1
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Qian L, Mohanty P, Jayaraman A, Mittal J, Zhu X. Specific residues and conformational plasticity define the substrate specificity of short-chain dehydrogenases/reductases. J Biol Chem 2024; 300:105596. [PMID: 38145745 PMCID: PMC10827548 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.105596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Short-chain dehydrogenases/reductases (SDRs) are one of the most prevalent enzyme families distributed among the sequenced microorganisms. Despite the presence of a conserved catalytic tetrad and high structural similarity, these enzymes exhibit different substrate specificities. The insufficient knowledge regarding the amino acids underlying substrate specificity hinders the understanding of the SDRs' roles in diverse and significant biological processes. Here, we performed bioinformatic analysis, molecular modeling, and mutagenesis studies to identify the key residues that regulate the substrate specificities of two homologous microbial SDRs (i.e., DesE and KduD). Further, we investigated the impact of altering the physicochemical properties of these amino acids on enzyme activity. Interestingly, molecular dynamics simulations also suggest a critical role of enzyme conformational flexibility in substrate recognition and catalysis. Overall, our findings improve the understanding of microbial SDR substrate specificity and shed light on future rational design of more efficient and effective biocatalysts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liangyu Qian
- Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, USA
| | - Priyesh Mohanty
- Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, USA
| | - Arul Jayaraman
- Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, USA
| | - Jeetain Mittal
- Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, USA; Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, USA; Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Genetics and Genomics, Texas A&M University, College Station, USA
| | - Xuejun Zhu
- Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, USA; Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Genetics and Genomics, Texas A&M University, College Station, USA.
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2
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Liu J, Liang P. Complexation and evolution of cis-prenyltransferase homologues in Cinnamomum kanehirae deduced from kinetic and functional characterizations. Protein Sci 2023; 32:e4828. [PMID: 37916302 PMCID: PMC10661081 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
Eukaryotic dehydrodolichyl diphosphate synthases (DHDDSs), cis-prenyltransferases (cis-PTs) synthesizing precursors of dolichols to mediate glycoprotein biosynthesis require partners, for eample Nus1 in yeast and NgBR in animals, which are cis-PTs homologues without activity but to boost the DHDDSs activity. Unlike animals, plants have multiple cis-PT homologues to pair or stand alone to produce various chain-length products with less known physiological roles. We chose Cinnamomum kanehirae, a tree that contains two DHDDS-like and three NgBR-like proteins from genome analysis, and found that one DHDDS-like protein acted as a homodimeric cis-PT to make a medium-chain C55 product, while the other formed heterodimeric complexes with either one of two NgBR homologues to produce longer-chain products. Both complexes were functional to complement the growth defect of the yeast rer2 deficient strain at a higher temperature. From the roles for the polyprenol and dolichol biosynthesis and sequence motifs, their homologues in various species were compared to reveal their possible evolutionary paths.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia‐Jin Liu
- Institute of Biochemical SciencesNational Taiwan UniversityTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Po‐Huang Liang
- Institute of Biochemical SciencesNational Taiwan UniversityTaipeiTaiwan
- Institute of Biological ChemistryAcademia SinicaTaipeiTaiwan
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3
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Kortbeek RWJ, Galland MD, Muras A, Therezan R, Maia S, Haring MA, Schuurink RC, Bleeker PM. Genetic and physiological requirements for high-level sesquiterpene-production in tomato glandular trichomes. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1139274. [PMID: 36938050 PMCID: PMC10020594 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1139274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Type-VI glandular trichomes of wild tomato Solanum habrochaites PI127826 produce high levels of the sesquiterpene 7-epizingiberene and its derivatives, making the plant repellent and toxic to several pest insects and pathogens. How wild tomato trichomes achieve such high terpene production is still largely unknown. Here we show that a cross (F1) with a cultivated tomato produced only minute levels of 7-epizingiberene. In the F2-progeny, selected for the presence of the 7-epizingiberene biosynthesis genes, only three percent produced comparable amounts the wild parent, indicating this trait is recessive and multigenic. Moreover, trichome density alone did not explain the total levels of terpene levels found on the leaves. We selected F2 plants with the "high-production active-trichome phenotype" of PI127826, having trichomes producing about 150 times higher levels of terpenes than F2 individuals that displayed a "low-production lazy-trichome phenotype". Terpene quantities in trichomes of these F2 plants correlated with the volume of the storage cavity and shape of the gland. We found that trichome morphology is not a predetermined characteristic, but cavity volume rather depended on gland-cell metabolic activity. Inhibitor assays showed that the plastidial-precursor pathway (MEP) is fundamental for high-level production of both cytosolic as well as plastid-derived terpenes in tomato trichomes. Additionally, gene expression profiles of isolated secretory cells showed that key enzymes in the MEP pathway were higher expressed in active trichomes. We conclude that the MEP pathway is the primary precursor-supply route in wild tomato type-VI trichomes and that the high-production phenotype of the wild tomato trichome is indeed a multigenic trait.
