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Younkin GC, Alani ML, Züst T, Jander G. Four enzymes control natural variation in the steroid core of Erysimum cardenolides. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.10.588904. [PMID: 38645095 PMCID: PMC11030354 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.10.588904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
Plants commonly produce families of structurally related metabolites with similar defensive functions. This apparent redundancy raises the question of underlying molecular mechanisms and adaptive benefits of such chemical variation. Cardenolides, a class defensive compounds found in the wallflower genus Erysimum (L., Brassicaceae) and scattered across other plant families, show substantial structural variation, with glycosylation and hydroxylation being common modifications of a steroid core, which itself may vary in terms of stereochemistry and saturation. Through a combination of chemical mutagenesis and analysis of gene coexpression networks, we identified four enzymes involved in cardenolide biosynthesis in Erysimum that work together to determine stereochemistry at carbon 5 of the steroid core: Ec3βHSD, a 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, Ec3KSI, a ketosteroid isomerase, EcP5βR2, a progesterone 5β-reductase, and EcDET2, a steroid 5α-reductase. We biochemically characterized the activity of these enzymes in vitro and generated CRISPR/Cas9 knockout lines to confirm activity in vivo. Cardenolide biosynthesis was not eliminated in any of the knockouts. Instead, mutant plants accumulated cardenolides with altered saturation and stereochemistry of the steroid core. Furthermore, we found variation in carbon 5 configuration among the cardenolides of 44 species of Erysimum, where the occurrence of some 5β-cardenolides is associated with the expression and sequence of P5βR2. This may have allowed Erysimum species to fine-tune their defensive profiles to target specific herbivore populations over the course of evolution. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Plants use an array of toxic compounds to defend themselves from attack against insects and other herbivores. One mechanism through which plants may evolve more toxic compounds is through modifications to the structure of compounds they already produce. In this study, we show how plants in the wallflower genus Erysimum use four enzymes to fine-tune the structure of toxic metabolites called cardenolides. Natural variation in the sequence and expression of a single enzyme called progesterone 5β-reductase 2 partly explains the variation in cardenolides observed across the Erysimum genus. These alterations to cardenolide structure over the course of evolution suggests that there may be context-dependent benefits to Erysimum to invest in one cardenolide variant over another.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gordon C. Younkin
- Boyce Thompson Institute, Ithaca, New York 14853
- Plant Biology Section, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853
| | | | - Tobias Züst
- Institute of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany, University of Zurich, 8008 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Georg Jander
- Boyce Thompson Institute, Ithaca, New York 14853
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2
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Cuello C, Jansen HJ, Abdallah C, Zamar Mbadinga DL, Birer Williams C, Durand M, Oudin A, Papon N, Giglioli-Guivarc'h N, Dirks RP, Jensen MK, O'Connor SE, Besseau S, Courdavault V. The Madagascar palm genome provides new insights on the evolution of Apocynaceae specialized metabolism. Heliyon 2024; 10:e28078. [PMID: 38533072 PMCID: PMC10963385 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e28078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Revised: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Specialized metabolites possess diverse interesting biological activities and some cardenolides- and monoterpene indole alkaloids- (MIAs) derived pharmaceuticals are currently used to treat human diseases such as cancers or hypertension. While these two families of biocompounds are produced by specific subfamilies of Apocynaceae, one member of this medicinal plant family, the succulent tree Pachypodium lamerei Drake (also known as Madagascar palm), does not produce such specialized metabolites. To explore the evolutionary paths that have led to the emergence and loss of cardenolide and MIA biosynthesis in Apocynaceae, we sequenced and assembled the P. lamerei genome by combining Oxford Nanopore Technologies long-reads and Illumina short-reads. Phylogenomics revealed that, among the Apocynaceae whose genomes have been sequenced, the Madagascar palm is so far the species closest to the common ancestor between MIA producers/non-MIA producers. Transposable elements, constituting 72.48% of the genome, emerge as potential key players in shaping genomic architecture and influencing specialized metabolic pathways. The absence of crucial MIA biosynthetic genes such as strictosidine synthase in P. lamerei and non-Rauvolfioideae species hints at a transposon-mediated mechanism behind gene loss. Phylogenetic analysis not only showcases the evolutionary divergence of specialized metabolite biosynthesis within Apocynaceae but also underscores the role of transposable elements in this intricate process. Moreover, we shed light on the low conservation of enzymes involved in the final stages of MIA biosynthesis in the distinct MIA-producing plant families, inferring independent gains of these specialized enzymes along the evolution of these medicinal plant clades. Overall, this study marks a leap forward in understanding the genomic dynamics underpinning the evolution of specialized metabolites biosynthesis in the Apocynaceae family, with transposons emerging as potential architects of genomics restructuring and gene loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clément Cuello
- Biomolécules et Biotechnologies Végétales, EA2106, Université de Tours, 37200, Tours, France
| | - Hans J. Jansen
- Future Genomics Technologies, 2333 BE, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Cécile Abdallah
- Biomolécules et Biotechnologies Végétales, EA2106, Université de Tours, 37200, Tours, France
| | | | - Caroline Birer Williams
- Biomolécules et Biotechnologies Végétales, EA2106, Université de Tours, 37200, Tours, France
| | - Mickael Durand
- Biomolécules et Biotechnologies Végétales, EA2106, Université de Tours, 37200, Tours, France
| | - Audrey Oudin
- Biomolécules et Biotechnologies Végétales, EA2106, Université de Tours, 37200, Tours, France
| | - Nicolas Papon
- Univ Angers, Univ Brest, IRF, SFR ICAT, F-49000, Angers, France
| | | | - Ron P. Dirks
- Future Genomics Technologies, 2333 BE, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Michael Krogh Jensen
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Sarah Ellen O'Connor
- Department of Natural Product Biosynthesis, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, 07745, Germany
| | - Sébastien Besseau
- Biomolécules et Biotechnologies Végétales, EA2106, Université de Tours, 37200, Tours, France
| | - Vincent Courdavault
- Biomolécules et Biotechnologies Végétales, EA2106, Université de Tours, 37200, Tours, France
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Shiko G, Paulmann MJ, Feistel F, Ntefidou M, Hermann-Ene V, Vetter W, Kost B, Kunert G, Zedler JAZ, Reichelt M, Oelmüller R, Klein J. Occurrence and conversion of progestogens and androgens are conserved in land plants. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2023; 240:318-337. [PMID: 37559351 DOI: 10.1111/nph.19163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023]
Abstract
Progestogens and androgens have been found in many plants, but little is known about their biosynthesis and the evolution of steroidogenesis in these organisms. Here, we show that the occurrence and biosynthesis of progestogens and androgens are conserved across the viridiplantae lineage. An UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS method allowed high-throughput analysis of the occurrence and chemical conversion of progestogens and androgens in 41 species across the green plant lineage. Dehydroepiandrosterone, testosterone, and 5α-dihydrotestosterone are plants' most abundant mammalian-like steroids. Progestogens are converted into 17α-hydroxyprogesterone and 5α-pregnane-3,20-dione. Androgens are converted into testosterone and 5α-dihydrotestosterone. 17,20-Lyases, essential for converting progestogens to androgens, seem to be most effective in monocot species. Our data suggest that the occurrence of progestogens and androgens is highly conserved in plants, and their biosynthesis might favor a route using the Δ4 pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Glendis Shiko
- Department of Plant Physiology, Matthias-Schleiden-Institute for Genetics, Bioinformatics and Molecular Botany, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, 07743, Germany
| | - Max-Jonas Paulmann
- Department of Plant Physiology, Matthias-Schleiden-Institute for Genetics, Bioinformatics and Molecular Botany, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, 07743, Germany
| | - Felix Feistel
- Department for Biochemistry, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, 07743, Jena, Germany
| | - Maria Ntefidou
- Cell Biology, Department of Biology, University Erlangen-Nuremberg, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Vanessa Hermann-Ene
- Institute of Food Chemistry, University of Hohenheim, 70599, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Walter Vetter
- Institute of Food Chemistry, University of Hohenheim, 70599, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Benedikt Kost
- Cell Biology, Department of Biology, University Erlangen-Nuremberg, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Grit Kunert
