regulating the expression of transcription factors related to artemisinin biosynthesis. Finally, the research progress of artemisinin production in other plants (Nicotiana, Physcomitrella, etc.) was discussed. The current advances in artemisinin biosynthesis may help lay the foundation for the remarkable up-regulation of artemisinin production in A. annua through gene editing or molecular design breeding in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Le Zhao
- School of Pharmacy, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, China
- Co-Construction Collaborative Innovation Center for Chinese Medicine and Respiratory Diseases by Henan and Education Ministry of P. R. China, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, China
| | - Yunhao Zhu
- School of Pharmacy, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, China
- Co-Construction Collaborative Innovation Center for Chinese Medicine and Respiratory Diseases by Henan and Education Ministry of P. R. China, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, China
| | - Haoyu Jia
- School of Pharmacy, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, China
| | - Yongguang Han
- School of Pharmacy, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, China
| | - Xiaoke Zheng
- School of Pharmacy, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, China
- Co-Construction Collaborative Innovation Center for Chinese Medicine and Respiratory Diseases by Henan and Education Ministry of P. R. China, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, China
| | - Min Wang
- College of Chemistry and Materials Engineering, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Plant Research and Development, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China
- Correspondence: (M.W.); (W.F.); Tel.: +86-134-2629-2115 (M.W.); +86-371-60190296 (W.F.)
| | - Weisheng Feng
- School of Pharmacy, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, China
- Co-Construction Collaborative Innovation Center for Chinese Medicine and Respiratory Diseases by Henan and Education Ministry of P. R. China, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, China
- Correspondence: (M.W.); (W.F.); Tel.: +86-134-2629-2115 (M.W.); +86-371-60190296 (W.F.)
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4
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Gutensohn M, Hartzell E, Dudareva N. Another level of complex-ity: The role of metabolic channeling and metabolons in plant terpenoid metabolism. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:954083. [PMID: 36035727 PMCID: PMC9399743 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.954083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Terpenoids constitute one of the largest and most diverse classes of plant metabolites. While some terpenoids are involved in essential plant processes such as photosynthesis, respiration, growth, and development, others are specialized metabolites playing roles in the interaction of plants with their biotic and abiotic environment. Due to the distinct functions and properties of specific terpenoid compounds, there is a growing interest to introduce or modify their production in plants by metabolic engineering for agricultural, pharmaceutical, or industrial applications. The MVA and MEP pathways and the prenyltransferases providing the general precursors for terpenoid formation, as well as the enzymes of the various downstream metabolic pathways leading to the formation of different groups of terpenoid compounds have been characterized in detail in plants. In contrast, the molecular mechanisms directing the metabolic flux of precursors specifically toward one of several potentially competing terpenoid biosynthetic pathways are still not well understood. The formation of metabolons, multi-protein complexes composed of enzymes catalyzing sequential reactions of a metabolic pathway, provides a promising concept to explain the metabolic channeling that appears to occur in the complex terpenoid biosynthetic network of plants. Here we provide an overview about examples of potential metabolons involved in plant terpenoid metabolism that have been recently characterized and the first attempts to utilize metabolic channeling in terpenoid metabolic engineering. In addition, we discuss the gaps in our current knowledge and in consequence the need for future basic and applied research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Gutensohn
- Division of Plant and Soil Sciences, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, United States
| | - Erin Hartzell
- Division of Plant and Soil Sciences, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, United States
| | - Natalia Dudareva
- Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
- Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
- Purdue Center for Plant Biology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
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5