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4
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Kutsukawa R, Imaizumi R, Suenaga‐Hiromori M, Takeshita K, Sakai N, Misawa S, Yamamoto M, Yamaguchi H, Miyagi‐Inoue Y, Waki T, Kataoka K, Nakayama T, Yamashita S, Takahashi S. Structure‐based engineering of a short‐chain
cis
‐prenyltransferase to biosynthesize nonnatural all‐
cis
‐polyisoprenoids: molecular mechanisms for primer substrate recognition and ultimate product chain‐length determination. FEBS J 2022; 289:4602-4621. [DOI: 10.1111/febs.16392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2021] [Revised: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Ryo Kutsukawa
- Graduate School of Engineering Tohoku University Sendai Japan
| | - Riki Imaizumi
- Department of Material Chemistry Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology Kanazawa University Japan
| | | | | | | | - Shuto Misawa
- Department of Material Chemistry Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology Kanazawa University Japan
| | | | | | | | - Toshiyuki Waki
- Graduate School of Engineering Tohoku University Sendai Japan
| | - Kunishige Kataoka
- Department of Material Chemistry Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology Kanazawa University Japan
| | - Toru Nakayama
- Graduate School of Engineering Tohoku University Sendai Japan
| | - Satoshi Yamashita
- Department of Material Chemistry Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology Kanazawa University Japan
| | - Seiji Takahashi
- Graduate School of Engineering Tohoku University Sendai Japan
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5
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Zhang J, Wang X, Zhang X, Zhang Y, Wang F, Li X. Sesquiterpene Synthase Engineering and Targeted Engineering of α-Santalene Overproduction in Escherichia coli. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2022; 70:5377-5385. [PMID: 35465671 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.2c00754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
As a natural sesquiterpene compound with numerous biological activities, α-santalene has extensive applications in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. Although several α-santalene-producing microbial strains have been constructed, low productivity still hampers large-scale fermentation. Herein, we present a case of engineered sesquiterpene biosynthesis where the insufficient downstream pathway capacity limited high-level α-santalene production in Escherichia coli. The initial strain was constructed, and it produced 6.4 mg/L α-santalene. To increase α-santalene biosynthesis, we amplified the flux toward farnesyl diphosphate (FPP) precursor by screening and choosing the right FPP synthase and reprogrammed the rate-limiting downstream pathway by generating mutations in santalene synthase (Clausena lansium; ClSS). Santalene synthase was engineered by site-directed mutagenesis, resulting in the improved soluble expression of ClSS and an α-santalene titer of 887.5 mg/L; the α-santalene titer reached 1078.8 mg/L after adding a fusion tag to ClSS. The most productive pathway, which included combining precursor flux amplification and mutant synthases, conferred an approximate 169-fold increase in α-santalene levels. Maximum titers of 1272 and 2916 mg/L were achieved under shake flask and fed-batch fermentation, respectively, and were among the highest levels reported using E. coli as the host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Zhang
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
| | - Xun Wang
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
| | - Xinyi Zhang
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
| | - Fei Wang
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
| | - Xun Li
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
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6
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Fiesel PD, Parks HM, Last RL, Barry CS. Fruity, sticky, stinky, spicy, bitter, addictive, and deadly: evolutionary signatures of metabolic complexity in the Solanaceae. Nat Prod Rep 2022; 39:1438-1464. [PMID: 35332352 DOI: 10.1039/d2np00003b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Covering: 2000-2022Plants collectively synthesize a huge repertoire of metabolites. General metabolites, also referred to as primary metabolites, are conserved across the plant kingdom and are required for processes essential to growth and development. These include amino acids, sugars, lipids, and organic acids. In contrast, specialized metabolites, historically termed secondary metabolites, are structurally diverse, exhibit lineage-specific distribution and provide selective advantage to host species to facilitate reproduction and environmental adaptation. Due to their potent bioactivities, plant specialized metabolites attract considerable attention for use as flavorings, fragrances, pharmaceuticals, and bio-pesticides. The Solanaceae (Nightshade family) consists of approximately 2700 species and includes crops of significant economic, cultural, and scientific importance: these include potato, tomato, pepper, eggplant, tobacco, and petunia. The Solanaceae has emerged as a model family for studying the biochemical evolution of plant specialized metabolism and multiple examples exist of lineage-specific metabolites that influence the senses and physiology of commensal and harmful organisms, including humans. These include, alcohols, phenylpropanoids, and carotenoids that contribute to fruit aroma and color in tomato (fruity), glandular trichome-derived terpenoids and acylsugars that contribute to plant defense (stinky & sticky, respectively), capsaicinoids in chilli-peppers that influence seed dispersal (spicy), and steroidal glycoalkaloids (bitter) from Solanum, nicotine (addictive) from tobacco, as well as tropane alkaloids (deadly) from Deadly Nightshade that deter herbivory. Advances in genomics and metabolomics, coupled with the adoption of comparative phylogenetic approaches, resulted in deeper knowledge of the biosynthesis and evolution of these metabolites. This review highlights recent progress in this area and outlines opportunities for - and challenges of-developing a more comprehensive understanding of Solanaceae metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul D Fiesel
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Hannah M Parks
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Robert L Last
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.,Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Cornelius S Barry
- Department of Horticulture, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.
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7
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Sun C, Zhang R, Xie C. Biosynthesis of (
R
)‐(+)‐perillyl alcohol by
Escherichia coli
expressing neryl pyrophosphate synthase. Eng Life Sci 2022; 22:407-416. [PMID: 35573132 PMCID: PMC9077825 DOI: 10.1002/elsc.202100135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Revised: 12/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
(R)‐(+)‐perillyl alcohol is widely used in agricultural and anticarcinogenic fields. Microbial production of (R)‐(+)‐perillyl alcohol was investigated in this study. We optimized biosynthesis of (R)‐(+)‐perillyl alcohol in Escherichia coli by using neryl pyrophosphate synthase and NADPH regeneration. Engineering neryl pyrophosphate (NPP)‐supplied pathway resulted in a 4‐fold improvement of (R)‐(+)‐perillyl alcohol titer. Subsequently, combined engineering of p‐cymene monooxygenase (CymA) expression and module for NADPH regeneration exhibited a 15.4‐fold increase of titer over the initial strain S02. Finally, 453 mg/L (R)‐(+)‐perillyl alcohol was achieved in fed‐batch fermentation, which is the highest (R)‐(+)‐perillyl alcohol titer in E. coli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Sun
- State Key Laboratory Base of Eco‐Chemical Engineering, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering Qingdao University of Science and Technology Qingdao P. R. China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Bio‐based Materials Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences Qingdao P. R. China
| | - Rubing Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Bio‐based Materials Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences Qingdao P. R. China
| | - Congxia Xie
