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Younkin GC, Alani ML, Züst T, Jander G. Four enzymes control natural variation in the steroid core of Erysimum cardenolides. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.10.588904. [PMID: 38645095 PMCID: PMC11030354 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.10.588904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
Plants commonly produce families of structurally related metabolites with similar defensive functions. This apparent redundancy raises the question of underlying molecular mechanisms and adaptive benefits of such chemical variation. Cardenolides, a class defensive compounds found in the wallflower genus Erysimum (L., Brassicaceae) and scattered across other plant families, show substantial structural variation, with glycosylation and hydroxylation being common modifications of a steroid core, which itself may vary in terms of stereochemistry and saturation. Through a combination of chemical mutagenesis and analysis of gene coexpression networks, we identified four enzymes involved in cardenolide biosynthesis in Erysimum that work together to determine stereochemistry at carbon 5 of the steroid core: Ec3βHSD, a 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, Ec3KSI, a ketosteroid isomerase, EcP5βR2, a progesterone 5β-reductase, and EcDET2, a steroid 5α-reductase. We biochemically characterized the activity of these enzymes in vitro and generated CRISPR/Cas9 knockout lines to confirm activity in vivo. Cardenolide biosynthesis was not eliminated in any of the knockouts. Instead, mutant plants accumulated cardenolides with altered saturation and stereochemistry of the steroid core. Furthermore, we found variation in carbon 5 configuration among the cardenolides of 44 species of Erysimum, where the occurrence of some 5β-cardenolides is associated with the expression and sequence of P5βR2. This may have allowed Erysimum species to fine-tune their defensive profiles to target specific herbivore populations over the course of evolution. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Plants use an array of toxic compounds to defend themselves from attack against insects and other herbivores. One mechanism through which plants may evolve more toxic compounds is through modifications to the structure of compounds they already produce. In this study, we show how plants in the wallflower genus Erysimum use four enzymes to fine-tune the structure of toxic metabolites called cardenolides. Natural variation in the sequence and expression of a single enzyme called progesterone 5β-reductase 2 partly explains the variation in cardenolides observed across the Erysimum genus. These alterations to cardenolide structure over the course of evolution suggests that there may be context-dependent benefits to Erysimum to invest in one cardenolide variant over another.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gordon C. Younkin
- Boyce Thompson Institute, Ithaca, New York 14853
- Plant Biology Section, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853
| | | | - Tobias Züst
- Institute of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany, University of Zurich, 8008 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Georg Jander
- Boyce Thompson Institute, Ithaca, New York 14853
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2
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Hassan S, Atef A, Ali HM, Alshamrani R, Ramadan A. Calotropis procera accumulates Uzarigenin and Calotropagenin in response to environmental lighting and drought. Saudi J Biol Sci 2023; 30:103622. [PMID: 36950364 PMCID: PMC10025005 DOI: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2023.103622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Revised: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Calotropis procera (C. procera) was evaluated as a pharmaceutically useful plant and for its therapeutic effects in the most significant studies. Uzarigenin and Calotropagenin are significant components of this plant that have pharmacological effects on certain systems, including the digestive, immunological, and focal, and peripheral sensory systems. In this study, pathway genes are extracted from high throughput data acc.no. SRR1554320. Seven critical enzymes are involved in studying the effects of sunlight on the formation of Uzaragenin and Calotropagenin in C. procera before and after irrigation. Molecular identification and NCBI submission of six enzyme genes were successful; HSD (acc.no. OQ091761) for 3β-hydroxystroid dehydrogenase, OR (acc.no. OQ091762) for 5beta-pregnan oxidoreductase, MO (acc.no. OQ091763) for Pregnan monooxygenase, HOX (acc.no. OQ091764) for Steroid hydroxylase, MAT (acc.no. OQ091765) for Melonyletransferase, UHOX (acc.no. OQ091766) for Uzarigenin hydroxylase. During dawn after irrigation, the Uzargenin pathway showed the highest activity, however midday after irrigation was the lowest. The most period that showed high activity for the Uzargenin pathway was dawn after irrigation, however, midday after irrigation was the lowest. This data is confirmed by chromatography analysis (UPLC) to calculate the accumulation of Uzarigenin and Calotropagenin in different periods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabah Hassan
- Biological Science Department, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Princess Najla bint Saud Al-Saud Center for Excellence Research in Biotechnology, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Ahmed Atef
- Biological Science Department, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Princess Najla bint Saud Al-Saud Center for Excellence Research in Biotechnology, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hani M. Ali
- Biological Science Department, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Princess Najla bint Saud Al-Saud Center for Excellence Research in Biotechnology, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Rahma Alshamrani
- Biological Science Department, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmed Ramadan
- Biological Science Department, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Princess Najla bint Saud Al-Saud Center for Excellence Research in Biotechnology, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Plant Molecular Biology Department, Agricultural Genetic Engineering Research Institute (AGERI), Agriculture Research Center (ARC), Giza, Egypt
- Corresponding author at: Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University (KAU), P.O. Box 80141, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia.
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3
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The Role of Plant Progesterone in Regulating Growth, Development, and Biotic/Abiotic Stress Responses. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231810945. [PMID: 36142864 PMCID: PMC9501841 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231810945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Revised: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Progesterone is a steroid hormone that performs important functions in mammals. However, studies on its physiological functions in plants have gradually increased in recent years. Therefore, this review summarizes the regulatory functions of progesterone on plant growth and development, as well as its response to stress. Moreover, the plant metabolic processes of progesterone are also discussed. Overall, progesterone is ubiquitous in plants and can regulate numerous plant physiological processes at low concentrations. Since progesterone shares similar characteristics with plant hormones, it is expected to become a candidate for plant hormone. However, most of the current research on progesterone in plants is limited to the physiological level, and more molecular level research is needed to clarify progesterone signaling pathways.