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Farmanpour-Kalalagh K, Beyraghdar Kashkooli A, Babaei A, Rezaei A, van der Krol AR. Artemisinins in Combating Viral Infections Like SARS-CoV-2, Inflammation and Cancers and Options to Meet Increased Global Demand. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:780257. [PMID: 35197994 PMCID: PMC8859114 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.780257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Artemisinin is a natural bioactive sesquiterpene lactone containing an unusual endoperoxide 1, 2, 4-trioxane ring. It is derived from the herbal medicinal plant Artemisia annua and is best known for its use in treatment of malaria. However, recent studies also indicate the potential for artemisinin and related compounds, commonly referred to as artemisinins, in combating viral infections, inflammation and certain cancers. Moreover, the different potential modes of action of artemisinins make these compounds also potentially relevant to the challenges the world faces in the COVID-19 pandemic. Initial studies indicate positive effects of artemisinin or Artemisia spp. extracts to combat SARS-CoV-2 infection or COVID-19 related symptoms and WHO-supervised clinical studies on the potential of artemisinins to combat COVID-19 are now in progress. However, implementing multiple potential new uses of artemisinins will require effective solutions to boost production, either by enhancing synthesis in A. annua itself or through biotechnological engineering in alternative biosynthesis platforms. Because of this renewed interest in artemisinin and its derivatives, here we review its modes of action, its potential application in different diseases including COVID-19, its biosynthesis and future options to boost production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karim Farmanpour-Kalalagh
- Department of Horticultural Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Arman Beyraghdar Kashkooli
- Department of Horticultural Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
- *Correspondence: Arman Beyraghdar Kashkooli,
| | - Alireza Babaei
- Department of Horticultural Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ali Rezaei
- Department of Horticultural Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
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6
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Amorpha-4,11-diene synthase: a key enzyme in artemisinin biosynthesis and engineering. ABIOTECH 2021; 2:276-288. [PMID: 36303880 PMCID: PMC9590458 DOI: 10.1007/s42994-021-00058-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Amorpha-4,11-diene synthase (ADS) catalyzes the first committed step in the artemisinin biosynthetic pathway, which is the first catalytic reaction enzymatically and genetically characterized in artemisinin biosynthesis. The advent of ADS in Artemisia annua is considered crucial for the emergence of the specialized artemisinin biosynthetic pathway in the species. Microbial production of amorpha-4,11-diene is a breakthrough in metabolic engineering and synthetic biology. Recently, numerous new techniques have been used in ADS engineering; for example, assessing the substrate promiscuity of ADS to chemoenzymatically produce artemisinin. In this review, we discuss the discovery and catalytic mechanism of ADS, its application in metabolic engineering and synthetic biology, as well as the role of sesquiterpene synthases in the evolutionary origin of artemisinin.
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7
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Muthusamy S, Vetukuri RR, Lundgren A, Ganji S, Zhu LH, Brodelius PE, Kanagarajan S. Transient expression and purification of β-caryophyllene synthase in Nicotiana benthamiana to produce β-caryophyllene in vitro. PeerJ 2020; 8:e8904. [PMID: 32377446 PMCID: PMC7194099 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.8904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2019] [Accepted: 03/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The sesquiterpene β-caryophyllene is an ubiquitous component in many plants that has commercially been used as an aroma in cosmetics and perfumes. Recent studies have shown its potential use as a therapeutic agent and biofuel. Currently, β-caryophyllene is isolated from large amounts of plant material. Molecular farming based on the Nicotiana benthamiana transient expression system may be used for a more sustainable production of β-caryophyllene. In this study, a full-length cDNA of a new duplicated β-caryophyllene synthase from Artemisia annua (AaCPS1) was isolated and functionally characterized. In order to produce β-caryophyllene in vitro, the AaCPS1 was cloned into a plant viral-based vector pEAQ-HT. Subsequently, the plasmid was transferred into the Agrobacterium and agroinfiltrated into N. benthamiana leaves. The AaCPS1 expression was analyzed by quantitative PCR at different time points after agroinfiltration. The highest level of transcripts was observed at 9 days post infiltration (dpi). The AaCPS1 protein was extracted from the leaves at 9 dpi and purified by cobalt–nitrilotriacetate (Co-NTA) affinity chromatography using histidine tag with a yield of 89 mg kg−1 fresh weight of leaves. The protein expression of AaCPS1 was also confirmed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and western blot analyses. AaCPS1 protein uses farnesyl diphosphate (FPP) as a substrate to produce β-caryophyllene. Product identification and determination of the activity of purified AaCPS1 were done by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). GC–MS results revealed that the AaCPS1 produced maximum 26.5 ± 1 mg of β-caryophyllene per kilogram fresh weight of leaves after assaying with FPP for 6 h. Using AaCPS1 as a proof of concept, we demonstrate that N. benthamiana can be considered as an expression system for production of plant proteins that catalyze the formation of valuable chemicals for industrial applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saraladevi Muthusamy
- Department of Chemistry and Biomedical Sciences, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden
| | - Ramesh R Vetukuri
- Department of Plant Breeding, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Alnarp, Sweden
| | - Anneli Lundgren
- Department of Chemistry and Biomedical Sciences, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden
| | - Suresh Ganji
- Department of Chemistry and Biomedical Sciences, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden
| | - Li-Hua Zhu
- Department of Plant Breeding, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Alnarp, Sweden
| | - Peter E Brodelius
- Department of Chemistry and Biomedical Sciences, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden
| | - Selvaraju Kanagarajan
- Department of Chemistry and Biomedical Sciences, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden.,Department of Plant Breeding, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Alnarp, Sweden
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8
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Metcalf KJ, Slininger Lee MF, Jakobson CM, Tullman-Ercek D. An estimate is worth about a thousand experiments: using order-of-magnitude estimates to identify cellular engineering targets. Microb Cell Fact 2018; 17:135. [PMID: 30165868 PMCID: PMC6117934 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-018-0979-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2018] [Accepted: 08/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Biotechnological processes use microbes to convert abundant molecules, such as glucose, into high-value products, such as pharmaceuticals, commodity and fine chemicals, and energy. However, from the outset of the development of a new bioprocess, it is difficult to determine the feasibility, expected yields, and targets for engineering. In this review, we describe a methodology that uses rough estimates to assess the feasibility of a process, approximate the expected product titer of a biological system, and identify variables to manipulate in order to achieve the desired performance. This methodology uses estimates from literature and biological intuition, and can be applied in the early stages of a project to help plan future engineering. We highlight recent literature examples, as well as two case studies from our own work, to demonstrate the use and power of rough estimates. Describing and predicting biological function using estimates guides the research and development phase of new bioprocesses and is a useful first step to understand and build a new microbial factory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin James Metcalf
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA. .,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA.
| | - Marilyn F Slininger Lee
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA.,U.S. Army Edgewood Chemical Biological Center, Gunpowder, MD, 21010, USA
| | - Christopher Matthew Jakobson
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA.,Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Danielle Tullman-Ercek
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA
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9
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Shen Q, Zhang L, Liao Z, Wang S, Yan T, Shi P, Liu M, Fu X, Pan Q, Wang Y, Lv Z, Lu X, Zhang F, Jiang W, Ma Y, Chen M, Hao X, Li L, Tang Y, Lv G, Zhou Y, Sun X, Brodelius PE, Rose JKC, Tang K. The Genome of Artemisia annua Provides Insight into the Evolution of Asteraceae Family and Artemisinin Biosynthesis. MOLECULAR PLANT 2018; 11:776-788. [PMID: 29703587 DOI: 10.1016/j.molp.2018.03.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 143] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2017] [Revised: 03/12/2018] [Accepted: 03/25/2018] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Artemisia annua, commonly known as sweet wormwood or Qinghao, is a shrub native to China and has long been used for medicinal purposes. A. annua is now cultivated globally as the only natural source of a potent anti-malarial compound, artemisinin. Here, we report a high-quality draft assembly of the 1.74-gigabase genome of A. annua, which is highly heterozygous, rich in repetitive sequences, and contains 63 226 protein-coding genes, one of the largest numbers among the sequenced plant species. We found that, as one of a few sequenced genomes in the Asteraceae, the A. annua genome contains a large number of genes specific to this large angiosperm clade. Notably, the expansion and functional diversification of genes encoding enzymes involved in terpene biosynthesis are consistent with the evolution of the artemisinin biosynthetic pathway. We further revealed by transcriptome profiling that A. annua has evolved the sophisticated transcriptional regulatory networks underlying artemisinin biosynthesis. Based on comprehensive genomic and transcriptomic analyses we generated transgenic A. annua lines producing high levels of artemisinin, which are now ready for large-scale production and thereby will help meet the challenge of increasing global demand of artemisinin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Shen
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, Key Laboratory of Urban Agriculture (South) Ministry of Agriculture, Plant Biotechnology Research Center, Fudan-SJTU-Nottingham Plant Biotechnology R&D Center, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Lida Zhang
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, Key Laboratory of Urban Agriculture (South) Ministry of Agriculture, Plant Biotechnology Research Center, Fudan-SJTU-Nottingham Plant Biotechnology R&D Center, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Zhihua Liao
