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Seligmann B, Liu S, Franke J. Chemical tools for unpicking plant specialised metabolic pathways. CURRENT OPINION IN PLANT BIOLOGY 2024; 80:102554. [PMID: 38820646 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbi.2024.102554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2024] [Revised: 05/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024]
Abstract
Elucidating the biochemical pathways of specialised metabolites in plants is key to enable or improve their sustainable biotechnological production. Chemical tools can greatly facilitate the discovery of biosynthetic genes and enzymes. Here, we summarise transdisciplinary approaches where methods from chemistry and chemical biology helped to overcome key challenges of pathway elucidation. Based on recent examples, we describe how state-of-the-art isotope labelling experiments can guide the selection of biosynthetic gene candidates, how affinity-based probes enable the identification of novel enzymes, how semisynthesis can improve the availability of elusive pathway intermediates, and how biomimetic reactions provide a better understanding of inherent chemical reactivity. We anticipate that a wider application of such chemical methods will accelerate the pace of pathway elucidation in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedikt Seligmann
- Leibniz University Hannover, Institute of Botany, Herrenhäuser Str. 2, 30419 Hannover, Germany
| | - Shenyu Liu
- Leibniz University Hannover, Centre of Biomolecular Drug Research (BMWZ), Schneiderberg 38, 30167 Hannover, Germany
| | - Jakob Franke
- Leibniz University Hannover, Institute of Botany, Herrenhäuser Str. 2, 30419 Hannover, Germany; Leibniz University Hannover, Centre of Biomolecular Drug Research (BMWZ), Schneiderberg 38, 30167 Hannover, Germany.
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2
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Han J, Miller EP, Li S. Cutting-edge plant natural product pathway elucidation. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2024; 87:103137. [PMID: 38677219 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2024.103137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024]
Abstract
Plant natural products (PNPs) play important roles in plant physiology and have been applied across diverse fields of human society. Understanding their biosynthetic pathways informs plant evolution and meanwhile enables sustainable production through metabolic engineering. However, the discovery of PNP biosynthetic pathways remains challenging due to the diversity of enzymes involved and limitations in traditional gene mining approaches. In this review, we will summarize state-of-the-art strategies and recent examples for predicting and characterizing PNP biosynthetic pathways, respectively, with multiomics-guided tools and heterologous host systems and share our perspectives on the systematic pipelines integrating these various bioinformatic and biochemical approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianing Han
- Robert F. Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Emma Parker Miller
- Plant Biology Section, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Sijin Li
- Robert F. Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
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3
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Longsaward R, Viboonjun U. Genome-wide identification of rubber tree pathogenesis-related 10 (PR-10) proteins with biological relevance to plant defense. Sci Rep 2024; 14:1072. [PMID: 38212354 PMCID: PMC10784482 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-51312-3] [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: 10/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Pathogenesis-related 10 (PR-10) is a group of small intracellular proteins that is one of 17 subclasses of pathogenesis-related proteins in plants. The PR-10 proteins have been studied extensively and are well-recognized for their contribution to host defense against phytopathogens in several plant species. Interestingly, the accumulation of PR-10 proteins in the rubber tree, one of the most economically important crops worldwide, after being infected by pathogenic organisms has only recently been reported. In this study, the homologous proteins of the PR-10 family were systemically identified from the recently available rubber tree genomes in the NCBI database. The sequence compositions, structural characteristics, protein physical properties, and phylogenetic relationships of identified PR-10 proteins in rubber trees support their classification into subgroups, which mainly consist of Pru ar 1-like major allergens and major latex-like (MLP) proteins. The rubber tree PR10-encoding genes were majorly clustered on chromosome 15. The potential roles of rubber tree PR-10 proteins are discussed based on previous reports. The homologous proteins in the PR-10 family were identified in the recent genomes of rubber trees and were shown to be crucial in host responses to biotic challenges. The genome-wide identification conducted here will accelerate the future study of rubber tree PR-10 proteins. A better understanding of these defense-related proteins may contribute to alternative ways of developing rubber tree clones with desirable traits in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rawit Longsaward
- Department of Plant Pathology, Faculty of Agriculture, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand
| | - Unchera Viboonjun
- Department of Plant Science, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand.
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4
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Yan X, Liu X, Zhao C, Chen GQ. Applications of synthetic biology in medical and pharmaceutical fields. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2023; 8:199. [PMID: 37169742 PMCID: PMC10173249 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-023-01440-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2022] [Revised: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Synthetic biology aims to design or assemble existing bioparts or bio-components for useful bioproperties. During the past decades, progresses have been made to build delicate biocircuits, standardized biological building blocks and to develop various genomic/metabolic engineering tools and approaches. Medical and pharmaceutical demands have also pushed the development of synthetic biology, including integration of heterologous pathways into designer cells to efficiently produce medical agents, enhanced yields of natural products in cell growth media to equal or higher than that of the extracts from plants or fungi, constructions of novel genetic circuits for tumor targeting, controllable releases of therapeutic agents in response to specific biomarkers to fight diseases such as diabetes and cancers. Besides, new strategies are developed to treat complex immune diseases, infectious diseases and metabolic disorders that are hard to cure via traditional approaches. In general, synthetic biology brings new capabilities to medical and pharmaceutical researches. This review summarizes the timeline of synthetic biology developments, the past and present of synthetic biology for microbial productions of pharmaceutics, engineered cells equipped with synthetic DNA circuits for diagnosis and therapies, live and auto-assemblied biomaterials for medical treatments, cell-free synthetic biology in medical and pharmaceutical fields, and DNA engineering approaches with potentials for biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu Yan
- School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, China
| | - Xu Liu
- PhaBuilder Biotech Co. Ltd., Shunyi District, Zhaoquan Ying, 101309, Beijing, China
| | - Cuihuan Zhao
- School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, China
| | - Guo-Qiang Chen
- School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, China.
- Center for Synthetic and Systems Biology, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, China.
- MOE Key Lab for Industrial Biocatalysis, Dept Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, China.