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4
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Greenstein L, Steele C, Taylor CM. Host plant specificity of the monarch butterfly Danaus plexippus: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0269701. [PMID: 35700160 PMCID: PMC9197062 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0269701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The preference-performance hypothesis explains host specificity in phytophagous insects, positing that host plants chosen by adults confer the greatest larval fitness. However, adults sometimes oviposit on plants supporting low larval success because the components of host specificity (adult preference, plant palatability, and larval survival) are non-binary and not necessarily correlated. Palatability (willingness to eat) is governed by chemical cues and physical barriers such as trichomes, while survival (ability to complete development) depends upon nutrition and toxicity. Absence of a correlation between the components of host specificity results in low-performance hosts supporting limited larval development. Most studies of specificity focus on oviposition behavior leaving the importance and basis of palatability and survival under-explored. We conducted a comprehensive review of 127 plant species that have been claimed or tested to be hosts for the monarch butterfly Danaus plexippus to classify them as non-hosts, low performance, or high performance. We performed a meta-analysis to test if performance status could be explained by properties of neurotoxic cardenolides or trichome density. We also conducted a no-choice larval feeding experiment to identify causes of low performance. We identified 34 high performance, 42 low performance, 33 non-hosts, and 18 species with unsubstantiated claims. Mean cardenolide concentration was greater in high- than low-performance hosts and a significant predictor of host status, suggesting possible evolutionary trade-offs in monarch specialization. Other cardenolide properties and trichome density were not significant predictors of host status. In the experiment, we found, of the 62% of larvae that attempted to eat low-performance hosts, only 3.5% survived to adult compared to 85% of those on the high-performance host, demonstrating that multiple factors affect larval host plant specificity. Our study is the first to classify all known host plants for monarchs and has conservation implications for this threatened species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lewis Greenstein
- Illinois Natural History Survey, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, Illinois, United States of America
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Christen Steele
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Caz M. Taylor
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
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5
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Hagiwara H. Introduction of Chiral Centers to α- and/or β-Positions of Carbonyl Groups by Biocatalytic Asymmetric Reduction of α,β-Unsaturated Carbonyl Compounds. Nat Prod Commun 2022. [DOI: 10.1177/1934578x221099054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Biocatalytic asymmetric reductions of acyclic and cyclic α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds are favorable protocols for introduction of chiral centers to α- and/or β-positions of the carbonyl groups. Representative biocatalytic reductions of electron deficient olefins are compiled from a synthetic point of view according to compound types from the papers in 2012 to early 2022. Applications to syntheses of some enantiomericaly enriched perfumery ingredients are presented to show the feasibility of the biocatalytic reductions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hisahiro Hagiwara
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Niigata University, 8050, 2-Nocho, Ikarashi, Nishi-ku, Niigata, 950-2181, Japan
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6
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Knockout of Arabidopsis thaliana VEP1, Encoding a PRISE (Progesterone 5β-Reductase/Iridoid Synthase-Like Enzyme), Leads to Metabolic Changes in Response to Exogenous Methyl Vinyl Ketone (MVK). Metabolites 2021; 12:metabo12010011. [PMID: 35050133 PMCID: PMC8778713 DOI: 10.3390/metabo12010011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Revised: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Small or specialized natural products (SNAPs) produced by plants vary greatly in structure and function, leading to selective advantages during evolution. With a limited number of genes available, a high promiscuity of the enzymes involved allows the generation of a broad range of SNAPs in complex metabolic networks. Comparative metabolic studies may help to understand why—or why not—certain SNAPs are produced in plants. Here, we used the wound-induced, vein patterning regulating VEP1 (AtStR1, At4g24220) and its paralogue gene on locus At5g58750 (AtStR2) from Arabidopsis to study this issue. The enzymes encoded by VEP1-like genes were clustered under the term PRISEs (progesterone 5β-reductase/iridoid synthase-like enzymes) as it was previously demonstrated that they are involved in cardenolide and/or iridoid biosynthesis in other plants. In order to further understand the general role of PRISEs and to detect additional more “accidental” roles we herein characterized A. thaliana steroid reductase 1 (AtStR1) and compared it to A. thaliana steroid reductase 2 (AtStR2). We used A. thaliana Col-0 wildtype plants as well as VEP1 knockout mutants and VEP1 knockout mutants overexpressing either AtStR1 or AtStR2 to investigate the effects on vein patterning and on the stress response after treatment with methyl vinyl ketone (MVK). Our results added evidence to the assumption that AtStR1 and AtStR2, as well as PRISEs in general, play specific roles in stress and defense situations and may be responsible for sudden metabolic shifts.
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7
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Klein J, Horn E, Ernst M, Leykauf T, Leupold T, Dorfner M, Wolf L, Ignatova A, Kreis W, Munkert J. RNAi-mediated gene knockdown of progesterone 5β-reductases in Digitalis lanata reduces 5β-cardenolide content. PLANT CELL REPORTS 2021; 40:1631-1646. [PMID: 34146141 PMCID: PMC8376734 DOI: 10.1007/s00299-021-02707-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Studying RNAi-mediated DlP5βR1 and DlP5βR2 knockdown shoot culture lines of Digitalis lanata, we here provide direct evidence for the participation of PRISEs (progesterone 5β-reductase/iridoid synthase-like enzymes) in 5β-cardenolide formation. Progesterone 5β-reductases (P5βR) are assumed to catalyze the reduction of progesterone to 5β-pregnane-3,20-dione, which is a crucial step in the biosynthesis of the 5β-cardenolides. P5βRs are encoded by VEP1-like genes occurring ubiquitously in embryophytes. P5βRs are substrate-promiscuous enone-1,4-reductases recently termed PRISEs (progesterone 5β-reductase/iridoid synthase-like enzymes). Two PRISE genes, termed DlP5βR1 (AY585867.1) and DlP5βR2 (HM210089.1) were isolated from Digitalis lanata. To give experimental evidence for the participation of PRISEs in 5β-cardenolide formation, we here established several RNAi-mediated DlP5βR1 and DlP5βR2 knockdown shoot culture lines of D. lanata. Cardenolide contents were lower in D. lanata P5βR-RNAi lines than in wild-type shoots. We considered that the gene knockdowns may have had pleiotropic effects such as an increase in glutathione (GSH) which is known to inhibit cardenolide formation. GSH levels and expression of glutathione reductase (GR) were measured. Both were higher in the Dl P5βR-RNAi lines than in the wild-type shoots. Cardenolide biosynthesis was restored by buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) treatment in Dl P5βR2-RNAi lines but not in Dl P5βR1-RNAi lines. Since progesterone is a precursor of cardenolides but can also act as a reactive electrophile species (RES), we here discriminated between these by comparing the effects of progesterone and methyl vinyl ketone, a small RES but not a precursor of cardenolides. To the best of our knowledge, we here demonstrated for the first time that P5βR1 is involved in cardenolide formation. We also provide further evidence that PRISEs are also important for plants dealing with stress by detoxifying reactive electrophile species (RES).
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Klein
- Department of Biology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Elisa Horn
- Department of Biology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Mona Ernst
- Department of Biology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Tim Leykauf
- Department of Biology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Tamara Leupold
- Department of Biology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Maja Dorfner
- Department of Biology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Laura Wolf
- Department of Biology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Anastasiia Ignatova
- Department of Biology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Kreis
- Department of Biology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Jennifer Munkert
- Department of Biology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, 91058, Erlangen, Germany.
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8
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Nguyen TD, O’Connor SE. The Progesterone 5β-Reductase/Iridoid Synthase Family: A Catalytic Reservoir for Specialized Metabolism across Land Plants. ACS Chem Biol 2020; 15:1780-1787. [PMID: 32501002 PMCID: PMC7467569 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.0c00220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
![]()
Iridoids are plant-derived
terpenoids with a rich array of bioactivities.
The key step in iridoid skeleton formation is the reduction of 8-oxogeranial
by certain members of the progesterone 5β-reductase/iridoid
synthase (PRISE) family of short-chain alcohol dehydrogenases. Other
members of the PRISE family have previously been implicated in the
biosynthesis of the triterpenoid class of cardenolides, which requires
the reduction of progesterone. Here, we explore the occurrence and
activity of PRISE across major lineages of plants. We observed trace
activities toward either 8-oxogeranial or progesterone in all PRISEs,
including those from nonseed plants and green algae. Phylogenetic
analysis, coupled with enzymatic assays, show that these activities
appear to have become specialized in specific angiosperm lineages.
