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Chen G, Guo Z, Shu Y, Zhao Y, Qiu L, Duan S, Lin Y, He S, Li X, Feng X, Xiang G, Nian B, Wang Y, Li Z, Chongkang Yang, Shi Y, Lu Y, Liu G, Yang S, Zhang G, Hao B. Biosynthetic pathway of prescription cucurbitacin IIa and high-level production of key triterpenoid intermediates in engineered yeast and tobacco. PLANT COMMUNICATIONS 2024:100835. [PMID: 38425040 DOI: 10.1016/j.xplc.2024.100835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 01/28/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Cucurbitacin IIa is a triterpenoid isolated exclusively from Hemsleya plants and a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug that functions as the main ingredient of prescription Hemslecin capsules and tablets in China. Synthetic biology provides new strategies for production of such valuable cucurbitacins at a large scale; however, the biosynthetic pathway of cucurbitacin IIa has been unknown, and the heterologous production of cucurbitacins in galactose medium has been expensive and low yielding. In this study, we characterized the functions of genes encoding two squalene epoxidases (HcSE1-2), six oxidosqualene cyclases (HcOSC1-6), two CYP450s (HcCYP87D20 and HcCYP81Q59), and an acyltransferase (HcAT1) in cucurbitacin IIa biosynthesis by heterologous expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Nicotiana benthamiana. We achieved high-level production of the key cucurbitacin precursor 11-carbonyl-20β-hydroxy-Cuol from glucose in yeast via modular engineering of the mevalonate pathway and optimization of P450 expression levels. The resulting yields of 46.41 mg/l 11-carbonyl-20β-hydroxy-Cuol and 126.47 mg/l total cucurbitacin triterpenoids in shake flasks are the highest yields yet reported from engineered microbes. Subsequently, production of 11-carbonyl-20β-hydroxy-Cuol by transient gene expression in tobacco resulted in yields of 1.28 mg/g dry weight in leaves. This work reveals the key genes involved in biosynthesis of prescription cucurbitacin IIa and demonstrates that engineered yeast cultivated with glucose can produce high yields of key triterpenoid intermediates. We describe a low-cost and highly efficient platform for rapid screening of candidate genes and high-yield production of pharmacological triterpenoids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geng Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Bio-resources in Yunnan, The Key Laboratory of Medicinal Plant Biology of Yunnan Province, National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center on Germplasms Innovation & Utilization of Chinese Medicinal Materials in Southwest China, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China; Yunnan Characteristic Plant Extraction Laboratory, Kunming, Yunnan 650106, China
| | - Zhaokuan Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Bio-resources in Yunnan, The Key Laboratory of Medicinal Plant Biology of Yunnan Province, National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center on Germplasms Innovation & Utilization of Chinese Medicinal Materials in Southwest China, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China; Yunnan Characteristic Plant Extraction Laboratory, Kunming, Yunnan 650106, China
| | - Yanyu Shu
- State Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Bio-resources in Yunnan, The Key Laboratory of Medicinal Plant Biology of Yunnan Province, National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center on Germplasms Innovation & Utilization of Chinese Medicinal Materials in Southwest China, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China; Yunnan Characteristic Plant Extraction Laboratory, Kunming, Yunnan 650106, China
| | - Yan Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Bio-resources in Yunnan, The Key Laboratory of Medicinal Plant Biology of Yunnan Province, National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center on Germplasms Innovation & Utilization of Chinese Medicinal Materials in Southwest China, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China; Yunnan Characteristic Plant Extraction Laboratory, Kunming, Yunnan 650106, China
| | - Lei Qiu
- State Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Bio-resources in Yunnan, The Key Laboratory of Medicinal Plant Biology of Yunnan Province, National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center on Germplasms Innovation & Utilization of Chinese Medicinal Materials in Southwest China, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China; Yunnan Characteristic Plant Extraction Laboratory, Kunming, Yunnan 650106, China
| | - Shaofeng Duan
- State Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Bio-resources in Yunnan, The Key Laboratory of Medicinal Plant Biology of Yunnan Province, National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center on Germplasms Innovation & Utilization of Chinese Medicinal Materials in Southwest China, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China; Yunnan Characteristic Plant Extraction Laboratory, Kunming, Yunnan 650106, China
| | - Yuan Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Bio-resources in Yunnan, The Key Laboratory of Medicinal Plant Biology of Yunnan Province, National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center on Germplasms Innovation & Utilization of Chinese Medicinal Materials in Southwest China, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China; Yunnan Characteristic Plant Extraction Laboratory, Kunming, Yunnan 650106, China
| | - Simei He
