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Huang Y, Liu H, Zhou Y, Lu Z, Pu Y, Zhang H. Cloning and functional characterization of the oxidative squalene cyclase gene in the deep-sea holothurian Chiridota sp. Gene 2024; 894:147971. [PMID: 37949417 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2023.147971] [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: 05/08/2023] [Revised: 09/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Saponins derived from holothurians have high potential medicinal value. However, the de novo synthesis of the derivatization of triterpenes is still unclear. Oxidative squalene cyclase (OSC) can catalyze 2,3-Oxidosqualene into diverse products that serve as important precursors for triterpene synthesis. However, the function of theOSCgene in Chiridotasp. hasnot been elucidated. In this study, an OSCgenederived from the deep-sea holothurianChiridota sp. was cloned and characterized functionally in a yeast system. The open reading frame of the OSC gene was 2086 bp, which encoded 695 amino acids. The Chiridota sp. OSC gene has a similarity of 66.89 % to the OSC of other holothurian species and 63.51 % to that of Acanthaster planci. The phylogenetic tree showed that the echinozoan OSCsclustered together, and then they formeda sister group to fungi and plant homologs. Chiridota sp. OSC catalyzed 2,3-Oxidosqualene into parkeol.Under high pressure, the relative enzymatic activity and stability of cyclase inChiridota sp. was higher than that in the shallow-sea holothurianStichopus horrens. The newly cloned OSC of Chiridota sp.provideskey information for the interpretation of the saponin synthesis pathway in deep-sea holothurians.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanan Huang
- Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya 572000, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Helu Liu
- Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya 572000, China
| | - Yang Zhou
- Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya 572000, China
| | - Zaiqing Lu
- Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
| | - Yujin Pu
- Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya 572000, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Haibin Zhang
- Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya 572000, China.
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Li Y, Wang J, Li L, Song W, Li M, Hua X, Wang Y, Yuan J, Xue Z. Natural products of pentacyclic triterpenoids: from discovery to heterologous biosynthesis. Nat Prod Rep 2023; 40:1303-1353. [PMID: 36454108 DOI: 10.1039/d2np00063f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/17/2023]
Abstract
Covering: up to 2022Pentacyclic triterpenoids are important natural bioactive substances that are widely present in plants and fungi. They have significant medicinal efficacy, play an important role in reducing blood glucose and protecting the liver, and have anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidation, anti-fatigue, anti-viral, and anti-cancer activities. Pentacyclic triterpenoids are derived from the isoprenoid biosynthetic pathway, which generates common precursors of triterpenes and steroids, followed by cyclization with oxidosqualene cyclases (OSCs) and decoration via cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (CYP450s) and glycosyltransferases (GTs). Many biosynthetic pathways of triterpenoid saponins have been elucidated by studying their metabolic regulation network through the use of multiomics and identifying their functional genes. Unfortunately, natural resources of pentacyclic triterpenoids are limited due to their low content in plant tissues and the long growth cycle of plants. Based on the understanding of their biosynthetic pathway and transcriptional regulation, plant bioreactors and microbial cell factories are emerging as alternative means for the synthesis of desired triterpenoid saponins. The rapid development of synthetic biology, metabolic engineering, and fermentation technology has broadened channels for the accumulation of pentacyclic triterpenoid saponins. In this review, we summarize the classification, distribution, structural characteristics, and bioactivity of pentacyclic triterpenoids. We further discuss the biosynthetic pathways of pentacyclic triterpenoids and involved transcriptional regulation. Moreover, the recent progress and characteristics of heterologous biosynthesis in plants and microbial cell factories are discussed comparatively. Finally, we propose potential strategies to improve the accumulation of triterpenoid saponins, thereby providing a guide for their future biomanufacturing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanlin Li
- Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Saline-alkali Vegetation Ecology Restoration, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, PR China.
- Heilongjiang Key Laboratory of Plant Bioactive Substance Biosynthesis and Utilization, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, PR China
| | - Jing Wang
- Institute of Forestry and Pomology, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, PR China
| | - Linyong Li
- Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Saline-alkali Vegetation Ecology Restoration, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, PR China.
- Heilongjiang Key Laboratory of Plant Bioactive Substance Biosynthesis and Utilization, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, PR China
| | - Wenhui Song
- Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Saline-alkali Vegetation Ecology Restoration, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, PR China.
- Heilongjiang Key Laboratory of Plant Bioactive Substance Biosynthesis and Utilization, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, PR China
| | - Min Li
- Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Saline-alkali Vegetation Ecology Restoration, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, PR China.
- Heilongjiang Key Laboratory of Plant Bioactive Substance Biosynthesis and Utilization, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, PR China
| | - Xin Hua
- Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Saline-alkali Vegetation Ecology Restoration, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, PR China.
- Heilongjiang Key Laboratory of Plant Bioactive Substance Biosynthesis and Utilization, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, PR China
| | - Yu Wang
- Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Saline-alkali Vegetation Ecology Restoration, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, PR China.
| | - Jifeng Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, 361102, Fujian, PR China.
| | - Zheyong Xue
- Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Saline-alkali Vegetation Ecology Restoration, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, PR China.
- Heilongjiang Key Laboratory of Plant Bioactive Substance Biosynthesis and Utilization, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, PR China
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Alagna F, Reed J, Calderini O, Thimmappa R, Cultrera NGM, Cattivelli A, Tagliazucchi D, Mousavi S, Mariotti R, Osbourn A, Baldoni L. OeBAS and CYP716C67 catalyze the biosynthesis of health-beneficial triterpenoids in olive (Olea europaea) fruits. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2023; 238:2047-2063. [PMID: 36880371 PMCID: PMC10952584 DOI: 10.1111/nph.18863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
The bioactive properties of olive (Olea europaea) fruits and olive oil are largely attributed to terpenoid compounds, including diverse triterpenoids such as oleanolic, maslinic and ursolic acids, erythrodiol, and uvaol. They have applications in the agri-food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industries. Some key steps involved in the biosynthesis of these compounds are still unknown. Genome mining, biochemical analysis, and trait association studies have been used to identify major gene candidates controlling triterpenoid content of olive fruits. Here, we identify and functionally characterize an oxidosqualene cyclase (OeBAS) required for the production of the major triterpene scaffold β-amyrin, the precursor of erythrodiol, oleanolic and maslinic acids, and a cytochrome P450 (CYP716C67) that mediates 2α oxidation of the oleanane- and ursane-type triterpene scaffolds to produce maslinic and corosolic acids, respectively. To confirm the enzymatic functions of the entire pathway, we have reconstituted the olive biosynthetic pathway for oleanane- and ursane-type triterpenoids in the heterologous host, Nicotiana benthamiana. Finally, we have identified genetic markers associated with oleanolic and maslinic acid fruit content on the chromosomes carrying the OeBAS and CYP716C67 genes. Our results shed light on the biosynthesis of olive triterpenoids and provide new gene targets for germplasm screening and breeding for high triterpenoid content.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fiammetta Alagna
- Department of Energy Technologies and Renewable SourcesNational Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), Trisaia Research Centre75026RotondellaItaly
| | - James Reed
- Department of Biochemistry and MetabolismJohn Innes CentreNorwich Research ParkNorwichNR4 7UHUK
| | - Ornella Calderini
- Institute of Biosciences and BioresourcesNational Research Council (CNR)06128PerugiaItaly
| | - Ramesha Thimmappa
- Department of Biochemistry and MetabolismJohn Innes CentreNorwich Research ParkNorwichNR4 7UHUK
- Amity Institute of Genome EngineeringAmity University Uttar PradeshNoida201313India
| | - Nicolò G. M. Cultrera
- Institute of Biosciences and BioresourcesNational Research Council (CNR)06128PerugiaItaly
| | - Alice Cattivelli
- Department of Life SciencesUniversity of Modena and Reggio Emilia42100Reggio EmiliaItaly
| | - Davide Tagliazucchi
- Department of Life SciencesUniversity of Modena and Reggio Emilia42100Reggio EmiliaItaly
| | - Soraya Mousavi
- Institute of Biosciences and BioresourcesNational Research Council (CNR)06128PerugiaItaly
| | - Roberto Mariotti
- Institute of Biosciences and BioresourcesNational Research Council (CNR)06128PerugiaItaly
| | - Anne Osbourn
- Department of Biochemistry and MetabolismJohn Innes CentreNorwich Research ParkNorwichNR4 7UHUK
| | - Luciana Baldoni
- Institute of Biosciences and BioresourcesNational Research Council (CNR)06128PerugiaItaly
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Systematic Identification and Analysis of OSC Gene Family of Rosa rugosa Thunb. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232213884. [PMID: 36430363 PMCID: PMC9698161 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232213884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2022] [Revised: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The oxidosqualene cyclase family of Rosa rugosa (RrOSC) provides a starting point for the triterpenoid pathway, which contributes to the medicinal value of the extraction of tissues of Rosa rugosa. However, the structure and function of key RrOSCs of active triterpenoids remain ambiguous. In this study, a total of 18 RrOSC members with conservative gene structures and motifs were identified based on the genome of Rosa rugosa. The RrOSCs were located on three chromosomes including two gene clusters that derived from gene replication. The phylogenetic relationship divided RrOSCs into six groups, and the RrOSCs of GI and GIV that were represented by lupeol or α-amyrin were identified as likely to include candidate genes for producing active triterpenoids. Considering the high expression or specific-tissue expression of the candidates, RrOSC1, RrOSC10, RrOSC12, and RrOSC18 were considered the key genes. RrOSC12 was identified in vitro as lupeol synthase. The results provided fundamental information and candidate genes for further illustration of the triterpenoid pathway involved in the pharmacological activities of Rosa rugosa.