This broad analysis of the PRISE family provides insight into how
these enzymes evolved in plants and also suggests that iridoid synthase
activity is an ancestral trait in all land plants, which might have
contributed to the rise of iridoid metabolites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trinh-Don Nguyen
- Department of Chemistry, Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science, University of British Columbia 3247 University Way, Kelowna, BC V1V 1V7, Canada
| | - Sarah E. O’Connor
- Department of Natural Product Biosynthesis, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology Hans-Knöll-Straße 8, 07745 Jena, Germany
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9
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Lichman BR, Godden GT, Hamilton JP, Palmer L, Kamileen MO, Zhao D, Vaillancourt B, Wood JC, Sun M, Kinser TJ, Henry LK, Rodriguez-Lopez C, Dudareva N, Soltis DE, Soltis PS, Buell CR, O’Connor SE. The evolutionary origins of the cat attractant nepetalactone in catnip. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2020; 6:eaba0721. [PMID: 32426505 PMCID: PMC7220310 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aba0721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2019] [Accepted: 03/02/2020] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Catnip or catmint (Nepeta spp.) is a flowering plant in the mint family (Lamiaceae) famed for its ability to attract cats. This phenomenon is caused by the compound nepetalactone, a volatile iridoid that also repels insects. Iridoids are present in many Lamiaceae species but were lost in the ancestor of the Nepetoideae, the subfamily containing Nepeta. Using comparative genomics, ancestral sequence reconstructions, and phylogenetic analyses, we probed the re-emergence of iridoid biosynthesis in Nepeta. The results of these investigations revealed mechanisms for the loss and subsequent re-evolution of iridoid biosynthesis in the Nepeta lineage. We present evidence for a chronology of events that led to the formation of nepetalactone biosynthesis and its metabolic gene cluster. This study provides insights into the interplay between enzyme and genome evolution in the origins, loss, and re-emergence of plant chemical diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin R. Lichman
- Centre for Novel Agricultural Products, Department of Biology, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK
- Corresponding author. (B.R.L.); (C.R.B.); (S.E.O.)
| | - Grant T. Godden
- Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - John P. Hamilton
- Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, 612 Wilson Road, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Lira Palmer
- Department of Natural Product Biosynthesis, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, D-07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Mohamed O. Kamileen
- Department of Natural Product Biosynthesis, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, D-07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Dongyan Zhao
- Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, 612 Wilson Road, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Brieanne Vaillancourt
- Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, 612 Wilson Road, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Joshua C. Wood
- Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, 612 Wilson Road, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Miao Sun
- Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Taliesin J. Kinser
- Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
- Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Laura K. Henry
- Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Carlos Rodriguez-Lopez
- Department of Natural Product Biosynthesis, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, D-07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Natalia Dudareva
- Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
- Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
- Purdue Center for Plant Biology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Douglas E. Soltis
- Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
- Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Pamela S. Soltis
- Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - C. Robin Buell
- Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, 612 Wilson Road, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
- Plant Resilience Institute, Michigan State University, 612 Wilson Road, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
- MSU AgBioResearch, Michigan State University, 446 West Circle Drive, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
- Corresponding author. (B.R.L.); (C.R.B.); (S.E.O.)
| | - Sarah E. O’Connor
- Department of Natural Product Biosynthesis, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, D-07745 Jena, Germany
- Corresponding author. (B.R.L.); (C.R.B.); (S.E.O.)
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10
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Li Y, Pan H, Chang Y, Dong N, Zou L, Liang P, Tian W, Chang Z. Identification of key sites determining the cofactor specificity and improvement of catalytic activity of a steroid 5β-reductase from Capsella rubella. Enzyme Microb Technol 2019; 134:109483. [PMID: 32044030 DOI: 10.1016/j.enzmictec.2019.109483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2019] [Revised: 11/26/2019] [Accepted: 11/28/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Progesterone 5β-reductases (P5βRs) are involved in 5β-cardenolide formation by stereo-specific reduction of the △4,5 double bond of steroid precursors. In this study a steroid 5β-reductase was identified in Capsella rubella (CrSt5βR1) and its function in steroid 5β-reduction was validated experimentally. CrSt5βR1 is capable of enantioselectively reducing the activated CC bond of broad substrates such as steroids and enones by using NADPH as a cofactor and therefore has the potential as a biocatalyst in organic synthesis. However, for industrial purposes the cheaper NADH is the preferred cofactor. By applying rational design based on literature and complementary mutagenesis strategies, we successfully identified two key amino acid residues determining the cofactor specificity of the enzyme. The R63 K mutation enables the enzyme to convert progesterone to 5β-pregnane-3,20-dione with NADH as cofactor, whereas the wild-type CrSt5βR1 is strictly NADPH-dependent. By further introducing the R64H mutation, the double mutant R63K_R64H of CrSt5βR1 was shown to increase enzymatic activity by13.8-fold with NADH as a cofactor and to increase the NADH/NADPH conversion ratio by 10.9-fold over the R63 K single mutant. This finding was successfully applied to change the cofactor specificity and to improve activity of other members of the same enzyme family, AtP5βR and DlP5βR. CrSt5βR1 mutants are expected to have the potential for biotechnological applications in combination with the well-established NADH regeneration systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyuan Li
- School of Life Science and Biopharmaceuticals, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, People's Republic of China
| | - Hongyan Pan
- School of Life Science and Biopharmaceuticals, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, People's Republic of China
| | - Yaowen Chang
- School of Life Science and Biopharmaceuticals, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, People's Republic of China
| | - Na Dong
- School of Life Science and Biopharmaceuticals, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, People's Republic of China
| | - Lei Zou
- School of Life Science and Biopharmaceuticals, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, People's Republic of China
| | - Ping Liang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Brock University, St. Catharines, Ontario, L2S 3A1, Canada
| | - Wei Tian
- School of Life Science and Biopharmaceuticals, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, People's Republic of China.
| | - Zunxue Chang
- School of Life Science and Biopharmaceuticals, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, People's Republic of China.
