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Johnson LA, Allemann RK. Engineering terpene synthases and their substrates for the biocatalytic production of terpene natural products and analogues. Chem Commun (Camb) 2025; 61:2468-2483. [PMID: 39784321 PMCID: PMC11715646 DOI: 10.1039/d4cc05785f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2024] [Accepted: 12/20/2024] [Indexed: 01/12/2025]
Abstract
Terpene synthases produce a wide number of hydrocarbon skeletons by controlling intramolecular rearrangements of allylic pyrophosphate subtrates via reactive carbocation intermediates. Here we review recent research focused on engineering terpene synthases and modifying their substrates to rationally manipulate terpene catalyisis. Molecular dynamic simulations and solid state X-ray crystallography are powerful techniques to identify substrate binding modes, key active site residues for substrate folding, and the location of active site water. Variants in specific 'hotspots' of terpene synthases including the G1/2, K/H and Hα-1 helices have been targeted to modify active site water management and yield new products. We discuss the potential of exploiting substrate analogues to synthesise novel compounds and briefly outline biphasic flow systems for biocatalysis of terpenes. We forsee greater applications for terpenes as the field converges on effective methods for engineering of terpene synthases by new computational and high throughput experimental methods and for high-yield production. It is crucial when engineering terpene synthases that both product distribution and enzyme activity are simultaneously optimised.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke Alan Johnson
- School of Chemistry, Cardiff University, Main Building, Park Place, CF10 3AT, Cardiff, UK.
| | - Rudolf Konrad Allemann
- School of Chemistry, Cardiff University, Main Building, Park Place, CF10 3AT, Cardiff, UK.
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Chen R, Wang M, Keasling JD, Hu T, Yin X. Expanding the structural diversity of terpenes by synthetic biology approaches. Trends Biotechnol 2024; 42:699-713. [PMID: 38233232 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2023.12.006] [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: 08/22/2023] [Revised: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
Terpenoids display chemical and structural diversities as well as important biological activities. Despite their extreme variability, the range of these structures is limited by the scope of natural products that canonically derive from interconvertible five-carbon (C5) isoprene units. New approaches have recently been developed to expand their structural diversity. This review systematically explores the combinatorial biosynthesis of noncanonical building blocks via the coexpression of the canonical mevalonate (MVA) pathway and C-methyltransferases (C-MTs), or by using the lepidopteran mevalonate (LMVA) pathway. Unnatural terpenoids can be created from farnesyl diphosphate (FPP) analogs by chemobiological synthesis and terpene cyclopropanation by artificial metalloenzymes (ArMs). Advanced technologies to accelerate terpene biosynthesis are discussed. This review provides a valuable reference for increasing the diversity of valuable terpenoids and their derivatives, as well as for expanding their potential applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong Chen
- Key Laboratory of Elemene Class Anti-Cancer Chinese Medicine of Zhejiang Province, School of Pharmacy, School of Public Health, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 310000, China; Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA 94608, USA.
| | - Ming Wang
- Key Laboratory of Elemene Class Anti-Cancer Chinese Medicine of Zhejiang Province, School of Pharmacy, School of Public Health, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 310000, China
| | - Jay D Keasling
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA 94608, USA; California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences (QB3), University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Biological Systems and Engineering Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Center for Synthetic Biochemistry, Institute for Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technologies, Shenzhen 518055, China; Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Tianyuan Hu
- Key Laboratory of Elemene Class Anti-Cancer Chinese Medicine of Zhejiang Province, School of Pharmacy, School of Public Health, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 310000, China
| | - Xiaopu Yin
- Key Laboratory of Elemene Class Anti-Cancer Chinese Medicine of Zhejiang Province, School of Pharmacy, School of Public Health, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 310000, China.