- State Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Bio-resources in Yunnan, The Key Laboratory of Medicinal Plant Biology of Yunnan Province, National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center on Germplasms Innovation & Utilization of Chinese Medicinal Materials in Southwest China, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China; Yunnan Characteristic Plant Extraction Laboratory, Kunming, Yunnan 650106, China
| | - Xiaobo Li
- State Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Bio-resources in Yunnan, The Key Laboratory of Medicinal Plant Biology of Yunnan Province, National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center on Germplasms Innovation & Utilization of Chinese Medicinal Materials in Southwest China, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China; Yunnan Characteristic Plant Extraction Laboratory, Kunming, Yunnan 650106, China
| | - Xiaolin Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Bio-resources in Yunnan, The Key Laboratory of Medicinal Plant Biology of Yunnan Province, National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center on Germplasms Innovation & Utilization of Chinese Medicinal Materials in Southwest China, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China; Yunnan Characteristic Plant Extraction Laboratory, Kunming, Yunnan 650106, China
| | - Guisheng Xiang
- State Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Bio-resources in Yunnan, The Key Laboratory of Medicinal Plant Biology of Yunnan Province, National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center on Germplasms Innovation & Utilization of Chinese Medicinal Materials in Southwest China, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China; Yunnan Characteristic Plant Extraction Laboratory, Kunming, Yunnan 650106, China
| | - Bo Nian
- State Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Bio-resources in Yunnan, The Key Laboratory of Medicinal Plant Biology of Yunnan Province, National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center on Germplasms Innovation & Utilization of Chinese Medicinal Materials in Southwest China, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China
| | - Yina Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Bio-resources in Yunnan, The Key Laboratory of Medicinal Plant Biology of Yunnan Province, National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center on Germplasms Innovation & Utilization of Chinese Medicinal Materials in Southwest China, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China; Yunnan Characteristic Plant Extraction Laboratory, Kunming, Yunnan 650106, China
| | - Zhiyuan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Bio-resources in Yunnan, The Key Laboratory of Medicinal Plant Biology of Yunnan Province, National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center on Germplasms Innovation & Utilization of Chinese Medicinal Materials in Southwest China, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China; Yunnan Characteristic Plant Extraction Laboratory, Kunming, Yunnan 650106, China
| | - Chongkang Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Bio-resources in Yunnan, The Key Laboratory of Medicinal Plant Biology of Yunnan Province, National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center on Germplasms Innovation & Utilization of Chinese Medicinal Materials in Southwest China, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China
| | - Yang Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Bio-resources in Yunnan, The Key Laboratory of Medicinal Plant Biology of Yunnan Province, National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center on Germplasms Innovation & Utilization of Chinese Medicinal Materials in Southwest China, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China
| | - Yingchun Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Bio-resources in Yunnan, The Key Laboratory of Medicinal Plant Biology of Yunnan Province, National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center on Germplasms Innovation & Utilization of Chinese Medicinal Materials in Southwest China, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China; Yunnan Characteristic Plant Extraction Laboratory, Kunming, Yunnan 650106, China
| | - Guanze Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Bio-resources in Yunnan, The Key Laboratory of Medicinal Plant Biology of Yunnan Province, National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center on Germplasms Innovation & Utilization of Chinese Medicinal Materials in Southwest China, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China; Yunnan Characteristic Plant Extraction Laboratory, Kunming, Yunnan 650106, China
| | - Shengchao Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Bio-resources in Yunnan, The Key Laboratory of Medicinal Plant Biology of Yunnan Province, National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center on Germplasms Innovation & Utilization of Chinese Medicinal Materials in Southwest China, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China; Yunnan Characteristic Plant Extraction Laboratory, Kunming, Yunnan 650106, China
| | - Guanghui Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Bio-resources in Yunnan, The Key Laboratory of Medicinal Plant Biology of Yunnan Province, National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center on Germplasms Innovation & Utilization of Chinese Medicinal Materials in Southwest China, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China; Yunnan Characteristic Plant Extraction Laboratory, Kunming, Yunnan 650106, China.