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11
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Weitemier K, Straub SC, Fishbein M, Bailey CD, Cronn RC, Liston A. A draft genome and transcriptome of common milkweed ( Asclepias syriaca) as resources for evolutionary, ecological, and molecular studies in milkweeds and Apocynaceae. PeerJ 2019; 7:e7649. [PMID: 31579586 PMCID: PMC6756140 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.7649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2019] [Accepted: 08/09/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Milkweeds (Asclepias) are used in wide-ranging studies including floral development, pollination biology, plant-insect interactions and co-evolution, secondary metabolite chemistry, and rapid diversification. We present a transcriptome and draft nuclear genome assembly of the common milkweed, Asclepias syriaca. This reconstruction of the nuclear genome is augmented by linkage group information, adding to existing chloroplast and mitochondrial genomic resources for this member of the Apocynaceae subfamily Asclepiadoideae. The genome was sequenced to 80.4× depth and the draft assembly contains 54,266 scaffolds ≥1 kbp, with N50 = 3,415 bp, representing 37% (156.6 Mbp) of the estimated 420 Mbp genome. A total of 14,474 protein-coding genes were identified based on transcript evidence, closely related proteins, and ab initio models, and 95% of genes were annotated. A large proportion of gene space is represented in the assembly, with 96.7% of Asclepias transcripts, 88.4% of transcripts from the related genus Calotropis, and 90.6% of proteins from Coffea mapping to the assembly. Scaffolds covering 75 Mbp of the Asclepias assembly formed 11 linkage groups. Comparisons of these groups with pseudochromosomes in Coffea found that six chromosomes show consistent stability in gene content, while one may have a long history of fragmentation and rearrangement. The progesterone 5β-reductase gene family, a key component of cardenolide production, is likely reduced in Asclepias relative to other Apocynaceae. The genome and transcriptome of common milkweed provide a rich resource for future studies of the ecology and evolution of a charismatic plant family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Weitemier
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
| | | | - Mark Fishbein
- Department of Plant Biology, Ecology, and Evolution, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, USA
| | - C. Donovan Bailey
- Department of Biology, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, USA
| | - Richard C. Cronn
- Pacific Northwest Research Station, USDA Forest Service, Corvallis, OR, USA
| | - Aaron Liston
- Department of Botany & Plant Pathology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
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12
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Schmidt K, Petersen J, Munkert J, Egerer-Sieber C, Hornig M, Muller YA, Kreis W. PRISEs (progesterone 5β-reductase and/or iridoid synthase-like 1,4-enone reductases): Catalytic and substrate promiscuity allows for realization of multiple pathways in plant metabolism. PHYTOCHEMISTRY 2018; 156:9-19. [PMID: 30172078 DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2018.08.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2018] [Revised: 08/03/2018] [Accepted: 08/17/2018] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
PRISEs (progesterone 5β-reductase and/or iridoid synthase-like 1,4-enone reductases) are involved in cardenolide and iridoid biosynthesis. We here investigated a PRISE (rAtSt5βR) from Arabidopsis thaliana, a plant producing neither cardenolides nor iridoids. The structure of rAtSt5βR was elucidated with X-ray crystallography and compared to the known structures of PRISEs from Catharanthus roseus (rCrISY) and Digitalis lanata (rDlP5βR). The three enzymes show a high degree of sequence and structure conservation in the active site. Amino acids previously considered to allow discrimination between progesterone 5β-reductase and iridoid synthase were interchanged among rAtSt5βR, rCrISY and rDlP5βR applying site-directed mutagenesis. Structural homologous substitutions had different effects, and changes in progesterone 5β-reductase and iridoid synthase activity were not correlated in all cases. Our results help to explain fortuitous emergence of metabolic pathways and product accumulation. The fact that PRISEs are found ubiquitously in spermatophytes insinuates that PRISEs might have a more general function in plant metabolism such as, for example, the detoxification of reactive carbonyl species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karin Schmidt
- Division of Biotechnology, Department of Biology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, D-91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Jan Petersen
- Division of Pharmaceutical Biology, Department of Biology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, D-91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Jennifer Munkert
- Division of Pharmaceutical Biology, Department of Biology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, D-91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Claudia Egerer-Sieber
- Division of Biotechnology, Department of Biology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, D-91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Michael Hornig
- Division of Pharmaceutical Biology, Department of Biology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, D-91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Yves A Muller
- Division of Biotechnology, Department of Biology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, D-91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Kreis
- Division of Pharmaceutical Biology, Department of Biology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, D-91058 Erlangen, Germany.
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13
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Fellows R, Russo CM, Silva CS, Lee SG, Jez JM, Chisholm JD, Zubieta C, Nanao MH. A multisubstrate reductase from Plantago major: structure-function in the short chain reductase superfamily. Sci Rep 2018; 8:14796. [PMID: 30287897 PMCID: PMC6172241 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-32967-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2018] [Accepted: 09/17/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The short chain dehydrogenase/reductase superfamily (SDR) is a large family of NAD(P)H-dependent enzymes found in all kingdoms of life. SDRs are particularly well-represented in plants, playing diverse roles in both primary and secondary metabolism. In addition, some plant SDRs are also able to catalyse a reductive cyclisation reaction critical for the biosynthesis of the iridoid backbone that contains a fused 5 and 6-membered ring scaffold. Mining the EST database of Plantago major, a medicinal plant that makes iridoids, we identified a putative 5β-progesterone reductase gene, PmMOR (P. major multisubstrate oxido-reductase), that is 60% identical to the iridoid synthase gene from Catharanthus roseus. The PmMOR protein was recombinantly expressed and its enzymatic activity assayed against three putative substrates, 8-oxogeranial, citral and progesterone. The enzyme demonstrated promiscuous enzymatic activity and was able to not only reduce progesterone and citral, but also to catalyse the reductive cyclisation of 8-oxogeranial. The crystal structures of PmMOR wild type and PmMOR mutants in complex with NADP+ or NAD+ and either 8-oxogeranial, citral or progesterone help to reveal the substrate specificity determinants and catalytic machinery of the protein. Site-directed mutagenesis studies were performed and provide a foundation for understanding the promiscuous activity of the enzyme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Fellows
- European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Structural Biology Group, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, F-38000, Grenoble, France
| | | | - Catarina S Silva
- European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Structural Biology Group, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, F-38000, Grenoble, France.,Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire & Végétale, Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, INRA, BIG, Grenoble, USA
| | - Soon Goo Lee
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, One Brookings Drive, Campus Box 1137, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA
| | - Joseph M Jez
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, One Brookings Drive, Campus Box 1137, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA
| | - John D Chisholm
- Department of Chemistry, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, 13244, USA
| | - Chloe Zubieta
- Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire & Végétale, Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, INRA, BIG, Grenoble, USA.
| | - Max H Nanao
- European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Structural Biology Group, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, F-38000, Grenoble, France.
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14
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De novo transcriptome analysis deciphered polyoxypregnane glycoside biosynthesis pathway in Gymnema sylvestre. 3 Biotech 2018; 8:381. [PMID: 30148031 DOI: 10.1007/s13205-018-1389-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2018] [Accepted: 08/06/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Gymnema sylvestre is an important medicinal plant containing antidiabetic activity. Through de novo transcriptomic study, the pathways of polyoxypregnane glycosides were explored and candidate genes of these pathways were identified in G. sylvestre. High-quality raw reads were assembled into transcripts which resulted in 193,615 unigenes. These unigenes further decoded 58,274 coding DNA sequences (CDSs). Functional annotation of predicted CDSs was carried out using the protein databases, i.e., NCBI's non-redundant, Uniprot and Pfam. Eukaryotic orthologous group (KOG) classification and transcription factor analysis has revealed most CDS-enriched categories as "Signal transduction mechanism" and "Basic Helix loop helix" (bHLH) transcription factor family, respectively. A total of 16,569 CDSs were assigned minimum one Gene Ontology (GO) term. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis disclosed 235 CDSs which represented total 27 genes of pregnane glycoside pathways and 19 CDSs represented 10 important enzymes of polyoxypregnane glycoside biosynthesis, i.e., sterol 24-C-methyltransferase, cycloeucalenol cycloisomerase, Δ14-sterol reductase, C-8,7 sterol isomerase, sterol methyltransferase 2, C-5 sterol desaturase, sterol Δ7 reductase, Δ24 sterol reductase, 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and progesterone 5β reductase (5βPOR). This transcriptome analysis provided an important resource for future functional genomic studies in G. sylvestre.