- Department for Biochemistry, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, 07743, Jena, Germany
| | - Julie A Z Zedler
- Synthetic Biology of Photosynthetic Organisms, Matthias Schleiden Institute for Genetics, Bioinformatics and Molecular Botany, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, 07743, Jena, Germany
| | - Michael Reichelt
- Department for Biochemistry, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, 07743, Jena, Germany
| | - Ralf Oelmüller
- Department of Plant Physiology, Matthias-Schleiden-Institute for Genetics, Bioinformatics and Molecular Botany, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, 07743, Germany
| | - Jan Klein
- Department of Plant Physiology, Matthias-Schleiden-Institute for Genetics, Bioinformatics and Molecular Botany, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, 07743, Germany
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Kunert M, Langley C, Lucier R, Ploss K, Rodríguez López CE, Serna Guerrero DA, Rothe E, O'Connor SE, Sonawane PD. Promiscuous CYP87A enzyme activity initiates cardenolide biosynthesis in plants. NATURE PLANTS 2023; 9:1607-1617. [PMID: 37723202 PMCID: PMC10581899 DOI: 10.1038/s41477-023-01515-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/20/2023]
Abstract
Cardenolides are specialized, steroidal metabolites produced in a wide array of plant families1,2. Cardenolides play protective roles in plants, but these molecules, including digoxin from foxglove (Digitalis spp.), are better known for treatment of congenital heart failure, atrial arrhythmia, various cancers and other chronic diseases3-9. However, it is still unknown how plants synthesize 'high-value', complex cardenolide structures from, presumably, a sterol precursor. Here we identify two cytochrome P450, family 87, subfamily A (CYP87A) enzymes that act on both cholesterol and phytosterols (campesterol and β-sitosterol) to form pregnenolone, the first committed step in cardenolide biosynthesis in the two phylogenetically distant plants Digitalis purpurea and Calotropis procera. Arabidopsis plants overexpressing these CYP87A enzymes ectopically accumulated pregnenolone, whereas silencing of CYP87A in D. purpurea leaves by RNA interference resulted in substantial reduction of pregnenolone and cardenolides. Our work uncovers the key entry point to the cardenolide pathway, and expands the toolbox for sustainable production of high-value plant steroids via synthetic biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maritta Kunert
- Department of Natural Product Biosynthesis, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany
| | - Chloe Langley
- Department of Natural Product Biosynthesis, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany
| | - Rosalind Lucier
- Department of Natural Product Biosynthesis, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany
| | - Kerstin Ploss
- Department of Natural Product Biosynthesis, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany
| | - Carlos E Rodríguez López
- Department of Natural Product Biosynthesis, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany
| | - Delia A Serna Guerrero
- Department of Natural Product Biosynthesis, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany
| | - Eva Rothe
- Department of Natural Product Biosynthesis, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany
| | - Sarah E O'Connor
- Department of Natural Product Biosynthesis, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany.
| | - Prashant D Sonawane
- Department of Natural Product Biosynthesis, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany.
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Leykauf T, Klein J, Ernst M, Dorfner M, Ignatova A, Kreis W, Lanig H, Munkert J. Overexpression and RNAi-mediated Knockdown of Two 3β-hydroxy-Δ5-steroid dehydrogenase Genes in Digitalis lanata Shoot Cultures Reveal Their Role in Cardenolide Biosynthesis. PLANTA MEDICA 2023. [PMID: 37187191 DOI: 10.1055/a-2074-9186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
3β-hydroxy-Δ5-steroid dehydrogenases (3βHSDs) are supposed to be involved in 5β-cardenolide biosynthesis. Here, a novel 3βHSD (Dl3βHSD2) was isolated from Digitalis lanata shoot cultures and expressed in E. coli. Recombinant Dl3βHSD1 and Dl3βHSD2 shared 70% amino acid identity, reduced various 3-oxopregnanes and oxidised 3-hydroxypregnanes, but only rDl3βHSD2 converted small ketones and secondary alcohols efficiently. To explain these differences in substrate specificity, we established homology models using borneol dehydrogenase of Salvia rosmarinus (6zyz) as the template. Hydrophobicity and amino acid residues in the binding pocket may explain the difference in enzyme activities and substrate preferences. Compared to Dl3βHSD1, Dl3βHSD2 is weakly expressed in D. lanata shoots. High constitutive expression of Dl3βHSDs was realised by Agrobacterium-mediated transfer of Dl3βHSD genes fused to the CaMV-35S promotor into the genome of D. lanata wild type shoot cultures. Transformed shoots (35S:Dl3βHSD1 and 35S:Dl3βHSD2) accumulated less cardenolides than controls. The levels of reduced glutathione (GSH), which is known to inhibit cardenolide formation, were higher in the 35S:Dl3βHSD1 lines than in the controls. In the 35S:Dl3βHSD1 lines cardenolide levels were restored after adding of the substrate pregnane-3,20-dione in combination with buthionine-sulfoximine (BSO), an inhibitor of GSH formation. RNAi-mediated knockdown of the Dl3βHSD1 yielded several shoot culture lines with strongly reduced cardenolide levels. In these lines, cardenolide biosynthesis was fully restored after addition of the downstream precursor pregnan-3β-ol-20-one, whereas upstream precursors such as progesterone had no effect, indicating that no shunt pathway could overcome the Dl3βHSD1 knockdown. These results can be taken as the first direct proof that Dl3βHSD1 is indeed involved in 5β-cardenolide biosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim Leykauf
- Department of Biology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Jan Klein
- Department of Plant Physiology, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Germany
| | - Mona Ernst
- Department of Biology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Maja Dorfner
- Department of Biology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Anastasiia Ignatova
- Department of Biology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Kreis
- Department of Biology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Harald Lanig
- National High Performance Computing Center (NHR@FAU), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Jennifer Munkert
- Department of Biology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
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Jin Y, Wang D, Im WT, Siddiqi MZ, Yang DC. Ketonization of Ginsenoside C-K by Novel Recombinant 3-β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases and Effect on Human Fibroblast Cells. Molecules 2023; 28:molecules28093792. [PMID: 37175202 PMCID: PMC10180105 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28093792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE The ginsenoside compound K (C-K) (which is a de-glycosylated derivative of major ginsenosides) is effective in the treatment of cancer, diabetes, inflammation, allergy, angiogenesis, aging, and has neuroprotective, and hepatoprotective than other minor ginsenosides. Thus, a lot of studies have been focused on the conversion of major ginsenosides to minor ginsenosides using glycoside hydrolases but there is no study yet published for the bioconversion of minor ginsenosides into another high pharmacological active compound. Therefore, the objective of this study to identify a new gene (besides the glycoside hydrolases) for the conversion of minor ginsenosides C-K into another highly pharmacological active compound. METHODS AND RESULTS Lactobacillus brevis which was isolated from Kimchi has showed the ginsenoside C-K altering capabilities. From this strain, a novel potent decarboxylation gene, named HSDLb1, was isolated and expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) using the pMAL-c5X vector system. Recombinant HSDLb1 was also characterized. The HSDLb1 consists of 774 bp (258 amino acids residues) with a predicted molecular mass of 28.64 kDa. The optimum enzyme activity was recorded at pH 6.0-8.0 and temperature 30 °C. Recombinant HSDLb1 effectively transformed the ginsenoside C-K to 12-β-hydroxydammar-3-one-20(S)-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (3-oxo-C-K). The experimental data proved that recombinant HSDLb1 strongly ketonized the hydroxyl (-O-H) group at C-3 of C-K via the following pathway: C-K → 3-oxo-C-K. In vitro study, 3-oxo-C-K showed higher solubility than C-K, and no cytotoxicity to fibroblast cells. In addition, 3-oxo-C-K induced the inhibitory activity of ultraviolet A (UVA) against matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) and promoted procollagen type I synthesis. Based on these expectations, we hypothesized that 3-oxo-C-K can be used in cosmetic products to block UV radiations and anti-ageing agent. Furthermore, we expect that 3-oxo-C-K will show higher efficacy than C-K for the treatment of cancer, ageing and other related diseases, for which more studies are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Jin
- School of Life Science, Nantong University, Nantong 226019, China
| | - Dandan Wang
- College of Life Sciences, Yantai University, Yantai 264005, China
| | - Wan-Taek Im
- Department of Biotechnology, Hankyong National University, 327 Jungang-ro, Anseong-si 17579, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
- Department of Oriental Medicinal Material & Processing, College of Life Science, Kyung Hee University, Seocheon-dong, Giheung-gu, Yongin-si 17104, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Muhammad Zubair Siddiqi
- Department of Biotechnology, Hankyong National University, 327 Jungang-ro, Anseong-si 17579, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Deok-Chun Yang