- SWU-TAAHC Medicinal Plant Joint R&D Centre, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Shengyue Wang
- Chinese National Human Genome Center at Shanghai, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Tingxiang Yan
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, Key Laboratory of Urban Agriculture (South) Ministry of Agriculture, Plant Biotechnology Research Center, Fudan-SJTU-Nottingham Plant Biotechnology R&D Center, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Pu Shi
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, Key Laboratory of Urban Agriculture (South) Ministry of Agriculture, Plant Biotechnology Research Center, Fudan-SJTU-Nottingham Plant Biotechnology R&D Center, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Meng Liu
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, Key Laboratory of Urban Agriculture (South) Ministry of Agriculture, Plant Biotechnology Research Center, Fudan-SJTU-Nottingham Plant Biotechnology R&D Center, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Xueqing Fu
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, Key Laboratory of Urban Agriculture (South) Ministry of Agriculture, Plant Biotechnology Research Center, Fudan-SJTU-Nottingham Plant Biotechnology R&D Center, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Qifang Pan
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, Key Laboratory of Urban Agriculture (South) Ministry of Agriculture, Plant Biotechnology Research Center, Fudan-SJTU-Nottingham Plant Biotechnology R&D Center, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Yuliang Wang
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, Key Laboratory of Urban Agriculture (South) Ministry of Agriculture, Plant Biotechnology Research Center, Fudan-SJTU-Nottingham Plant Biotechnology R&D Center, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Zongyou Lv
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, Key Laboratory of Urban Agriculture (South) Ministry of Agriculture, Plant Biotechnology Research Center, Fudan-SJTU-Nottingham Plant Biotechnology R&D Center, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Xu Lu
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, Key Laboratory of Urban Agriculture (South) Ministry of Agriculture, Plant Biotechnology Research Center, Fudan-SJTU-Nottingham Plant Biotechnology R&D Center, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China; State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Fangyuan Zhang
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, Key Laboratory of Urban Agriculture (South) Ministry of Agriculture, Plant Biotechnology Research Center, Fudan-SJTU-Nottingham Plant Biotechnology R&D Center, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China; SWU-TAAHC Medicinal Plant Joint R&D Centre, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Weimin Jiang
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, Key Laboratory of Urban Agriculture (South) Ministry of Agriculture, Plant Biotechnology Research Center, Fudan-SJTU-Nottingham Plant Biotechnology R&D Center, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Yanan Ma
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, Key Laboratory of Urban Agriculture (South) Ministry of Agriculture, Plant Biotechnology Research Center, Fudan-SJTU-Nottingham Plant Biotechnology R&D Center, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Minghui Chen
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, Key Laboratory of Urban Agriculture (South) Ministry of Agriculture, Plant Biotechnology Research Center, Fudan-SJTU-Nottingham Plant Biotechnology R&D Center, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Xiaolong Hao
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, Key Laboratory of Urban Agriculture (South) Ministry of Agriculture, Plant Biotechnology Research Center, Fudan-SJTU-Nottingham Plant Biotechnology R&D Center, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Ling Li
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, Key Laboratory of Urban Agriculture (South) Ministry of Agriculture, Plant Biotechnology Research Center, Fudan-SJTU-Nottingham Plant Biotechnology R&D Center, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Yueli Tang
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, Key Laboratory of Urban Agriculture (South) Ministry of Agriculture, Plant Biotechnology Research Center, Fudan-SJTU-Nottingham Plant Biotechnology R&D Center, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Gang Lv
- Chinese National Human Genome Center at Shanghai, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Yan Zhou
- Chinese National Human Genome Center at Shanghai, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Xiaofen Sun
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, Key Laboratory of Urban Agriculture (South) Ministry of Agriculture, Plant Biotechnology Research Center, Fudan-SJTU-Nottingham Plant Biotechnology R&D Center, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Peter E Brodelius
- Department of Chemistry and Biomedical Sciences, Linnaeus University, 39182 Kalmar, Sweden
| | - Jocelyn K C Rose
- Plant Biology Section, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Kexuan Tang
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, Key Laboratory of Urban Agriculture (South) Ministry of Agriculture, Plant Biotechnology Research Center, Fudan-SJTU-Nottingham Plant Biotechnology R&D Center, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.