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5
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Chuang L, Liu S, Franke J. Post-Cyclization Skeletal Rearrangements in Plant Triterpenoid Biosynthesis by a Pair of Branchpoint Isomerases. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:5083-5091. [PMID: 36821810 PMCID: PMC9999417 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c10838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/25/2023]
Abstract
Triterpenoids possess potent biological activities, but their polycyclic skeletons are challenging to synthesize. The skeletal diversity of triterpenoids in plants is generated by oxidosqualene cyclases based on epoxide-triggered cationic rearrangement cascades. Normally, triterpenoid skeletons then remain unaltered during subsequent tailoring steps. In contrast, the highly modified triterpenoids found in Sapindales plants imply the existence of post-cyclization skeletal rearrangement enzymes that have not yet been found. We report here a biosynthetic pathway in Sapindales plants for the modification of already cyclized tirucallane triterpenoids, controlling the pathway bifurcation between different plant triterpenoid classes. Using a combination of bioinformatics, heterologous expression in plants and chemical analyses, we identified a cytochrome P450 monooxygenase and two isomerases which harness the epoxidation-rearrangement biosynthetic logic of triterpene cyclizations for modifying the tirucallane scaffold. The two isomerases share the same epoxide substrate made by the cytochrome P450 monooxygenase CYP88A154, but generate two different rearrangement products, one containing a cyclopropane ring. Our findings reveal a process for skeletal rearrangements of triterpenoids in nature that expands their scaffold diversity after the initial cyclization. In addition, the enzymes described here are crucial for the biotechnological production of limonoid, quassinoid, apoprotolimonoid, and glabretane triterpenoids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Chuang
- Centre of Biomolecular Drug Research, Leibniz University Hannover, Schneiderberg 38, 30167 Hannover, Germany
| | - Shenyu Liu
- Centre of Biomolecular Drug Research, Leibniz University Hannover, Schneiderberg 38, 30167 Hannover, Germany
| | - Jakob Franke
- Centre of Biomolecular Drug Research, Leibniz University Hannover, Schneiderberg 38, 30167 Hannover, Germany.,Institute of Botany, Leibniz University Hannover, Herrenhäuser Str. 2, 30419 Hannover, Germany
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6
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Elucidation of the (R)-enantiospecific benzylisoquinoline alkaloid biosynthetic pathways in sacred lotus (Nelumbo nucifera). Sci Rep 2023; 13:2955. [PMID: 36805479 PMCID: PMC9940101 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-29415-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Benzylisoquinoline alkaloids (BIAs) are a structurally diverse group of plant specialized metabolites found mainly in members of the order Ranunculales, including opium poppy (Papaver somniferum), for which BIA biosynthetic pathways leading to the critical drugs morphine, noscapine, and sanguinarine have been elucidated. Sacred lotus (Nelumbo nucifera), in the order Proteales, accumulates medicinal BIAs in the proaporphine, aporphine, and bisbenzylisoquinoline structural subgroups with a prevalence of R enantiomers, opposed to the dominant S configuration occurring in the Ranunculales. Nevertheless, distinctive BIA biosynthetic routes in sacred lotus have not been explored. In planta labeling experiments and in vitro assays with recombinant enzymes and plant protein extracts showed that dopamine and 4-hydroxyphenylacetaldehyde derived from L-tyrosine serve as precursors for the formation of (R,S)-norcoclaurine in sacred lotus, whereas only (R)-norcoclaurine byproducts are favored in the plant by action of R-enantiospecific methyltransferases and cytochrome P450 oxidoreductases (CYPs). Enzymes responsible for the R-enantiospecific formation of proaporphine (NnCYP80Q1) and bisbenzylisoquinoline (NnCYP80Q2) scaffolds, and a methylenedioxy bridge introduction on aporphine substrates (NnCYP719A22) were identified, whereas additional aspects of the biosynthetic pathways leading to the distinctive alkaloid profile are discussed. This work expands the availability of molecular tools that can be deployed in synthetic biology platforms for the production of high-value alkaloids.
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7
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Ozber N, Yu L, Hagel JM, Facchini PJ. Strong Feedback Inhibition of Key Enzymes in the Morphine Biosynthetic Pathway from Opium Poppy Detectable in Engineered Yeast. ACS Chem Biol 2023; 18:419-430. [PMID: 36735832 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.2c00873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Systematic screening of morphine pathway intermediates in engineered yeast revealed key biosynthetic enzymes displaying potent feedback inhibition: 3'-hydroxy-N-methylcoclaurine 4'-methyltransferase (4'OMT), which yields (S)-reticuline, and the coupled salutaridinol-7-O-acetyltransferase (SalAT) and thebaine synthase (THS2) enzyme system that produces thebaine. The addition of deuterated reticuline-d1 to a yeast strain able to convert (S)-norcoclaurine to (S)-reticuline showed reduced product accumulation in response to the feeding of all four successive pathway intermediates. Similarly, the addition of deuterated thebaine-d3 to a yeast strain able to convert salutaridine to thebaine showed reduced product accumulation from exogenous salutaridine or salutaridinol. In vitro analysis showed that reticuline is a noncompetitive inhibitor of 4'OMT, whereas thebaine exerts mixed inhibition on SalAT/THS2. In a yeast strain capable of de novo morphine biosynthesis, the addition of reticuline and thebaine resulted in the accumulation of several pathway intermediates. In contrast, morphine had no effect, suggesting that circumventing the interaction of reticuline and thebaine with 4'OMT and SalAT/THS2, respectively, could substantially increase opiate alkaloid titers in engineered yeast.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natali Ozber
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Lisa Yu
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Jillian M Hagel
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Peter J Facchini
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada
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Ozber N, Carr SC, Morris JS, Liang S, Watkins JL, Caldo KM, Hagel JM, Ng KKS, Facchini PJ. Alkaloid binding to opium poppy major latex proteins triggers structural modification and functional aggregation. Nat Commun 2022; 13:6768. [PMID: 36351903 PMCID: PMC9646721 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-34313-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Opium poppy accumulates copious amounts of several benzylisoquinoline alkaloids including morphine, noscapine, and papaverine, in the specialized cytoplasm of laticifers, which compose an internal secretory system associated with phloem throughout the plant. The contiguous latex includes an abundance of related proteins belonging to the pathogenesis-related (PR)10 family known collectively as major latex proteins (MLPs) and representing at least 35% of the total cellular protein content. Two latex MLP/PR10 proteins, thebaine synthase and neopione isomerase, have recently been shown to catalyze late steps in morphine biosynthesis previously assigned as spontaneous reactions. Using a combination of sucrose density-gradient fractionation-coupled proteomics, differential scanning fluorimetry, isothermal titration calorimetry, and X-ray crystallography, we show that the major latex proteins are a family of alkaloid-binding proteins that display altered conformation in the presence of certain ligands. Addition of MLP/PR10 proteins to yeast strains engineered with morphine biosynthetic genes from the plant significantly enhanced the conversion of salutaridine to morphinan alkaloids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natali Ozber
- grid.22072.350000 0004 1936 7697Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4 Canada
| | - Samuel C. Carr
- grid.22072.350000 0004 1936 7697Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4 Canada
| | - Jeremy S. Morris
- grid.22072.350000 0004 1936 7697Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4 Canada ,grid.4367.60000 0001 2355 7002Present Address: Department of Biology, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63130-4899 USA
| | - Siyu Liang
- grid.22072.350000 0004 1936 7697Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4 Canada
| | - Jacinta L. Watkins
- grid.22072.350000 0004 1936 7697Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4 Canada
| | - Kristian M. Caldo
- grid.22072.350000 0004 1936 7697Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4 Canada
| | - Jillian M. Hagel
- grid.22072.350000 0004 1936 7697Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4 Canada
| | - Kenneth K. S. Ng
- grid.22072.350000 0004 1936 7697Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4 Canada ,grid.267455.70000 0004 1936 9596Present Address: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario N9B 3P4 Canada
| | - Peter J. Facchini
- grid.22072.350000 0004 1936 7697Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4 Canada
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Vasilev N. Medicinal Plants: Guests and Hosts in the Heterologous Expression of High-Value Products. PLANTA MEDICA 2022; 88:1175-1189. [PMID: 34521134 DOI: 10.1055/a-1576-4148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Medicinal plants play an important dual role in the context of the heterologous expression of high-value pharmaceutical products. On the one hand, the classical biochemical and modern omics approaches allowed for the discovery of various genes encoding biosynthetic pathways in medicinal plants. Recombinant DNA technology enabled introducing these genes and regulatory elements into host organisms and enhancing the heterologous production of the corresponding secondary metabolites. On the other hand, the transient expression of foreign DNA in plants facilitated the production of numerous proteins of pharmaceutical importance. This review summarizes several success stories of the engineering of plant metabolic pathways in heterologous hosts. Likewise, a few examples of recombinant protein expression in plants for therapeutic purposes are also highlighted. Therefore, the importance of medicinal plants has grown immensely as sources for valuable products of low and high molecular weight. The next step ahead for bioengineering is to achieve more success stories of industrial-scale production of secondary plant metabolites in microbial systems and to fully exploit plant cell factories' commercial potential for recombinant proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolay Vasilev
- TU Dortmund University, Biochemical and Chemical Engineering, Technical Biochemistry, Dortmund, Germany
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10
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Wang D, Zhao L, Wan J, Liu J, Wei Y, Ouyang Z, Yu X. Molecular cloning, expression, and functional analysis of copper amine oxidase gene from mulberry (Morus alba L.). Protein Expr Purif 2022; 201:106166. [PMID: 36174814 DOI: 10.1016/j.pep.2022.106166] [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: 09/27/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
In this study, we investigated a key enzyme encoded by the gene copper amine oxidase (MaCAO), which is involved in the biosynthetic pathway of 1-deoxynojirimycin (DNJ)1, an active ingredient in mulberry leaves. The 1680 bp long MaCAO was successfully cloned (GenBank accession no: MH205733). Subsequently, MaCAO was heterologously expressed using a recombinant plasmid, pET-22b (+)/MaCAO in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3). A protein with a molecular mass of 62.9 kDa was obtained, whose function was validated through enzymatic reaction. Bioinformatics analysis identified that MaCAO contained the same conserved domain as that of copper amine oxidases ("NYDY"). Furthermore, the tertiary structure of the predicted protein using homology modeling revealed 46% similarity with that of copper amine oxidase (Protein Data Bank ID: 1W2Z). Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of the enzymatic reaction revealed that MaCAO could catalyze 1,5-pentanediamine to produce 5-aminopentanal. Additionally, levels of mulberry leaf DNJ content were significantly positively correlated with expression levels of MaCAO (P < 0.001). Our results conclude that MaCAO is the key enzyme involved in the biosynthetic pathway of DNJ. The function of MaCAO is validated, providing a foundation for the further analysis of biosynthetic pathways of DNJ in mulberry leaves using tools of synthetic biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dujun Wang
- School of Marine and Bioengineering, Yancheng Institute of Technology, Yancheng, 224051, China
| | - Li Zhao
- School of Pharmacy, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, 212013, China
| | - Jingqiong Wan
- School of Pharmacy, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, 212013, China
| | - Jia Liu
- School of Pharmacy, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, 212013, China
| | - Yuan Wei
- School of Pharmacy, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, 212013, China
| | - Zhen Ouyang
- School of Pharmacy, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, 212013, China.