- Department of Oriental Medicinal Material & Processing, College of Life Science, Kyung Hee University, Seocheon-dong, Giheung-gu, Yongin-si 17104, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
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Raghavan I, Ravi Gopal B, Carroll E, Wang ZQ. Cardenolide Increase in Foxglove after 2,1,3-Benzothiadiazole Treatment Reveals a Potential Link between Cardenolide and Phytosterol Biosynthesis. PLANT & CELL PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 64:107-116. [PMID: 36222367 DOI: 10.1093/pcp/pcac144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Revised: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Cardenolides are steroidal metabolites in Digitalis lanata with potent cardioactive effects on animals. In plants, cardenolides are likely involved in various stress responses. However, the molecular mechanism of cardenolide increase during stresses is mostly unknown. Additionally, cardenolides are proposed to arise from cholesterol, but indirect results show that phytosterols may also be substrates for cardenolide biosynthesis. Here, we show that cardenolides increased after methyl jasmonate (MJ), sorbitol, potassium chloride (KCl) and salicylic acid analog [2,1,3-benzothiadiazole (BTH)] treatments. However, the expression of three known genes for cardenolide biosynthesis did not correlate well with these increases. Specifically, the expression of progesterone-5β-reductases (P5βR and P5βR2) did not correlate with the cardenolide increase. The expression of 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3βHSD) correlated with changes in cardenolide levels only during the BTH treatment. Mining the D. lanata transcriptome identified genes involved in cholesterol and phytosterol biosynthesis: C24 sterol sidechain reductase 1 (SSR1), C4 sterol methyl oxidase 1, and 3 (SMO1 and SMO3). Surprisingly, the expression of all three genes correlated well with the cardenolide increase after the BTH treatment. Phylogenetic analysis showed that SSR1 is likely involved in both cholesterol and phytosterol biosynthesis. In addition, SMO1 is likely specific to phytosterol biosynthesis, and SMO3 is specific to cholesterol biosynthesis. These results suggest that stress-induced increase of cardenolides in foxglove may correlate with cholesterol and phytosterol biosynthesis. In summary, this work shows that cardenolides are important for stress responses in D. lanata and reveals a potential link between phytosterol and cardenolide biosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Indu Raghavan
- Department of Biological Sciences, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, 109 Cooke Hall, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA
| | - Baradwaj Ravi Gopal
- Department of Biological Sciences, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, 109 Cooke Hall, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA
| | - Emily Carroll
- Department of Biological Sciences, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, 109 Cooke Hall, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA
| | - Zhen Q Wang
- Department of Biological Sciences, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, 109 Cooke Hall, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA
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8
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Polturak G, Dippe M, Stephenson MJ, Chandra Misra R, Owen C, Ramirez-Gonzalez RH, Haidoulis JF, Schoonbeek HJ, Chartrain L, Borrill P, Nelson DR, Brown JK, Nicholson P, Uauy C, Osbourn A. Pathogen-induced biosynthetic pathways encode defense-related molecules in bread wheat. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2123299119. [PMID: 35412884 PMCID: PMC9169793 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2123299119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Wheat is a widely grown food crop that suffers major yield losses due to attack by pests and pathogens. A better understanding of biotic stress responses in wheat is thus of major importance. The recently assembled bread wheat genome coupled with extensive transcriptomic resources provides unprecedented new opportunities to investigate responses to pathogen challenge. Here, we analyze gene coexpression networks to identify modules showing consistent induction in response to pathogen exposure. Within the top pathogen-induced modules, we identify multiple clusters of physically adjacent genes that correspond to six pathogen-induced biosynthetic pathways that share a common regulatory network. Functional analysis reveals that these pathways, all of which are encoded by biosynthetic gene clusters, produce various different classes of compounds—namely, flavonoids, diterpenes, and triterpenes, including the defense-related compound ellarinacin. Through comparative genomics, we also identify associations with the known rice phytoalexins momilactones, as well as with a defense-related gene cluster in the grass model plant Brachypodium distachyon. Our results significantly advance the understanding of chemical defenses in wheat and open up avenues for enhancing disease resistance in this agriculturally important crop. They also exemplify the power of transcriptional networks to discover the biosynthesis of chemical defenses in plants with large, complex genomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guy Polturak
- Department of Biochemistry and Metabolism, John Innes Centre, Norwich NR4 7UH, United Kingdom
| | - Martin Dippe
- Department of Biochemistry and Metabolism, John Innes Centre, Norwich NR4 7UH, United Kingdom
| | - Michael J. Stephenson
- Department of Biochemistry and Metabolism, John Innes Centre, Norwich NR4 7UH, United Kingdom
| | - Rajesh Chandra Misra
- Department of Biochemistry and Metabolism, John Innes Centre, Norwich NR4 7UH, United Kingdom
| | - Charlotte Owen
- Department of Biochemistry and Metabolism, John Innes Centre, Norwich NR4 7UH, United Kingdom
| | | | - John F. Haidoulis
- Department of Crop Genetics, John Innes Centre, Norwich NR4 7UH, United Kingdom
| | - Henk-Jan Schoonbeek
- Department of Crop Genetics, John Innes Centre, Norwich NR4 7UH, United Kingdom
| | - Laetitia Chartrain
- Department of Crop Genetics, John Innes Centre, Norwich NR4 7UH, United Kingdom
| | - Philippa Borrill
- Department of Biochemistry and Metabolism, John Innes Centre, Norwich NR4 7UH, United Kingdom
| | - David R. Nelson
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Biochemistry, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163
| | - James K.M. Brown
- Department of Crop Genetics, John Innes Centre, Norwich NR4 7UH, United Kingdom
| | - Paul Nicholson
- Department of Crop Genetics, John Innes Centre, Norwich NR4 7UH, United Kingdom
| | - Cristobal Uauy
- Department of Crop Genetics, John Innes Centre, Norwich NR4 7UH, United Kingdom
| | - Anne Osbourn
- Department of Biochemistry and Metabolism, John Innes Centre, Norwich NR4 7UH, United Kingdom
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9
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Lin LX, Cao QQ, Zhang CD, Xu TT, Yue K, Li Q, Liu F, Wang X, Dong HJ, Huang SC, Jian FC. Aflatoxin B1 causes oxidative stress and apoptosis in sheep testes associated with disrupting rumen microbiota. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2022; 232:113225. [PMID: 35124419 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.113225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is an unavoidable environmental pollutant commonly found in feed and foodstuffs. It is the most toxic one of all the aflatoxins, which can cause severe impairment to testicular development and function. Yet, the underlying mechanisms of reproductive toxicity in rams sheep remain inconclusive. The study was designed to explore the effects of AFB1 on sheep testes through rumen-microbiota, oxidative stress and apoptosis. Six-month-old male Dorper rams (n = 6) were orally administrated with 1.0 mg/kg AFB1 (dissolved in 20 mL 4% ethanol) 24 h before the experiment. At the same time, rams in the control group (n = 6) were intragastrically administrated with 20 mL 4% ethanol. It was observed that acute AFB1 poisoning had significant (p < 0.05) toxin residue in the testis and could cause testicular histopathological damage. AFB1 stimulated the secretion of plasma testosterone level through regulating testosterone synthesis-related genes (StAR, 3β-HSD, CYP11A1, and CYP17A1), which are accompanied by the increase of oxidative stress and testicular apoptosis that had a close relationship with the regulation of testosterone secretion. Interestingly, we observed rumen dysbacteriosis and decreased the abundances of Prevotella, Succiniclasticum, CF231, Ruminococcus, and Pseudobutyrivibrio in AFB1-exposed sheep, which were negatively correlated to the testosterone synthesis-related gene levels. Taken together, our findings indicated that AFB1 induced testicular damage and testicular dysfunction, which is related to testicular oxidative stress and apoptosis involved in rumen dysbacteriosis in sheep.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu-Xi Lin
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, PR China
| | - Qin-Qin Cao
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, PR China
| | - Chao-Dong Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, PR China
| | - Ting-Ting Xu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, PR China
| | - Ke Yue
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, PR China
| | - Qinghao Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, PR China
| | - Fang Liu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, PR China
| | - Xuebing Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, PR China
| | - Hai-Ju Dong
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, PR China
| | - Shu-Cheng Huang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, PR China.