- State Key Laboratory Base of Eco‐Chemical Engineering, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering Qingdao University of Science and Technology Qingdao P. R. China
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8
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Therezan R, Kortbeek R, Vendemiatti E, Legarrea S, de Alencar SM, Schuurink RC, Bleeker P, Peres LEP. Introgression of the sesquiterpene biosynthesis from Solanum habrochaites to cultivated tomato offers insights into trichome morphology and arthropod resistance. PLANTA 2021; 254:11. [PMID: 34160697 PMCID: PMC8222033 DOI: 10.1007/s00425-021-03651-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 05/29/2021] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Cultivated tomatoes harboring the plastid-derived sesquiterpenes from S. habrochaites have altered type-VI trichome morphology and unveil additional genetic components necessary for piercing-sucking pest resistance. Arthropod resistance in the tomato wild relative Solanum habrochaites LA1777 is linked to specific sesquiterpene biosynthesis. The Sesquiterpene synthase 2 (SsT2) gene cluster on LA1777 chromosome 8 controls plastid-derived sesquiterpene synthesis. The main genes at SsT2 are Z-prenyltransferase (zFPS) and Santalene and Bergamotene Synthase (SBS), which produce α-santalene, β-bergamotene, and α-bergamotene in LA1777 round-shaped type-VI glandular trichomes. Cultivated tomatoes have mushroom-shaped type-VI trichomes with much smaller glands that contain low levels of monoterpenes and cytosolic-derived sesquiterpenes, not presenting the same pest resistance as in LA1777. We successfully transferred zFPS and SBS from LA1777 to cultivated tomato (cv. Micro-Tom, MT) by a backcrossing approach. The trichomes of the MT-Sst2 introgressed line produced high levels of the plastid-derived sesquiterpenes. The type-VI trichome internal storage-cavity size increased in MT-Sst2, probably as an effect of the increased amount of sesquiterpenes, although it was not enough to mimic the round-shaped LA1777 trichomes. The presence of high amounts of plastid-derived sesquiterpenes was also not sufficient to confer resistance to various tomato piercing-sucking pests, indicating that the effect of the sesquiterpenes found in the wild S. habrochaites can be insect specific. Our results provide for a better understanding of the morphology of S. habrochaites type-VI trichomes and paves the way to obtain insect-resistant tomatoes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo Therezan
- Department of Biological Sciences, "Luiz de Queiroz" College of Agriculture, Laboratory of Plant Developmental Genetics, University of Sao Paulo, Piracicaba, SP, 13418-900, Brazil
- Department of Plant Physiology, Green Life Science Research Cluster, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ruy Kortbeek
- Department of Plant Physiology, Green Life Science Research Cluster, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Eloisa Vendemiatti
- Department of Biological Sciences, "Luiz de Queiroz" College of Agriculture, Laboratory of Plant Developmental Genetics, University of Sao Paulo, Piracicaba, SP, 13418-900, Brazil
| | - Saioa Legarrea
- Molecular and Chemical Ecology, Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, PO Box 94240, 1090 GE, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Severino M de Alencar
- Department of Agri-Food Industry, Food and Nutrition, "Luiz de Queiroz" College of Agriculture, University of Sao Paulo, Piracicaba, SP, 13418-900, Brazil
| | - Robert C Schuurink
- Department of Plant Physiology, Green Life Science Research Cluster, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Petra Bleeker
- Department of Plant Physiology, Green Life Science Research Cluster, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Lázaro E P Peres
- Department of Biological Sciences, "Luiz de Queiroz" College of Agriculture, Laboratory of Plant Developmental Genetics, University of Sao Paulo, Piracicaba, SP, 13418-900, Brazil.
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9
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Okada M, Unno H, Emi KI, Matsumoto M, Hemmi H. A versatile cis-prenyltransferase from Methanosarcina mazei catalyzes both C- and O-prenylations. J Biol Chem 2021; 296:100679. [PMID: 33872599 PMCID: PMC8131916 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.100679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2020] [Revised: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Polyprenyl groups, products of isoprenoid metabolism, are utilized in peptidoglycan biosynthesis, protein N-glycosylation, and other processes. These groups are formed by cis-prenyltransferases, which use allylic prenyl pyrophosphates as prenyl-donors to catalyze the C-prenylation of the general acceptor substrate, isopentenyl pyrophosphate. Repetition of this reaction forms (Z,E-mixed)-polyprenyl pyrophosphates, which are converted later into glycosyl carrier lipids, such as undecaprenyl phosphate and dolichyl phosphate. MM_0014 from the methanogenic archaeon Methanosarcina mazei is known as a versatile cis-prenyltransferase that accepts both isopentenyl pyrophosphate and dimethylallyl pyrophosphate as acceptor substrates. To learn more about this enzyme’s catalytic activity, we determined the X-ray crystal structures of MM_0014 in the presence or absence of these substrates. Surprisingly, one structure revealed a complex with O-prenylglycerol, suggesting that the enzyme catalyzed the prenylation of glycerol contained in the crystallization buffer. Further analyses confirmed that the enzyme could catalyze the O-prenylation of small alcohols, such as 2-propanol, expanding our understanding of the catalytic ability of cis-prenyltransferases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miyako Okada
- Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Hideaki Unno
- Graduate School of Engineering, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Nagasaki, Japan; Organization for Marine Science and Technology, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Koh-Ichi Emi
- Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Mayuko Matsumoto
- Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Hisashi Hemmi
- Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.
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10
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Scossa F, Fernie AR. Ancestral sequence reconstruction - An underused approach to understand the evolution of gene function in plants? Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2021; 19:1579-1594. [PMID: 33868595 PMCID: PMC8039532 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2021.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2021] [Revised: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Whilst substantial research effort has been placed on understanding the interactions of plant proteins with their molecular partners, relatively few studies in plants - by contrast to work in other organisms - address how these interactions evolve. It is thought that ancestral proteins were more promiscuous than modern proteins and that specificity often evolved following gene duplication and subsequent functional refining. However, ancestral protein resurrection studies have found that some modern proteins have evolved de novo from ancestors lacking those functions. Intriguingly, the new interactions evolved as a consequence of just a few mutations and, as such, acquisition of new functions appears to be neither difficult nor rare, however, only a few of them are incorporated into biological processes before they are lost to subsequent mutations. Here, we detail the approach of ancestral sequence reconstruction (ASR), providing a primer to reconstruct the sequence of an ancestral gene. We will present case studies from a range of different eukaryotes before discussing the few instances where ancestral reconstructions have been used in plants. As ASR is used to dig into the remote evolutionary past, we will also present some alternative genetic approaches to investigate molecular evolution on shorter timescales. We argue that the study of plant secondary metabolism is particularly well suited for ancestral reconstruction studies. Indeed, its ancient evolutionary roots and highly diverse landscape provide an ideal context in which to address the focal issue around the emergence of evolutionary novelties and how this affects the chemical diversification of plant metabolism.