| | - Xiaohong Yu
- School of Marine and Bioengineering, Yancheng Institute of Technology, Yancheng, 224051, China
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Alvarez-Diaz JC, Laugé R, Delannoy E, Huguet S, Paysant-Le Roux C, Gratias A, Geffroy V. Genome-Wide Transcriptomic Analysis of the Effects of Infection with the Hemibiotrophic Fungus Colletotrichum lindemuthianum on Common Bean. PLANTS 2022; 11:plants11151995. [PMID: 35956473 PMCID: PMC9370732 DOI: 10.3390/plants11151995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Revised: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Bean anthracnose caused by the hemibiotrophic fungus Colletotrichum lindemuthianum is one of the most important diseases of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) in the world. In the present study, the whole transcriptome of common bean infected with C. lindemuthianum during compatible and incompatible interactions was characterized at 48 and 72 hpi, corresponding to the biotrophy phase of the infection cycle. Our results highlight the prominent role of pathogenesis-related (PR) genes from the PR10/Bet vI family as well as a complex interplay of different plant hormone pathways including Ethylene, Salicylic acid (SA) and Jasmonic acid pathways. Gene Ontology enrichment analysis reveals that infected common bean seedlings responded by down-regulation of photosynthesis, ubiquitination-mediated proteolysis and cell wall modifications. In infected common bean, SA biosynthesis seems to be based on the PAL pathway instead of the ICS pathway, contrarily to what is described in Arabidopsis. Interestingly, ~30 NLR were up-regulated in both contexts. Overall, our results suggest that the difference between the compatible and incompatible reaction is more a question of timing and strength, than a massive difference in differentially expressed genes between these two contexts. Finally, we used RT-qPCR to validate the expression patterns of several genes, and the results showed an excellent agreement with deep sequencing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan C. Alvarez-Diaz
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, INRAE, Université Evry, Institute of Plant Sciences Paris-Saclay (IPS2), 91190 Gif sur Yvette, France; (J.C.A.-D.); (E.D.); (S.H.); (C.P.-L.R.); (A.G.)
- Université Paris-Cité, CNRS, INRAE, Institute of Plant Sciences Paris-Saclay (IPS2), 91190 Gif sur Yvette, France
| | - Richard Laugé
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE UR 1290 BIOGER, Av. Lucien Bretignières, BP 01, 78850 Thiverval Grignon, France;
| | - Etienne Delannoy
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, INRAE, Université Evry, Institute of Plant Sciences Paris-Saclay (IPS2), 91190 Gif sur Yvette, France; (J.C.A.-D.); (E.D.); (S.H.); (C.P.-L.R.); (A.G.)
- Université Paris-Cité, CNRS, INRAE, Institute of Plant Sciences Paris-Saclay (IPS2), 91190 Gif sur Yvette, France
| | - Stéphanie Huguet
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, INRAE, Université Evry, Institute of Plant Sciences Paris-Saclay (IPS2), 91190 Gif sur Yvette, France; (J.C.A.-D.); (E.D.); (S.H.); (C.P.-L.R.); (A.G.)
- Université Paris-Cité, CNRS, INRAE, Institute of Plant Sciences Paris-Saclay (IPS2), 91190 Gif sur Yvette, France
| | - Christine Paysant-Le Roux
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, INRAE, Université Evry, Institute of Plant Sciences Paris-Saclay (IPS2), 91190 Gif sur Yvette, France; (J.C.A.-D.); (E.D.); (S.H.); (C.P.-L.R.); (A.G.)
- Université Paris-Cité, CNRS, INRAE, Institute of Plant Sciences Paris-Saclay (IPS2), 91190 Gif sur Yvette, France
| | - Ariane Gratias
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, INRAE, Université Evry, Institute of Plant Sciences Paris-Saclay (IPS2), 91190 Gif sur Yvette, France; (J.C.A.-D.); (E.D.); (S.H.); (C.P.-L.R.); (A.G.)
- Université Paris-Cité, CNRS, INRAE, Institute of Plant Sciences Paris-Saclay (IPS2), 91190 Gif sur Yvette, France
| | - Valérie Geffroy
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, INRAE, Université Evry, Institute of Plant Sciences Paris-Saclay (IPS2), 91190 Gif sur Yvette, France; (J.C.A.-D.); (E.D.); (S.H.); (C.P.-L.R.); (A.G.)
- Université Paris-Cité, CNRS, INRAE, Institute of Plant Sciences Paris-Saclay (IPS2), 91190 Gif sur Yvette, France
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +33-1-69-15-33-65
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Metabolomics-guided discovery of cytochrome P450s involved in pseudotropine-dependent biosynthesis of modified tropane alkaloids. Nat Commun 2022; 13:3832. [PMID: 35780230 PMCID: PMC9250511 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31653-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Plant alkaloids constitute an important class of bioactive chemicals with applications in medicine and agriculture. However, the knowledge gap of the diversity and biosynthesis of phytoalkaloids prevents systematic advances in biotechnology for engineered production of these high-value compounds. In particular, the identification of cytochrome P450s driving the structural diversity of phytoalkaloids has remained challenging. Here, we use a combination of reverse genetics with discovery metabolomics and multivariate statistical analysis followed by in planta transient assays to investigate alkaloid diversity and functionally characterize two candidate cytochrome P450s genes from Atropa belladonna without a priori knowledge of their functions or information regarding the identities of key pathway intermediates. This approach uncovered a largely unexplored root localized alkaloid sub-network that relies on pseudotropine as precursor. The two cytochrome P450s catalyze N-demethylation and ring-hydroxylation reactions within the early steps in the biosynthesis of diverse N-demethylated modified tropane alkaloids. Cytochrome P450s drive the structural diversity of plant alkaloids, many of which have biotechnological uses. Here the authors use reverse genetics and metabolomics to identify two Atropa belladonna cytochrome P450s that synthesize pseudotropine-derived alkaloids.