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10
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Fu R, Martin C, Zhang Y. Next-Generation Plant Metabolic Engineering, Inspired by an Ancient Chinese Irrigation System. MOLECULAR PLANT 2018; 11:47-57. [PMID: 28893713 DOI: 10.1016/j.molp.2017.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2017] [Revised: 08/06/2017] [Accepted: 09/01/2017] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Specialized secondary metabolites serve not only to protect plants against abiotic and biotic challenges, but have also been used extensively by humans to combat diseases. Due to the great importance of medicinal plants for health, we need to find new and sustainable ways to improve the production of the specialized metabolites. In addition to direct extraction, recent progress in metabolic engineering of plants offers an alternative supply option. We argue that metabolic engineering for producing the secondary metabolites in plants may have distinct advantages over microbial production platforms, and thus propose new approaches of plant metabolic engineering, which are inspired by an ancient Chinese irrigation system. Metabolic engineering strategies work at three levels: introducing biosynthetic genes, using transcription factors, and improving metabolic flux including increasing the supply of precursors, energy, and reducing power. In addition, recent progress in biotechnology contributes markedly to better engineering, such as the use of specific promoters and the deletion of competing branch pathways. We propose that next-generation plant metabolic engineering will improve current engineering strategies, for the purpose of producing valuable metabolites in plants on industrial scales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rao Fu
- Key Laboratory of Bio-resource and Eco-environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
| | - Cathie Martin
- Department of Metabolic Biology, John Innes Centre, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Yang Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Bio-resource and Eco-environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China.
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Catania TM, Branigan CA, Stawniak N, Hodson J, Harvey D, Larson TR, Czechowski T, Graham IA. Silencing amorpha-4,11-diene synthase Genes in Artemisia annua Leads to FPP Accumulation. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2018; 9:547. [PMID: 29896204 PMCID: PMC5986941 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2018.00547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2018] [Accepted: 04/09/2018] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Artemisia annua is established as an efficient crop for the production of the anti-malarial compound artemisinin, a sesquiterpene lactone synthesized and stored in Glandular Secretory Trichomes (GSTs) located on the leaves and inflorescences. Amorpha-4,11-diene synthase (AMS) catalyzes the conversion of farnesyl pyrophosphate (FPP) to amorpha-4,11-diene and diphosphate, which is the first committed step in the synthesis of artemisinin. FPP is the precursor for sesquiterpene and sterol biosynthesis in the plant. This work aimed to investigate the effect of blocking the synthesis of artemisinin in the GSTs of a high artemisinin yielding line, Artemis, by down regulating AMS. We determined that there are up to 12 AMS gene copies in Artemis, all expressed in GSTs. We used sequence homology to design an RNAi construct under the control of a GST specific promoter that was predicted to be effective against all 12 of these genes. Stable transformation of Artemis with this construct resulted in over 95% reduction in the content of artemisinin and related products, and a significant increase in the FPP pool. The Artemis AMS silenced lines showed no morphological alterations, and metabolomic and gene expression analysis did not detect any changes in the levels of other major sesquiterpene compounds or sesquiterpene synthase genes in leaf material. FPP also acts as a precursor for squalene and sterol biosynthesis but levels of these compounds were also not altered in the AMS silenced lines. Four unknown oxygenated sesquiterpenes were produced in these lines, but at extremely low levels compared to Artemis non-transformed controls (NTC). This study finds that engineering A. annua GSTs in an Artemis background results in endogenous terpenes related to artemisinin being depleted with the precursor FPP actually accumulating rather than being utilized by other endogenous enzymes. The challenge now is to establish if this precursor pool can act as substrate for production of alternative sesquiterpenes in A. annua.
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Ikram NKBK, Simonsen HT. A Review of Biotechnological Artemisinin Production in Plants. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2017; 8:1966. [PMID: 29187859 PMCID: PMC5694819 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2017.01966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2017] [Accepted: 10/31/2017] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Malaria is still an eminent threat to major parts of the world population mainly in sub-Saharan Africa. Researchers around the world continuously seek novel solutions to either eliminate or treat the disease. Artemisinin, isolated from the Chinese medicinal herb Artemisia annua, is the active ingredient in artemisinin-based combination therapies used to treat the disease. However, naturally artemisinin is produced in small quantities, which leads to a shortage of global supply. Due to its complex structure, it is difficult chemically synthesize. Thus to date, A. annua remains as the main commercial source of artemisinin. Current advances in genetic and metabolic engineering drives to more diverse approaches and developments on improving in planta production of artemisinin, both in A. annua and in other plants. In this review, we describe efforts in bioengineering to obtain a higher production of artemisinin in A. annua and stable heterologous in planta systems. The current progress and advancements provides hope for significantly improved production in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nur K. B. K. Ikram
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Henrik T. Simonsen
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
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