| | - Fu-Chun Jian
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, PR China
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10
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Sameeullah M, Yildirim M, Aslam N, Baloğlu MC, Yucesan B, Lössl AG, Saba K, Waheed MT, Gurel E. Plastidial Expression of 3β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase and Progesterone 5β-Reductase Genes Confer Enhanced Salt Tolerance in Tobacco. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:11736. [PMID: 34769166 PMCID: PMC8584194 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222111736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2021] [Revised: 10/17/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase (SDR) gene family is widely distributed in all kingdoms of life. The SDR genes, 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD) and progesterone 5-β-reductases (P5βR1, P5βR2) play a crucial role in cardenolide biosynthesis pathway in the Digitalis species. However, their role in plant stress, especially in salinity stress management, remains unexplored. In the present study, transplastomic tobacco plants were developed by inserting the 3β-HSD, P5βR1 and P5βR2 genes. The integration of transgenes in plastomes, copy number and transgene expression at transcript and protein level in transplastomic plants were confirmed by PCR, end-to-end PCR, qRT-PCR and Western blot analysis, respectively. Subcellular localization analysis showed that 3β-HSD and P5βR1 are cytoplasmic, and P5βR2 is tonoplast-localized. Transplastomic lines showed enhanced growth in terms of biomass and chlorophyll content compared to wild type (WT) under 300 mM salt stress. Under salt stress, transplastomic lines remained greener without negative impact on shoot or root growth compared to the WT. The salt-tolerant transplastomic lines exhibited enhanced levels of a series of metabolites (sucrose, glutamate, glutamine and proline) under control and NaCl stress. Furthermore, a lower Na+/K+ ratio in transplastomic lines was also observed. The salt tolerance, mediated by plastidial expression of the 3β-HSD, P5βR1 and P5βR2 genes, could be due to the involvement in the upregulation of nitrogen assimilation, osmolytes as well as lower Na+/K+ ratio. Taken together, the plastid-based expression of the SDR genes leading to enhanced salt tolerance, which opens a window for developing saline-tolerant plants via plastid genetic engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Sameeullah
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Literature, Bolu Abant Izzet Baysal University, Bolu 14030, Turkey; (M.S.); (N.A.)
- Center for Innovative Food Technologies Development, Application and Research, Bolu Abant Izzet Baysal University, Bolu 14030, Turkey
| | - Muhammet Yildirim
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Literature, Bolu Abant Izzet Baysal University, Bolu 14030, Turkey;
| | - Noreen Aslam
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Literature, Bolu Abant Izzet Baysal University, Bolu 14030, Turkey; (M.S.); (N.A.)
| | - Mehmet Cengiz Baloğlu
- Department of Genetics and Bioengineering, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Kastamonu University, Kastamonu 14030, Turkey;
| | - Buhara Yucesan
- Department of Seed Science and Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, Bolu Abant Izzet Baysal University, Bolu 14030, Turkey;
| | - Andreas G. Lössl
- Department of Applied Plant Sciences and Plant Biotechnology (DAPP), University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences (BOKU), 1180 Vienna, Austria;
| | - Kiran Saba
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad 45320, Pakistan;
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University, Peshawar 25000, Pakistan
| | - Mohammad Tahir Waheed
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad 45320, Pakistan;
| | - Ekrem Gurel
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Literature, Bolu Abant Izzet Baysal University, Bolu 14030, Turkey; (M.S.); (N.A.)
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11
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Tropper M, Höhn S, Wolf LS, Fritsch J, Kastner-Detter N, Rieck C, Munkert J, Meitinger N, Lanig H, Kreis W. 21-Hydroxypregnane 21-O-malonylation, a crucial step in cardenolide biosynthesis, can be achieved by substrate-promiscuous BAHD-type phenolic glucoside malonyltransferases from Arabidopsis thaliana and homolog proteins from Digitalis lanata. PHYTOCHEMISTRY 2021; 187:112710. [PMID: 33930670 DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2021.112710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Revised: 02/16/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Three putative 21-hydroxypregnane 21-O-malonyltransferases (21MaT) from Digitalis lanata were partially purified. Two of them were supposed to be BAHD-type enzymes. We were unable to purify them in quantities necessary for reliable sequencing. We identified two genes in A. thaliana coding for substrate-promiscuous BAHD-type phenolic glucoside malonyltransferases (AtPMaT1, AtPMaT2) and docked various 21-hydroxypregnanes into the substrate-binding site of a homology model built on the BAHD template 2XR7 (NtMaT1 from N. tabacum). Recombinant forms of Atpmat1 and Atpmat2 were expressed in E. coli and the recombinant enzymes characterized with regard to their substrate preferences. They were shown to malonylate various 21-hydroxypregnanes. The Atpmat1 sequence was used to identify candidate genes in Digitalis lanata (Dlmat1 to Dlmat4). Dlmat1 and Dlmat2 were also expressed in E. coli and shown to possess 21-hydroxypregnane 21-O-malonyltransferase activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Tropper
- Lehrstuhl für Pharmazeutische Biologie, Department Biologie, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Staudtstraße 5, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Stephanie Höhn
- Lehrstuhl für Pharmazeutische Biologie, Department Biologie, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Staudtstraße 5, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Laura-Sophie Wolf
- Lehrstuhl für Pharmazeutische Biologie, Department Biologie, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Staudtstraße 5, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Julia Fritsch
- Lehrstuhl für Pharmazeutische Biologie, Department Biologie, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Staudtstraße 5, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Nina Kastner-Detter
- Lehrstuhl für Pharmazeutische Biologie, Department Biologie, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Staudtstraße 5, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Christoph Rieck
- Lehrstuhl für Pharmazeutische Biologie, Department Biologie, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Staudtstraße 5, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Jennifer Munkert
- Lehrstuhl für Pharmazeutische Biologie, Department Biologie, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Staudtstraße 5, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Nadine Meitinger
- Lehrstuhl für Pharmazeutische Biologie, Department Biologie, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Staudtstraße 5, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Harald Lanig
- Zentralinstitut für Scientific Computing (ZISC), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Martensstraße 5a, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Kreis
- Lehrstuhl für Pharmazeutische Biologie, Department Biologie, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Staudtstraße 5, 91058, Erlangen, Germany.