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13
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Robescu MS, Cendron L, Bacchin A, Wagner K, Reiter T, Janicki I, Merusic K, Illek M, Aleotti M, Bergantino E, Hall M. Asymmetric Proton Transfer Catalysis by Stereocomplementary Old Yellow Enzymes for C═C Bond Isomerization Reaction. ACS Catal 2022. [DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.2c01110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Marina S. Robescu
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padova, Province of Padova 35131, Italy
| | - Laura Cendron
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padova, Province of Padova 35131, Italy
| | - Arianna Bacchin
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Graz, Graz, Styria 8010, Austria
| | - Karla Wagner
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Graz, Graz, Styria 8010, Austria
| | - Tamara Reiter
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Graz, Graz, Styria 8010, Austria
| | - Ignacy Janicki
- Department of Heteroorganic Chemistry, Centre of Molecular and Macromolecular Studies, Polish Academy of Sciences, Lodz, Lodz Province 90-001, Poland
| | - Kemal Merusic
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Graz, Graz, Styria 8010, Austria
| | - Maximilian Illek
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Graz, Graz, Styria 8010, Austria
| | - Matteo Aleotti
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Graz, Graz, Styria 8010, Austria
| | - Elisabetta Bergantino
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padova, Province of Padova 35131, Italy
| | - Mélanie Hall
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Graz, Graz, Styria 8010, Austria
- Field of Excellence BioHealth, University of Graz, Graz, Styria 8010, Austria
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14
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Ozber N, Facchini PJ. Phloem-specific localization of benzylisoquinoline alkaloid metabolism in opium poppy. JOURNAL OF PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 271:153641. [PMID: 35240512 DOI: 10.1016/j.jplph.2022.153641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Revised: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Opium poppy is the only commercial source of the narcotic analgesics morphine and codeine, and semi-synthetic derivatives of the natural opiate precursor thebaine, including oxycodone and the opioid antagonist naloxone. The plant also accumulates the vasodilator and antitussive agents papaverine and noscapine, respectively, which together with morphine, codeine and thebaine comprise the major benzylisoquinoline alkaloids (BIAs) in opium poppy. A majority of enzymes involved in the highly branched BIA metabolism in opium poppy have now been discovered, with many specifically localized to sieve elements of the phloem based on immunofluorescence labeling techniques. Transcripts corresponding to sieve element-localized biosynthetic enzymes were detected in companion cells, as expected. The more recent application of shotgun proteomics has shown that several enzymes operating late in the morphine and noscapine biosynthetic pathways occur primarily in laticifers that are adjacent or proximal to sieve elements. BIA biosynthesis and accumulation in opium poppy involves three phloem cell types and implicates the translocation of key pathway intermediates between sieve elements and laticifers. The recent isolation of uptake transporters associated with laticifers supports an apoplastic rather than a symplastic route for translocation. In spite of the extensive elucidation of BIA biosynthetic enzymes in opium poppy, additional transporters and other auxiliary proteins are clearly necessary to support the complex spatial organization and dynamics involved in product formation and sequestration. In this review, we provide an update of BIA metabolism in opium poppy with a focus on the role of phloem in the biosynthesis of the major alkaloids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natali Ozber
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Peter J Facchini
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada.
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15
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Mancinotti D, Frick KM, Geu-Flores F. Biosynthesis of quinolizidine alkaloids in lupins: mechanistic considerations and prospects for pathway elucidation. Nat Prod Rep 2022; 39:1423-1437. [PMID: 35302146 DOI: 10.1039/d1np00069a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Covering: up to 2022Quinolizidine alkaloids (QAs) are a class of alkaloids that accumulate in a variety of leguminous plants and have applications in the agricultural, pharmaceutical and chemical industries. QAs are notoriously present in cultivated lupins (Lupinus spp.) where they complicate the use of the valuable, high-protein beans due to their toxic properties and bitter taste. Compared to many other alkaloid classes, the biosynthesis of QAs is poorly understood, with only the two first pathway enzymes having been discovered so far. In this article, we review the different biosynthetic hypotheses that have been put forth in the literature (1988-2009) and highlight one particular hypothesis (1988) that agrees with the often ignored precursor feeding studies (1964-1994). Our focus is on the biosynthesis of the simple tetracyclic QA (-)-sparteine, from which many of the QAs found in lupins derive. We examine every pathway step on the way to (-)-sparteine and discuss plausible mechanisms, altogether proposing the involvement of 6-9 enzymes. Together with the new resources for gene discovery developed for lupins in the past few years, this review will contribute to the full elucidation of the QA pathway, including the identification and characterization of the missing pathway enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Mancinotti
- Section for Plant Biochemistry and Copenhagen Plant Science Centre, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Karen Michiko Frick
- Section for Plant Biochemistry and Copenhagen Plant Science Centre, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Fernando Geu-Flores
- Section for Plant Biochemistry and Copenhagen Plant Science Centre, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
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16
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Sangster JJ, Marshall JR, Turner NJ, Mangas-Sanchez J. New Trends and Future Opportunities in the Enzymatic Formation of C-C, C-N, and C-O bonds. Chembiochem 2021; 23:e202100464. [PMID: 34726813 PMCID: PMC9401909 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202100464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Revised: 10/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Organic chemistry provides society with fundamental products we use daily. Concerns about the impact that the chemical industry has over the environment is propelling major changes in the way we manufacture chemicals. Biocatalysis offers an alternative to other synthetic approaches as it employs enzymes, Nature's catalysts, to carry out chemical transformations. Enzymes are biodegradable, come from renewable sources, operate under mild reaction conditions, and display high selectivities in the processes they catalyse. As a highly multidisciplinary field, biocatalysis benefits from advances in different areas, and developments in the fields of molecular biology, bioinformatics, and chemical engineering have accelerated the extension of the range of available transformations (E. L. Bell et al., Nat. Rev. Meth. Prim. 2021, 1, 1-21). Recently, we surveyed advances in the expansion of the scope of biocatalysis via enzyme discovery and protein engineering (J. R. Marshall et al., Tetrahedron 2021, 82, 131926). Herein, we focus on novel enzymes currently available to the broad synthetic community for the construction of new C-C, C-N and C-O bonds, with the purpose of providing the non-specialist with new and alternative tools for chiral and sustainable chemical synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jack J Sangster
- Department of Chemistry, Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, University of Manchester, 131 Princess Street, Manchester, M1 7DN, UK
| | - James R Marshall
- Department of Chemistry, Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, University of Manchester, 131 Princess Street, Manchester, M1 7DN, UK
| | - Nicholas J Turner
- Department of Chemistry, Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, University of Manchester, 131 Princess Street, Manchester, M1 7DN, UK
| | - Juan Mangas-Sanchez
- Institute of Chemical Synthesis and Homogeneous Catalysis, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Pedro Cerbuna 12, 50009, Zaragoza, Spain.,ARAID Foundation, Zaragoza, Spain
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17
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Carr SC, Torres MA, Morris JS, Facchini PJ, Ng KKS. Structural studies of codeinone reductase reveal novel insights into aldo-keto reductase function in benzylisoquinoline alkaloid biosynthesis. J Biol Chem 2021; 297:101211. [PMID: 34547292 PMCID: PMC8524200 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.101211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2021] [Revised: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Benzylisoquinoline alkaloids (BIAs) are a class of specialized metabolites with a diverse range of chemical structures and physiological effects. Codeine and morphine are two closely related BIAs with particularly useful analgesic properties. The aldo-keto reductase (AKR) codeinone reductase (COR) catalyzes the final and penultimate steps in the biosynthesis of codeine and morphine, respectively, in opium poppy (Papaver somniferum). However, the structural determinants that mediate substrate recognition and catalysis are not well defined. Here, we describe the crystal structure of apo-COR determined to a resolution of 2.4 Å by molecular replacement using chalcone reductase as a search model. Structural comparisons of COR to closely related plant AKRs and more distantly related homologues reveal a novel conformation in the β1α1 loop adjacent to the BIA-binding pocket. The proximity of this loop to several highly conserved active-site residues and the expected location of the nicotinamide ring of the NADP(H) cofactor suggest a model for BIA recognition that implies roles for several key residues. Using site-directed mutagenesis, we show that substitutions at Met-28 and His-120 of COR lead to changes in AKR activity for the major and minor substrates codeinone and neopinone, respectively. Our findings provide a framework for understanding the molecular basis of substrate recognition in COR and the closely related 1,2-dehydroreticuline reductase responsible for the second half of a stereochemical inversion that initiates the morphine biosynthesis pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel C Carr
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Megan A Torres
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Jeremy S Morris
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Peter J Facchini
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Kenneth K S Ng
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario, Canada.