| | - Bing Hao
- State Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Bio-resources in Yunnan, The Key Laboratory of Medicinal Plant Biology of Yunnan Province, National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center on Germplasms Innovation & Utilization of Chinese Medicinal Materials in Southwest China, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China; Yunnan Characteristic Plant Extraction Laboratory, Kunming, Yunnan 650106, China.
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Wan L, Huo J, Huang Q, Ji X, Song L, Zhang Z, Pan L, Fu J, Abd Elhamid MA, Soaud SA, Heakel RMY, Gao J, Wei S, El-Sappah AH. Genetics and metabolic responses of Artemisia annua L to the lake of phosphorus under the sparingly soluble phosphorus fertilizer: evidence from transcriptomics analysis. Funct Integr Genomics 2024; 24:26. [PMID: 38329581 DOI: 10.1007/s10142-024-01301-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Revised: 01/14/2024] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
The medicinal herb Artemisia annua L. is prized for its capacity to generate artemisinin, which is used to cure malaria. Potentially influencing the biomass and secondary metabolite synthesis of A. annua is plant nutrition, particularly phosphorus (P). However, most soil P exist as insoluble inorganic and organic phosphates, which results to low P availability limiting plant growth and development. Although plants have developed several adaptation strategies to low P levels, genetics and metabolic responses to P status remain largely unknown. In a controlled greenhouse experiment, the sparingly soluble P form, hydroxyapatite (Ca5OH(PO4)3/CaP) was used to simulate calcareous soils with low P availability. In contrast, the soluble P form KH2PO4/KP was used as a control. A. annua's morphological traits, growth, and artemisinin concentration were determined, and RNA sequencing was used to identify the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) under two different P forms. Total biomass, plant height, leaf number, and stem diameter, as well as leaf area, decreased by 64.83%, 27.49%, 30.47%, 38.70%, and 54.64% in CaP compared to KP; however, LC-MS tests showed an outstanding 37.97% rise in artemisinin content per unit biomass in CaP contrary to KP. Transcriptome analysis showed 2015 DEGs (1084 up-regulated and 931 down-regulated) between two P forms, including 39 transcription factor (TF) families. Further analysis showed that DEGs were mainly enriched in carbohydrate metabolism, secondary metabolites biosynthesis, enzyme catalytic activity, signal transduction, and so on, such as tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, glycolysis, starch and sucrose metabolism, flavonoid biosynthesis, P metabolism, and plant hormone signal transduction. Meanwhile, several artemisinin biosynthesis genes were up-regulated, including DXS, GPPS, GGPS, MVD, and ALDH, potentially increasing artemisinin accumulation. Furthermore, 21 TF families, including WRKY, MYB, bHLH, and ERF, were up-regulated in reaction to CaP, confirming their importance in P absorption, internal P cycling, and artemisinin biosynthesis regulation. Our results will enable us to comprehend how low P availability impacts the parallel transcriptional control of plant development, growth, and artemisinin production in A. annua. This study could lay the groundwork for future research into the molecular mechanisms underlying A. annua's low P adaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingyun Wan
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of High-Quality Formation and Utilization of Dao-di Herbs, Guangxi Botanical Garden of Medicinal Plants, Nanning, China
| | - Juan Huo
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of High-Quality Formation and Utilization of Dao-di Herbs, Guangxi Botanical Garden of Medicinal Plants, Nanning, China
| | - Qiulan Huang
- Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Engineering, Yibin University, Yibin, China
| | - Xiaowen Ji
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of High-Quality Formation and Utilization of Dao-di Herbs, Guangxi Botanical Garden of Medicinal Plants, Nanning, China
| | - Lisha Song
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of High-Quality Formation and Utilization of Dao-di Herbs, Guangxi Botanical Garden of Medicinal Plants, Nanning, China
| | - Zhanjiang Zhang
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of High-Quality Formation and Utilization of Dao-di Herbs, Guangxi Botanical Garden of Medicinal Plants, Nanning, China
| | - Limei Pan
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of High-Quality Formation and Utilization of Dao-di Herbs, Guangxi Botanical Garden of Medicinal Plants, Nanning, China
| | - Jine Fu
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of High-Quality Formation and Utilization of Dao-di Herbs, Guangxi Botanical Garden of Medicinal Plants, Nanning, China
| | | | - Salma A Soaud
- Genetics Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
| | - Rania M Y Heakel
- Genetics Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
| | - Jihai Gao
- School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Shugen Wei
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of High-Quality Formation and Utilization of Dao-di Herbs, Guangxi Botanical Garden of Medicinal Plants, Nanning, China.