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Wang J, Guo Y, Yin X, Wang X, Qi X, Xue Z. Diverse triterpene skeletons are derived from the expansion and divergent evolution of 2,3-oxidosqualene cyclases in plants. Crit Rev Biochem Mol Biol 2021; 57:113-132. [PMID: 34601979 DOI: 10.1080/10409238.2021.1979458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Triterpenoids are one of the largest groups of secondary metabolites and exhibit diverse structures, which are derived from C30 skeletons that are biosynthesized via the isoprenoid pathway by cyclization of 2,3-oxidosqualene. Triterpenoids have a wide range of biological activities, and are used in functional foods, drugs, and as industrial materials. Due to the low content levels in their native plants and limited feasibility and efficiency of chemical synthesis, heterologous biosynthesis of triterpenoids is the most promising strategy. Herein, we classified 121 triterpene alcohols/ketones according to their conformation and ring numbers, among which 51 skeletons have been experimentally characterized as the products of oxidosqualene cyclases (OSCs). Interestingly, 24 skeletons that have not been reported from nature source were generated by OSCs in heterologous expression. Comprehensive evolutionary analysis of the identified 152 OSCs from 75 species in 25 plant orders show that several pentacyclic triterpene synthases repeatedly originated in multiple plant lineages. Comparative analysis of OSC catalytic reaction revealed that stabilization of intermediate cations, steric hindrance, and conformation of active center amino acid residues are primary factors affecting triterpene formation. Optimization of OSC could be achieved by changing of side-chain orientations of key residues. Recently, methods, such as rationally design of pathways, regulation of metabolic flow, compartmentalization engineering, etc., were introduced in improving chassis for the biosynthesis of triterpenoids. We expect that extensive study of natural variation of large number of OSCs and catalytical mechanism will provide basis for production of high level of triterpenoids by application of synthetic biology strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Wang
- Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Saline-alkali Vegetation Ecology Restoration, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, PR China.,Heilongjiang Key Laboratory of Plant Bioactive Substance Biosynthesis and Utilization, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, PR China.,Institute of Forestry and Pomology, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, PR China
| | - Yanhong Guo
- Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Saline-alkali Vegetation Ecology Restoration, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, PR China.,Heilongjiang Key Laboratory of Plant Bioactive Substance Biosynthesis and Utilization, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, PR China
| | - Xue Yin
- Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Saline-alkali Vegetation Ecology Restoration, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, PR China.,Heilongjiang Key Laboratory of Plant Bioactive Substance Biosynthesis and Utilization, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, PR China
| | - Xiaoning Wang
- Department of Natural Product Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, PR China
| | - Xiaoquan Qi
- Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Physiology, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, PR China
| | - Zheyong Xue
- Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Saline-alkali Vegetation Ecology Restoration, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, PR China.,Heilongjiang Key Laboratory of Plant Bioactive Substance Biosynthesis and Utilization, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, PR China
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6
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Qiu C, Sun J, Shen J, Zhang S, Ding Y, Gai Z, Fan K, Song L, Chen B, Ding Z, Wang Y. Fulvic acid enhances drought resistance in tea plants by regulating the starch and sucrose metabolism and certain secondary metabolism. J Proteomics 2021; 247:104337. [PMID: 34298183 DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2021.104337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2021] [Revised: 07/10/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this work was to gain insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying the effect of fulvic acid on drought-exposed tea plants. We performed proteomic analysis of fulvic acid-treated tea leaves from the target plants using tandem mass tag quantitative labeling technology and compared the results with those of a previous transcriptomic analysis. We identified 48 and 611 differentially abundant proteins in the leaves of tea plants treated with fulvic acid compared with the control under mild and severe drought, respectively. Comparative analysis showed that, under severe drought, 55 genes had similar expression patterns at the transcriptome and proteome levels, such as PAL, GBE, GBSS and bAS. Bioinformatic analysis revealed that those genes were mainly related to the starch and sucrose metabolism, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and triterpenoid biosynthesis. SIGNIFICANCE: This study broadens the understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the improved drought resistance seen in tea plants in the presence of fulvic acid and provides a basis for further research on the genomics of drought tolerance in these plants. In addition, these findings could be used to develop new guidance strategies for improved drought management systems in tea plantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Qiu
- Tea Research Institute, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Jianhao Sun
- Tea Research Institute, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Jiazhi Shen
- Tea Research Institute, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Rizhao, Shandong, China
| | - Shuning Zhang
- Tea Research Institute, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Yiqian Ding
- Tea Research Institute, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Zhongshuai Gai
- Tea Research Institute, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Kai Fan
- Tea Research Institute, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Lubin Song
- Tea Research Institute, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Bo Chen
- Tai'an Agricultural and Rural Bureau, Taian, Shandong, China
| | - Zhaotang Ding
- Tea Research Institute, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Rizhao, Shandong, China; Tea Research Institute, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong, China.
| | - Yu Wang
- Tea Research Institute, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Rizhao, Shandong, China; Tea Research Institute, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong, China.
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Bachořík J, Urban M. Biocatalysis in the Chemistry of Lupane Triterpenoids. Molecules 2021; 26:2271. [PMID: 33919839 PMCID: PMC8070785 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26082271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2021] [Revised: 04/10/2021] [Accepted: 04/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Pentacyclic triterpenes are important representatives of natural products that exhibit a wide variety of biological activities. These activities suggest that these compounds may represent potential medicines for the treatment of cancer and viral, bacterial, or protozoal infections. Naturally occurring triterpenes usually have several drawbacks, such as limited activity and insufficient solubility and bioavailability; therefore, they need to be modified to obtain compounds suitable for drug development. Modifications can be achieved either by methods of standard organic synthesis or with the use of biocatalysts, such as enzymes or enzyme systems within living organisms. In most cases, these modifications result in the preparation of esters, amides, saponins, or sugar conjugates. Notably, while standard organic synthesis has been heavily used and developed, the use of the latter methodology has been rather limited, but it appears that biocatalysis has recently sparked considerably wider interest within the scientific community. Among triterpenes, derivatives of lupane play important roles. This review therefore summarizes the natural occurrence and sources of lupane triterpenoids, their biosynthesis, and semisynthetic methods that may be used for the production of betulinic acid from abundant and inexpensive betulin. Most importantly, this article compares chemical transformations of lupane triterpenoids with analogous reactions performed by biocatalysts and highlights a large space for the future development of biocatalysis in this field. The results of this study may serve as a summary of the current state of research and demonstrate the potential of the method in future applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Bachořík
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Palacký University in Olomouc, 17. listopadu 12, 771 46 Olomouc, Czech Republic;
| | - Milan Urban
- Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Institute of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Palacký University in Olomouc, Hněvotínská 5, 779 00 Olomouc, Czech Republic
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Al-Harrasi A, Khan AL, Rehman NU, Csuk R. Biosynthetic diversity in triterpene cyclization within the Boswellia genus. PHYTOCHEMISTRY 2021; 184:112660. [PMID: 33524859 DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2021.112660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2020] [Revised: 01/03/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
This review is not intended to describe the triterpenes isolated from the Boswellia genus, since this information has been covered elsewhere. Instead, the aim is to provide insights into the biosynthesis of triterpenes in Boswellia. This genus, which has 24 species, displays fascinating structural diversity and produces a number of medicinally important triterpenes, particularly boswellic acids. Over 300 volatile components have been reported in the essential oil of Boswellia, and more than 100 diterpenes and triterpenes have been isolated from this genus. Given that no triterpene biosynthetic enzymes have yet been isolated from any members of the Boswellia genus, this review will cover the likely biosynthetic pathways as inferred from structures in nature and the probable types of biosynthetic enzymes based on knowledge of triterpene biosynthesis in other plant species. It highlights the importance of frankincense and the factors and threats affecting its production. It covers triterpene biosynthesis in the genus Boswellia, including dammaranes, tirucallic acids, lupanes, oleananes, ursanes and boswellic acids. Strategies for elucidating triterpene biosynthetic pathways in Boswellia are considered. Furthermore, the possible mechanisms behind wound-induced resin synthesis by the tree and related gene expression profiling are covered. In addition, the influence of the environment and the genotype on the biosynthesis of resin and on variations in the compositions and types of resins will also be reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed Al-Harrasi
- Natural & Medical Sciences Research Center, University of Nizwa, P.O. Box 33, 616 Birkat Al Mauz, Nizwa, Oman.
| | - Abdul Latif Khan
- Natural & Medical Sciences Research Center, University of Nizwa, P.O. Box 33, 616 Birkat Al Mauz, Nizwa, Oman
| | - Najeeb Ur Rehman
- Natural & Medical Sciences Research Center, University of Nizwa, P.O. Box 33, 616 Birkat Al Mauz, Nizwa, Oman
| | - René Csuk
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Kurt-Mothes-Str. 2, D-06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
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Choi HS, Han JY, Choi YE. Identification of triterpenes and functional characterization of oxidosqualene cyclases involved in triterpene biosynthesis in lettuce (Lactuca sativa). PLANT SCIENCE : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2020; 301:110656. [PMID: 33218626 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2020.110656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Revised: 08/23/2020] [Accepted: 08/29/2020] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) is a member of the family Asteraceae and is most often used for green salads. Triterpenes are the largest class of natural compounds in plants and have beneficial health effects. Here, we identified various triterpene esters (taraxasterol acetates, ψ-taraxasterol acetates, taraxerol acetates, lupeol acetates, α-amyrin acetates, β-amyrin acetates, and germanicol acetate) and free triterpenes (α-amyrin, β-amyrin, taraxerol, and taraxasterol) in both the leaves and roots of lettuce. Triterpene biosynthesis occurs through the action of oxidosqualene cyclase (OSC), which generates various types of triterpenes from 2,3-oxidosqualene. None of the OSC genes involved in triterpene biosynthesis in lettuce have been characterized. Five putative lettuce OSC genes (LsOSC1, LsOSC2, LsOSC3, LsOSC4, and LsOSC5) were selected from a transcriptome database. These five genes were functionally characterized via heterologous expression in yeast. The first two enzymes were multifunctional triterpene synthase and the last three genes were monofunctional. Transgenic yeast expressing LsOSC1 produced five triterpenes, namely, taraxasterol, Ψ-taraxasterol, α-amyrin, β-amyrin, and dammarenediol-II. Yeast expressing LsOSC2 produced baurenol and Ψ-taraxasterol. LsOSC3, LsOSC4, and LsOSC5 expression led to β-amyrin, taraxerol, and lupeol production, respectively. Transcriptional activity assessment of the five genes revealed that all the OSC genes were more actively transcribed in roots than in leaves, and LsOSC5 among the five OSC genes showed the highest expression in both the leaves and the roots. In conclusion, we identified structurally diverse free triterpenes and triterpene esters in lettuce plants and characterized five OSC genes, which are key enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of diverse triterpenes in lettuce.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Suk Choi
- Division of Forest Sciences, College of Forest and Environmental Sciences, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 200-701, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung Yeon Han
- Division of Forest Sciences, College of Forest and Environmental Sciences, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 200-701, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong Eui Choi
- Division of Forest Sciences, College of Forest and Environmental Sciences, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 200-701, Republic of Korea.