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15
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Hoopes GM, Hamilton JP, Kim J, Zhao D, Wiegert-Rininger K, Crisovan E, Buell CR. Genome Assembly and Annotation of the Medicinal Plant Calotropis gigantea, a Producer of Anticancer and Antimalarial Cardenolides. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2018; 8:385-391. [PMID: 29237703 PMCID: PMC5919723 DOI: 10.1534/g3.117.300331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2017] [Accepted: 12/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Calotropis gigantea produces specialized secondary metabolites known as cardenolides, which have anticancer and antimalarial properties. Although transcriptomic studies have been conducted in other cardenolide-producing species, no nuclear genome assembly for an Asterid cardenolide-producing species has been reported to date. A high-quality de novo assembly was generated for C. gigantea, representing 157,284,427 bp with an N50 scaffold size of 805,959 bp, for which quality assessments indicated a near complete representation of the genic space. Transcriptome data in the form of RNA-sequencing libraries from a developmental tissue series was generated to aid the annotation and construction of a gene expression atlas. Using an ab initio and evidence-driven gene annotation pipeline, 18,197 high-confidence genes were annotated. Homologous and syntenic relationships between C. gigantea and other species within the Apocynaceae family confirmed previously identified evolutionary relationships, and suggest the emergence or loss of the specialized cardenolide metabolites after the divergence of the Apocynaceae subfamilies. The C. gigantea genome assembly, annotation, and RNA-sequencing data provide a novel resource to study the cardenolide biosynthesis pathway, especially for understanding the evolutionary origin of cardenolides and the engineering of cardenolide production in heterologous organisms for existing and novel pharmaceutical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Genevieve M Hoopes
- Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824
| | - John P Hamilton
- Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824
| | - Jeongwoon Kim
- Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824
| | - Dongyan Zhao
- Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824
| | | | - Emily Crisovan
- Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824
| | - C Robin Buell
- Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824
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16
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Yamamoto K, Oku Y, Ina A, Izumi A, Doya M, Ebata S, Asano Y. Purification and Characterization of an Enone Reductase from Sporidiobolus salmonicolor
TPU 2001 Reacting with Large Monocyclic Enones. ChemCatChem 2017. [DOI: 10.1002/cctc.201700244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kazunori Yamamoto
- Biotechnology Research Center and Department of Biotechnology; Toyama Prefectural University; 5180 Kurokawa Imizu Toyama Japan
- Asano Active Enzyme Molecule Project; ERATO, JST; 5180 Kurokawa Imizu Toyama Japan
| | - Yuko Oku
- Biotechnology Research Center and Department of Biotechnology; Toyama Prefectural University; 5180 Kurokawa Imizu Toyama Japan
- Asano Active Enzyme Molecule Project; ERATO, JST; 5180 Kurokawa Imizu Toyama Japan
| | - Atsutoshi Ina
- Biotechnology Research Center and Department of Biotechnology; Toyama Prefectural University; 5180 Kurokawa Imizu Toyama Japan
- Asano Active Enzyme Molecule Project; ERATO, JST; 5180 Kurokawa Imizu Toyama Japan
| | - Atsushi Izumi
- Biotechnology Research Center and Department of Biotechnology; Toyama Prefectural University; 5180 Kurokawa Imizu Toyama Japan
- Asano Active Enzyme Molecule Project; ERATO, JST; 5180 Kurokawa Imizu Toyama Japan
| | - Masaharu Doya
- Toho Earthtec, Inc.; 1450 Kurotori, Nishi-ku Niigata Niigata Japan
| | - Syuji Ebata
- Toho Earthtec, Inc.; 1450 Kurotori, Nishi-ku Niigata Niigata Japan
| | - Yasuhisa Asano
- Biotechnology Research Center and Department of Biotechnology; Toyama Prefectural University; 5180 Kurokawa Imizu Toyama Japan
- Asano Active Enzyme Molecule Project; ERATO, JST; 5180 Kurokawa Imizu Toyama Japan
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17
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Complex Sexual Deception in an Orchid Is Achieved by Co-opting Two Independent Biosynthetic Pathways for Pollinator Attraction. Curr Biol 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2017.05.065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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18
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Pandey A, Swarnkar V, Pandey T, Srivastava P, Kanojiya S, Mishra DK, Tripathi V. Transcriptome and Metabolite analysis reveal candidate genes of the cardiac glycoside biosynthetic pathway from Calotropis procera. Sci Rep 2016; 6:34464. [PMID: 27703261 PMCID: PMC5050527 DOI: 10.1038/srep34464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2015] [Accepted: 09/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Calotropis procera is a medicinal plant of immense importance due to its pharmaceutical active components, especially cardiac glycosides (CG). As genomic resources for this plant are limited, the genes involved in CG biosynthetic pathway remain largely unknown till date. Our study on stage and tissue specific metabolite accumulation showed that CG's were maximally accumulated in stems of 3 month old seedlings. De novo transcriptome sequencing of same was done using high throughput Illumina HiSeq platform generating 44074 unigenes with average mean length of 1785 base pair. Around 66.6% of unigenes were annotated by using various public databases and 5324 unigenes showed significant match in the KEGG database involved in 133 different pathways of plant metabolism. Further KEGG analysis resulted in identification of 336 unigenes involved in cardenolide biosynthesis. Tissue specific expression analysis of 30 putative transcripts involved in terpenoid, steroid and cardenolide pathways showed a positive correlation between metabolite and transcript accumulation. Wound stress elevated CG levels as well the levels of the putative transcripts involved in its biosynthetic pathways. This result further validated the involvement of identified transcripts in CGs biosynthesis. The identified transcripts will lay a substantial foundation for further research on metabolic engineering and regulation of cardiac glycosides biosynthesis pathway genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akansha Pandey
- Botany division, CSIR-CDRI, Sector 10, Jankipuram Extension, Sitapur Road, Lucknow 226031, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Vishakha Swarnkar
- Botany division, CSIR-CDRI, Sector 10, Jankipuram Extension, Sitapur Road, Lucknow 226031, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Tushar Pandey
- Botany division, CSIR-CDRI, Sector 10, Jankipuram Extension, Sitapur Road, Lucknow 226031, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Piush Srivastava
- Botany division, CSIR-CDRI, Sector 10, Jankipuram Extension, Sitapur Road, Lucknow 226031, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Sanjeev Kanojiya
- Sophisticated Analytical Instrument Facility, CSIR-CDRI, Sector 10, Jankipuram Extension, Sitapur Road, Lucknow 226031, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Dipak Kumar Mishra
- Botany division, CSIR-CDRI, Sector 10, Jankipuram Extension, Sitapur Road, Lucknow 226031, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Vineeta Tripathi
- Botany division, CSIR-CDRI, Sector 10, Jankipuram Extension, Sitapur Road, Lucknow 226031, Uttar Pradesh, India
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19
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Alagna F, Geu-Flores F, Kries H, Panara F, Baldoni L, O'Connor SE, Osbourn A. Identification and Characterization of the Iridoid Synthase Involved in Oleuropein Biosynthesis in Olive (Olea europaea) Fruits. J Biol Chem 2016; 291:5542-5554. [PMID: 26709230 PMCID: PMC4786697 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m115.701276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2015] [Revised: 12/21/2015] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The secoiridoids are the main class of specialized metabolites present in olive (Olea europaea L.) fruit. In particular, the secoiridoid oleuropein strongly influences olive oil quality because of its bitterness, which is a desirable trait. In addition, oleuropein possesses a wide range of pharmacological properties, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer activities. In accordance, obtaining high oleuropein varieties is a main goal of molecular breeding programs. Here we use a transcriptomic approach to identify candidate genes belonging to the secoiridoid pathway in olive. From these candidates, we have functionally characterized the olive homologue of iridoid synthase (OeISY), an unusual terpene cyclase that couples an NAD (P)H-dependent 1,4-reduction step with a subsequent cyclization, and we provide evidence that OeISY likely generates the monoterpene scaffold of oleuropein in olive fruits. OeISY, the first pathway gene characterized for this type of secoiridoid, is a potential target for breeding programs in a high value secoiridoid-accumulating species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fiammetta Alagna
- From the Departments of Metabolic Biology and; the Institute of Biosciences and Bio-resources, National Research Council (CNR), 06128 Perugia, Italy,.