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12
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Rieck C, Geiger D, Munkert J, Messerschmidt K, Petersen J, Strasser J, Meitinger N, Kreis W. Biosynthetic approach to combine the first steps of cardenolide formation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Microbiologyopen 2019; 8:e925. [PMID: 31436030 PMCID: PMC6925150 DOI: 10.1002/mbo3.925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2019] [Revised: 07/29/2019] [Accepted: 08/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
A yeast expression plasmid was constructed containing a cardenolide biosynthetic module, referred to as CARD II, using the AssemblX toolkit, which enables the assembly of large DNA constructs. The genes cloned into the vector were (a) a Δ5‐3β‐hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase gene from Digitalis lanata, (b) a steroid Δ5‐isomerase gene from Comamonas testosteronii, (c) a mutated steroid‐5β‐reductase gene from Arabidopsis thaliana, and (d) a steroid 21‐hydroxylase gene from Mus musculus. A second plasmid bearing an ADR/ADX fusion gene from Bos taurus was also constructed. A Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain bearing these two plasmids was generated. This strain, termed “CARD II yeast”, was capable of producing 5β‐pregnane‐3β,21‐diol‐20‐one, a central intermediate in 5β‐cardenolide biosynthesis, starting from pregnenolone which was added to the culture medium. Using this approach, five consecutive steps in cardenolide biosynthesis were realized in baker's yeast.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph Rieck
- Department Biology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Daniel Geiger
- Department Biology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Jennifer Munkert
- Department Biology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | | | - Jan Petersen
- Department Biology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Juliane Strasser
- Department Biology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Nadine Meitinger
- Department Biology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Kreis
- Department Biology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
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13
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Lee HJ, Nakayasu M, Akiyama R, Kobayashi M, Miyachi H, Sugimoto Y, Umemoto N, Saito K, Muranaka T, Mizutani M. Identification of a 3β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase/ 3-Ketosteroid Reductase Involved in α-Tomatine Biosynthesis in Tomato. PLANT & CELL PHYSIOLOGY 2019; 60:1304-1315. [PMID: 30892648 DOI: 10.1093/pcp/pcz049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2018] [Accepted: 03/11/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
α-Tomatine and dehydrotomatine are major steroidal glycoalkaloids (SGAs) that accumulate in the mature green fruits, leaves and flowers of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), and function as defensive compounds against bacteria, fungi, insects and animals. The aglycone of dehydrotomatine is dehydrotomatidine (5,6-dehydrogenated tomatidine, having the Δ5,6 double bond; the dehydro-type). The aglycone of α-tomatine is tomatidine (having a single bond between C5 and C6; the dihydro-type), which is believed to be derived from dehydrotomatidine via four reaction steps: C3 oxidation, isomerization, C5 reduction and C3 reduction; however, these conversion processes remain uncharacterized. In the present study, we demonstrate that a short-chain alcohol dehydrogenase/reductase designated Sl3βHSD is involved in the conversion of dehydrotomatidine to tomatidine in tomato. Sl3βHSD1 expression was observed to be high in the flowers, leaves and mature green fruits of tomato, in which high amounts of α-tomatine are accumulated. Biochemical analysis of the recombinant Sl3βHSD1 protein revealed that Sl3βHSD1 catalyzes the C3 oxidation of dehydrotomatidine to form tomatid-4-en-3-one and also catalyzes the NADH-dependent C3 reduction of a 3-ketosteroid (tomatid-3-one) to form tomatidine. Furthermore, during co-incubation of Sl3βHSD1 with SlS5αR1 (steroid 5α-reductase) the four reaction steps converting dehydrotomatidine to tomatidine were completed. Sl3βHSD1-silenced transgenic tomato plants accumulated dehydrotomatine, with corresponding decreases in α-tomatine content. Furthermore, the constitutive expression of Sl3βHSD1 in potato hairy roots resulted in the conversion of potato SGAs to the dihydro-type SGAs. These results demonstrate that Sl3βHSD1 is a key enzyme involved in the conversion processes from dehydrotomatidine to tomatidine in α-tomatine biosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyoung Jae Lee
- Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University, Rokkoudai 1-1, Nada-ku, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Masaru Nakayasu
- Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University, Rokkoudai 1-1, Nada-ku, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Ryota Akiyama
- Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University, Rokkoudai 1-1, Nada-ku, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Midori Kobayashi
- Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University, Rokkoudai 1-1, Nada-ku, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Haruka Miyachi
- Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University, Rokkoudai 1-1, Nada-ku, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Yukihiro Sugimoto
- Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University, Rokkoudai 1-1, Nada-ku, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Naoyuki Umemoto
- RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Suehiro-cho 1-7-22, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Kazuki Saito
- RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Suehiro-cho 1-7-22, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chiba University, Inohana 1-8-1, Chuo-ku, Chiba, Japan
| | - Toshiya Muranaka
- Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, Yamadaoka 2-1, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Masaharu Mizutani
- Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University, Rokkoudai 1-1, Nada-ku, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
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14
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Schmidt K, Petersen J, Munkert J, Egerer-Sieber C, Hornig M, Muller YA, Kreis W. PRISEs (progesterone 5β-reductase and/or iridoid synthase-like 1,4-enone reductases): Catalytic and substrate promiscuity allows for realization of multiple pathways in plant metabolism. PHYTOCHEMISTRY 2018; 156:9-19. [PMID: 30172078 DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2018.08.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2018] [Revised: 08/03/2018] [Accepted: 08/17/2018] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
PRISEs (progesterone 5β-reductase and/or iridoid synthase-like 1,4-enone reductases) are involved in cardenolide and iridoid biosynthesis. We here investigated a PRISE (rAtSt5βR) from Arabidopsis thaliana, a plant producing neither cardenolides nor iridoids. The structure of rAtSt5βR was elucidated with X-ray crystallography and compared to the known structures of PRISEs from Catharanthus roseus (rCrISY) and Digitalis lanata (rDlP5βR). The three enzymes show a high degree of sequence and structure conservation in the active site. Amino acids previously considered to allow discrimination between progesterone 5β-reductase and iridoid synthase were interchanged among rAtSt5βR, rCrISY and rDlP5βR applying site-directed mutagenesis. Structural homologous substitutions had different effects, and changes in progesterone 5β-reductase and iridoid synthase activity were not correlated in all cases. Our results help to explain fortuitous emergence of metabolic pathways and product accumulation. The fact that PRISEs are found ubiquitously in spermatophytes insinuates that PRISEs might have a more general function in plant metabolism such as, for example, the detoxification of reactive carbonyl species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karin Schmidt
- Division of Biotechnology, Department of Biology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, D-91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Jan Petersen
- Division of Pharmaceutical Biology, Department of Biology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, D-91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Jennifer Munkert
- Division of Pharmaceutical Biology, Department of Biology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, D-91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Claudia Egerer-Sieber
- Division of Biotechnology, Department of Biology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, D-91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Michael Hornig
- Division of Pharmaceutical Biology, Department of Biology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, D-91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Yves A Muller
- Division of Biotechnology, Department of Biology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, D-91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Kreis
- Division of Pharmaceutical Biology, Department of Biology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, D-91058 Erlangen, Germany.
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15
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Short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase governs steroidal specialized metabolites structural diversity and toxicity in the genus Solanum. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2018; 115:E5419-E5428. [PMID: 29784829 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1804835115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Thousands of specialized, steroidal metabolites are found in a wide spectrum of plants. These include the steroidal glycoalkaloids (SGAs), produced primarily by most species of the genus Solanum, and metabolites belonging to the steroidal saponins class that are widespread throughout the plant kingdom. SGAs play a protective role in plants and have potent activity in mammals, including antinutritional effects in humans. The presence or absence of the double bond at the C-5,6 position (unsaturated and saturated, respectively) creates vast structural diversity within this metabolite class and determines the degree of SGA toxicity. For many years, the elimination of the double bond from unsaturated SGAs was presumed to occur through a single hydrogenation step. In contrast to this prior assumption, here, we show that the tomato GLYCOALKALOID METABOLISM25 (GAME25), a short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase, catalyzes the first of three prospective reactions required to reduce the C-5,6 double bond in dehydrotomatidine to form tomatidine. The recombinant GAME25 enzyme displayed 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/Δ5,4 isomerase activity not only on diverse steroidal alkaloid aglycone substrates but also on steroidal saponin aglycones. Notably, GAME25 down-regulation rerouted the entire tomato SGA repertoire toward the dehydro-SGAs branch rather than forming the typically abundant saturated α-tomatine derivatives. Overexpressing the tomato GAME25 in the tomato plant resulted in significant accumulation of α-tomatine in ripe fruit, while heterologous expression in cultivated eggplant generated saturated SGAs and atypical saturated steroidal saponin glycosides. This study demonstrates how a single scaffold modification of steroidal metabolites in plants results in extensive structural diversity and modulation of product toxicity.