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10
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Guo H, Wang H, Huo YX. Engineering Critical Enzymes and Pathways for Improved Triterpenoid Biosynthesis in Yeast. ACS Synth Biol 2020; 9:2214-2227. [PMID: 32786348 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.0c00124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Triterpenoids represent a diverse group of phytochemicals that are widely distributed in the plant kingdom and have many biological activities. The heterologous production of triterpenoids in Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been successfully implemented by introducing various triterpenoid biosynthetic pathways. By engineering related enzymes as well as through yeast metabolism, the yield of various triterpenoids is significantly improved from the milligram per liter scale to the gram per liter scale. This achievement demonstrates that engineering critical enzymes is considered a potential strategy to overcome the main hurdles of the industrial application of these potent natural products. Here, we review strategies for designing enzymes to improve the yield of triterpenoids in S. cerevisiae in terms of three main aspects: 1, elevating the supply of the precursor 2,3-oxidosqualene; 2, optimizing triterpenoid-involved reactions; and 3, lowering the competition of the native sterol pathway. Then, we provide challenges and prospects for further enhancing triterpenoid production in S. cerevisiae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Guo
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081, P. R. China
| | - Huiyan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081, P. R. China
| | - Yi-Xin Huo
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081, P. R. China
- SIP-UCLA Institute for Technology Advancement, Suzhou, 215123, P. R. China
- Tobacco Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Qingdao, 266101, P. R. China
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11
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An T, Zha W, Zi J. Biotechnological production of betulinic acid and derivatives and their applications. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2020; 104:3339-3348. [DOI: 10.1007/s00253-020-10495-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2019] [Revised: 02/14/2020] [Accepted: 02/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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12
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Cárdenas PD, Almeida A, Bak S. Evolution of Structural Diversity of Triterpenoids. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2019; 10:1523. [PMID: 31921225 PMCID: PMC6929605 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2019.01523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2019] [Accepted: 11/01/2019] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Plants have evolved to produce a blend of specialized metabolites that serve functional roles in plant adaptation. Among them, triterpenoids are one of the largest subclasses of such specialized metabolites, with more than 14,000 known structures. They play a role in plant defense and development and have potential applications within food and pharma. Triterpenoids are cyclized from oxidized squalene precursors by oxidosqualene cyclases, creating more than 100 different cyclical triterpene scaffolds. This limited number of scaffolds is the first step towards creating the vast structural diversity of triterpenoids followed by extensive diversification, in particular, by oxygenation and glycosylation. Gene duplication, divergence, and selection are major forces that drive triterpenoid structural diversification. The triterpenoid biosynthetic genes can be organized in non-homologous gene clusters, such as in Avena spp., Cucurbitaceae and Solanum spp., or scattered along plant chromosomes as in Barbarea vulgaris. Paralogous genes organized as tandem repeats reflect the extended gene duplication activities in the evolutionary history of the triterpenoid saponin pathways, as seen in B. vulgaris. We review and discuss examples of convergent and divergent evolution in triterpenoid biosynthesis, and the apparent mechanisms occurring in plants that drive their increasing structural diversity within and across species. Using B. vulgaris' saponins as examples, we discuss the impact a single structural modification can have on the structure of a triterpenoid and how this affect its biological properties. These examples provide insight into how plants continuously evolve their specialized metabolome, opening the way to study uncharacterized triterpenoid biosynthetic pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Søren Bak
- Department of Plant and Environmental Science, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark
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Han JY, Jo HJ, Kwon EK, Choi YE. Cloning and Characterization of Oxidosqualene Cyclases Involved in Taraxasterol, Taraxerol and Bauerenol Triterpene Biosynthesis in Taraxacum coreanum. PLANT & CELL PHYSIOLOGY 2019; 60:1595-1603. [PMID: 31020326 DOI: 10.1093/pcp/pcz062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2019] [Accepted: 04/17/2019] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Triterpenes, consisting of six isoprene units, are one of the largest classes of natural compounds in plants. The genus Taraxacum is in the family Asteraceae and is widely distributed in the Northern Hemisphere. Various triterpenes, especially taraxerol and taraxasterol, are present in Taraxacum plants. Triterpene biosynthesis occurs through the action of oxidosqualene cyclase (OSC), which generates various types of triterpenes from 2,3-oxidosqualene after the rearrangement of the triterpene skeleton. However, no functional characterization of the OSC genes involved in triterpene biosynthesis, except for a lupeol synthase in Taraxacum officinale, has been performed. Taraxacum coreanum, or Korean dandelion, grows in Korea and China. Putative OSC genes in T. coreanum plants were isolated by transcriptome analysis, and four of these (TcOSC1, TcOSC2, TcOSC3 and TcOSC4) were functionally characterized by heterologous expression in yeast. Both TcOSC1 and TcOSC2 were closely related to dammarenediol-II synthases. TcOSC3 and TcOSC4 were strongly grouped with β-amyrin synthases. Functional analysis revealed that TcOSC1 produced several triterpenes, including taraxasterol; Ψ-taraxasterol; α-, β- and δ-amyrin; and dammarenediol-II. TcOSC2 catalyzed the production of bauerenol and another unknown triterpene, TcOSC3 catalyzed the production of β-amyrin. TcOSC4 catalyzed the production of taraxerol. Moreover, we identified taraxasterol, ψ-taraxasterol, taraxerol, lupeol, δ-amyrin, α-amyrin, β-amyrin and bauerenol in the roots and leaves of T. coreanum. Our results suggest that TcOSC1, TcOSC2, TcOSC3 and TcOSC4 are key triterpene biosynthetic enzymes in T. coreanum. These enzymes are novel triterpene synthases involved in the production of taraxasterol, bauerenol and taraxerol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jung Yeon Han
- Division of Forest Resources, College of Forest and Environmental Sciences, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Hye-Jeong Jo
- Division of Forest Resources, College of Forest and Environmental Sciences, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun Kyung Kwon
- Division of Forest Resources, College of Forest and Environmental Sciences, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong Eui Choi
- Division of Forest Resources, College of Forest and Environmental Sciences, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea
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Sun W, Qin L, Xue H, Yu Y, Ma Y, Wang Y, Li C. Novel trends for producing plant triterpenoids in yeast. Crit Rev Biotechnol 2019; 39:618-632. [DOI: 10.1080/07388551.2019.1608503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Wentao Sun
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, Institute for Synthetic Biosystem, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Lei Qin
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, Institute for Synthetic Biosystem, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Haijie Xue
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, Institute for Synthetic Biosystem, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Yang Yu
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, Institute for Synthetic Biosystem, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Yihua Ma
- The High School Affiliated to Renmin University of China, Beijing, China
| | - Ying Wang
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, Institute for Synthetic Biosystem, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Chun Li
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, Institute for Synthetic Biosystem, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China
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15
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Pütter KM, van Deenen N, Müller B, Fuchs L, Vorwerk K, Unland K, Bröker JN, Scherer E, Huber C, Eisenreich W, Prüfer D, Schulze Gronover C. The enzymes OSC1 and CYP716A263 produce a high variety of triterpenoids in the latex of Taraxacum koksaghyz. Sci Rep 2019; 9:5942. [PMID: 30976052 PMCID: PMC6459903 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-42381-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2018] [Accepted: 03/28/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Only very little is known about the resin composition of natural rubber from the dandelion species Taraxacum koksaghyz, thus its full characterization could provide new insights into how the isoprenoid end-products influence the physical properties of natural rubber, and this resin might be a good source of highly diverse triterpenoids. Here, we present a comprehensive analysis of the triterpenoid composition in an acetone extract and identified 13 triterpenes and triterpenoids also including the so far unknown pentacyclic compounds lup-19(21)-en-3-ol (1) and its ketone lup-19(21)-en-3-one (2). We purified single triterpenes from the acetone extract by developing a two-step HPLC system that is adapted to the structural differences of the described triterpenoids. Furthermore, we isolated six different oxidosqualene cyclases (OSCs) and two P450 enzymes, and we functionally characterized TkOSC1 and CYP716A263 in Nicotiana benthamiana and Saccharomyces cerevisiae in detail. TkOSC1 is a multifunctional OSC that was capable of synthesizing at least four of the latex-predominant pentacyclic triterpenes (taraxasterol, α-, β-amyrin and lup-19(21)-en-3-ol) while CYP716A263 oxidized pentacyclic triterpenes at the C-3 position. The identified enzymes responsible for biosynthesis and modification of pentacyclic triterpenes in T. koksaghyz latex may represent excellent tools for bioengineering approaches to produce pentacyclic triterpenes heterologously.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina M Pütter
- University of Muenster, Institute of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, Schlossplatz 8, 48143, Muenster, Germany
| | - Nicole van Deenen
- University of Muenster, Institute of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, Schlossplatz 8, 48143, Muenster, Germany
| | - Boje Müller
- Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, Schlossplatz 8, 48143, Muenster, Germany
| | - Lea Fuchs
- University of Muenster, Institute of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, Schlossplatz 8, 48143, Muenster, Germany
| | - Kirsten Vorwerk
- University of Muenster, Institute of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, Schlossplatz 8, 48143, Muenster, Germany
| | - Kristina Unland
- Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, Schlossplatz 8, 48143, Muenster, Germany
| | - Jan Niklas Bröker
- University of Muenster, Institute of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, Schlossplatz 8, 48143, Muenster, Germany
| | - Emely Scherer
- Technische Universität München, Chair of Biochemistry, Lichtenbergstraße 4, 85747, Garching, Germany
| | - Claudia Huber
- Technische Universität München, Chair of Biochemistry, Lichtenbergstraße 4, 85747, Garching, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Eisenreich
- Technische Universität München, Chair of Biochemistry, Lichtenbergstraße 4, 85747, Garching, Germany
| | - Dirk Prüfer
- University of Muenster, Institute of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, Schlossplatz 8, 48143, Muenster, Germany
- Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, Schlossplatz 8, 48143, Muenster, Germany
| | - Christian Schulze Gronover
- Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, Schlossplatz 8, 48143, Muenster, Germany.
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16
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Improving lupeol production in yeast by recruiting pathway genes from different organisms. Sci Rep 2019; 9:2992. [PMID: 30816209 PMCID: PMC6395594 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-39497-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2018] [Accepted: 01/03/2019] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Lupeol is a pentacyclic triterpene that shows a variety of pharmacological properties. Compared to engineering the production of sesquiterpenes and diterpenes, it is much more challenging to engineer the biosynthesis of triterpenes in microbial platforms. This study showed our efforts on engineering the triterpene pathway in Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells by recruiting the codon-optimized three lupeol pathway genes from different organisms. By comparing their activities with their respective counterparts, the squalene synthase from Thermosynechococcus elongates (tSQS), the squalene epoxidase from Rattus norvegicus (rSE) and the lupeol synthase from Olea europaea (OeLUP) were introduced into E. coli BL21(DE3), a break-through from zero was observed for lupeol biosynthesis in a prokaryotic host. We also assessed the lupeol pathway under two different yeast backgrounds-WAT11 and EPY300, and have found that the engineered strains based on EPY300, named ECHHOe, processed the best lupeol-producing ability with the maximum lupeol titer being 200.1 mg l−1 at 30 °C in a 72 h-flask culture, which so far was the highest amount of lupeol obtained by a microbial system and provides a basis for further industrial application of lupeol in the future.