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18
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Dastmalchi M. Elusive partners: a review of the auxiliary proteins guiding metabolic flux in flavonoid biosynthesis. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2021; 108:314-329. [PMID: 34318549 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.15446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Revised: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Flavonoids are specialized metabolites widely distributed across the plant kingdom. They are involved in the growth and survival of plants, conferring the ability to filter ultra-violet rays, conduct symbiotic partnerships, and respond to stress. While many branches of flavonoid biosynthesis have been resolved, recent discoveries suggest missing auxiliary components. These overlooked elements can guide metabolic flux, enhance production, mediate stereoselectivity, transport intermediates, and exert regulatory functions. This review describes several families of auxiliary proteins from across the plant kingdom, including examples from specialized metabolism. In flavonoid biosynthesis, we discuss the example of chalcone isomerase-like (CHIL) proteins and their non-catalytic role. CHILs mediate the cyclization of tetraketides, forming the chalcone scaffold by interacting with chalcone synthase (CHS). Loss of CHIL activity leads to derailment of the CHS-catalyzed reaction and a loss of pigmentation in fruits and flowers. Similarly, members of the pathogenesis-related 10 (PR10) protein family have been found to differentially bind flavonoid intermediates, guiding the composition of anthocyanins. This role comes within a larger body of PR10 involvement in specialized metabolism, from outright catalysis (e.g., (S)-norcoclaurine synthesis) to controlling stereochemistry (e.g., enhancing cis-trans cyclization in catnip). Both CHILs and PR10s hail from larger families of ligand-binding proteins with a spectrum of activity, complicating the characterization of their enigmatic roles. Strategies for the discovery of auxiliary proteins are discussed, as well as mechanistic models for their function. Targeting such unanticipated components will be crucial in manipulating plants or engineering microbial systems for natural product synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehran Dastmalchi
- Department of Plant Science, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Québec, H9X 3V9, Canada
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19
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Gao B, Yang B, Feng X, Li C. Recent advances in the biosynthesis strategies of nitrogen heterocyclic natural products. Nat Prod Rep 2021; 39:139-162. [PMID: 34374396 DOI: 10.1039/d1np00017a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Covering: 2015 to 2020Nitrogen heterocyclic natural products (NHNPs) are primary or secondary metabolites containing nitrogen heterocyclic (N-heterocyclic) skeletons. Due to the existence of the N-heterocyclic structure, NHNPs exhibit various bioactivities such as anticancer and antibacterial, which makes them widely used in medicines, pesticides, and food additives. However, the low content of these NHNPs in native organisms severely restricts their commercial application. Although a variety of NHNPs have been produced through extraction or chemical synthesis strategies, these methods suffer from several problems. The development of biotechnology provides new options for the production of NHNPs. This review introduces the recent progress of two strategies for the biosynthesis of NHNPs: enzymatic biosynthesis and microbial cell factory. In the enzymatic biosynthesis part, the recent progress in the mining of enzymes that synthesize N-heterocyclic skeletons (e.g., pyrrole, piperidine, diketopiperazine, and isoquinoline), the engineering of tailoring enzymes, and enzyme cascades constructed to synthesize NHNPs are discussed. In the microbial cell factory part, with tropane alkaloids (TAs) and tetrahydroisoquinoline (THIQ) alkaloids as the representative compounds, the strategies of unraveling unknown natural biosynthesis pathways of NHNPs in plants are summarized, and various metabolic engineering strategies to enhance their production in microbes are introduced. Ultimately, future perspectives for accelerating the biosynthesis of NHNPs are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Gao
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecule Science and Pharmaceutics Engineering, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Institute of Biochemical Engineering, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China.
| | - Bo Yang
- SynBio Research Platform, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Xudong Feng
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecule Science and Pharmaceutics Engineering, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Institute of Biochemical Engineering, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China.
| | - Chun Li
- Key Laboratory of Medical Molecule Science and Pharmaceutics Engineering, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Institute of Biochemical Engineering, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China. and SynBio Research Platform, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China and Key Laboratory for Industrial Biocatalysis, Ministry of Education, Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
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20
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Singh W, Hui C, Li C, Huang M. Thebaine is Selectively Demethylated by Thebaine 6- O-Demethylase and Codeine-3- O-demethylase at Distinct Binding Sites: A Computational Study. Inorg Chem 2021; 60:10199-10214. [PMID: 34213893 DOI: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.1c00468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Two homologous 2-oxoglutarate-dependent (ODD) nonheme enzymes thebaine 6-O-demethylase (T6ODM) and codeine-3-O-demethylase (CODM), are involved in the morphine biosynthesis pathway from thebaine, catalyzing the O-demethylation reaction with precise regioselectivity at C6 and C3 positions of thebaine respectively. We investigated the origin of the regioselectivity of these enzymes by combined molecular dynamics (MD) and quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) calculations and found that Thebaine binds at the two distinct sites of T6ODM and CODM, which determines the regioselectivity of the enzymes. A remarkable oxo rotation is observed in the decarboxylation process. Starting from the closed pentacoordinate configuration, the C-terminal lid adopts an open conformation in the octahedral Fe(IV) = O complex to facilitate the subsequent demethylation. Phe241 and Phe311 stabilize the substrate in the binding pocket, while Arg219 acts as a gatekeeper residue to stabilize the substrate. Our results unravel the regioselectivity in 2-OG dependent nonheme enzymes and may shed light for exploring the substrate scope of these enzymes and developing novel biotechnology for morphine biosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Warispreet Singh
- Department of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Queen's University, Belfast BT9 5AG, United Kingdom
| | - Chenggong Hui
- Department of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Queen's University, Belfast BT9 5AG, United Kingdom
| | - Chun Li
- Key Lab of Industrial Biocatalysis Ministry of Education, Institute of Biochemical Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, P. R. China
| | - Meilan Huang
- Department of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Queen's University, Belfast BT9 5AG, United Kingdom
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21
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Jamieson CS, Misa J, Tang Y, Billingsley JM. Biosynthesis and synthetic biology of psychoactive natural products. Chem Soc Rev 2021; 50:6950-7008. [PMID: 33908526 PMCID: PMC8217322 DOI: 10.1039/d1cs00065a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Psychoactive natural products play an integral role in the modern world. The tremendous structural complexity displayed by such molecules confers diverse biological activities of significant medicinal value and sociocultural impact. Accordingly, in the last two centuries, immense effort has been devoted towards establishing how plants, animals, and fungi synthesize complex natural products from simple metabolic precursors. The recent explosion of genomics data and molecular biology tools has enabled the identification of genes encoding proteins that catalyze individual biosynthetic steps. Once fully elucidated, the "biosynthetic pathways" are often comparable to organic syntheses in elegance and yield. Additionally, the discovery of biosynthetic enzymes provides powerful catalysts which may be repurposed for synthetic biology applications, or implemented with chemoenzymatic synthetic approaches. In this review, we discuss the progress that has been made toward biosynthetic pathway elucidation amongst four classes of psychoactive natural products: hallucinogens, stimulants, cannabinoids, and opioids. Compounds of diverse biosynthetic origin - terpene, amino acid, polyketide - are identified, and notable mechanisms of key scaffold transforming steps are highlighted. We also provide a description of subsequent applications of the biosynthetic machinery, with an emphasis placed on the synthetic biology and metabolic engineering strategies enabling heterologous production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cooper S Jamieson
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| | - Joshua Misa
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| | - Yi Tang
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA. and Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| | - John M Billingsley
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA. and Invizyne Technologies, Inc., Monrovia, CA, USA
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22
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Fujita K, Inui H. Review: Biological functions of major latex-like proteins in plants. PLANT SCIENCE : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2021; 306:110856. [PMID: 33775363 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2021.110856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2020] [Revised: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 02/14/2021] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Major latex-like proteins (MLPs) have been identified in dicots and monocots. They are members of the birch pollen allergen Bet v 1 family as well as pathogenesis-related proteins class 10. MLPs have two main features. One is binding affinity toward various hydrophobic compounds, such as long-chain fatty acids, steroids, and systemic acquired resistance signals, via its internal hydrophobic cavity or hydrophobic residues on its surface. MLPs transport such compounds to other organs via phloem and xylem vessels and contribute to the expression of physiologically important ligands' activity in the particular organs. The second feature is responses to abiotic and biotic stresses. MLPs are involved in drought and salt tolerance through the mediation of plant hormone signaling pathways. MLPs generate resistance against pathogens by the induction of pathogenesis-related protein genes. Therefore, MLPs play crucial roles in drought and salt tolerance and resistance against pathogens. However, knowledge of MLPs is fragmented, and an overview of them is needed. Herein, we summarize the current knowledge of the biological functions of MLPs, which to our knowledge, is the first review about MLPs that has been reported.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kentaro Fujita
- Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University, 1-1 Rokkodaicho, Nada-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 657-8501, Japan.