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Key Words
- APR, ancestral protein resurrection
- ASR, ancestral sequence reconstruction
- Ancestral sequence reconstruction
- CDS, coding sequence
- Evolution
- GR, glucocorticoid receptor
- GWAS, genome wide association study
- Genomics
- InDel, insertion/deletion
- MCMC, Markov Chain Monte Carlo
- ML, maximum likelihood
- MP, maximum parsimony
- MR, mineralcorticoid receptor
- MSA, multiple sequence alignment
- Metabolism
- NJ, neighbor-joining
- Phylogenetics
- Plants
- SFS, site frequency spectrum
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Scossa
- Max-Planck-Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology (MPI-MP), 14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany
- Council for Agricultural Research and Economics (CREA), Research Centre for Genomics and Bioinformatics (CREA-GB), Rome, Italy
| | - Alisdair R. Fernie
- Max-Planck-Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology (MPI-MP), 14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany
- Center of Plant Systems Biology and Biotechnology (CPSBB), Plovdiv, Bulgaria
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11
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Chen X, Zhang C, Lindley ND. Metabolic Engineering Strategies for Sustainable Terpenoid Flavor and Fragrance Synthesis. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2020; 68:10252-10264. [PMID: 31865696 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.9b06203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Terpenoids derived from plant material are widely applied in the flavor and fragrance industry. Traditional extraction methods are unsustainable, but microbial synthesis offers a promising solution to attain efficient production of natural-identical terpenoids. Overproduction of terpenoids in microbes requires careful balancing of the synthesis pathway constituents within the constraints of host cell metabolism. Advances in metabolic engineering have greatly facilitated overcoming the challenges of achieving high titers, rates, and yields (TRYs). The review summarizes recent development in the molecular biology toolbox to achieve high TRYs for terpenoid biosynthesis, mainly in the two industrial platform microorganisms: Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The biosynthetic pathways, including alternative pathway designs, are briefly introduced, followed by recently developed methodologies used for pathway, genome, and strain optimization. Integrated applications of these tools are important to achieve high "TRYs" of terpenoid production and pave the way for translating laboratory research into successful commercial manufacturing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xixian Chen
- Biotransformation Innovation Platform, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 61 Biopolis Drive, Singapore 138673
| | - Congqiang Zhang
- Biotransformation Innovation Platform, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 61 Biopolis Drive, Singapore 138673
| | - Nicholas D Lindley
- Biotransformation Innovation Platform, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 61 Biopolis Drive, Singapore 138673
- TBI, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, INRA, INSA,31077 Toulouse, France
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12
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Chen CC, Zhang L, Yu X, Ma L, Ko TP, Guo RT. Versatile cis-isoprenyl Diphosphate Synthase Superfamily Members in Catalyzing Carbon–Carbon Bond Formation. ACS Catal 2020. [DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.0c00283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Chun-Chi Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Green Transformation of Bio-Resources, Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China
| | - Lilan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Green Transformation of Bio-Resources, Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China
| | - Xuejing Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Green Transformation of Bio-Resources, Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China
| | - Lixin Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Green Transformation of Bio-Resources, Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China
| | - Tzu-Ping Ko
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
| | - Rey-Ting Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Green Transformation of Bio-Resources, Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China
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13
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Maeda HA. Harnessing evolutionary diversification of primary metabolism for plant synthetic biology. J Biol Chem 2019; 294:16549-16566. [PMID: 31558606 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.rev119.006132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Plants produce numerous natural products that are essential to both plant and human physiology. Recent identification of genes and enzymes involved in their biosynthesis now provides exciting opportunities to reconstruct plant natural product pathways in heterologous systems through synthetic biology. The use of plant chassis, although still in infancy, can take advantage of plant cells' inherent capacity to synthesize and store various phytochemicals. Also, large-scale plant biomass production systems, driven by photosynthetic energy production and carbon fixation, could be harnessed for industrial-scale production of natural products. However, little is known about which plants could serve as ideal hosts and how to optimize plant primary metabolism to efficiently provide precursors for the synthesis of desirable downstream natural products or specialized (secondary) metabolites. Although primary metabolism is generally assumed to be conserved, unlike the highly-diversified specialized metabolism, primary metabolic pathways and enzymes can differ between microbes and plants and also among different plants, especially at the interface between primary and specialized metabolisms. This review highlights examples of the diversity in plant primary metabolism and discusses how we can utilize these variations in plant synthetic biology. I propose that understanding the evolutionary, biochemical, genetic, and molecular bases of primary metabolic diversity could provide rational strategies for identifying suitable plant hosts and for further optimizing primary metabolism for sizable production of natural and bio-based products in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroshi A Maeda
- Department of Botany, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706
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14
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Nagel R, Schmidt A, Peters RJ. Isoprenyl diphosphate synthases: the chain length determining step in terpene biosynthesis. PLANTA 2019; 249:9-20. [PMID: 30467632 DOI: 10.1007/s00425-018-3052-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2018] [Accepted: 11/14/2018] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
This review summarizes the recent developments in the study of isoprenyl diphosphate synthases with an emphasis on analytical techniques, product length determination, and the physiological consequences of manipulating expression in planta. The highly diverse structures of all terpenes are synthesized from the five carbon precursors dimethylallyl diphosphate and a varying number of isopentenyl diphosphate units through 1'-4 alkylation reactions. These elongation reactions are catalyzed by isoprenyl diphosphate synthases (IDS). IDS are classified depending on the configuration of the ensuing double bond as trans- and cis-IDS. In addition, IDS are further stratified by the length of their prenyl diphosphate product. This review discusses analytical techniques for the determination of product length and the factors that control product length, with an emphasis on alternative mechanisms. With recent advances in analytics, multiple IDS of Arabidopsis thaliana have been recently reinvestigated and demonstrated to yield products of different lengths than originally reported, which is summarized here. As IDS dictate prenyl diphosphate length and thereby which class of terpenes is ultimately produced, another focus of this review is the impact that altering IDS expression has on terpenoid natural product accumulation. Finally, recent findings regarding the ability of a few IDS to not catalyze 1'-4 alkylation reactions, but instead produce irregular products, with unusual connectivity, or act as terpene synthases, are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raimund Nagel
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA.