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16
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Hoopes GM, Hamilton JP, Kim J, Zhao D, Wiegert-Rininger K, Crisovan E, Buell CR. Genome Assembly and Annotation of the Medicinal Plant Calotropis gigantea, a Producer of Anticancer and Antimalarial Cardenolides. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2018; 8:385-391. [PMID: 29237703 PMCID: PMC5919723 DOI: 10.1534/g3.117.300331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2017] [Accepted: 12/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Calotropis gigantea produces specialized secondary metabolites known as cardenolides, which have anticancer and antimalarial properties. Although transcriptomic studies have been conducted in other cardenolide-producing species, no nuclear genome assembly for an Asterid cardenolide-producing species has been reported to date. A high-quality de novo assembly was generated for C. gigantea, representing 157,284,427 bp with an N50 scaffold size of 805,959 bp, for which quality assessments indicated a near complete representation of the genic space. Transcriptome data in the form of RNA-sequencing libraries from a developmental tissue series was generated to aid the annotation and construction of a gene expression atlas. Using an ab initio and evidence-driven gene annotation pipeline, 18,197 high-confidence genes were annotated. Homologous and syntenic relationships between C. gigantea and other species within the Apocynaceae family confirmed previously identified evolutionary relationships, and suggest the emergence or loss of the specialized cardenolide metabolites after the divergence of the Apocynaceae subfamilies. The C. gigantea genome assembly, annotation, and RNA-sequencing data provide a novel resource to study the cardenolide biosynthesis pathway, especially for understanding the evolutionary origin of cardenolides and the engineering of cardenolide production in heterologous organisms for existing and novel pharmaceutical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Genevieve M Hoopes
- Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824
| | - John P Hamilton
- Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824
| | - Jeongwoon Kim
- Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824
| | - Dongyan Zhao
- Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824
| | | | - Emily Crisovan
- Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824
| | - C Robin Buell
- Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824
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17
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Shpakovski GV, Spivak SG, Berdichevets IN, Babak OG, Kubrak SV, Kilchevsky AV, Aralov AV, Slovokhotov IY, Shpakovski DG, Baranova EN, Khaliluev MR, Shematorova EK. A key enzyme of animal steroidogenesis can function in plants enhancing their immunity and accelerating the processes of growth and development. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2017; 17:189. [PMID: 29143658 PMCID: PMC5688476 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-017-1123-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The initial stage of the biosynthesis of steroid hormones in animals occurs in the mitochondria of steroidogenic tissues, where cytochrome P450SCC (CYP11A1) encoded by the CYP11A1 gene catalyzes the conversion of cholesterol into pregnenolone - the general precursor of all the steroid hormones, starting with progesterone. This stage is missing in plants where mitochondrial cytochromes P450 (the mito CYP clan) have not been found. Generating transgenic plants with a mitochondrial type P450 from animals would offer an interesting option to verify whether plant mitochondria could serve as another site of P450 monooxygenase reaction for the steroid hormones biosynthesis. RESULTS For a more detailed comparison of steroidogenic systems of Plantae and Animalia, we have created and studied transgenic tobacco and tomato plants efficiently expressing mammalian CYP11A1 cDNA. The detailed phenotypic characterization of plants obtained has shown that through four generations studied, the transgenic tobacco plants have reduced a period of vegetative development (early flowering and maturation of bolls), enlarged biomass and increased productivity (quantity and quality of seeds) as compared to the only empty-vector containing or wild type plants. Moreover, the CYP11A1 transgenic plants show resistance to such fungal pathogen as Botrytis cinerea. Similar valuable phenotypes (the accelerated course of ontogenesis and/or stress resistance) are also visible in two clearly distinct transgenic tomato lines expressing CYP11A1 cDNA: one line (No. 4) has an accelerated rate of vegetative development, while the other (No. 7) has enhanced immunity to abiotic and biotic stresses. The progesterone level in transgenic tobacco and tomato leaves is 3-5 times higher than in the control plants of the wild type. CONCLUSIONS For the first time, we could show the compatibility in vivo of even the most specific components of the systems of biosynthesis of steroid hormones in Plantae and Animalia. The hypothesis is proposed and substantiated that the formation of the above-noted special phenotypes of transgenic plants expressing mammalian CYP11A1 cDNA is due to the increased biosynthesis of progesterone that can be considered as a very ancient bioregulator of plant cells and the first real hormone common to plants and animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- George V Shpakovski
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.
| | - Svetlana G Spivak
- Institute of Genetics and Cytology, National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, Minsk, Belarus
- Belarusian State Medical University, Minsk, Belarus
| | - Irina N Berdichevets
- Institute of Genetics and Cytology, National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, Minsk, Belarus
- Timiryazev Institute of Plant Physiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Olga G Babak
- Institute of Genetics and Cytology, National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, Minsk, Belarus
| | - Svetlana V Kubrak
- Institute of Genetics and Cytology, National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, Minsk, Belarus
| | - Alexander V Kilchevsky
- Institute of Genetics and Cytology, National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, Minsk, Belarus
| | - Andrey V Aralov
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Ivan Yu Slovokhotov
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Dmitry G Shpakovski
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | | | - Marat R Khaliluev
- All-Russia Research Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology, Moscow, Russia
- Russian State Agrarian University - Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy, Moscow, Russia
| | - Elena K Shematorova
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
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18
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Pandey A, Swarnkar V, Pandey T, Srivastava P, Kanojiya S, Mishra DK, Tripathi V. Transcriptome and Metabolite analysis reveal candidate genes of the cardiac glycoside biosynthetic pathway from Calotropis procera. Sci Rep 2016; 6:34464. [PMID: 27703261 PMCID: PMC5050527 DOI: 10.1038/srep34464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2015] [Accepted: 09/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Calotropis procera is a medicinal plant of immense importance due to its pharmaceutical active components, especially cardiac glycosides (CG). As genomic resources for this plant are limited, the genes involved in CG biosynthetic pathway remain largely unknown till date. Our study on stage and tissue specific metabolite accumulation showed that CG's were maximally accumulated in stems of 3 month old seedlings. De novo transcriptome sequencing of same was done using high throughput Illumina HiSeq platform generating 44074 unigenes with average mean length of 1785 base pair. Around 66.6% of unigenes were annotated by using various public databases and 5324 unigenes showed significant match in the KEGG database involved in 133 different pathways of plant metabolism. Further KEGG analysis resulted in identification of 336 unigenes involved in cardenolide biosynthesis. Tissue specific expression analysis of 30 putative transcripts involved in terpenoid, steroid and cardenolide pathways showed a positive correlation between metabolite and transcript accumulation. Wound stress elevated CG levels as well the levels of the putative transcripts involved in its biosynthetic pathways. This result further validated the involvement of identified transcripts in CGs biosynthesis. The identified transcripts will lay a substantial foundation for further research on metabolic engineering and regulation of cardiac glycosides biosynthesis pathway genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akansha Pandey
- Botany division, CSIR-CDRI, Sector 10, Jankipuram Extension, Sitapur Road, Lucknow 226031, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Vishakha Swarnkar
- Botany division, CSIR-CDRI, Sector 10, Jankipuram Extension, Sitapur Road, Lucknow 226031, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Tushar Pandey
- Botany division, CSIR-CDRI, Sector 10, Jankipuram Extension, Sitapur Road, Lucknow 226031, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Piush Srivastava
- Botany division, CSIR-CDRI, Sector 10, Jankipuram Extension, Sitapur Road, Lucknow 226031, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Sanjeev Kanojiya
- Sophisticated Analytical Instrument Facility, CSIR-CDRI, Sector 10, Jankipuram Extension, Sitapur Road, Lucknow 226031, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Dipak Kumar Mishra
- Botany division, CSIR-CDRI, Sector 10, Jankipuram Extension, Sitapur Road, Lucknow 226031, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Vineeta Tripathi
- Botany division, CSIR-CDRI, Sector 10, Jankipuram Extension, Sitapur Road, Lucknow 226031, Uttar Pradesh, India
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19
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Meitinger N, Munkert J, Maia de Pádua R, de Souza Filho JD, Maid H, Bauer W, Braga FC, Kreis W. The catalytic mechanism of the 3-ketosteroid isomerase of Digitalis lanata involves an intramolecular proton transfer and the activity is not associated with the 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity. Tetrahedron Lett 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tetlet.2016.02.099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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20
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Lindemann P. Steroidogenesis in plants--Biosynthesis and conversions of progesterone and other pregnane derivatives. Steroids 2015; 103:145-52. [PMID: 26282543 DOI: 10.1016/j.steroids.2015.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2014] [Revised: 07/03/2015] [Accepted: 08/06/2015] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
In plants androstanes, estranes, pregnanes and corticoids have been described. Sometimes 17β-estradiol, androsterone, testosterone or progesterone were summarized as sex hormones. These steroids influence plant development: cell divisions, root and shoot growth, embryo growth, flowering, pollen tube growth and callus proliferation. First reports on the effect of applicated substances and of their endogenous occurrence date from the early twenties of the last century. This caused later on doubts on the identity of the compounds. Best investigated is the effect of progesterone. Main steps of the progesterone biosynthetic pathway have been analyzed in Digitalis. Cholesterol-side-chain-cleavage, pregnenolone and progesterone formation as well as the stereospecific reduction of progesterone are described and the corresponding enzymes are presented. Biosynthesis of androstanes, estranes and corticoids is discussed. Possible progesterone receptors and physiological reactions on progesterone application are reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Lindemann
- Institut für Pharmazie, Martin-Luther Universität Halle/Wittenberg, Hoher Weg 8, 06120 Halle, Germany.