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Cultrera NGM, Sarri V, Lucentini L, Ceccarelli M, Alagna F, Mariotti R, Mousavi S, Ruiz CG, Baldoni L. High Levels of Variation Within Gene Sequences of Olea europaea L. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2019; 9:1932. [PMID: 30671076 PMCID: PMC6331486 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2018.01932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2018] [Accepted: 12/12/2018] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Gene sequence variation in cultivated olive (Olea europaea L. subsp. europaea var. europaea), the most important oil tree crop of the Mediterranean basin, has been poorly evaluated up to now. A deep sequence analysis of fragments of four genes, OeACP1, OeACP2, OeLUS and OeSUT1, in 90 cultivars, revealed a wide range of polymorphisms along all recognized allele forms and unexpected allele frequencies and genotype combinations. High linkage values among most polymorphisms were recorded within each gene fragment. The great sequence variability corresponded to a low number of alleles and, surprisingly, to a small fraction of genotype combinations. The distribution, frequency, and combination of the different alleles at each locus is possibly due to natural and human pressures, such as selection, ancestrality, or fitness. Phylogenetic analyses of allele sequences showed distant and complex patterns of relationships among cultivated olives, intermixed with other related forms, highlighting an evolutionary connection between olive cultivars and the O. europaea subspecies cuspidata and cerasiformis. This study demonstrates how a detailed and complete sequence analysis of a few gene portions and a thorough genotyping on a representative set of cultivars can clarify important issues related to sequence polymorphisms, reconstructing the phylogeny of alleles, as well as the genotype combinations. The identification of regions representing blocks of recombination could reveal polymorphisms that represent putatively functional markers. Indeed, specific mutations found on the analyzed OeACP1 and OeACP2 fragments seem to be correlated to the fruit weight.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolò G. M. Cultrera
- Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources, National Research Council, Perugia, Italy
| | - Vania Sarri
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Livia Lucentini
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Marilena Ceccarelli
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Fiammetta Alagna
- ENEA Italian National Agency for New Technologies Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, Trisaia Research Center, Rotondella, Italy
| | - Roberto Mariotti
- Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources, National Research Council, Perugia, Italy
| | - Soraya Mousavi
- Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources, National Research Council, Perugia, Italy
| | | | - Luciana Baldoni
- Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources, National Research Council, Perugia, Italy
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18
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D'Adamo S, Schiano di Visconte G, Lowe G, Szaub‐Newton J, Beacham T, Landels A, Allen MJ, Spicer A, Matthijs M. Engineering the unicellular alga Phaeodactylum tricornutum for high-value plant triterpenoid production. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL 2019; 17:75-87. [PMID: 29754445 PMCID: PMC6330534 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.12948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2018] [Revised: 04/23/2018] [Accepted: 05/02/2018] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Plant triterpenoids constitute a diverse class of organic compounds that play a major role in development, plant defence and environmental interaction. Several triterpenes have demonstrated potential as pharmaceuticals. One example is betulin, which has shown promise as a pharmaceutical precursor for the treatment of certain cancers and HIV. Major challenges for triterpenoid commercialization include their low production levels and their cost-effective purification from the complex mixtures present in their natural hosts. Therefore, attempts to produce these compounds in industrially relevant microbial systems such as bacteria and yeasts have attracted great interest. Here, we report the production of the triterpenes betulin and its precursor lupeol in the photosynthetic diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum, a unicellular eukaryotic alga. This was achieved by introducing three plant enzymes in the microalga: a Lotus japonicus oxidosqualene cyclase and a Medicago truncatula cytochrome P450 along with its native reductase. The introduction of the L. japonicus oxidosqualene cyclase perturbed the mRNA expression levels of the native mevalonate and sterol biosynthesis pathway. The best performing strains were selected and grown in a 550-L pilot-scale photobioreactor facility. To our knowledge, this is the most extensive pathway engineering undertaken in a diatom and the first time that a sapogenin has been artificially produced in a microalga, demonstrating the feasibility of the photo-bio-production of more complex high-value, metabolites in microalgae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah D'Adamo
- Eden LaboratoryAlgenuityStewartbyUK
- Wageningen Universiteit en ResearchcentrumBioprocess EngineeringWageningenThe Netherlands
| | | | | | | | | | - Andrew Landels
- PML: Plymouth Marine LaboratoryPlymouthUK
- Rothamsted ResearchHarpendenUK
| | - Michael J. Allen
- PML: Plymouth Marine LaboratoryPlymouthUK
- BiosciencesCollege of Life and Environmental SciencesUniversity of ExeterExeterUK
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19
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Upregulating the mevalonate pathway and repressing sterol synthesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae enhances the production of triterpenes. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2018; 102:6923-6934. [PMID: 29948122 PMCID: PMC6096838 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-018-9154-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2018] [Revised: 05/30/2018] [Accepted: 06/02/2018] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Pentacyclic triterpenes are diverse plant secondary metabolites derived from the mevalonate (MVA) pathway. Many of these molecules are potentially valuable, particularly as pharmaceuticals, and research has focused on their production in simpler and more amenable heterologous systems such as the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We have developed a new heterologous platform for the production of pentacyclic triterpenes in S. cerevisiae based on a combinatorial engineering strategy involving the overexpression of MVA pathway genes, the knockout of negative regulators, and the suppression of a competing pathway. Accordingly, we overexpressed S. cerevisiae ERG13, encoding 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) synthase, and a truncated and deregulated variant of the rate-limiting enzyme HMG-CoA reductase 1 (tHMGR). In the same engineering step, we deleted the ROX1 gene, encoding a negative regulator of the MVA pathway and sterol biosynthesis, resulting in a push-and-pull strategy to enhance metabolic flux through the system. In a second step, we redirected this enhanced metabolic flux from late sterol biosynthesis to the production of 2,3-oxidosqualene, the direct precursor of pentacyclic triterpenes. In yeast cells transformed with a newly isolated sequence encoding lupeol synthase from the Russian dandelion (Taraxacum koksaghyz), we increased the yield of pentacyclic triterpenes by 127-fold and detected not only high levels of lupeol but also a second valuable pentacyclic triterpene product, β-amyrin.
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20
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Sebastiani L, Busconi M. Recent developments in olive (Olea europaea L.) genetics and genomics: applications in taxonomy, varietal identification, traceability and breeding. PLANT CELL REPORTS 2017; 36:1345-1360. [PMID: 28434019 DOI: 10.1007/s00299-017-2145-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2017] [Accepted: 04/17/2017] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
The latest results in DNA markers application and genomic studies in olive. Olive (Olea europaea L.) is among the most ancient tree crops worldwide and the source of oil beneficial for human health. Despite this, few data on olive genetics are available in comparison with other cultivated plant species. Molecular information is mainly linked to molecular markers and their application to the study of DNA variation in the Olea europaea complex. In terms of genomic research, efforts have been made in sequencing, heralding the era of olive genomic. The present paper represents an update of a previous review work published in this journal in 2011. The review is again mainly focused on DNA markers, whose application still constitutes a relevant percentage of the most recently published researches. Since the olive genomic era has recently started, the latest results in this field are also being discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Sebastiani
- Institute of Life Sciences, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Piazza Martiri della Libertà, 33, 56127, Pisa, Italy.
| | - M Busconi
- Dipartimento di Scienze delle Produzioni Vegetali Sostenibili, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Piacenza, Italy
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21
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Pensec F, Szakiel A, Pączkowski C, Woźniak A, Grabarczyk M, Bertsch C, Fischer MJC, Chong J. Characterization of triterpenoid profiles and triterpene synthase expression in the leaves of eight Vitis vinifera cultivars grown in the Upper Rhine Valley. JOURNAL OF PLANT RESEARCH 2016; 129:499-512. [PMID: 26879930 DOI: 10.1007/s10265-016-0797-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2015] [Accepted: 10/09/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Plant triterpenoids are a diverse group of secondary metabolites with wide distribution, high chemical diversity and interesting pharmacological and antimicrobial properties. The first step in the biosynthesis of all triterpenoids is the cyclization of the 2,3-oxidosqualene precursor, catalyzed by oxidosqualene cyclases (OSCs), which have characteristic product specificities. Biosynthesis and functions of pentacyclic triterpenes have been poorly studied in grapevine. In this study, we first investigated the profile of triterpenoids present in leaf cuticular waxes from eight Vitis vinifera cultivars cultivated in the Upper Rhine Valley. Further quantification of triterpenoids showed that these cultivars can be divided into two groups, characterized by high levels of lupeol (e.g., Pinot noir) or taraxerol (e.g., Gewurztraminer) respectively. We further analyzed the OSC family involved in the synthesis of pentacyclic triterpenes (called VvTTPSs) in the sequenced V. vinifera 40024 genome and found nine genes with similarity to previously characterized triterpene synthases. Phylogenetic analysis further showed that VvTTPS1-VvTTPS3 and VvTTPS5-VvTTPS9 belong to the β-amyrin synthase and multifunctional triterpene synthase clade, whereas VvTTPS10 belongs to the lupeol synthase clade. We studied the expression of several members of the VvTTPS family following biotic and abiotic stresses in V. vinifera 40024 as well as in the eight healthy cultivars. This study further revealed that one candidate gene, VvTTPS5, which does not belong to the lupeol synthase clade, is highly expressed in lupeol-rich cultivars. VvTTPS3, VvTTPS5, VvTTPS6, VvTTPS7 and VvTTPS10 were highly upregulated by UV stress, but only VvTTPS3, VvTTPS5, VvTTPS6 and VvTTPS10 were upregulated following downy mildew and gray mold infections respectively. These results suggest differential roles of VvTTPS against environmental stresses in grape leaves.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flora Pensec
- Laboratoire Vigne Biotechnologies et Environnement EA 3391, Université de Haute Alsace, 33 rue de Herrlisheim, 68000, Colmar, France
| | - Anna Szakiel
- Department of Plant Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, ul. Miecznikowa 1, 02-096, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Cezary Pączkowski
- Department of Plant Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, ul. Miecznikowa 1, 02-096, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Woźniak
- Department of Plant Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, ul. Miecznikowa 1, 02-096, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Marta Grabarczyk
- Department of Plant Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, ul. Miecznikowa 1, 02-096, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Christophe Bertsch
- Laboratoire Vigne Biotechnologies et Environnement EA 3391, Université de Haute Alsace, 33 rue de Herrlisheim, 68000, Colmar, France
| | - Marc J C Fischer
- Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Unité Mixte de Recherche 1131 Santé de la Vigne et Qualité du Vin, Université de Strasbourg, 28 rue de Herrlisheim, 68000, Colmar, France
| | - Julie Chong
- Laboratoire Vigne Biotechnologies et Environnement EA 3391, Université de Haute Alsace, 33 rue de Herrlisheim, 68000, Colmar, France.