| | - Axel Schmidt
- Department of Biochemistry, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Hans-Knoell-Str. 8, 07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Reuben J Peters
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA
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15
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Abstract
Plant metabolic studies have traditionally focused on the role and regulation of the enzymes catalyzing key reactions within specific pathways. Within the past 20 years, reverse genetic approaches have allowed direct determination of the effects of the deficiency, or surplus, of a given protein on the biochemistry of a plant. In parallel, top-down approaches have also been taken, which rely on screening broad, natural genetic diversity for metabolic diversity. Here, we compare and contrast the various strategies that have been adopted to enhance our understanding of the natural diversity of metabolism. We also detail how these approaches have enhanced our understanding of both specific and global aspects of the genetic regulation of metabolism. Finally, we discuss how such approaches are providing important insights into the evolution of plant secondary metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alisdair R Fernie
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, 14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany;
| | - Takayuki Tohge
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, 14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany;
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16
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Nadakuduti SS, Uebler JB, Liu X, Jones AD, Barry CS. Characterization of Trichome-Expressed BAHD Acyltransferases in Petunia axillaris Reveals Distinct Acylsugar Assembly Mechanisms within the Solanaceae. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2017; 175:36-50. [PMID: 28701351 PMCID: PMC5580754 DOI: 10.1104/pp.17.00538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2017] [Accepted: 07/07/2017] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Acylsugars are synthesized in the glandular trichomes of the Solanaceae family and are implicated in protection against abiotic and biotic stress. Acylsugars are composed of either sucrose or glucose esterified with varying numbers of acyl chains of differing length. In tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), acylsugar assembly requires four acylsugar acyltransferases (ASATs) of the BAHD superfamily. Tomato ASATs catalyze the sequential esterification of acyl-coenzyme A thioesters to the R4, R3, R3', and R2 positions of sucrose, yielding a tetra-acylsucrose. Petunia spp. synthesize acylsugars that are structurally distinct from those of tomato. To explore the mechanisms underlying this chemical diversity, a Petuniaaxillaris transcriptome was mined for trichome preferentially expressed BAHDs. A combination of phylogenetic analyses, gene silencing, and biochemical analyses coupled with structural elucidation of metabolites revealed that acylsugar assembly is not conserved between tomato and petunia. In P. axillaris, tetra-acylsucrose assembly occurs through the action of four ASATs, which catalyze sequential addition of acyl groups to the R2, R4, R3, and R6 positions. Notably, in P. axillaris, PaxASAT1 and PaxASAT4 catalyze the acylation of the R2 and R6 positions of sucrose, respectively, and no clear orthologs exist in tomato. Similarly, petunia acylsugars lack an acyl group at the R3' position, and congruently, an ortholog of SlASAT3, which catalyzes acylation at the R3' position in tomato, is absent in P. axillaris Furthermore, where putative orthologous relationships of ASATs are predicted between tomato and petunia, these are not supported by biochemical assays. Overall, these data demonstrate the considerable evolutionary plasticity of acylsugar biosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Joseph B Uebler
- Department of Horticulture, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824
| | - Xiaoxiao Liu
- Department of Chemistry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824
| | - A Daniel Jones
- Department of Chemistry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824
| | - Cornelius S Barry
- Department of Horticulture, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824
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17
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Chan YT, Ko TP, Yao SH, Chen YW, Lee CC, Wang AHJ. Crystal Structure and Potential Head-to-Middle Condensation Function of a Z, Z-Farnesyl Diphosphate Synthase. ACS OMEGA 2017; 2:930-936. [PMID: 30023621 PMCID: PMC6044691 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.6b00562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2016] [Accepted: 02/28/2017] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Plants produce a wide variety of secondary metabolites in response to adverse environmental factors. Z,Z-Farnesyl diphosphate (Z,Z-FPP), synthesized by Z,Z-farnesyl diphosphate synthase (zFPS), supports the formation of phytochemicals in wild tomatoes. Here, the crystal structure of N-terminal truncated zFPS (ΔzFPS) was determined. Irregular products including lavandulyl diphosphate and an unknown compound were surprisingly found. Apart from the truncated N-terminus as a functional regulator, structure-based analysis and mutagenesis assays revealed a residue H103 in ΔzFPS as one of the key elements to this irregular function. A series of substrate-enzyme complex structures were obtained from ΔzFPS-H103Y by co-crystallizing with isopentenyl diphosphate, dimethylallyl thiolodiphosphate, or both. Various substrate-binding modes were revealed. The catalytic mechanisms of both the head-to-tail and head-to-middle reactions in ΔzFPS were proposed. Functional switch between the two mechanisms in this enzyme and the essential role played by the flexible C-terminus were elucidated as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yueh-Te Chan
- Institute
of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan
| | - Tzu-Ping Ko
- Institute
of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan
| | - Shan-Hsueh Yao
- Institute
of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan
| | - Ya-Wen Chen
- Institute
of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan
| | - Cheng-Chung Lee
- Institute
of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan
| | - Andrew H.-J. Wang
- Institute
of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan
- Graduate
Institute of Translational Medicine, College of Medical Science and
Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110, Taiwan
- Institute
of Biochemical Sciences, National Taiwan
University, Taipei 106, Taiwan
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18
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Chen HY, Li X. Identification of a residue responsible for UDP-sugar donor selectivity of a dihydroxybenzoic acid glycosyltransferase from Arabidopsis natural accessions. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2017; 89:195-203. [PMID: 27411741 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.13271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2016] [Revised: 07/08/2016] [Accepted: 07/12/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
UDP-glycosyltransferase (UGT) plays a major role in the diversity and reactivity of plant specialized metabolites by catalyzing the transfer of the sugar moiety from activated UDP-sugars to various acceptors. Arabidopsis UGT89A2 was previously identified from a genome-wide association study as a key factor that affects the differential accumulation of dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHBA) glycosides in distinct Arabidopsis natural accessions, including Col-0 and C24. The in vitro enzyme assays indicate that these distinct metabolic phenotypes reflect the divergence of UGT89A2 enzyme properties in the Col-0 and C24 accessions. UGT89A2 from Col-0 is highly selective toward UDP-xylose as the sugar donor, and the isoform from C24 can utilize both UDP-glucose and UDP-xylose but with a higher affinity to the glucose donor. The sequences of the two isozymes only differ at six amino acid residues. Examination of these amino acid residues in more natural accessions revealed a strong correlation between the amino acid polymorphism at position 153 and the DHBA glycoside accumulation pattern. Site-directed mutagenesis that swapped residue 153 between UGT89A2 from Col-0 and C24 reversed the UDP-sugar preferences, indicating that residue 153 plays an important role in determining sugar donor specificity of UGT89A2. This study provides insight into the key amino acid changes that confer sugar donor selectivity on UGTs, and demonstrates the usefulness of natural variation in understanding the structure-function relationship of enzymes involved in specialized metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han-Yi Chen
- Plants for Human Health Institute, North Carolina State University, Kannapolis, NC, 28081, USA
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA
| | - Xu Li
- Plants for Human Health Institute, North Carolina State University, Kannapolis, NC, 28081, USA
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA
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19
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Grabińska KA, Park EJ, Sessa WC. cis-Prenyltransferase: New Insights into Protein Glycosylation, Rubber Synthesis, and Human Diseases. J Biol Chem 2016; 291:18582-90. [PMID: 27402831 PMCID: PMC5000101 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.r116.739490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