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21
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Petersen J, Lanig H, Munkert J, Bauer P, Müller-Uri F, Kreis W. Progesterone 5β-reductases/iridoid synthases (PRISE): gatekeeper role of highly conserved phenylalanines in substrate preference and trapping is supported by molecular dynamics simulations. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2015; 34:1667-80. [DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2015.1088797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jan Petersen
- Department Biologie, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Staudtstr. 5, D-91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Harald Lanig
- ZISC, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Martensstr. 5a, D-91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Jennifer Munkert
- Department Biologie, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Staudtstr. 5, D-91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Peter Bauer
- Bionorica SE, Kerschensterinerstr. 11-15, D-92318 Neumarkt, Germany
| | - Frieder Müller-Uri
- Department Biologie, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Staudtstr. 5, D-91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Kreis
- Department Biologie, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Staudtstr. 5, D-91058 Erlangen, Germany
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22
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Meitinger N, Geiger D, Augusto TW, Maia de Pádua R, Kreis W. Purification of Δ(5)-3-ketosteroid isomerase from Digitalis lanata. PHYTOCHEMISTRY 2015; 109:6-13. [PMID: 25468533 DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2014.10.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2014] [Revised: 10/13/2014] [Accepted: 10/20/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
The isomerization of 5-pregnene-3,20-dione into 4-pregnene-3,20-dione was investigated to shed further light on cardenolide biosynthesis and to characterize the enzymes involved in cardenolide formation. It was shown that the Δ(5)-3-ketosteroid isomerase of Digitalis lanata, which catalyzes this isomerization, is an individual enzyme and not, as previously thought, associated with Δ(5)-3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. The enzyme was purified by fractionated ammonium sulfate precipitation, hydrophobic interaction chromatography and gel filtration. The purification protocol resulted in a 68.1-fold enriched specific enzyme activity with a yield of 2.2%. After an additional chromatofocusing step the 3KSI activity appeared as a single protein band at 17kDa in SDS-PAGE. Plant 3KSI displayed similar properties to microbial 3-ketosteroid isomerases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadine Meitinger
- Friedrich-Alexander-Universität, Lehrstuhl für Pharmazeutische Biologie, Staudtstr. 5, D-91058 Erlangen, Germany.
| | - Daniel Geiger
- Friedrich-Alexander-Universität, Lehrstuhl für Pharmazeutische Biologie, Staudtstr. 5, D-91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Thierry W Augusto
- Friedrich-Alexander-Universität, Lehrstuhl für Pharmazeutische Biologie, Staudtstr. 5, D-91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Rodrigo Maia de Pádua
- Friedrich-Alexander-Universität, Lehrstuhl für Pharmazeutische Biologie, Staudtstr. 5, D-91058 Erlangen, Germany; Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, 31270-010 Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Wolfgang Kreis
- Friedrich-Alexander-Universität, Lehrstuhl für Pharmazeutische Biologie, Staudtstr. 5, D-91058 Erlangen, Germany
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Ludwig B, Geib D, Haas C, Steingroewer J, Bley T, Muffler K, Ulber R. Whole-cell biotransformation of oleanolic acid by free and immobilized cells ofNocardia iowensis: Characterization of new metabolites. Eng Life Sci 2014. [DOI: 10.1002/elsc.201400121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Ludwig
- Institute of Bioprocess Engineering; University of Kaiserslautern; Kaiserslautern Germany
| | - Doris Geib
- Institute of Bioprocess Engineering; University of Kaiserslautern; Kaiserslautern Germany
| | - Christiane Haas
- Institute of Food Technology and Bioprocess Engineering; TU Dresden; Dresden Germany
| | - Juliane Steingroewer
- Institute of Food Technology and Bioprocess Engineering; TU Dresden; Dresden Germany
| | - Thomas Bley
- Institute of Food Technology and Bioprocess Engineering; TU Dresden; Dresden Germany
| | - Kai Muffler
- Department of Life Sciences and Engineering; University of Applied Sciences Bingen; Bingen Germany
| | - Roland Ulber
- Institute of Bioprocess Engineering; University of Kaiserslautern; Kaiserslautern Germany
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Comprehensive analysis of alternative splicing in Digitalis purpurea by strand-specific RNA-Seq. PLoS One 2014; 9:e106001. [PMID: 25167195 PMCID: PMC4148352 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0106001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2014] [Accepted: 07/25/2014] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Digitalis purpurea (D. purpurea) is one of the most important medicinal plants and is well known in the treatment of heart failure because of the cardiac glycosides that are its main active compounds. However, in the absence of strand specific sequencing information, the post-transcriptional mechanism of gene regulation in D. purpurea thus far remains unknown. In this study, a strand-specific RNA-Seq library was constructed and sequenced using Illumina HiSeq platforms to characterize the transcriptome of D. purpurea with a focus on alternative splicing (AS) events and the effect of AS on protein domains. De novo RNA-Seq assembly resulted in 48,475 genes. Based on the assembled transcripts, we reported a list of 3,265 AS genes, including 5,408 AS events in D. purpurea. Interestingly, both glycosyltransferases and monooxygenase, which were involved in the biosynthesis of cardiac glycosides, are regulated by AS. A total of 2,422 AS events occurred in coding regions, and 959 AS events were located in the regions of 882 unique protein domains, which could affect protein function. This D. purpurea transcriptome study substantially increased the expressed sequence resource and presented a better understanding of post-transcriptional regulation to further facilitate the medicinal applications of D. purpurea for human health.
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25
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Munkert J, Ernst M, Müller-Uri F, Kreis W. Identification and stress-induced expression of three 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases from Erysimum crepidifolium Rchb. and their putative role in cardenolide biosynthesis. PHYTOCHEMISTRY 2014; 100:26-33. [PMID: 24512841 DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2014.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2013] [Revised: 11/05/2013] [Accepted: 01/15/2014] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
3β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases (3βHSD) are supposed to be involved in cardenolide biosynthesis in plants. Erysimum crepidifolium Rchb., a member of the Brassicaceae accumulating cardenolides, is a close relative to Arabidopsis thaliana. Full length cDNAs encoding for three individual 3βHSDs (EcHSD1, EcHSD2, EcHSD3) were isolated from E. crepidifolium leaves. EcHSD1 and EcHSD2 encode proteins assembled from 257 amino acids whereas EcHSD3 encodes a protein assembled from 260 amino acids. All three proteins qualify as members of the short-chain dehydrogenases/reductases family of proteins (SDRs). EcHSD1 and EcHSD2 shared a high amino acid sequence identity of about 86% and 91% with putative 3βHSDs of A. thaliana (AT2G47140 and AT2G47130). EcHSD3 showed high homology to the A. thaliana SDRs AT2G47150 (74%) and AT2G47120 (81%). All three EcHSD genes were expressed in Escherichia coli and the recombinant enzymes were characterized biochemically. All three recombinant EcHSDs catalyzed the dehydrogenation of pregnenolone and the 3-reduction of 5α/β-pregnane-3,20-dione when NAD and NADH were used as cosubstrates, respectively. After exposure to different stress conditions, no increased transcription was seen for EcHSD1 whereas EcHSD2 was expressed four times higher under osmotic stress than under control conditions. EcHSD3 expression was 10 times and 6 times higher after osmotic stress and MeJA treatment, respectively, than in controls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Munkert
- Pharmaceutical Biology, Department Biology, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Staudtstr. 5, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Mona Ernst
- Pharmaceutical Biology, Department Biology, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Staudtstr. 5, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Frieder Müller-Uri
- Pharmaceutical Biology, Department Biology, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Staudtstr. 5, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Kreis
- Pharmaceutical Biology, Department Biology, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Staudtstr. 5, 91058 Erlangen, Germany; ECROPS Erlangen Center of Plant Science, Germany.