| | - Hideyuki Inui
- Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University, 1-1 Rokkodaicho, Nada-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 657-8501, Japan; Biosignal Research Center, Kobe University, 1-1 Rokkodaicho, Nada-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 657-8501, Japan.
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23
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Menéndez-Perdomo IM, Hagel JM, Facchini PJ. Benzylisoquinoline alkaloid analysis using high-resolution Orbitrap LC-MS n. JOURNAL OF MASS SPECTROMETRY : JMS 2021; 56:e4683. [PMID: 33410198 DOI: 10.1002/jms.4683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Revised: 10/29/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Benzylisoquinoline alkaloids (BIAs) have profound implications on human health owing to their potent pharmacological properties. Notable naturally occurring BIAs are the narcotic analgesics morphine, the cough suppressant codeine, the potential anticancer drug noscapine, the muscle relaxant papaverine, and the antimicrobial sanguinarine, all of which are produced in opium poppy (Papaver somniferum). Thebaine, an intermediate in the biosynthesis of codeine and morphine, is used in the manufacture of semisynthetic opiates, including oxycodone and naloxone. As the only commercial source of pharmaceutical opiates, opium poppy has been the focus of considerable research to understand BIA metabolism in the plant. The elucidation of several BIA biosynthetic pathways has enabled the development of synthetic biology platforms aimed at the alternative commercial production of valuable phytochemicals in microorganisms. The detection and identification of BIA pathway products and intermediates in complex extracts is essential for the continuing advancement of research in plant specialized metabolism and microbial synthetic biology. Herein, we report the use of liquid chromatography coupled with linear trap quadrupole and high-resolution Orbitrap multistage mass spectrometry to characterize 44 authentic BIAs using collision-induced dissociation (CID), higher-energy collisional dissociation (HCD), and pulsed Q collision-induced dissociation (PQD) MS2 fragmentation, with MS2 CID followed by MS3 and MS4 fragmentation. Our deep library of diagnostic spectral data constitutes a valuable resource for BIAs identification. In addition, we identified 22 BIAs in opium poppy latex and roots extracts.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jillian M Hagel
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Peter J Facchini
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada
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24
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Han J, Wu Y, Zhou Y, Li S. Engineering Saccharomyces cerevisiae to produce plant benzylisoquinoline alkaloids. ABIOTECH 2021; 2:264-275. [PMID: 34377581 PMCID: PMC8286646 DOI: 10.1007/s42994-021-00055-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Benzylisoquinoline alkaloids (BIAs) are a diverse family of plant natural products with extensive pharmacological properties, but the yield of BIAs from plant is limited. The understanding of BIA biosynthetic mechanism in plant and the development of synthetic biology enable the possibility to produce BIAs through microbial fermentation, as an alternative to agriculture-based supply chains. In this review, we discussed the engineering strategies to synthesize BIAs in Saccharomyces cerevisiae (yeast) and improve BIA production level, including heterologous pathway reconstruction, enzyme engineering, expression regulation, host engineering and fermentation engineering. We also highlight recent metabolic engineering advances in the production of BIAs in yeast.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianing Han
- Robert Frederick Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, 230A Olin Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 USA
| | - Yinan Wu
- Robert Frederick Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, 230A Olin Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 USA
| | - Yilun Zhou
- Robert Frederick Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, 230A Olin Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 USA
| | - Sijin Li
- Robert Frederick Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, 230A Olin Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 USA
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25
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Liang H, Hu B, Chen L, Wang S, Aorigele. Recognizing novel chemicals/drugs for anatomical therapeutic chemical classes with a heat diffusion algorithm. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2020; 1866:165910. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2020.165910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Revised: 07/20/2020] [Accepted: 08/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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26
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Current state of aromatics production using yeast: achievements and challenges. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2020; 65:65-74. [DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2020.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2019] [Revised: 01/21/2020] [Accepted: 01/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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27
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Morris JS, Caldo KMP, Liang S, Facchini PJ. PR10/Bet v1-like Proteins as Novel Contributors to Plant Biochemical Diversity. Chembiochem 2020; 22:264-287. [PMID: 32700448 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202000354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2020] [Revised: 07/16/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Pathogenesis-related (PR) proteins constitute a broad class of plant proteins with analogues found throughout nature from bacteria to higher eukaryotes. PR proteins were first noted in plants as part of the hypersensitive response, but have since been assigned an array of biological roles. The PR10/Bet v1-like proteins are a subset of PR proteins characterized by an ability to bind a wide range of lipophilic ligands, uniquely positioning them as contributors to specialized biosynthetic pathways. PR10/Bet v1-like proteins participate in the production of plant alkaloids and phenolics including flavonoids, both as general binding proteins and in special cases as catalysts. Owing initially to the perceived allergenic properties of PR10/Bet v1-like proteins, many were studied at the structural level to elucidate the basis for ligand binding. These studies provided a foundation for more recent efforts to understand higher-level structural order and how PR10/Bet v1-like proteins catalyse key reactions in plant pathways. Synthetic biology aimed at reconstituting plant-specialized metabolism in microorganisms uses knowledge of these proteins to fine-tune performance in new systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy S Morris
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive N.W., Calgary, Alberta, T2N N4, Canada
| | - Kristian Mark P Caldo
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive N.W., Calgary, Alberta, T2N N4, Canada
| | - Siyu Liang
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive N.W., Calgary, Alberta, T2N N4, Canada
| | - Peter J Facchini
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive N.W., Calgary, Alberta, T2N N4, Canada
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28
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Back to the plant: overcoming roadblocks to the microbial production of pharmaceutically important plant natural products. J Ind Microbiol Biotechnol 2020; 47:815-828. [PMID: 32772209 DOI: 10.1007/s10295-020-02300-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Accepted: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Microbial fermentation platforms offer a cost-effective and sustainable alternative to plant cultivation and chemical synthesis for the production of many plant-derived pharmaceuticals. Plant alkaloids, particularly benzylisoquinoline alkaloids and monoterpene indole alkaloids, and recently cannabinoids have become attractive targets for microbial biosynthesis owing to their medicinal importance. Recent advances in the discovery of pathway components, together with the application of synthetic biology tools, have facilitated the assembly of plant alkaloid and cannabinoid pathways in the microbial hosts Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This review highlights key aspects of these pathways in the framework of overcoming bottlenecks in microbial production to further improve end-product titers. We discuss the opportunities that emerge from a better understanding of the pathway components by further study of the plant, and strategies for generation of new and advanced medicinal compounds.