cis-Prenyltransferases (cis-PTs) constitute a large family of enzymes conserved during evolution and present in all domains of life. cis-PTs catalyze consecutive condensation reactions of allylic diphosphate acceptor with isopentenyl diphosphate (IPP) in the cis (Z) configuration to generate linear polyprenyl diphosphate. The chain lengths of isoprenoid carbon skeletons vary widely from neryl pyrophosphate (C10) to natural rubber (C>10,000). The homo-dimeric bacterial enzyme, undecaprenyl diphosphate synthase (UPPS), has been structurally and mechanistically characterized in great detail and serves as a model for understanding the mode of action of eukaryotic cis-PTs. However, recent experiments have revealed that mammals, fungal, and long-chain plant cis-PTs are heteromeric enzymes composed of two distantly related subunits. In this review, the classification, function, and evolution of cis-PTs will be discussed with a special emphasis on the role of the newly described NgBR/Nus1 subunit and its plants' orthologs as essential, structural components of the cis-PTs activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kariona A Grabińska
- From the Department of Pharmacology and Vascular Biology and Therapeutics Program (VBT), Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520
| | - Eon Joo Park
- From the Department of Pharmacology and Vascular Biology and Therapeutics Program (VBT), Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520
| | - William C Sessa
- From the Department of Pharmacology and Vascular Biology and Therapeutics Program (VBT), Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520
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20
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Jongedijk E, Cankar K, Buchhaupt M, Schrader J, Bouwmeester H, Beekwilder J. Biotechnological production of limonene in microorganisms. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2016; 100:2927-38. [PMID: 26915992 PMCID: PMC4786606 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-016-7337-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2015] [Revised: 01/17/2016] [Accepted: 01/18/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
This mini review describes novel, biotechnology-based, ways of producing the monoterpene limonene. Limonene is applied in relatively highly priced products, such as fragrances, and also has applications with lower value but large production volume, such as biomaterials. Limonene is currently produced as a side product from the citrus juice industry, but the availability and quality are fluctuating and may be insufficient for novel bulk applications. Therefore, complementary microbial production of limonene would be interesting. Since limonene can be derivatized to high-value compounds, microbial platforms also have a great potential beyond just producing limonene. In this review, we discuss the ins and outs of microbial limonene production in comparison with plant-based and chemical production. Achievements and specific challenges for microbial production of limonene are discussed, especially in the light of bulk applications such as biomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esmer Jongedijk
- Laboratory of Plant Physiology, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, Wageningen, 6708, PB, The Netherlands
| | - Katarina Cankar
- Plant Research International, PO Box 16, 6700, AA, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Markus Buchhaupt
- DECHEMA Research Institute, Biochemical Engineering, Theodor Heuss-Allee 25, 60486, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Jens Schrader
- DECHEMA Research Institute, Biochemical Engineering, Theodor Heuss-Allee 25, 60486, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Harro Bouwmeester
- Laboratory of Plant Physiology, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, Wageningen, 6708, PB, The Netherlands
| | - Jules Beekwilder
- Plant Research International, PO Box 16, 6700, AA, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
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21
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In vitro reconstruction and analysis of evolutionary variation of the tomato acylsucrose metabolic network. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2015; 113:E239-48. [PMID: 26715757 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1517930113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Plant glandular secreting trichomes are epidermal protuberances that produce structurally diverse specialized metabolites, including medically important compounds. Trichomes of many plants in the nightshade family (Solanaceae) produce O-acylsugars, and in cultivated and wild tomatoes these are mixtures of aliphatic esters of sucrose and glucose of varying structures and quantities documented to contribute to insect defense. We characterized the first two enzymes of acylsucrose biosynthesis in the cultivated tomato Solanum lycopersicum. These are type I/IV trichome-expressed BAHD acyltransferases encoded by Solyc12g006330--or S. lycopersicum acylsucrose acyltransferase 1 (Sl-ASAT1)--and Solyc04g012020 (Sl-ASAT2). These enzymes were used--in concert with two previously identified BAHD acyltransferases--to reconstruct the entire cultivated tomato acylsucrose biosynthetic pathway in vitro using sucrose and acyl-CoA substrates. Comparative genomics and biochemical analysis of ASAT enzymes were combined with in vitro mutagenesis to identify amino acids that influence CoA ester substrate specificity and contribute to differences in types of acylsucroses that accumulate in cultivated and wild tomato species. This work demonstrates the feasibility of the metabolic engineering of these insecticidal metabolites in plants and microbes.
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22
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Liu Z, Zhou J, Wu R, Xu J. Mechanism of Assembling Isoprenoid Building Blocks 1. Elucidation of the Structural Motifs for Substrate Binding in Geranyl Pyrophosphate Synthase. J Chem Theory Comput 2015; 10:5057-67. [PMID: 26584386 DOI: 10.1021/ct500607n] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Terpenes (isoprenoids) represent the most functionally and structurally diverse group of natural products. Terpenes are assembled from two building blocks, isopentenyl diphosphate (IPP) and dimethylallyl diphosphate (DMAPP or DPP), by prenyltransferases (PTSs). Geranyl pyrophosphate synthase (GPPS) is the enzyme that assembles DPP and IPP in the first step of chain elongation during isoprenoid biosynthesis. The mechanism by which GPPS assembles the terpene precursor remains unknown; elucidating this mechanism will help in development of new technology to generate novel natural product-like scaffolds. With classic and QM/MM MD simulations, an "open-closed" conformation change of the catalytic pocket was observed in the GPPS active site at its large subunit (LSU), and a critical salt bridge between Asp91(in loop 1) and Lys239(in loop 2) was identified. The salt bridge is responsible for opening or closing the catalytic pocket. Meanwhile, the small subunit (SSU) regulates the size and shape of the hydrophobic pocket to flexibly host substrates with different shapes and sizes (DPP/GPP/FPP, C5/C10/C15). Further QM/MM MD simulations were carried out to explore the binding modes for the different substrates catalyzed by GPPS. Our simulations suggest that the key residues (Asp91, Lys239, and Gln156) are good candidates for site-directed mutagenesis and may help in protein engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhihong Liu
- Research Center for Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University , 132 East Circle at University City, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Jingwei Zhou
- Research Center for Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University , 132 East Circle at University City, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Ruibo Wu
- Research Center for Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University , 132 East Circle at University City, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Jun Xu
- Research Center for Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University , 132 East Circle at University City, Guangzhou 510006, China
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23
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Tohge T, Scossa F, Fernie AR. Integrative Approaches to Enhance Understanding of Plant Metabolic Pathway Structure and Regulation. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2015; 169:1499-511. [PMID: 26371234 PMCID: PMC4634077 DOI: 10.1104/pp.15.01006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2015] [Accepted: 09/10/2015] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Huge insight into molecular mechanisms and biological network coordination have been achieved following the application of various profiling technologies. Our knowledge of how the different molecular entities of the cell interact with one another suggests that, nevertheless, integration of data from different techniques could drive a more comprehensive understanding of the data emanating from different techniques. Here, we provide an overview of how such data integration is being used to aid the understanding of metabolic pathway structure and regulation. We choose to focus on the pairwise integration of large-scale metabolite data with that of the transcriptomic, proteomics, whole-genome sequence, growth- and yield-associated phenotypes, and archival functional genomic data sets. In doing so, we attempt to provide an update on approaches that integrate data obtained at different levels to reach a better understanding of either single gene function or metabolic pathway structure and regulation within the context of a broader biological process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takayuki Tohge
- Max-Planck-Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, 14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany (T.T., A.R.F.); andConsiglio per la Ricerca e Analisi dell'Economia Agraria, Centro di Ricerca per la Frutticoltura, 00134 Rome, Italy (F.S.)
| | - Federico Scossa
- Max-Planck-Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, 14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany (T.T., A.R.F.); andConsiglio per la Ricerca e Analisi dell'Economia Agraria, Centro di Ricerca per la Frutticoltura, 00134 Rome, Italy (F.S.)
| | - Alisdair R Fernie
- Max-Planck-Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, 14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany (T.T., A.R.F.); andConsiglio per la Ricerca e Analisi dell'Economia Agraria, Centro di Ricerca per la Frutticoltura, 00134 Rome, Italy (F.S.)