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22
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Singh B, Sharma RA. Plant terpenes: defense responses, phylogenetic analysis, regulation and clinical applications. 3 Biotech 2015; 5:129-151. [PMID: 28324581 PMCID: PMC4362742 DOI: 10.1007/s13205-014-0220-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 197] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2014] [Accepted: 04/10/2014] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The terpenoids constitute the largest class of natural products and many interesting products are extensively applied in the industrial sector as flavors, fragrances, spices and are also used in perfumery and cosmetics. Many terpenoids have biological activities and also used for medical purposes. In higher plants, the conventional acetate-mevalonic acid pathway operates mainly in the cytosol and mitochondria and synthesizes sterols, sesquiterpenes and ubiquinones mainly. In the plastid, the non-mevalonic acid pathway takes place and synthesizes hemi-, mono-, sesqui-, and diterpenes along with carotenoids and phytol tail of chlorophyll. In this review paper, recent developments in the biosynthesis of terpenoids, indepth description of terpene synthases and their phylogenetic analysis, regulation of terpene biosynthesis as well as updates of terpenes which have entered in the clinical studies are reviewed thoroughly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bharat Singh
- AIB, Amity University Rajasthan, NH-11C, Kant Kalwar, Jaipur, 303 002, India.
| | - Ram A Sharma
- Department of Botany, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur, 302 055, India
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Characterisation of two oxidosqualene cyclases responsible for triterpenoid biosynthesis in Ilex asprella. Int J Mol Sci 2015; 16:3564-78. [PMID: 25664861 PMCID: PMC4346913 DOI: 10.3390/ijms16023564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2014] [Accepted: 01/27/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Ilex asprella, a plant widely used as a folk herbal drug in southern China, produces and stores a large amount of triterpenoid saponins, most of which are of the α-amyrin type. In this study, two oxidosqualene cyclase (OSC) cDNAs, IaAS1 and IaAS2, were cloned from the I. asprella root. Functional characterisation was performed by heterologous expression in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Analysis of the resulting products by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) showed that both genes encode a mixed amyrin synthase, producing α-amyrin and β-amyrin at different ratios. IaAS1, which mainly produces α-amyrin, is the second triterpene synthase so far identified in which the level of α-amyrin produced is ≥80% of total amyrin production. By contrast, IaAS2 mainly synthesises β-amyrin, with a yield of 95%. Gene expression patterns of these two amyrin synthases in roots and leaves of I. asprella were found to be consistent with the content patterns of total saponins. Finally, phylogenetic analysis and multiple sequence alignment of the two amyrin synthases against several known OSCs from other plants were conducted to further elucidate their evolutionary relationship.
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24
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Moses T, Papadopoulou KK, Osbourn A. Metabolic and functional diversity of saponins, biosynthetic intermediates and semi-synthetic derivatives. Crit Rev Biochem Mol Biol 2014; 49:439-62. [PMID: 25286183 PMCID: PMC4266039 DOI: 10.3109/10409238.2014.953628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 223] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2014] [Revised: 08/01/2014] [Accepted: 08/07/2014] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Saponins are widely distributed plant natural products with vast structural and functional diversity. They are typically composed of a hydrophobic aglycone, which is extensively decorated with functional groups prior to the addition of hydrophilic sugar moieties, to result in surface-active amphipathic compounds. The saponins are broadly classified as triterpenoids, steroids or steroidal glycoalkaloids, based on the aglycone structure from which they are derived. The saponins and their biosynthetic intermediates display a variety of biological activities of interest to the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food sectors. Although their relevance in industrial applications has long been recognized, their role in plants is underexplored. Recent research on modulating native pathway flux in saponin biosynthesis has demonstrated the roles of saponins and their biosynthetic intermediates in plant growth and development. Here, we review the literature on the effects of these molecules on plant physiology, which collectively implicate them in plant primary processes. The industrial uses and potential of saponins are discussed with respect to structure and activity, highlighting the undoubted value of these molecules as therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tessa Moses
- Department of Metabolic Biology, John Innes CentreColney Lane, NorwichUK
| | | | - Anne Osbourn
- Department of Metabolic Biology, John Innes CentreColney Lane, NorwichUK
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Peña-Rodríguez LM, Yam-Puc A, Knispel N, Schramek N, Huber C, Graßberger C, Ramírez-Torres FG, Escalante-Erosa F, García-Sosa K, Hiebert-Giesbrecht MR, Chan-Bacab MJ, Godoy-Hernández G, Bacher A, Eisenreich W. Isotopologue Profiling of Triterpene Formation under Physiological Conditions. Biosynthesis of Lupeol-3-(3′-R-hydroxy)-stearate in Pentalinon andrieuxii. J Org Chem 2014; 79:2864-73. [DOI: 10.1021/jo402677w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Luis M. Peña-Rodríguez
- Lehrstuhl
für Biochemie, Technische Universität München, Lichtenbergstr.
4, D-85747 Garching, Germany
| | | | - Nihat Knispel
- Lehrstuhl
für Biochemie, Technische Universität München, Lichtenbergstr.
4, D-85747 Garching, Germany
| | - Nicholas Schramek
- Lehrstuhl
für Biochemie, Technische Universität München, Lichtenbergstr.
4, D-85747 Garching, Germany
| | - Claudia Huber
- Lehrstuhl
für Biochemie, Technische Universität München, Lichtenbergstr.
4, D-85747 Garching, Germany
| | - Christoph Graßberger
- Lehrstuhl
für Biochemie, Technische Universität München, Lichtenbergstr.
4, D-85747 Garching, Germany
| | | | | | | | | | - Manuel J. Chan-Bacab
- Departamento
de Microbiología Ambiental y Biotecnología, Universidad Autónoma de Campeche, Av. Agustín Melgar s/n, Campeche, México
| | - Gregorio Godoy-Hernández
- Laboratorio
de Química Orgánica, ‡Unidad de Biotecnología and §Unidad de Bioquímica
y Biología Molecular de Plantas, Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán, C.43 No. 130, Col. Chuburná
de Hidalgo, Mérida, Yucatán, México
| | - Adelbert Bacher
- Lehrstuhl
für Biochemie, Technische Universität München, Lichtenbergstr.
4, D-85747 Garching, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Eisenreich
- Lehrstuhl
für Biochemie, Technische Universität München, Lichtenbergstr.
4, D-85747 Garching, Germany
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Thimmappa R, Geisler K, Louveau T, O'Maille P, Osbourn A. Triterpene biosynthesis in plants. ANNUAL REVIEW OF PLANT BIOLOGY 2014; 65:225-57. [PMID: 24498976 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-arplant-050312-120229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 406] [Impact Index Per Article: 40.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
The triterpenes are one of the most numerous and diverse groups of plant natural products. They are complex molecules that are, for the most part, beyond the reach of chemical synthesis. Simple triterpenes are components of surface waxes and specialized membranes and may potentially act as signaling molecules, whereas complex glycosylated triterpenes (saponins) provide protection against pathogens and pests. Simple and conjugated triterpenes have a wide range of applications in the food, health, and industrial biotechnology sectors. Here, we review recent developments in the field of triterpene biosynthesis, give an overview of the genes and enzymes that have been identified to date, and discuss strategies for discovering new triterpene biosynthetic pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramesha Thimmappa
- Department of Metabolic Biology, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UH, United Kingdom;
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27
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Saeki D, Yamada T, In Y, Kajimoto T, Tanaka R, Iizuka Y, Nakane T, Takano A, Masuda K. Officinatrione: an unusual (17S)-17,18-seco-lupane skeleton, and four novel lupane-type triterpenoids from the roots of Taraxacum officinale. Tetrahedron 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tet.2012.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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Huang L, Li J, Ye H, Li C, Wang H, Liu B, Zhang Y. Molecular characterization of the pentacyclic triterpenoid biosynthetic pathway in Catharanthus roseus. PLANTA 2012; 236:1571-81. [PMID: 22837051 DOI: 10.1007/s00425-012-1712-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2012] [Accepted: 07/06/2012] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Catharanthus roseus is an important medicinal plant and the sole commercial source of monoterpenoid indole alkaloids (MIA), anticancer compounds. Recently, triterpenoids like ursolic acid and oleanolic acid have also been found in considerable amounts in C. roseus leaf cuticular wax layer. These simple pentacyclic triterpenoids exhibit various pharmacological activities such as anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor and anti-microbial properties. Using the EST collection from C. roseus leaf epidermome ( http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/dbEST ), we have successfully isolated a cDNA (CrAS) encoding 2,3-oxidosqualene cyclase (OSC) and a cDNA (CrAO) encoding amyrin C-28 oxidase from the leaves of C. roseus. The functions of CrAS and CrAO were analyzed in yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) systems. CrAS was characterized as a novel multifunctional OSC producing α- and β-amyrin in a ratio of 2.5:1, whereas CrAO was a multifunctional C-28 oxidase converting α-amyrin, β-amyrin and lupeol to ursolic-, oleanolic- and betulinic acids, respectively, via a successive oxidation at the C-28 position of the substrates. In yeast co-expressing CrAO and CrAS, ursolic- and oleanolic acids were detected in the yeast cell extracts, while the yeast cells co-expressing CrAO and AtLUP1 from Arabidopsis thaliana produced betulinic acid. Both CrAS and CrAO genes show a high expression level in the leaf, which was consistent with the accumulation patterns of ursolic- and oleanolic acids in C. roseus. These results suggest that CrAS and CrAO are involved in the pentacyclic triterpene biosynthesis in C. roseus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lili Huang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Plant Germplasm Enhancement and Specialty Agriculture, Wuhan Botanical Garden, The Chinese Academy of Science, 430074, Wuhan, China
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Alagna F, Mariotti R, Panara F, Caporali S, Urbani S, Veneziani G, Esposto S, Taticchi A, Rosati A, Rao R, Perrotta G, Servili M, Baldoni L. Olive phenolic compounds: metabolic and transcriptional profiling during fruit development. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2012; 12:162. [PMID: 22963618 PMCID: PMC3480905 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2229-12-162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2012] [Accepted: 08/30/2012] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Olive (Olea europaea L.) fruits contain numerous secondary metabolites, primarily phenolics, terpenes and sterols, some of which are particularly interesting for their nutraceutical properties. This study will attempt to provide further insight into the profile of olive phenolic compounds during fruit development and to identify the major genetic determinants of phenolic metabolism. RESULTS The concentration of the major phenolic compounds, such as oleuropein, demethyloleuropein, 3-4 DHPEA-EDA, ligstroside, tyrosol, hydroxytyrosol, verbascoside and lignans, were measured in the developing fruits of 12 olive cultivars. The content of these compounds varied significantly among the cultivars and decreased during fruit development and maturation, with some compounds showing specificity for certain cultivars. Thirty-five olive transcripts homologous to genes involved in the pathways of the main secondary metabolites were identified from the massive sequencing data of the olive fruit transcriptome or from cDNA-AFLP analysis. Their mRNA levels were determined using RT-qPCR analysis on fruits of high- and low-phenolic varieties (Coratina and Dolce d'Andria, respectively) during three different fruit developmental stages. A strong correlation was observed between phenolic compound concentrations and transcripts putatively involved in their biosynthesis, suggesting a transcriptional regulation of the corresponding pathways. OeDXS, OeGES, OeGE10H and OeADH, encoding putative 1-deoxy-D-xylulose-5-P synthase, geraniol synthase, geraniol 10-hydroxylase and arogenate dehydrogenase, respectively, were almost exclusively present at 45 days after flowering (DAF), suggesting that these compounds might play a key role in regulating secoiridoid accumulation during fruit development. CONCLUSIONS Metabolic and transcriptional profiling led to the identification of some major players putatively involved in biosynthesis of secondary compounds in the olive tree. Our data represent the first step towards the functional characterisation of important genes for the determination of olive fruit quality.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Silvia Caporali