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29
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Lichman BR. The scaffold-forming steps of plant alkaloid biosynthesis. Nat Prod Rep 2020; 38:103-129. [PMID: 32745157 DOI: 10.1039/d0np00031k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Alkaloids from plants are characterised by structural diversity and bioactivity, and maintain a privileged position in both modern and traditional medicines. In recent years, there have been significant advances in elucidating the biosynthetic origins of plant alkaloids. In this review, I will describe the progress made in determining the metabolic origins of the so-called true alkaloids, specialised metabolites derived from amino acids containing a nitrogen heterocycle. By identifying key biosynthetic steps that feature in the majority of pathways, I highlight the key roles played by modifications to primary metabolism, iminium reactivity and spontaneous reactions in the molecular and evolutionary origins of these pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin R Lichman
- Centre for Novel Agricultural Products, Department of Biology, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK.
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30
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Structural insights into thebaine synthase 2 catalysis. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2020; 529:156-161. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2020.05.199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Accepted: 05/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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31
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Pyne ME, Kevvai K, Grewal PS, Narcross L, Choi B, Bourgeois L, Dueber JE, Martin VJJ. A yeast platform for high-level synthesis of tetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloids. Nat Commun 2020; 11:3337. [PMID: 32620756 PMCID: PMC7335070 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-17172-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Accepted: 06/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The tetrahydroisoquinoline (THIQ) moiety is a privileged substructure of many bioactive natural products and semi-synthetic analogs. Plants manufacture more than 3,000 THIQ alkaloids, including the opioids morphine and codeine. While microbial species have been engineered to synthesize a few compounds from the benzylisoquinoline alkaloid (BIA) family of THIQs, low product titers impede industrial viability and limit access to the full chemical space. Here we report a yeast THIQ platform by increasing production of the central BIA intermediate (S)-reticuline to 4.6 g L−1, a 57,000-fold improvement over our first-generation strain. We show that gains in BIA output coincide with the formation of several substituted THIQs derived from amino acid catabolism. We use these insights to repurpose the Ehrlich pathway and synthesize an array of THIQ structures. This work provides a blueprint for building diverse alkaloid scaffolds and enables the targeted overproduction of thousands of THIQ products, including natural and semi-synthetic opioids. Plants synthesize more than 3000 tetrahydroisoquinoline (THIQ) alkaloids, but only a few of them have been produced by engineered microbes and titers are very low. Here, the authors increase (S)-reticuline titer to 4.6 g/L and repurpose the yeast Ehrlich pathway to synthesize a diverse array of THIQ scaffolds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael E Pyne
- Department of Biology, Concordia University, Montréal, QC, Canada.,Centre for Applied Synthetic Biology, Concordia University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Kaspar Kevvai
- Department of Biology, Concordia University, Montréal, QC, Canada.,Centre for Applied Synthetic Biology, Concordia University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Parbir S Grewal
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Lauren Narcross
- Department of Biology, Concordia University, Montréal, QC, Canada.,Centre for Applied Synthetic Biology, Concordia University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Brian Choi
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Leanne Bourgeois
- Department of Biology, Concordia University, Montréal, QC, Canada.,Centre for Applied Synthetic Biology, Concordia University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - John E Dueber
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.,Biological Systems & Engineering Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Vincent J J Martin
- Department of Biology, Concordia University, Montréal, QC, Canada. .,Centre for Applied Synthetic Biology, Concordia University, Montréal, QC, Canada.
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32
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Jones NS, Comparin JH. Interpol review of controlled substances 2016-2019. Forensic Sci Int Synerg 2020; 2:608-669. [PMID: 33385148 PMCID: PMC7770462 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsisyn.2020.01.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2020] [Accepted: 01/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
This review paper covers the forensic-relevant literature in controlled substances from 2016 to 2019 as a part of the 19th Interpol International Forensic Science Managers Symposium. The review papers are also available at the Interpol website at: https://www.interpol.int/content/download/14458/file/Interpol%20Review%20Papers%202019.pdf.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole S. Jones
- RTI International, Applied Justice Research Division, Center for Forensic Sciences, 3040 E. Cornwallis Road, Research Triangle Park, NC, 22709-2194, USA
| | - Jeffrey H. Comparin
- United States Drug Enforcement Administration, Special Testing and Research Laboratory, USA
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33
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Shen YP, Niu FX, Yan ZB, Fong LS, Huang YB, Liu JZ. Recent Advances in Metabolically Engineered Microorganisms for the Production of Aromatic Chemicals Derived From Aromatic Amino Acids. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2020; 8:407. [PMID: 32432104 PMCID: PMC7214760 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.00407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2020] [Accepted: 04/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Aromatic compounds derived from aromatic amino acids are an important class of diverse chemicals with a wide range of industrial and commercial applications. They are currently produced via petrochemical processes, which are not sustainable and eco-friendly. In the past decades, significant progress has been made in the construction of microbial cell factories capable of effectively converting renewable carbon sources into value-added aromatics. Here, we systematically and comprehensively review the recent advancements in metabolic engineering and synthetic biology in the microbial production of aromatic amino acid derivatives, stilbenes, and benzylisoquinoline alkaloids. The future outlook concerning the engineering of microbial cell factories for the production of aromatic compounds is also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Ping Shen
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Improved Variety Reproduction in Aquatic Economic Animals, Biomedical Center, School of Life Sciences, Institute of Synthetic Biology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Fu-Xing Niu
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Improved Variety Reproduction in Aquatic Economic Animals, Biomedical Center, School of Life Sciences, Institute of Synthetic Biology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhi-Bo Yan
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Improved Variety Reproduction in Aquatic Economic Animals, Biomedical Center, School of Life Sciences, Institute of Synthetic Biology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lai San Fong
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Improved Variety Reproduction in Aquatic Economic Animals, Biomedical Center, School of Life Sciences, Institute of Synthetic Biology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuan-Bin Huang
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Improved Variety Reproduction in Aquatic Economic Animals, Biomedical Center, School of Life Sciences, Institute of Synthetic Biology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jian-Zhong Liu
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Improved Variety Reproduction in Aquatic Economic Animals, Biomedical Center, School of Life Sciences, Institute of Synthetic Biology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
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34
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Li X, Krysiak-Baltyn K, Richards L, Jarrold A, Stevens GW, Bowser T, Speight RE, Gras SL. High-Efficiency Biocatalytic Conversion of Thebaine to Codeine. ACS OMEGA 2020; 5:9339-9347. [PMID: 32363285 PMCID: PMC7191831 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.0c00282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2020] [Accepted: 03/23/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
An enzymatic biosynthesis approach is described for codeine, the most widely used medicinal opiate, providing a more environmentally sustainable alternative to current chemical conversion, with yields and productivity compatible with industrial production. Escherichia coli strains were engineered to express key enzymes from poppy, including the recently discovered neopinone isomerase, producing codeine from thebaine. We show that compartmentalization of these enzymes in different cells is an effective strategy that allows active spatial and temporal control of reactions, increasing yield and volumetric productivity and reducing byproduct generation. Codeine is produced at a yield of 64% and a volumetric productivity of 0.19 g/(L·h), providing the basis for an industrially applicable aqueous whole-cell biotransformation process. This approach could be used to redirect thebaine-rich feedstocks arising from the U.S. reduction of opioid manufacturing quotas or applied to enable total biosynthesis and may have broader applicability to other medicinal plant compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu Li