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24
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Zhou J, Wang X, Kuang M, Wang L, Luo HB, Mo Y, Wu R. Protonation-Triggered Carbon-Chain Elongation in Geranyl Pyrophosphate Synthase (GPPS). ACS Catal 2015. [DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.5b00947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jingwei Zhou
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, P.R. China
| | - Xiaoming Wang
- Program in Public Health, College of Healthy Sciences, University of California—Irvine, Irvine, California 92697,United States
| | - Ming Kuang
- Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, P.R. China
| | - Laiyou Wang
- Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, P.R. China
| | - Hai-Bin Luo
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, P.R. China
| | - Yirong Mo
- Department of Chemistry, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49008, United States
| | - Ruibo Wu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, P.R. China
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25
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Large-Scale Evolutionary Analysis of Genes and Supergene Clusters from Terpenoid Modular Pathways Provides Insights into Metabolic Diversification in Flowering Plants. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0128808. [PMID: 26046541 PMCID: PMC4457800 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0128808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2015] [Accepted: 04/30/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
An important component of plant evolution is the plethora of pathways producing more than 200,000 biochemically diverse specialized metabolites with pharmacological, nutritional and ecological significance. To unravel dynamics underlying metabolic diversification, it is critical to determine lineage-specific gene family expansion in a phylogenomics framework. However, robust functional annotation is often only available for core enzymes catalyzing committed reaction steps within few model systems. In a genome informatics approach, we extracted information from early-draft gene-space assemblies and non-redundant transcriptomes to identify protein families involved in isoprenoid biosynthesis. Isoprenoids comprise terpenoids with various roles in plant-environment interaction, such as pollinator attraction or pathogen defense. Combining lines of evidence provided by synteny, sequence homology and Hidden-Markov-Modelling, we screened 17 genomes including 12 major crops and found evidence for 1,904 proteins associated with terpenoid biosynthesis. Our terpenoid genes set contains evidence for 840 core terpene-synthases and 338 triterpene-specific synthases. We further identified 190 prenyltransferases, 39 isopentenyl-diphosphate isomerases as well as 278 and 219 proteins involved in mevalonate and methylerithrol pathways, respectively. Assessing the impact of gene and genome duplication to lineage-specific terpenoid pathway expansion, we illustrated key events underlying terpenoid metabolic diversification within 250 million years of flowering plant radiation. By quantifying Angiosperm-wide versatility and phylogenetic relationships of pleiotropic gene families in terpenoid modular pathways, our analysis offers significant insight into evolutionary dynamics underlying diversification of plant secondary metabolism. Furthermore, our data provide a blueprint for future efforts to identify and more rapidly clone terpenoid biosynthetic genes from any plant species.
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26
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Brasher MI, Surmacz L, Leong B, Pitcher J, Swiezewska E, Pichersky E, Akhtar TA. A two-component enzyme complex is required for dolichol biosynthesis in tomato. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2015; 82:903-914. [PMID: 25899081 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.12859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2014] [Revised: 04/14/2015] [Accepted: 04/16/2015] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Dolichol plays an indispensable role in the N-glycosylation of eukaryotic proteins. As proteins enter the secretory pathway they are decorated by a 'glycan', which is preassembled onto a membrane-anchored dolichol molecule embedded within the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Genetic and biochemical evidence in yeast and animals indicate that a cis-prenyltransferase (CPT) is required for dolichol synthesis, but also point to other factor(s) that could be involved. In this study, RNAi-mediated suppression of one member of the tomato CPT family (SlCPT3) resulted in a ~60% decrease in dolichol content. We further show that the involvement of SlCPT3 in dolichol biosynthesis requires the participation of a distantly related partner protein, designated as CPT-binding protein (SlCPTBP), which is a close homolog of the human Nogo-B receptor. Yeast two-hybrid and co-immunoprecipitation assays demonstrate that SlCPT3 and its partner protein interact in vivo and that both SlCPT3 and SlCPTBP are required to complement the growth defects and dolichol deficiency of the yeast dolichol mutant, rer2∆. Co-expression of SlCPT3 and SlCPTBP in yeast and in E. coli confirmed that dolichol synthase activity strictly requires both proteins. Finally, organelle isolation and in vivo localization of fluorescent protein fusions showed that both SlCPT3 and SlCPTBP localize to the ER, the site of dolichol accumulation and synthesis in eukaryotes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan I Brasher
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Liliana Surmacz
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, 5A Pawinskiego Street, 02-106, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Bryan Leong
- Department of Molecular and Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Jocelyn Pitcher
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Ewa Swiezewska
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, 5A Pawinskiego Street, 02-106, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Eran Pichersky
- Department of Molecular and Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Tariq A Akhtar
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada
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Matsuba Y, Zi J, Jones AD, Peters RJ, Pichersky E. Biosynthesis of the diterpenoid lycosantalonol via nerylneryl diphosphate in Solanum lycopersicum. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0119302. [PMID: 25786135 PMCID: PMC4364678 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0119302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2014] [Accepted: 01/29/2015] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
We recently reported that three genes involved in the biosynthesis of monoterpenes in trichomes, a cis-prenyltransferase named neryl diphosphate synthase 1 (NDPS1) and two terpene synthases (TPS19 and TPS20), are present in close proximity to each other at the tip of chromosome 8 in the genome of the cultivated tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). This terpene gene “cluster” also contains a second cis-prenyltransferase gene (CPT2), three other TPS genes, including TPS21, and the cytochrome P450-oxidoreductase gene CYP71BN1. CPT2 encodes a neryneryl diphosphate synthase. Co-expression in E. coli of CPT2 and TPS21 led to the formation of the diterpene lycosantalene, and co-expression in E. coli of CPT2, TPS21 and CYP71BN1 led to the formation of lycosantalonol, an oxidation product of lycosantalene. Here we show that maximal expression of all three genes occurs in the petiolule part of the leaf, but little expression of these genes occurs in the trichomes present on the petiolules. While lycosantalene or lycosantalonol cannot be detected in the petiolules of wild-type plants (or anywhere else in the plant), lycosantalene and lycosantalonol are detected in petiolules of transgenic tomato plants expressing CPT2 under the control of the 35S CaMV promoter. These results suggest that lycosantalene and lycosantalonol are produced in the petiolules and perhaps in other tissues of wild-type plants, but that low rate of synthesis, controlled by the rate-limiting enzyme CPT2, results in product levels that are too low for detection under our current methodology. It is also possible that these compounds are further modified in the plant. The involvement of CPT2, TPS21 and CYP71BN1 in a diterpenoid biosynthetic pathway outside the trichomes, together with the involvement of other genes in the cluster in the synthesis of monoterpenes in trichomes, indicates that this cluster is further evolving into “sub-clusters” with unique biochemical, and likely physiological, roles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuki Matsuba