- Dept. of Economical and Food Science, University of Perugia, 06126, Perugia, Italy
| | - Stefania Urbani
- Dept. of Economical and Food Science, University of Perugia, 06126, Perugia, Italy
| | - Gianluca Veneziani
- Dept. of Economical and Food Science, University of Perugia, 06126, Perugia, Italy
| | - Sonia Esposto
- Dept. of Economical and Food Science, University of Perugia, 06126, Perugia, Italy
| | - Agnese Taticchi
- Dept. of Economical and Food Science, University of Perugia, 06126, Perugia, Italy
| | | | - Rosa Rao
- Dept. of Soil, Plant, Environment and Animal Production Sciences, University of Naples 'Federico II', 80055, Portici, NA, Italy
| | | | - Maurizio Servili
- Dept. of Economical and Food Science, University of Perugia, 06126, Perugia, Italy
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Nonsterol Triterpenoids as Major Constituents of Olea europaea. J Lipids 2012; 2012:476595. [PMID: 22523691 PMCID: PMC3317172 DOI: 10.1155/2012/476595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2011] [Accepted: 10/20/2011] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Plant triterpenoids represent a large and structurally diverse class of natural products. A growing interest has been focused on triterpenoids over the past decade due to their beneficial effects on human health. We show here that these bioactive compounds are major constituents of several aerial parts (floral bud, leaf bud, stem, and leaf) of olive tree, a crop exploited so far almost exclusively for its fruit and oil. O. europaea callus cultures were analyzed as well. Twenty sterols and twenty-nine nonsteroidal tetra- and pentacyclic triterpenoids belonging to seven types of carbon skeletons (oleanane, ursane, lupane, taraxerane, taraxastane, euphane, and lanostane) were identified and quantified by GC and GC-MS as free and esterified compounds. The oleanane-type compounds, oleanolic acid and maslinic acid, were largely predominant in all the organs tested, whereas they are practically absent in olive oil. In floral buds, they represented as much as 2.7% of dry matter. In callus cultures, lanostane-type compounds were the most abundant triterpenoids. In all the tissues analyzed, free and esterified triterpene alcohols exhibited different distribution patterns of their carbon skeletons. Taken together, these data provide new insights into largely unknown triterpene secondary metabolism of Olea europaea.
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Brendolise C, Yauk YK, Eberhard ED, Wang M, Chagne D, Andre C, Greenwood DR, Beuning LL. An unusual plant triterpene synthase with predominant α-amyrin-producing activity identified by characterizing oxidosqualene cyclases from Malus × domestica. FEBS J 2011; 278:2485-99. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1742-4658.2011.08175.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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Augustin JM, Kuzina V, Andersen SB, Bak S. Molecular activities, biosynthesis and evolution of triterpenoid saponins. PHYTOCHEMISTRY 2011; 72:435-57. [PMID: 21333312 DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2011.01.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 401] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2010] [Revised: 01/07/2011] [Accepted: 01/11/2011] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Saponins are bioactive compounds generally considered to be produced by plants to counteract pathogens and herbivores. Besides their role in plant defense, saponins are of growing interest for drug research as they are active constituents of several folk medicines and provide valuable pharmacological properties. Accordingly, much effort has been put into unraveling the modes of action of saponins, as well as in exploration of their potential for industrial processes and pharmacology. However, the exploitation of saponins for bioengineering crop plants with improved resistances against pests as well as circumvention of laborious and uneconomical extraction procedures for industrial production from plants is hampered by the lack of knowledge and availability of genes in saponin biosynthesis. Although the ability to produce saponins is rather widespread among plants, a complete synthetic pathway has not been elucidated in any single species. Current conceptions consider saponins to be derived from intermediates of the phytosterol pathway, and predominantly enzymes belonging to the multigene families of oxidosqualene cyclases (OSCs), cytochromes P450 (P450s) and family 1 UDP-glycosyltransferases (UGTs) are thought to be involved in their biosynthesis. Formation of unique structural features involves additional biosynthetical enzymes of diverse phylogenetic background. As an example of this, a serine carboxypeptidase-like acyltransferase (SCPL) was recently found to be involved in synthesis of triterpenoid saponins in oats. However, the total number of identified genes in saponin biosynthesis remains low as the complexity and diversity of these multigene families impede gene discovery based on sequence analysis and phylogeny. This review summarizes current knowledge of triterpenoid saponin biosynthesis in plants, molecular activities, evolutionary aspects and perspectives for further gene discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jörg M Augustin
- Plant Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, Center for Synthetic Biology, VKR Research Centre Pro-Active Plants, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, DK-1871 Frederiksberg C, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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Bracci T, Busconi M, Fogher C, Sebastiani L. Molecular studies in olive (Olea europaea L.): overview on DNA markers applications and recent advances in genome analysis. PLANT CELL REPORTS 2011; 30:449-62. [PMID: 21212959 DOI: 10.1007/s00299-010-0991-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2010] [Accepted: 12/21/2010] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Olive (Olea europaea L.) is one of the oldest agricultural tree crops worldwide and is an important source of oil with beneficial properties for human health. This emblematic tree crop of the Mediterranean Basin, which has conserved a very wide germplasm estimated in more than 1,200 cultivars, is a diploid species (2n = 2x = 46) that is present in two forms, namely wild (Olea europaea subsp. europaea var. sylvestris) and cultivated (Olea europaea subsp. europaea var. europaea). In spite of its economic and nutritional importance, there are few data about the genetic of olive if compared with other fruit crops. Available molecular data are especially related to the application of molecular markers to the analysis of genetic variability in Olea europaea complex and to develop efficient molecular tools for the olive oil origin traceability. With regard to genomic research, in the last years efforts are made for the identification of expressed sequence tag, with particular interest in those sequences expressed during fruit development and in pollen allergens. Very recently the sequencing of chloroplast genome provided new information on the olive nucleotide sequence, opening the olive genomic era. In this article, we provide an overview of the most relevant results in olive molecular studies. A particular attention was given to DNA markers and their application that constitute the most part of published researches. The first important results in genome analysis were reported.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Bracci
- Biolabs, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Piazza Martiri della Libertà 33, 56127 Pisa, Italy
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Delis C, Krokida A, Georgiou S, Peña-Rodríguez LM, Kavroulakis N, Ioannou E, Roussis V, Osbourn AE, Papadopoulou KK. Role of lupeol synthase in Lotus japonicus nodule formation. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2011; 189:335-46. [PMID: 20868395 DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2010.03463.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
• Triterpenes are plant secondary metabolites, derived from the cyclization of 2,3-oxidosqualene by oxidosqualene cyclases (OSCs). Here, we investigated the role of lupeol synthase, encoded by OSC3, and its product, lupeol, in developing roots and nodules of the model legume Lotus japonicus. • The expression patterns of OSC3 in different developmental stages of uninfected roots and in roots infected with Mesorhizobium loti were determined. The tissue specificity of OSC3 expression was analysed by in situ hybridization. Functional analysis, in which transgenic L. japonicus roots silenced for OSC3 were generated, was performed. The absence of lupeol in the silenced plant lines was determined by GC-MS. • The expression of ENOD40, a marker gene for nodule primordia initiation, was increased significantly in the OSC3-silenced plant lines, suggesting that lupeol influences nodule formation. Silenced plants also showed a more rapid nodulation phenotype, consistent with this. Exogenous application of lupeol to M. loti-infected wild-type plants provided further evidence for a negative regulatory effect of lupeol on the expression of ENOD40. • The synthesis of lupeol in L. japonicus roots and nodules can be solely attributed to OSC3. Taken together, our data suggest a role for lupeol biosynthesis in nodule formation through the regulation of ENOD40 gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Costas Delis
- Department of Biochemistry & Biotechnology, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece
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Zhao CL, Cui XM, Chen YP, Liang Q. Key Enzymes of Triterpenoid Saponin Biosynthesis and the Induction of Their Activities and Gene Expressions in Plants. Nat Prod Commun 2010. [DOI: 10.1177/1934578x1000500736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Triterpenoid saponins are one of the key active components of many medicinal plants. The biosynthetic pathway of triterpenoid saponins in higher plants and a lot of experimental results both indicated that the key enzymes involved in triterpenoid saponin synthesis are squalene synthase (SS), squalene epoxidase (SE), lupeol synthase (LS), dammarenediol synthase (DS), β-amyrin synthase (β-AS), cytochrome P450-dependent monooxygenase (PDMO), and glycosyltransferase (GT). The activities and coding genes of the key enzymes could be induced by a range of factors in various plant species. However, the effects of the factors on the content and composition of the triterpenoid saponins in specific plants are not certainly coincident, and different factors appear to induce the gene expressions of the key enzymes by different signal pathways and at different levels. This paper could provide a reference for strengthening the triterpenoid saponin-synthesizing capability of specific medicinal plants at enzyme and/or gene expression levels in order to improve the plants’ commercial values.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang Ling Zhao
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China
| | - Xiu Ming Cui
- Institute of Natural Products, Wenshan Sanqi Research Institute, Wenshan 663000, China
| | - Yan Ping Chen
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China
| | - Quan Liang
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China
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Kim OT, Lee JW, Bang KH, Kim YC, Hyun DY, Cha SW, Choi YE, Jin ML, Hwang B. Characterization of a dammarenediol synthase in Centella asiatica (L.) Urban. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY : PPB 2009; 47:998-1002. [PMID: 19796960 DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2009.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2009] [Revised: 07/26/2009] [Accepted: 08/06/2009] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
To elucidate the exact function of CabAS in Centella asiatica, which was previously reported as a putative beta-amyrin synthase [Plant Cell Rep, 24:304-311, 2005], this gene was functionally expressed in the lanosterol synthase-deficient yeast mutant (erg7). After inducing the CabAS gene with galactose, a peak consistent with the dammarenediol standard was detected in LC/APCIMS analyses and the accumulated product was confirmed as dammarenediol. CabAS should therefore be renamed to C. asiatica dammarenediol synthase (CaDDS). The confirmation of this gene function may allow us to better understand the generation of numerous triterpene carbon skeletons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ok Tae Kim
- Department of Herbal Crop Research, National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science, RDA, Eumseong 369-871, Republic of Korea.