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26
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Wu B, Li Y, Yan H, Ma Y, Luo H, Yuan L, Chen S, Lu S. Comprehensive transcriptome analysis reveals novel genes involved in cardiac glycoside biosynthesis and mlncRNAs associated with secondary metabolism and stress response in Digitalis purpurea. BMC Genomics 2012; 13:15. [PMID: 22233149 PMCID: PMC3269984 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-13-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2011] [Accepted: 01/10/2012] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract Conclusions Through comprehensive transcriptome analysis, we not only identified 29 novel gene families potentially involved in the biosynthesis of cardiac glycosides but also characterized a large number of mlncRNAs. Our results suggest the importance of mlncRNAs in secondary metabolism and stress response in D. purpurea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Wu
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, No,151, Malianwa North Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100193, China
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27
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Munkert J, Bauer P, Burda E, Müller-Uri F, Kreis W. Progesterone 5β-reductase of Erysimum crepidifolium: cDNA cloning, expression in Escherichia coli, and reduction of enones with the recombinant protein. PHYTOCHEMISTRY 2011; 72:1710-1717. [PMID: 21767854 DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2011.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2011] [Revised: 05/20/2011] [Accepted: 06/22/2011] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Erysimum is a genus of the Brassicaceae family closely related to the genus Arabidopsis. Several Erysimum species accumulate 5β-cardenolides. Progesterone 5β-reductases (P5βRs) first described in Digitalis species are thought to be involved in 5β-cardenolide biosynthesis. P5βRs belong to the dehydrogenase/reductase super-family of proteins. A full length cDNA clone encoding a P5βR was isolated from Erysimum crepidifolium leaves by 5'/3' RACE-PCR (termed EcP5βR). Subsequently, the P5βR cDNAs of another nine Erysimum species were amplified by RT-PCR using 5' and 3' end primers deduced from the EcP5βR cDNA. The EcP5βR cDNA is 1170bp long and encodes for 389 amino acids. The EcP5βR cDNA was ligated into the vector pQE 30 UA and the recombinant His-tagged protein (termed rEcP5βR) was over-expressed in Escherichia coli and purified by Ni-chelate affinity chromatography. Kinetic constants were determined for progesterone, 2-cyclohexen-1-one, isophorone, and NADPH. The by far highest specificity constant (k(cat)K(M)⁻¹) was estimated for 2-cyclohexen-1-one indicating that this monocyclic enone may be more related to the natural substrate of the enzyme than progesterone. The atomic structure of rEcP5βR was modelled using the crystal structure of P5βR from Digitalis lanata 2V6G as the template. All sequence motifs specific for SDRs as well as the NFYYxxED motif typical for P5βR-like enzymes were present and the protein sequence fitted into the template smoothly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Munkert
- Lehrstuhl für Pharmazeutische Biologie, Department Biologie, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Staudtstr. 5, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
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28
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Hunter AC, Collins C, Dodd HT, Dedi C, Koussoroplis SJ. Transformation of a series of saturated isomeric steroidal diols by Aspergillus tamarii KITA reveals a precise stereochemical requirement for entrance into the lactonization pathway. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2010; 122:352-8. [PMID: 20832471 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2010.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2010] [Revised: 08/12/2010] [Accepted: 08/31/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Four isomers of 5α-androstan-3,17-diol have been transformed by the filamentous fungus Aspergillus tamarii, an organism which has the ability to convert progesterone to testololactone in high yield through an endogenous four step enzymatic pathway. The only diol handled within the lactonization pathway was 5α-androstan-3α,17β-diol which, uniquely underwent oxidation of the 17β-alcohol to the 17-ketone prior to its Baeyer-Villiger oxidation and the subsequent production of 3α-hydroxy-17a-oxa-D-homo-5α-androstan-17-one. This demonstrated highly specific stereochemical requirements of the 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase for oxidation of this specific steroidal diol to occur. In contrast, the other three diols were transformed within the hydroxylation pathway resulting in functionalization at C-11β. Only 5α-androstan-3β,17α-diol could bind to the hydroxylase in multiple binding modes undergoing monohydroxylation in 6β and 7β positions. Evidence from this study has indicated that hydroxylation of saturated steroidal lactones may occur following binding of ring-D in its open form in which an α-alcohol is generated with close spatial parity to the C-17α hydroxyl position. All metabolites were isolated by column chromatography and were identified by (1)H, (13)C NMR and DEPT analysis and further characterized using infra-red, elemental analysis and accurate mass measurement.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Christy Hunter
- Molecular Targeting and Polymer Toxicology Group, School of Pharmacy, The Huxley Biosciences Building, University of Brighton, East Sussex BN2 4GJ, UK.
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29
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Biosynthesis of ursolic acid derivatives by microbial metabolism of ursolic acid with Nocardia sp. strains—Proposal of new biosynthetic pathways. Process Biochem 2010. [DOI: 10.1016/j.procbio.2010.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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30
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Pérez-Bermúdez P, García AAM, Tuñón I, Gavidia I. Digitalis purpurea P5 beta R2, encoding steroid 5 beta-reductase, is a novel defense-related gene involved in cardenolide biosynthesis. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2010; 185:687-700. [PMID: 19895417 DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2009.03080.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
The stereospecific 5 beta-reduction of progesterone is a required step for cardiac glycoside biosynthesis in foxglove plants. Recently, we have isolated the gene P5 beta R, and here we investigate the function and regulation of P5 beta R2, a new progesterone 5 beta-reductase gene from Digitalis purpurea. P5 beta R2 cDNA was isolated from a D. purpurea cDNA library and further characterized at the biochemical, structural and physiological levels. Like P5 beta R, P5 beta R2 catalyzes the 5 beta-reduction of the Delta(4) double bond of several steroids and is present in all plant organs. Under stress conditions or on treatment with chemical elicitors, P5 beta R expression does not vary, whereas P5 beta R2 is highly responsive. P5 beta R2 expression is regulated by ethylene and hydrogen peroxide. The correlation between P5 beta R2 expression and cardenolide formation demonstrates the key role of this gene in cardenolide biosynthesis, and therefore in the chemical defense of foxglove plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Pérez-Bermúdez
- Department of Plant Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Valencia, 46100 Burjassot, Spain
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Schebitz P, Nothdurft L, Hensel A, Müller-Uri F, Kreis W. Norcholanic acids as substrates for recombinant 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and progesterone 5β-reductase, enzymes of the 5β-cardenolide biosynthesis. Tetrahedron Lett 2010. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tetlet.2009.11.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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32
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Ohnishi T, Yokota T, Mizutani M. Insights into the function and evolution of P450s in plant steroid metabolism. PHYTOCHEMISTRY 2009; 70:1918-29. [PMID: 19818976 DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2009.09.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2009] [Accepted: 09/15/2009] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Numerous cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (P450s) have been known to be involved in the biosynthesis and metabolism of triterpenoids and steroids. This review will survey the oxidative reactions by such P450s and provide insights into the evolution of the steroid-biosynthetic P450 genes in the plant kingdom. Special emphasis is placed on brassinosteroids (BRs), plant steroid hormones, that play essential roles in the regulation of plant growth and development. Several P450s involved in BR biosynthesis and catabolism have recently been characterized by recombinant protein experiments, revealing a new route of the BR biosynthetic pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toshiyuki Ohnishi
- Division of Global Research Leaders, Shizuoka University, 836 Ohya, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka 422-8529, Japan
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