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Jiachen Zi
- Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, United States of America
| | - A. Daniel Jones
- Department of Biochemistry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Reuben J. Peters
- Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Eran Pichersky
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Wang X, Ort DR, Yuan JS. Photosynthetic terpene hydrocarbon production for fuels and chemicals. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL 2015; 13:137-46. [PMID: 25626473 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.12343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2014] [Revised: 12/10/2014] [Accepted: 12/12/2014] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Photosynthetic hydrocarbon production bypasses the traditional biomass hydrolysis process and represents the most direct conversion of sunlight energy into the next-generation biofuels. As a major class of biologically derived hydrocarbons with diverse structures, terpenes are also valuable in producing a variety of fungible bioproducts in addition to the advanced 'drop-in' biofuels. However, it is highly challenging to achieve the efficient redirection of photosynthetic carbon and reductant into terpene biosynthesis. In this review, we discuss four major scientific and technical barriers for photosynthetic terpene production and recent advances to address these constraints. Collectively, photosynthetic terpene production needs to be optimized in a systematic fashion, in which the photosynthesis improvement, the optimization of terpene biosynthesis pathway, the improvement of key enzymes and the enhancement of sink effect through terpene storage or secretion are all important. New advances in synthetic biology also offer a suite of potential tools to design and engineer photosynthetic terpene platforms. The systemic integration of these solutions may lead to 'disruptive' technologies to enable biofuels and bioproducts with high efficiency, yield and infrastructure compatibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Wang
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA; Synthetic and Systems Biology Innovation Hub, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA; Institute for Plant Genomics and Biotechnology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
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Tholl D. Biosynthesis and biological functions of terpenoids in plants. ADVANCES IN BIOCHEMICAL ENGINEERING/BIOTECHNOLOGY 2015; 148:63-106. [PMID: 25583224 DOI: 10.1007/10_2014_295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 249] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Terpenoids (isoprenoids) represent the largest and most diverse class of chemicals among the myriad compounds produced by plants. Plants employ terpenoid metabolites for a variety of basic functions in growth and development but use the majority of terpenoids for more specialized chemical interactions and protection in the abiotic and biotic environment. Traditionally, plant-based terpenoids have been used by humans in the food, pharmaceutical, and chemical industries, and more recently have been exploited in the development of biofuel products. Genomic resources and emerging tools in synthetic biology facilitate the metabolic engineering of high-value terpenoid products in plants and microbes. Moreover, the ecological importance of terpenoids has gained increased attention to develop strategies for sustainable pest control and abiotic stress protection. Together, these efforts require a continuous growth in knowledge of the complex metabolic and molecular regulatory networks in terpenoid biosynthesis. This chapter gives an overview and highlights recent advances in our understanding of the organization, regulation, and diversification of core and specialized terpenoid metabolic pathways, and addresses the most important functions of volatile and nonvolatile terpenoid specialized metabolites in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorothea Tholl
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, 409 Latham Hall, 24061, Blacksburg, VA, USA,
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Bedewitz MA, Góngora-Castillo E, Uebler JB, Gonzales-Vigil E, Wiegert-Rininger KE, Childs KL, Hamilton JP, Vaillancourt B, Yeo YS, Chappell J, DellaPenna D, Jones AD, Buell CR, Barry CS. A root-expressed L-phenylalanine:4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate aminotransferase is required for tropane alkaloid biosynthesis in Atropa belladonna. THE PLANT CELL 2014; 26:3745-62. [PMID: 25228340 PMCID: PMC4213168 DOI: 10.1105/tpc.114.130534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
The tropane alkaloids, hyoscyamine and scopolamine, are medicinal compounds that are the active components of several therapeutics. Hyoscyamine and scopolamine are synthesized in the roots of specific genera of the Solanaceae in a multistep pathway that is only partially elucidated. To facilitate greater understanding of tropane alkaloid biosynthesis, a de novo transcriptome assembly was developed for Deadly Nightshade (Atropa belladonna). Littorine is a key intermediate in hyoscyamine and scopolamine biosynthesis that is produced by the condensation of tropine and phenyllactic acid. Phenyllactic acid is derived from phenylalanine via its transamination to phenylpyruvate, and mining of the transcriptome identified a phylogenetically distinct aromatic amino acid aminotransferase (ArAT), designated Ab-ArAT4, that is coexpressed with known tropane alkaloid biosynthesis genes in the roots of A. belladonna. Silencing of Ab-ArAT4 disrupted synthesis of hyoscyamine and scopolamine through reduction of phenyllactic acid levels. Recombinant Ab-ArAT4 preferentially catalyzes the first step in phenyllactic acid synthesis, the transamination of phenylalanine to phenylpyruvate. However, rather than utilizing the typical keto-acid cosubstrates, 2-oxoglutarate, pyruvate, and oxaloacetate, Ab-ArAT4 possesses strong substrate preference and highest activity with the aromatic keto-acid, 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate. Thus, Ab-ArAT4 operates at the interface between primary and specialized metabolism, contributing to both tropane alkaloid biosynthesis and the direct conversion of phenylalanine to tyrosine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew A Bedewitz
- Department of Horticulture, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824
| | - Elsa Góngora-Castillo
- Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824
| | - Joseph B Uebler
- Department of Horticulture, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824
| | | | | | - Kevin L Childs
- 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
| | - Brieanne Vaillancourt
- Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824
| | - Yun-Soo Yeo
- Plant Biology Program and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40546
| | - Joseph Chappell
- Plant Biology Program and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40546
| | - Dean DellaPenna
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824
| | - A Daniel Jones
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824 Department of Chemistry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824
| | - C Robin Buell
- Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824
| | - Cornelius S Barry
- Department of Horticulture, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824
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