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Basyuni M, Baba S, Inafuku M, Iwasaki H, Kinjo K, Oku H. Expression of terpenoid synthase mRNA and terpenoid content in salt stressed mangrove. JOURNAL OF PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2009; 166:1786-800. [PMID: 19535167 DOI: 10.1016/j.jplph.2009.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2009] [Revised: 05/19/2009] [Accepted: 05/22/2009] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
The halophytic Kandelia candel and Bruguiera gymnorrhiza are ideal model for studying the molecular mechanisms of salinity tolerance in mangrove plants. The correlation between mRNA expression of four oxidosqualene cyclase (OSC) genes namely, KcMS multifunctional terpenoid synthase and KcCAS cyloartenol synthase (K. candel), BgbAS beta-amyrin synthase and BgLUS lupeol synthase (B. gymnorrhiza) and salt concentration was examined. mRNA level of KcMS was increased with salt concentration in both roots and leaves of K. candel. Similarly, salt stress increased the mRNA levels of BgLUS and BgbAS in the root of B. gymnorrhiza. This result suggests that the function of terpenoids in root is associated with the salt stress. In contrast to these observations, the mRNA level of KcCAS was not modulated by salt stress in the roots, and decreased in the leaves. These results therefore suggest that the terpenoids but not phytosterols play an important role to cope with the salt stress in mangrove root. The content and proportion of beta-amyrin and lupeol increased with salinity in the root of K. candel and B. gymnorrhiza, providing additional evidence for the protective role of terpenoids. However, beta-amyrin and lupeol in B. gymnorrhiza leaves decreased with salt concentration, suggesting that the physiological significance for the terpenoids in the leaf may differ from that for the root.
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Confalonieri M, Cammareri M, Biazzi E, Pecchia P, Fevereiro MPS, Balestrazzi A, Tava A, Conicella C. Enhanced triterpene saponin biosynthesis and root nodulation in transgenic barrel medic (Medicago truncatula Gaertn.) expressing a novel beta-amyrin synthase (AsOXA1) gene. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL 2009; 7:172-82. [PMID: 19055609 DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-7652.2008.00385.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Triterpene saponins are a group of bioactive compounds abundant in the genus Medicago, and have been studied extensively for their biological and pharmacological properties. In this article, we evaluated the effects of the ectopic expression of AsOXA1 cDNA from Aster sedifolius on the production of triterpene saponins in barrel medic (Medicago truncatula Gaertn.). AsOXA1 cDNA encodes beta-amyrin synthase, a key enzyme involved in triterpene saponin biosynthesis. One of the four transgenic lines expressing AsOXA1 accumulated significantly larger amounts of some triterpenic compounds in leaf and root than did control plants. In particular, the leaf exhibited significantly higher levels of bayogenin, medicagenic acid and zanhic acid. The amounts of medicagenic acid and zanhic acid, which represent the core of the M. truncatula leaf saponins, were 1.7 and 2.1 times higher, respectively, than the amounts extracted from the control line. In root, the production of bayogenin, hederagenin, soyasapogenol E and 2beta-hydroxyoleanolic acid was increased significantly. The increase in the total amounts of triterpenic compounds observed in the leaves of transgenic lines correlated with the AsOXA1 expression level. Interestingly, the plants expressing AsOXA1 showed, under different growth conditions, improved nodulation when compared with the control line. Nodulation enhancement was also accompanied by a significant change in the soyasapogenol B content. Our results indicate that the ectopic expression of AsOXA1 in barrel medic leads to a greater accumulation of triterpene saponins and enhanced root nodulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Massimo Confalonieri
- C.R.A. - Centro di Ricerca per le Produzioni Foraggere e Lattiero Casearie, Viale Piacenza 29, 26900 Lodi, Italy.
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Liang Y, Zhao S. Progress in understanding of ginsenoside biosynthesis. PLANT BIOLOGY (STUTTGART, GERMANY) 2008; 10:415-21. [PMID: 18557901 DOI: 10.1111/j.1438-8677.2008.00064.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Ginseng is an economically important medicinal plant. The major bioactive ingredients of ginseng are ginsenosides, which are triterpene saponins. Because of difficulties in ginseng cultivation and the low productivity of ginseng cell and tissue culture, it has become important to improve ginsenoside levels by using metabolic engineering based on the biosynthetic pathway of ginsenosides. During the last decade, substantial advances have been made in biosynthesis of ginsenosides. This review is concerned with recent developments in our understanding of the biosynthesis of ginsenosides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Liang
- College of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun, China.
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40
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Basyuni M, Oku H, Tsujimoto E, Kinjo K, Baba S, Takara K. Triterpene synthases from the Okinawan mangrove tribe, Rhizophoraceae. FEBS J 2007; 274:5028-42. [PMID: 17803686 DOI: 10.1111/j.1742-4658.2007.06025.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Oleanane-type triterpene is one of the most widespread triterpenes found in plants, together with the lupane type, and these two types often occur together in the same plant. Bruguiera gymnorrhiza (L.) Lamk. and Rhizophora stylosa Griff. (Rhizophoraceae) are known to produce both types of triterpenes. Four oxidosqualene cyclase cDNAs were cloned from the leaves of B. gymnorrhiza and R. stylosa by a homology-based PCR method. The ORFs of full-length clones termed BgbAS (2280 bp, coding for 759 amino acids), BgLUS (2286 bp, coding for 761 amino acids), RsM1 (2280 bp, coding for 759 amino acids) and RsM2 (2316 bp coding for 771 amino acids) were ligated into yeast expression plasmid pYES2 under the control of the GAL1 promoter. Expression of BgbAS and BgLUS in GIL77 resulted in the production of beta-amyrin and lupeol, suggesting that these genes encode beta-amyrin and lupeol synthase (LUS), respectively. Furthermore, RsM1 produced germanicol, beta-amyrin, and lupeol in the ratio of 63 : 33 : 4, whereas RsM2 produced taraxerol, beta-amyrin, and lupeol in the proportions 70 : 17 : 13. This result indicates that these are multifunctional triterpene synthases. Phylogenetic analysis and sequence comparisons revealed that BgbAS and RsM1 demonstrated high similarities (78-93%) to beta-amyrin synthases, and were located in the same branch as beta-amyrin synthase. BgLUS formed a new branch for lupeol synthase that was closely related to the beta-amyrin synthase cluster, whereas RsM2 was found in the first branch of the multifunctional triterpene synthase evolved from lupeol to beta-amyrin synthase. Based on these sequence comparisons and product profiles, we discuss the molecular evolution of triterpene synthases and the involvement of these genes in the formation of terpenoids in mangrove leaves.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Basyuni
- United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Kagoshima University, Japan
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Shibuya M, Xiang T, Katsube Y, Otsuka M, Zhang H, Ebizuka Y. Origin of structural diversity in natural triterpenes: direct synthesis of seco-triterpene skeletons by oxidosqualene cyclase. J Am Chem Soc 2007; 129:1450-5. [PMID: 17263431 DOI: 10.1021/ja066873w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
At1g78500, one of the oxidosqualene cyclase (OSC) homologues from Arabidopsis thaliana, was expressed in a lanosterol synthase-deficient yeast strain and the products were analyzed. In addition to the known triterpenes, this OSC was found to produce two new triterpenes, the structures of which were determined by NMR and MS analyses. The new triterpenes are C-ring-seco-beta-amyrin (1) and C-ring-seco-alpha-amyrin (2) and named beta-seco-amyrin and alpha-seco-amyrin, respectively. beta-seco-Amyrin is produced from the oleanyl cation through bond cleavage between C8 and C14, and alpha-seco-amyrin is produced from the ursanyl cation in the same manner. Together with Grob fragmentation catalyzed by another OSC (marneral synthase) from A. thaliana, the formation of seco-amyrins by this OSC revealed that OSCs not only catalyze carbon-carbon bond formations and Wagner-Meerwein rearrangements but also cleave preformed ring systems in cationic intermediates. Based on this information, direct production of other natural seco-triterpenes by OSCs is proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masaaki Shibuya
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
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Fischer WW, Pearson A. Hypotheses for the origin and early evolution of triterpenoid cyclases. GEOBIOLOGY 2007; 5:19-34. [PMID: 36298871 DOI: 10.1111/j.1472-4669.2007.00096.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Hopanes and steranes are found almost universally in the sedimentary rock record where they often are used as proxies for aerobic organisms, metabolisms, and environments. In order to interpret ancient lipid signatures confidently we require a complementary understanding of how these modern biochemical pathways evolved since their conception. For example, generally it has been assumed that hopanoid biosynthesis was an evolutionary predecessor to steroid biosynthesis. Here we re-evaluate this assumption. Using a combined phylogenetic and biochemical perspective, we address the evolution of polycyclic triterpenoid biosynthesis and suggest several constraints on using these molecules as aerobic biomarkers. Amino acid sequence data show that the enzymes responsible for polycyclic triterpenoid biosynthesis (i.e. squalene and 2,3-oxidosqualene cyclases) are homologous. Numerous conserved domains correspond to active sites in the enzymes that are required to complete the complex cyclization reaction. From these sites we develop an evolutionary analysis of three independent characters to explain the evolution of the major classes of polycyclic triterpenoids. These characters are: (i) the number of unfavourable anti-Markovnikov ring closures, (ii) all-chair (CCC) or chair-boat-chair (CBC) substrate conformation, and (iii) the choice between squalene and 2,3-oxidosqualene as the substrate. We use these characters to construct four competing phylogenies to describe the evolution of polycyclic triterpenoid biosynthesis. The analysis suggests that malabaricanoids would be the most ancient polycyclic triterpenoids. The two most parsimonious evolutionary trees are the ones in which hopanoid and steroid cyclases diverged from a common ancestor. The transition from a CCC- to CBC-fold marks the major divergence in the evolution of these pathways, and it is diagnosable in the geological record. However, this transition does not require the simultaneous adoption of the aerobic substrate, 2,3-oxidosqualene, because these characters are controlled by independent parts of the enzyme.