| | - Fernando Geu-Flores
- the Copenhagen Plant Science Centre & Section for Plant Biochemistry, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 1871 Frederiksberg C, Denmark, and
| | - Hajo Kries
- Biological Chemistry, John Innes Centre, Norwich NR4 7UH, United Kingdom
| | - Francesco Panara
- the ENEA Trisaia Research Center, 75026 Rotondella, Matera, Italy
| | - Luciana Baldoni
- the Institute of Biosciences and Bio-resources, National Research Council (CNR), 06128 Perugia, Italy
| | - Sarah E O'Connor
- Biological Chemistry, John Innes Centre, Norwich NR4 7UH, United Kingdom
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20
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Ernst M, Munkert J, Campa M, Malnoy M, Martens S, Müller-Uri F. Steroid 5β-Reductase from Leaves of Vitis vinifera: Molecular Cloning, Expression, and Modeling. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2015; 63:10112-10120. [PMID: 26537436 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.5b04261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
A steroid 5β-reductase gene corresponding to the hypothetical protein LOC100247199 from leaves of Vitis vinifera (var. 'Chardonnay') was cloned and overexpressed in Escherichia coli. The recombinant protein showed 5β-reductase activity when progesterone was used as a substrate. The reaction was stereoselective, producing only 5β-products such as 5β-pregnane-3,20-dione. Other small substrates (terpenoids and enones) were also accepted as substrates, indicating the highly promiscuous character of the enzyme class. Our results show that the steroid 5β-reductase gene, encoding an orthologous enzyme described as a key enzyme in cardenolide biosynthesis, is also expressed in leaves of the cardenolide-free plant V. vinifera. We emphasize the fact that, on some occasions, different reductases (e.g., progesterone 5β-reductase and monoterpenoid reductase) can also use molecules that are similar to the final products as a substrate. Therefore, in planta, the different reductases may contribute to the immense number of diverse small natural products finally leading to the flavor of wine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mona Ernst
- Chair of Pharmaceutical Biology, Department Biology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg , Staudtstrasse 5, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Jennifer Munkert
- Chair of Pharmaceutical Biology, Department Biology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg , Staudtstrasse 5, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Manuela Campa
- Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach (FEM) , Via Mach 1, 38010 San Michele all'Adige (Trentino), Italy
| | - Mickael Malnoy
- Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach (FEM) , Via Mach 1, 38010 San Michele all'Adige (Trentino), Italy
| | - Stefan Martens
- Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach (FEM) , Via Mach 1, 38010 San Michele all'Adige (Trentino), Italy
| | - Frieder Müller-Uri
- Chair of Pharmaceutical Biology, Department Biology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg , Staudtstrasse 5, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
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21
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Lindemann P. Steroidogenesis in plants--Biosynthesis and conversions of progesterone and other pregnane derivatives. Steroids 2015; 103:145-52. [PMID: 26282543 DOI: 10.1016/j.steroids.2015.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2014] [Revised: 07/03/2015] [Accepted: 08/06/2015] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
In plants androstanes, estranes, pregnanes and corticoids have been described. Sometimes 17β-estradiol, androsterone, testosterone or progesterone were summarized as sex hormones. These steroids influence plant development: cell divisions, root and shoot growth, embryo growth, flowering, pollen tube growth and callus proliferation. First reports on the effect of applicated substances and of their endogenous occurrence date from the early twenties of the last century. This caused later on doubts on the identity of the compounds. Best investigated is the effect of progesterone. Main steps of the progesterone biosynthetic pathway have been analyzed in Digitalis. Cholesterol-side-chain-cleavage, pregnenolone and progesterone formation as well as the stereospecific reduction of progesterone are described and the corresponding enzymes are presented. Biosynthesis of androstanes, estranes and corticoids is discussed. Possible progesterone receptors and physiological reactions on progesterone application are reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Lindemann
- Institut für Pharmazie, Martin-Luther Universität Halle/Wittenberg, Hoher Weg 8, 06120 Halle, Germany.
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22
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Munkert J, Costa C, Budeanu O, Petersen J, Bertolucci S, Fischer G, Müller-Uri F, Kreis W. Progesterone 5β-reductase genes of the Brassicaceae family as function-associated molecular markers. PLANT BIOLOGY (STUTTGART, GERMANY) 2015; 17:1113-22. [PMID: 26108256 DOI: 10.1111/plb.12361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2015] [Accepted: 06/22/2015] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
This study aimed to define progesterone 5β-reductases (P5βR, EC 1.3.99.6, enone 1,4-reductases) as function-associated molecular markers at the plant family level. Therefore cDNAs were isolated from 25 Brassicaceae species, including two species, Erysimum crepidifolium and Draba aizoides, known to produce cardiac glycosides. The sequences were used in a molecular phylogeny study. The cladogram created is congruent to the existing molecular analyses. Recombinant His-tagged forms of the P5βR cDNAs from Aethionema grandiflorum, Draba aizoides, Nasturtium officinale, Raphanus sativus and Sisymbrium officinale were expressed in E. coli. Enone 1,4-reductase activity was demonstrated in vitro using progesterone and 2-cyclohexen-1-one as substrates. Evidence is provided that functional P5βRs are ubiquitous in the Brassicaceae. The recombinant P5βR enzymes showed different substrate preferences towards progesterone and 2-cyclohexen-1-one. Sequence comparison of the catalytic pocket of the P5βR enzymes and homology modelling using Digitalis lanata P5βR (PDB ID: 2V6G) as template highlighted the importance of the hydrophobicity of the binding pocket for substrate discrimination. It is concluded that P5βR genes or P5βR proteins can be used as valuable function-associated molecular markers to infer taxonomic relationship and evolutionary diversification from a metabolic/catalytic perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Munkert
- Lehrstuhl für Pharmazeutische Biologie, Department Biologie, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - C Costa
- Lehrstuhl für Pharmazeutische Biologie, Department Biologie, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - O Budeanu
- University of the Academy of Sciences of Moldova, Chisinau, Moldova Republic
| | - J Petersen
- Lehrstuhl für Pharmazeutische Biologie, Department Biologie, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - S Bertolucci
- Agriculture Department, Universidade Federal de Lavras, Lavras, Brazil
| | - G Fischer
- Lehrstuhl für Pharmazeutische Biologie, Department Biologie, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - F Müller-Uri
- Lehrstuhl für Pharmazeutische Biologie, Department Biologie, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - W Kreis
- Lehrstuhl für Pharmazeutische Biologie, Department Biologie, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
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23
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Petersen J, Lanig H, Munkert J, Bauer P, Müller-Uri F, Kreis W. Progesterone 5β-reductases/iridoid synthases (PRISE): gatekeeper role of highly conserved phenylalanines in substrate preference and trapping is supported by molecular dynamics simulations. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2015; 34:1667-80. [DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2015.1088797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jan Petersen
- Department Biologie, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Staudtstr. 5, D-91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Harald Lanig
- ZISC, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Martensstr. 5a, D-91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Jennifer Munkert
- Department Biologie, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Staudtstr. 5, D-91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Peter Bauer
- Bionorica SE, Kerschensterinerstr. 11-15, D-92318 Neumarkt, Germany
| | - Frieder Müller-Uri
- Department Biologie, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Staudtstr. 5, D-91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Kreis
- Department Biologie, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Staudtstr. 5, D-91058 Erlangen, Germany