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, The University
of Melbourne, Parkville, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
- The
Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Konrad Krysiak-Baltyn
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, The University
of Melbourne, Parkville, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
- The
Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Luke Richards
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, The University
of Melbourne, Parkville, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
- The
Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Ailsa Jarrold
- Sun
Pharmaceutical Industries Australia Pty Ltd., Princes Highway, Port Fairy, Victoria 3281, Australia
| | - Geoffrey W. Stevens
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, The University
of Melbourne, Parkville, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Tim Bowser
- Impact
Science Consulting, Unit
2/52 Swanston Street, Heidelberg Heights, Melbourne, Victoria 3081, Australia
| | - Robert E. Speight
- School
of Biology and Environmental Science, Queensland
University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland 4000, Australia
| | - Sally L. Gras
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, The University
of Melbourne, Parkville, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
- The
Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
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35
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Li Q, Ramasamy S, Singh P, Hagel JM, Dunemann SM, Chen X, Chen R, Yu L, Tucker JE, Facchini PJ, Yeaman S. Gene clustering and copy number variation in alkaloid metabolic pathways of opium poppy. Nat Commun 2020; 11:1190. [PMID: 32132540 PMCID: PMC7055283 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-15040-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2018] [Accepted: 02/10/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Genes in plant secondary metabolic pathways enable biosynthesis of a range of medically and industrially important compounds, and are often clustered on chromosomes. Here, we study genomic clustering in the benzylisoquinoline alkaloid (BIA) pathway in opium poppy (Papaver somniferum), exploring relationships between gene expression, copy number variation, and metabolite production. We use Hi-C to improve the existing draft genome assembly, yielding chromosome-scale scaffolds that include 35 previously unanchored BIA genes. We find that co-expression of BIA genes increases within clusters and identify candidates with unknown function based on clustering and covariation in expression and alkaloid production. Copy number variation in critical BIA genes correlates with stark differences in alkaloid production, linking noscapine production with an 11-gene deletion, and increased thebaine/decreased morphine production with deletion of a T6ODM cluster. Our results show that the opium poppy genome is still dynamically evolving in ways that contribute to medically and industrially important phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiushi Li
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Sukanya Ramasamy
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Pooja Singh
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Jillian M Hagel
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada
- Willow Biosciences Inc., 3655 36 Street N.W., Calgary, Alberta, T2L 1Y8, Canada
| | - Sonja M Dunemann
- Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Xue Chen
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada
- Willow Biosciences Inc., 3655 36 Street N.W., Calgary, Alberta, T2L 1Y8, Canada
| | - Rongji Chen
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Lisa Yu
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Joseph E Tucker
- Willow Biosciences Inc., 3655 36 Street N.W., Calgary, Alberta, T2L 1Y8, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Peter J Facchini
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada
- Willow Biosciences Inc., 3655 36 Street N.W., Calgary, Alberta, T2L 1Y8, Canada
| | - Sam Yeaman
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada.
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36
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Morris JS, Yu L, Facchini PJ. A single residue determines substrate preference in benzylisoquinoline alkaloid N-methyltransferases. PHYTOCHEMISTRY 2020; 170:112193. [PMID: 31765874 DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2019.112193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2019] [Revised: 10/29/2019] [Accepted: 10/30/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
N-methylation is a recurring feature in the biosynthesis of many plant specialized metabolites, including alkaloids. A crucial step in the conserved central pathway that provides intermediates for the biosynthesis of benzylisoquinoline alkaloids (BIAs) involves conversion of the secondary amine (S)-coclaurine into the tertiary amine (S)-N-methylcoclaurine by coclaurine N-methyltransferase (CNMT). Subsequent enzymatic steps yield the core intermediate (S)-reticuline, from which various branch pathways for the biosynthesis of major BIAs such as morphine, noscapine and sanguinarine diverge. An additional N-methylation yielding quaternary BIAs is catalyzed by reticuline N-methyltransferase (RNMT), such as in the branch pathway leading to the taxonomically widespread and ecologically significant alkaloid magnoflorine. Despite their functional differences, analysis of primary sequence information has been unable to accurately distinguish between CNMT-like and RNMT-like enzymes, necessitating laborious in vitro screening. Furthermore, despite a recent emphasis on structural characterization of BIA NMTs, the features and mechanisms underlying the CNMT-RNMT functional dichotomy were unknown. We report the identification of structural variants tightly correlated with function in known BIA NMTs and show through reciprocal mutagenesis that a single residue acts as a switch between CNMT- and RNMT-like functions. We use yeast in vivo screening to show that this discovery allows for accurate prediction of activity strictly from primary sequence information and, on this basis, improve the annotation of previously reported putative BIA NMTs. Our results highlight the unusually short mutational distance separating ancestral CNMT-like enzymes from more evolutionarily advanced RNMT-like enzymes, and thus help explain the widespread yet sporadic occurrence of quaternary BIAs in plants. While this is the first report of structural variants controlling mono-versus di-methylation activity among plant NMT enzymes, comparison with bacterial MT enzymes also suggests possible convergent evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy S Morris
- University of Calgary, Department of Biological Sciences, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Lisa Yu
- University of Calgary, Department of Biological Sciences, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Peter J Facchini
- University of Calgary, Department of Biological Sciences, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada.
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37
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Zhao Y, Wang N, Wu H, Zhou Y, Huang C, Luo J, Zeng Z, Kong L. Structure-based tailoring of the first coumarins-specific bergaptol O-methyltransferase to synthesize bergapten for depigmentation disorder treatment. J Adv Res 2019; 21:57-64. [PMID: 31666994 PMCID: PMC6812039 DOI: 10.1016/j.jare.2019.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2019] [Revised: 10/05/2019] [Accepted: 10/06/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Bergapten has long been used in combination with ultraviolet A irradiation to treat depigmentation disorder. However, extremely low bergapten contents in plants and difficulties in synthesizing bergapten have limited its application. Here, we developed an alternative bergapten-production method. We first determined the crystal structures of bergaptol O-methyltransferase from Peucedanum praeruptorum (PpBMT) and the ternary PpBMT-S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine (SAH)-bergaptol complex to identify key residues involved in bergaptol binding. Then, structure-based protein engineering was performed to obtain PpBMT mutants with improved catalytic activity towards bergaptol. Subsequently, a high-activity mutant was used to produce bergapten for pharmacological-activity analysis. Key PpBMT amino acids involved in bergaptol binding and substrate specificity were identified, such as Asp226, Asp246, Ser265, and Val320. Site-directed mutagenesis and biochemical analysis revealed that the V320I mutant efficiently transformed bergaptol to produce bergapten. Pharmacological-activity analysis indicated that bergapten positively affected hair pigmentation in mice and improved pigmentation levels in zebrafish embryos. This report provides the first description of the catalytic mechanism of coumarins-specific O-methyltransferase. The high-activity V320I mutant protein could be used in metabolic engineering to produce bergapten in order to treat depigmentation disorder. This structure-function study provides an alternative synthesis method and important advances for treating depigmentation disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yucheng Zhao
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product Research and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Nana Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Huali Wu
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Yuanze Zhou
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Chuanlong Huang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product Research and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Jun Luo
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product Research and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Zhixiong Zeng
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Lingyi Kong
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product Research and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
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