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Affiliation(s)
- W W Fischer
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA
| | - A Pearson
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA
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Stiti N, Triki S, Hartmann MA. Formation of Triterpenoids throughout Olea europaea Fruit Ontogeny. Lipids 2007; 42:55-67. [PMID: 17393211 DOI: 10.1007/s11745-006-3002-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2006] [Accepted: 11/30/2006] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Drupes were handpicked from olive (Olea europaea L.) trees, cv chemlali, at 13 distinct stages of fruit development, referred to as weeks after flowering (WAF), and analyzed for their free and esterified sterols and triterpenoids content. These two classes of compounds are synthesized via the acetate/mevalonate pathway and share common precursors up to oxidosqualene (OS). Cyclization of OS in either cycloartenol or beta-amyrin constitutes a branch point between primary (sterol pathway) and secondary (triterpenoid pathway) metabolisms. At the onset of fruit development, i.e., between 12 and 18 WAF, drupes were found to contain high amounts of alpha- and beta-amyrins as well as more-oxygenated compounds such as triterpenic diols (erythrodiol and uvaol) and acids (oleanolic, ursolic and maslinic acids). Concomitantly, sterol precursors were barely detectable. From 21 WAF, when the olive fruit reached its final size and began to turn from green to purple, alpha- and beta-amyrins were no longer present, while 4,4-dimethyl- and 4alpha-methylsterols started to be formed, indicating a redirection of the carbon flux from the triterpenoid pathway towards the sterol pathway. Between 21 and 30 WAF, sterol end products, mainly represented by sitosterol, progressively accumulated and triterpenic diols were replaced by triterpenic acids, essentially maslinic acid. Interestingly, the developing olive fruit was found to accumulate significant amounts of parkeol as an ester conjugate. Whatever the stage of development, triterpenoids represent the major triterpenic compounds of the olive fruit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naïm Stiti
- Laboratoire de Biochimie des Lipides, Faculté des Sciences, 1060 Tunis, Tunisia
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Saimaru H, Orihara Y, Tansakul P, Kang YH, Shibuya M, Ebizuka Y. Production of Triterpene Acids by Cell Suspension Cultures of Olea europaea. Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo) 2007; 55:784-8. [PMID: 17473469 DOI: 10.1248/cpb.55.784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Olive (Olea europaea) contains large quantity of triterpene acids including oleanolic acid (6) as a major one. Varieties of biological activities exhibited by triterpene acids attracted our attentions, especially from pharmaceutical viewpoints. Cell culture of olive plant was induced and its triterpene constituents were studied. From the cell suspension cultures, six ursane type triterpene acids; ursolic acid (9), pomolic acid (10), rotundic acid (11), tormentic acid (12), 2alpha-hydroxyursolic acid (13) and 19alpha-hydroxyasiatic acid (14), and two oleanane type acids; oleanolic acid and maslinic acid (7), have been isolated. Quantity of ursane type triterpene acids produced by cell cultures was larger than that of oleanane type. Further, a multifunctional oxidosqualene cyclase (OSC) named OEA was cloned by homology based PCRs from the same cultured cells. Major product of OEA is alpha-amyrin (ursane skeleton), showing good accordance to higher content of ursane-type triterpene acids in the cultured cells, and strongly suggesting OEA to be a major contributor OSC for their production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroshi Saimaru
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
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Han JY, Kwon YS, Yang DC, Jung YR, Choi YE. Expression and RNA Interference-Induced Silencing of the Dammarenediol Synthase Gene in Panax ginseng. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2006; 47:1653-62. [PMID: 17088293 DOI: 10.1093/pcp/pcl032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
Panax ginseng is one of the most highly valued herbal medicines in the Orient, where it has gained an almost magical reputation for being able to maintain the quality of life. The root of ginseng contains noble tetracyclic triterpenenoid saponins, which are thought to be the major effective ingredients in P. ginseng. The first committed step in ginsenoside synthesis is the cyclization of 2,3-oxidosqualene to dammarenediol II by oxidosqualene cyclase, dammarenediol synthase (DDS). The gene encoding DDS has been characterized. Here, we investigated the expression of the DDS gene together with the genes involved in ginsenoside biosynthesis (SS, SE, PNX, PNY, PNY2 and PNZ). Expression of DDS mRNA was higher in flower buds compared with root, leaf and petiole of ginseng plants. Elicitor (methyl jasmonate) treatment up-regulated the expression of DDS mRNA. Ectopic expression of DDS in a yeast mutant (erg7) lacking lanosterol synthase resulted in the production of dammarenediol and hydroxydammarenone which were confirmed by liquid chromatography-atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry (LC/APCIMS). RNA interference (RNAi) of DDS in transgenic P. ginseng resulted in silencing of DDS expression which leads to a reduction of ginsenoside production to 84.5% in roots. These results indicate that expression of DDS played a vital role in the biosynthesis of ginsenosides in P. ginseng.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jung Yeon Han
- College of Pharmacy, Kangwon National University, Chunchon 200-701, Republic of Korea
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Basyuni M, Oku H, Inafuku M, Baba S, Iwasaki H, Oshiro K, Okabe T, Shibuya M, Ebizuka Y. Molecular cloning and functional expression of a multifunctional triterpene synthase cDNA from a mangrove species Kandelia candel (L.) Druce. PHYTOCHEMISTRY 2006; 67:2517-24. [PMID: 17078982 DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2006.09.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2006] [Revised: 09/04/2006] [Accepted: 09/18/2006] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Homology based PCRs with degenerate primers designed from the conserved sequences among the known oxidosqualene cylases (OSCs) have resulted in cloning of a triterpene synthase (KcMS) from the young roots of Kandelia candel (L.) Druce (Rhizophoraceae). KcMS consists of a 2286 bp open reading frame, which codes for 761 amino acids. The deduced amino acid sequence showed 79% homology to a lupeol synthase from Ricinus communis suggesting it to be a lupeol synthase of K. candel. KcMS was expressed in a lanosterol synthase deficient yeast with the expression vector pYES2 under the control of GAL1 promoter. GC-MS analysis showed that the transformant accumulated a mixture of lupeol, beta-amyrin and alpha-amyrin in a 2:1:1 ratio, indicating that KcMS encodes a multifunctional triterpene synthase, although it showed high sequence homology to a R. communis lupeol synthase. This is the first OSC cloning from mangrove tree species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Basyuni
- United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Kagoshima University, 1-21-24 Korimoto, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan
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Kushiro T, Hoshino M, Tsutsumi T, Kawai KI, Shiro M, Shibuya M, Ebizuka Y. Stereochemical Course in Water Addition during LUP1-Catalyzed Triterpene Cyclization. Org Lett 2006; 8:5589-92. [PMID: 17107079 DOI: 10.1021/ol062310d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Arabidopsis thaliana LUP1 (At1g78970) catalyzes the cyclization of oxidosqualene into lupeol and 3beta,20-dihydroxylupane (lupanediol). The stereochemical course of water addition to the lupanyl cation was studied. The X-ray crystal structure of lupanylepoxide 3,5-dinitrobenzoate established the configuration of epoxide as 20S. LiAlD4 reduction of the epoxide enabled the chemical shift assignment of prochiral methyl groups at C20 of lupanediol. Correlation of these methyl groups with biosynthetic lupanediol from [1,2-(13)C(2)] acetate established the stereochemical course of water addition. [reaction: see text].
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Affiliation(s)
- Tetsuo Kushiro
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
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48
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Phillips DR, Rasbery JM, Bartel B, Matsuda SP. Biosynthetic diversity in plant triterpene cyclization. CURRENT OPINION IN PLANT BIOLOGY 2006; 9:305-14. [PMID: 16581287 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbi.2006.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 245] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2005] [Accepted: 03/21/2006] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Plants produce a wealth of terpenoids, many of which have been the tools of healers and chiefs for millennia. Recent research has led to the identification and characterization of many genes that are responsible for the biosynthesis of triterpenoids. Cyclases that generate sterol precursors can be recognized with some confidence on the basis of sequence; several catalytically important residues are now known, and the product profiles of sterol-generating cyclases typically reflect their phylogenetic position. By contrast, the phylogenetic relationships of cyclases that generate nonsteroidal triterpene alcohols do not consistently reflect their catalytic properties and might indicate recent and rapid catalytic evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dereth R Phillips
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology and Department of Chemistry, Rice University, 6100 Main Street, Houston, TX 77005, USA
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Xiang T, Shibuya M, Katsube Y, Tsutsumi T, Otsuka M, Zhang H, Masuda K, Ebizuka Y. A New Triterpene Synthase from Arabidopsis thaliana Produces a Tricyclic Triterpene with Two Hydroxyl Groups. Org Lett 2006; 8:2835-8. [PMID: 16774269 DOI: 10.1021/ol060973p] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
[structure: see text] Thirteen oxidosqualene cyclase homologues exist in the genome of Arabidopsis thaliana. One of these genes, At4g15340, was amplified by PCR and expressed in yeast. The yeast transformant accumulated tricyclic triterpene, (3S,13R)-malabarica-17,21-dien-3,14-diol (arabidiol), whose structure was determined by NMR and MS analyses. Its epoxide analogue, (3S,13R,21S)-malabarica-17-en-20,21-epoxy-3,14-diol (arabidiol 20,21-epoxide), was also isolated from the transformed yeast. This is the first example of a triterpene synthase that yields a tricyclic triterpene with two hydroxyl groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Xiang
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Japan
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Suzuki M, Xiang T, Ohyama K, Seki H, Saito K, Muranaka T, Hayashi H, Katsube Y, Kushiro T, Shibuya M, Ebizuka Y. Lanosterol Synthase in Dicotyledonous Plants. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2006; 47:565-71. [PMID: 16531458 DOI: 10.1093/pcp/pcj031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Sterols are important as structural components of plasma membranes and precursors of steroidal hormones in both animals and plants. Plant sterols show a wide structural variety and significant structural differences from those of animals. To elucidate the origin of structural diversity in plant sterols, their biosynthesis has been extensively studied [Benveniste (2004) Annu. Rev. Plant. Biol. 55: 429, Schaller (2004) Plant Physiol. Biochem. 42: 465]. The differences in the biosynthesis of sterols between plants and animals begin at the step of cyclization of 2,3-oxidosqualene, which is cyclized to lanosterol in animals and to cycloartenol in plants. However, here we show that plants also have the ability to synthesize lanosterol directly from 2,3-oxidosqualene, which may lead to a new pathway to plant sterols. The Arabidopsis gene At3g45130, designated LAS1, encodes a functional lanosterol synthase in plants. A phylogenetic tree showed that LAS1 belongs to the previously uncharacterized branch of oxidosqualene cyclases, which differs from the cycloartenol synthase branch. Panax PNZ on the same branch was also shown to be a lanosterol synthase in a yeast heterologous expression system. The higher diversity of plant sterols may require two biosynthetic routes in steroidal backbone formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masashi Suzuki
- RIKEN Plant Science Center, 1-7-22 Suehirocho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 230-0045 Japan
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