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24
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Munkert J, Pollier J, Miettinen K, Van Moerkercke A, Payne R, Müller-Uri F, Burlat V, O'Connor SE, Memelink J, Kreis W, Goossens A. Iridoid synthase activity is common among the plant progesterone 5β-reductase family. MOLECULAR PLANT 2015; 8:136-52. [PMID: 25578278 DOI: 10.1016/j.molp.2014.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2014] [Accepted: 09/15/2014] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Catharanthus roseus, the Madagascar periwinkle, synthesizes bioactive monoterpenoid indole alkaloids, including the anti-cancer drugs vinblastine and vincristine. The monoterpenoid branch of the alkaloid pathway leads to the secoiridoid secologanin and involves the enzyme iridoid synthase (IS), a member of the progesterone 5β-reductase (P5βR) family. IS reduces 8-oxogeranial to iridodial. Through transcriptome mining, we show that IS belongs to a family of six C. roseus P5βR genes. Characterization of recombinant CrP5βR proteins demonstrates that all but CrP5βR3 can reduce progesterone and thus can be classified as P5βRs. Three of them, namely CrP5βR1, CrP5βR2, and CrP5βR4, can also reduce 8-oxogeranial, pointing to a possible redundancy with IS (corresponding to CrP5βR5) in secoiridoid synthesis. In-depth functional analysis by subcellular protein localization, gene expression analysis, in situ hybridization, and virus-induced gene silencing indicate that besides IS, CrP5βR4 may also participate in secoiridoid biosynthesis. We cloned a set of P5βR genes from angiosperm plant species not known to produce iridoids and demonstrate that the corresponding recombinant proteins are also capable of using 8-oxogeranial as a substrate. This suggests that IS activity is intrinsic to angiosperm P5βR proteins and has evolved early during evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Munkert
- Department of Biology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Jacob Pollier
- Department of Plant Systems Biology, VIB, 9052 Gent, Belgium; Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, 9052 Gent, Belgium
| | - Karel Miettinen
- Sylvius Laboratory, Institute of Biology Leiden, Leiden University, Leiden 2333 BE, The Netherlands
| | - Alex Van Moerkercke
- Department of Plant Systems Biology, VIB, 9052 Gent, Belgium; Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, 9052 Gent, Belgium
| | - Richard Payne
- Department of Biological Chemistry, John Innes Centre, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Frieder Müller-Uri
- Department of Biology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Vincent Burlat
- Université de Toulouse, UPS, UMR 5546, Laboratoire de Recherche en Sciences Végétales, BP 42617 Auzeville, F-31326 Castanet-Tolosan, France; CNRS, UMR 5546, BP 42617, F-31326 Castanet-Tolosan, France
| | - Sarah E O'Connor
- Department of Biological Chemistry, John Innes Centre, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Johan Memelink
- Sylvius Laboratory, Institute of Biology Leiden, Leiden University, Leiden 2333 BE, The Netherlands
| | - Wolfgang Kreis
- Department of Biology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, 91058 Erlangen, Germany.
| | - Alain Goossens
- Department of Plant Systems Biology, VIB, 9052 Gent, Belgium; Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, 9052 Gent, Belgium.
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Lindner S, Geu-Flores F, Bräse S, Sherden NH, O'Connor SE. Conversion of substrate analogs suggests a Michael cyclization in iridoid biosynthesis. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014; 21:1452-6. [PMID: 25444551 PMCID: PMC4245709 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2014.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2014] [Revised: 08/29/2014] [Accepted: 09/02/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The core structure of the iridoid monoterpenes is formed by a unique cyclization reaction. The enzyme that catalyzes this reaction, iridoid synthase, is mechanistically distinct from other terpene cyclases. Here we describe the synthesis of two substrate analogs to probe the mechanism of iridoid synthase. Enzymatic assay of these substrate analogs along with clues from the product profile of the native substrate strongly suggest that iridoid synthase utilizes a Michael reaction to achieve cyclization. This improved mechanistic understanding will facilitate the exploitation of the potential of iridoid synthase to synthesize new cyclic compounds from nonnatural substrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Lindner
- Department of Biological Chemistry, The John Innes Centre, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK; Institute of Organic Chemistry, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Fritz-Haber-Weg 6, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Fernando Geu-Flores
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Fritz-Haber-Weg 6, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Stefan Bräse
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Fritz-Haber-Weg 6, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany; Institute of Toxicology and Genetics, Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Nathaniel H Sherden
- Department of Biological Chemistry, The John Innes Centre, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK.
| | - Sarah E O'Connor
- Department of Biological Chemistry, The John Innes Centre, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK.
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Truncation of N-terminal regions of Digitalis lanata progesterone 5β-reductase alters catalytic efficiency and substrate preference. Biochimie 2013; 101:31-8. [PMID: 24370479 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2013.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2012] [Accepted: 12/12/2013] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
N-Terminal truncated forms of progesterone 5β-reductase (P5βR) were synthesized taking a full-length cDNA encoding for Digitalis lanata P5βR with a hexa-histidine tag attached at the C-terminus (rDlP5βRc) as the starting point. Four pETite-c-His/DlP5βR constructs coding for P5βR derivatives truncated in the N-terminal region, termed rDlP5βRcn-10, rDlP5βRcn-20, rDlP5βRcn-30, and rDlP5βRcn-40 were obtained by site-directed mutagenesis. The cDNAs coding for full-length rDlP5βRc, rDlP5βRcn-10 and rDlP5βRcn-20 were over-expressed in Escherichia coli and the respective enzymes were soluble and catalytically active (progesterone and 2-cyclohexen-1-one as substrates). GST-tagged recombinant DlP5βR (rDlP5βR-GST) and rDlP5βR-GSTr, with the GST-tag removed by protease treatment were produced as well and served as controls. The Km values and substrate preferences considerably differed between the various DlP5βR derivatives. As for the C-terminal His-tagged rDlP5βR the catalytic efficiency for progesterone was highest for the full-length rDlP5βRc whereas the N-terminal truncated forms preferred 2-cyclohexen-1-one as the substrate. Affinity tags and artifacts resulting from the cloning strategy used may alter substrate specificity. Therefore enzyme properties determined with recombinant proteins should not be used to infer in vivo scenarios and should be considered for each particular case.
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Boscari A, del Giudice J, Ferrarini A, Venturini L, Zaffini AL, Delledonne M, Puppo A. Expression dynamics of the Medicago truncatula transcriptome during the symbiotic interaction with Sinorhizobium meliloti: which role for nitric oxide? PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2013; 161:425-39. [PMID: 23136381 PMCID: PMC3532272 DOI: 10.1104/pp.112.208538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Medicago truncatula is one of the most studied model plants. Nevertheless, the genome of this legume remains incompletely determined. We used RNA-Seq to characterize the transcriptome during the early organogenesis of the nodule and during its functioning. We detected 37,333 expressed transcription units; to our knowledge, 1,670 had never been described before and were functionally annotated. We identified 7,595 new transcribed regions, mostly corresponding to 5' and 3' untranslated region extensions and new exons associated with 5,264 previously annotated genes. We also inferred 23,165 putative transcript isoforms from 6,587 genes and measured the abundance of transcripts for each isoform, which suggests an important role for alternative splicing in the generation of proteome diversity in M. truncatula. Finally, we carried out a differential expression analysis, which provided a comprehensive view of transcriptional reprogramming during nodulation. In particular, depletion of nitric oxide in roots inoculated with Sinorhizobium meliloti greatly increased our understanding of the role of this reactive species in the optimal establishment of the symbiotic interaction, revealing differential patterns of expression for 2,030 genes and pointing to the inhibition of the expression of defense genes.