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Srivastava PL, Johnson LA, Miller DJ, Allemann RK. Production of non-natural terpenoids through chemoenzymatic synthesis using substrate analogs. Methods Enzymol 2024; 699:207-230. [PMID: 38942504 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2024.03.015] [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] [Indexed: 06/30/2024]
Abstract
Chemoenzymatic synthesis of non-natural terpenes using the promiscuous activity of terpene synthases allows for the expansion of the chemical space of terpenoids with potentially new bioactivities. In this report, we describe protocols for the preparation of a novel aphid attractant, (S)-14,15-dimethylgermacrene D, by exploiting the promiscuity of (S)-germacrene D synthase from Solidago canadensis and using an engineered biocatalytic route to convert prenols to terpenoids. The method uses a combination of five enzymes to carry out the preparation of terpenoid semiochemicals in two steps: (1) diphosphorylation of five or six carbon precursors (prenol, isoprenol and methyl-isoprenol) catalyzed by Plasmodium falciparum choline kinase and Methanocaldococcus jannaschii isopentenyl phosphate kinase to form DMADP, IDP and methyl-IDP, and (2) chain elongation and cyclization catalyzed by Geobacillus stearothermophilus (2E,6E)-farnesyl diphosphate synthase and S. canadensis (S)-germacrene D synthase to produce (S)-germacrene D and (S)-14,15-dimethylgermacrene D. Using this method, new non-natural terpenoids are readily accessible and the approach can be adopted to produce different terpene analogs and terpenoid derivatives with potential novel applications.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Luke A Johnson
- School of Chemistry, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - David J Miller
- School of Chemistry, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
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Ma M, Li M, Wu Z, Liang X, Zheng Q, Li D, Wang G, An T. The microbial biosynthesis of noncanonical terpenoids. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2024; 108:226. [PMID: 38381229 PMCID: PMC10881772 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-024-13048-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
Terpenoids are a class of structurally complex, naturally occurring compounds found predominantly in plant, animal, and microorganism secondary metabolites. Classical terpenoids typically have carbon atoms in multiples of five and follow well-defined carbon skeletons, whereas noncanonical terpenoids deviate from these patterns. These noncanonical terpenoids often result from the methyltransferase-catalyzed methylation modification of substrate units, leading to irregular carbon skeletons. In this comprehensive review, various activities and applications of these noncanonical terpenes have been summarized. Importantly, the review delves into the biosynthetic pathways of noncanonical terpenes, including those with C6, C7, C11, C12, and C16 carbon skeletons, in bacteria and fungi host. It also covers noncanonical triterpenes synthesized from non-squalene substrates and nortriterpenes in Ganoderma lucidum, providing detailed examples to elucidate the intricate biosynthetic processes involved. Finally, the review outlines the potential future applications of noncanonical terpenoids. In conclusion, the insights gathered from this review provide a reference for understanding the biosynthesis of these noncanonical terpenes and pave the way for the discovery of additional unique and novel noncanonical terpenes. KEY POINTS: •The activities and applications of noncanonical terpenoids are introduced. •The noncanonical terpenoids with irregular carbon skeletons are presented. •The microbial biosynthesis of noncanonical terpenoids is summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengyu Ma
- Featured Laboratory for Biosynthesis and Target Discovery of Active Components of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, 264003, China
| | - Mingkai Li
- Featured Laboratory for Biosynthesis and Target Discovery of Active Components of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, 264003, China
| | - Zhenke Wu
- Featured Laboratory for Biosynthesis and Target Discovery of Active Components of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, 264003, China
| | - Xiqin Liang
- Featured Laboratory for Biosynthesis and Target Discovery of Active Components of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, 264003, China
| | - Qiusheng Zheng
- Featured Laboratory for Biosynthesis and Target Discovery of Active Components of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, 264003, China
| | - Defang Li
- Featured Laboratory for Biosynthesis and Target Discovery of Active Components of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, 264003, China.
| | - Guoli Wang
- Featured Laboratory for Biosynthesis and Target Discovery of Active Components of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, 264003, China.
| | - Tianyue An
- Featured Laboratory for Biosynthesis and Target Discovery of Active Components of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, 264003, China.
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