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28
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An alternative route to cyclic terpenes by reductive cyclization in iridoid biosynthesis. Nature 2012; 492:138-42. [PMID: 23172143 DOI: 10.1038/nature11692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 221] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2012] [Accepted: 10/19/2012] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The iridoids comprise a large family of distinctive bicyclic monoterpenes that possess a wide range of pharmacological activities, including anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antifungal and antibacterial activities. Additionally, certain iridoids are used as sex pheromones in agriculturally important species of aphids, a fact that has underpinned innovative and integrated pest management strategies. To harness the biotechnological potential of this natural product class, the enzymes involved in the biosynthetic pathway must be elucidated. Here we report the discovery of iridoid synthase, a plant-derived enzyme that generates the iridoid ring scaffold, as evidenced by biochemical assays, gene silencing, co-expression analysis and localization studies. In contrast to all known monoterpene cyclases, which use geranyl diphosphate as substrate and invoke a cationic intermediate, iridoid synthase uses the linear monoterpene 10-oxogeranial as substrate and probably couples an initial NAD(P)H-dependent reduction step with a subsequent cyclization step via a Diels-Alder cycloaddition or a Michael addition. Our results illustrate how a short-chain reductase was recruited as cyclase for the production of iridoids in medicinal plants. Furthermore, we highlight the prospects of using unrelated reductases to generate artificial cyclic scaffolds. Beyond the recognition of an alternative biochemical mechanism for the biosynthesis of cyclic terpenes, we anticipate that our work will enable the large-scale heterologous production of iridoids in plants and microorganisms for agricultural and pharmaceutical applications.
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29
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Bauer P, Rudolph K, Müller-Uri F, Kreis W. Vein Patterning 1-encoded progesterone 5β-reductase: activity-guided improvement of catalytic efficiency. PHYTOCHEMISTRY 2012; 77:53-9. [PMID: 22357344 DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2012.01.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2011] [Revised: 01/24/2012] [Accepted: 01/26/2012] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Progesterone 5β-reductases (P5βR; EC 1.3.99.6) encoded by Vein Patterning 1 (VEP1) genes are capable of reducing the CC double-bond of a variety of enones enantioselectively. Sequence and activity data of orthologous P5βRs were used to define a set of residues possibly responsible for the large differences in enzyme activity seen between rAtSt5βR and rDlP5βR, recombinant forms of P5βRs from Arabidopsis thaliana and Digitalis lanata, respectively. Tyrosine-156, asparagine-205 and serine-248 were identified as hot spots in the rDlP5βR responsible for its low catalytic efficiency. These positions were individually substituted for amino acids found in the strong rAtSt5βR in the corresponding sites. Kinetic constants were determined for rDlP5βR and its mutants as well as for rAtSt5βR using progesterone and 2-cyclohexen-1-one as substrates. Enzyme mutants in which asparagine-205 was substituted for methionine or alanine showed considerably lower km and higher K(cat)/k(m) values than the wild-type DlP5βR, approaching the catalytic efficiency of strong P5βRs. The introduced mutations not only lead to an improved capability to reduce progesterone but also to altered substrate preference. Our findings provided structural insights into the differences seen among the natural P5βRs with regard to their substrate preferences and catalytic efficiencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Bauer
- Department of Biology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Staudtstr. 5, D-91058 Erlangen, Germany
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30
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Agrawal AA, Petschenka G, Bingham RA, Weber MG, Rasmann S. Toxic cardenolides: chemical ecology and coevolution of specialized plant-herbivore interactions. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2012; 194:28-45. [PMID: 22292897 DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2011.04049.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 227] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Cardenolides are remarkable steroidal toxins that have become model systems, critical in the development of theories for chemical ecology and coevolution. Because cardenolides inhibit the ubiquitous and essential animal enzyme Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase, most insects that feed on cardenolide-containing plants are highly specialized. With a huge diversity of chemical forms, these secondary metabolites are sporadically distributed across 12 botanical families, but dominate the Apocynaceae where they are found in > 30 genera. Studies over the past decade have demonstrated patterns in the distribution of cardenolides among plant organs, including all tissue types, and across broad geographic gradients within and across species. Cardenolide production has a genetic basis and is subject to natural selection by herbivores. In addition, there is strong evidence for phenotypic plasticity, with the biotic and abiotic environment predictably impacting cardenolide production. Mounting evidence indicates a high degree of specificity in herbivore-induced cardenolides in Asclepias. While herbivores of cardenolide-containing plants often sequester the toxins, are aposematic, and possess several physiological adaptations (including target site insensitivity), there is strong evidence that these specialists are nonetheless negatively impacted by cardenolides. While reviewing both the mechanisms and evolutionary ecology of cardenolide-mediated interactions, we advance novel hypotheses and suggest directions for future work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anurag A Agrawal
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, and Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Georg Petschenka
- Biozentrum Grindel, Molekulare Evolutionsbiologie, Martin-Luther-King Platz 3, 20146 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Robin A Bingham
- Department of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Western State College of Colorado, Gunnison, CO 81231, USA
| | - Marjorie G Weber
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, and Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Sergio Rasmann
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, Bâtiment Biophore, University of Lausanne, CH - 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
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Munkert J, Bauer P, Burda E, Müller-Uri F, Kreis W. Progesterone 5β-reductase of Erysimum crepidifolium: cDNA cloning, expression in Escherichia coli, and reduction of enones with the recombinant protein. PHYTOCHEMISTRY 2011; 72:1710-1717. [PMID: 21767854 DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2011.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2011] [Revised: 05/20/2011] [Accepted: 06/22/2011] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Erysimum is a genus of the Brassicaceae family closely related to the genus Arabidopsis. Several Erysimum species accumulate 5β-cardenolides. Progesterone 5β-reductases (P5βRs) first described in Digitalis species are thought to be involved in 5β-cardenolide biosynthesis. P5βRs belong to the dehydrogenase/reductase super-family of proteins. A full length cDNA clone encoding a P5βR was isolated from Erysimum crepidifolium leaves by 5'/3' RACE-PCR (termed EcP5βR). Subsequently, the P5βR cDNAs of another nine Erysimum species were amplified by RT-PCR using 5' and 3' end primers deduced from the EcP5βR cDNA. The EcP5βR cDNA is 1170bp long and encodes for 389 amino acids. The EcP5βR cDNA was ligated into the vector pQE 30 UA and the recombinant His-tagged protein (termed rEcP5βR) was over-expressed in Escherichia coli and purified by Ni-chelate affinity chromatography. Kinetic constants were determined for progesterone, 2-cyclohexen-1-one, isophorone, and NADPH. The by far highest specificity constant (k(cat)K(M)⁻¹) was estimated for 2-cyclohexen-1-one indicating that this monocyclic enone may be more related to the natural substrate of the enzyme than progesterone. The atomic structure of rEcP5βR was modelled using the crystal structure of P5βR from Digitalis lanata 2V6G as the template. All sequence motifs specific for SDRs as well as the NFYYxxED motif typical for P5βR-like enzymes were present and the protein sequence fitted into the template smoothly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Munkert
- Lehrstuhl für Pharmazeutische Biologie, Department Biologie, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Staudtstr. 5, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
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