| | - Ahmed H El-Sappah
- Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Engineering, Yibin University, Yibin, China.
- Genetics Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt.
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3
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Habib MA, Islam MM, Islam MM, Hasan MM, Baek KH. Current Status and De Novo Synthesis of Anti-Tumor Alkaloids in Nicotiana. Metabolites 2023; 13:metabo13050623. [PMID: 37233664 DOI: 10.3390/metabo13050623] [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: 04/10/2023] [Revised: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Alkaloids are the most diversified nitrogen-containing secondary metabolites, having antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, and are extensively used in pharmaceuticals to treat different types of cancer. Nicotiana serves as a reservoir of anti-cancer alkaloids and is also used as a model plant for the de novo synthesis of various anti-cancer molecules through genetic engineering. Up to 4% of the total dry weight of Nicotiana was found to be composed of alkaloids, where nicotine, nornicotine, anatabine, and anabasine are reported as the dominant alkaloids. Additionally, among the alkaloids present in Nicotiana, β-carboline (Harmane and Norharmane) and Kynurenines are found to show anti-tumor effects, especially in the cases of colon and breast cancers. Creating new or shunting of existing biosynthesis pathways in different species of Nicotiana resulted in de novo or increased synthesis of different anti-tumor molecules or their derivatives or precursors including Taxadiane (~22.5 µg/g), Artemisinin (~120 μg/g), Parthenolide (~2.05 ng/g), Costunolide (~60 ng/g), Etoposide (~1 mg/g), Crocin (~400 µg/g), Catharanthine (~60 ng/g), Tabersonine (~10 ng/g), Strictosidine (~0.23 mg/g), etc. Enriching the precursor pool, especially Dimethylallyl Diphosphate (DMAPP), down-regulating other bi-product pathways, compartmentalization or metabolic shunting, or organelle-specific reconstitution of the precursor pool, might trigger the enhanced accumulation of the targeted anti-cancer alkaloid in Nicotiana.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Ahsan Habib
- Department of Plant Pathology, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur 5200, Bangladesh
| | - Md Mobinul Islam
- Department of Plant Pathology, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur 5200, Bangladesh
| | - Md Mukul Islam
- Department of Plant Pathology, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur 5200, Bangladesh
| | - Md Mohidul Hasan
- Department of Plant Pathology, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur 5200, Bangladesh
| | - Kwang-Hyun Baek
- Department of Biotechnology, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan 38541, Republic of Korea
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Wan L, Huang Q, Ji X, Song L, Zhang Z, Pan L, Fu J, Elbaiomy RG, Eldomiaty AS, Rather SA, Elashtokhy MMA, Gao J, Guan L, Wei S, El-Sappah AH. RNA sequencing in Artemisia annua L explored the genetic and metabolic responses to hardly soluble aluminum phosphate treatment. Funct Integr Genomics 2023; 23:141. [PMID: 37118364 DOI: 10.1007/s10142-023-01067-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Revised: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/30/2023]
Abstract
Artemisia annua L. is a medicinal plant valued for its ability to produce artemisinin, a molecule used to treat malaria. Plant nutrients, especially phosphorus (P), can potentially influence plant biomass and secondary metabolite production. Our work aimed to explore the genetic and metabolic response of A. annua to hardly soluble aluminum phosphate (AlPO4, AlP), using soluble monopotassium phosphate (KH2PO4, KP) as a control. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) was used to analyze artemisinin. RNA sequencing, gene ontology (GO), and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were applied to analyze the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) under poor P conditions. Results showed a significant reduction in plant growth parameters, such as plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves, leaf areas, and total biomass of A. annua. Conversely, LC-MS analysis revealed a significant increase in artemisinin concentration under the AlP compared to the KP. Transcriptome analysis revealed 762 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the AlP and the KP. GH3, SAUR, CRE1, and PYL, all involved in plant hormone signal transduction, showed differential expression. Furthermore, despite the downregulation of HMGR in the artemisinin biosynthesis pathway, the majority of genes (ACAT, FPS, CYP71AV1, and ALDH1) were upregulated, resulting in increased artemisinin accumulation in the AlP. In addition, 12 transcription factors, including GATA and MYB, were upregulated in response to AlP, confirming their importance in regulating artemisinin biosynthesis. Overall, our findings could contribute to a better understanding the parallel transcriptional regulation of plant hormone transduction and artemisinin biosynthesis in A. annua L. in response to hardly soluble phosphorus fertilizer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingyun Wan
- Key Laboratory of Guangxi for High-Quality Formation and Utilization of Dao-Di Herbs, Guangxi Botanical Garden of Medicinal Plants, Nanning, China
| | - Qiulan Huang
- Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Engineering, Yibin University, Yibin, China.
| | - Xiaowen Ji
- Key Laboratory of Guangxi for High-Quality Formation and Utilization of Dao-Di Herbs, Guangxi Botanical Garden of Medicinal Plants, Nanning, China
| | - Lisha Song
- Key Laboratory of Guangxi for High-Quality Formation and Utilization of Dao-Di Herbs, Guangxi Botanical Garden of Medicinal Plants, Nanning, China
| | - Zhanjiang Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Guangxi for High-Quality Formation and Utilization of Dao-Di Herbs, Guangxi Botanical Garden of Medicinal Plants, Nanning, China
| | - Limei Pan
- Key Laboratory of Guangxi for High-Quality Formation and Utilization of Dao-Di Herbs, Guangxi Botanical Garden of Medicinal Plants, Nanning, China
| | - Jine Fu
- Key Laboratory of Guangxi for High-Quality Formation and Utilization of Dao-Di Herbs, Guangxi Botanical Garden of Medicinal Plants, Nanning, China
| | - Rania G Elbaiomy
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Ahram Canadian University, 6 October, Giza, Egypt
| | - Ahmed S Eldomiaty
- Genetics Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
| | - Shabir A Rather
- Center for Integrative Conservation, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yunnan, China
| | | | - Jihai Gao
- School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Lingliang Guan
- Tropical Crops Genetic Resources Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Haikou, China
| | - Shugen Wei
- Key Laboratory of Guangxi for High-Quality Formation and Utilization of Dao-Di Herbs, Guangxi Botanical Garden of Medicinal Plants, Nanning, China.
| | - Ahmed H El-Sappah
- Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Engineering, Yibin University, Yibin, China.
- Genetics Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt.
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Zhao L, Zhu Y, Jia H, Han Y, Zheng X, Wang M, Feng W. From Plant to Yeast-Advances in Biosynthesis of Artemisinin. MOLECULES (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 27:molecules27206888. [PMID: 36296479 PMCID: PMC9609949 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27206888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Malaria is a life-threatening disease. Artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) is the preferred choice for malaria treatment recommended by the World Health Organization. At present, the main source of artemisinin is extracted from Artemisia annua; however, the artemisinin content in A. annua is only 0.1-1%, which cannot meet global demand. Meanwhile, the chemical synthesis of artemisinin has disadvantages such as complicated steps, high cost and low yield. Therefore, the application of the synthetic biology approach to produce artemisinin in vivo has magnificent prospects. In this review, the biosynthesis pathway of artemisinin was summarized. Then we discussed the advances in the heterologous biosynthesis of artemisinin using microorganisms (Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae) as chassis cells. With yeast as the cell factory, the production of artemisinin was transferred from plant to yeast. Through the optimization of the fermentation process, the yield of artemisinic acid reached 25 g/L, thereby producing the semi-synthesis of artemisinin. Moreover, we reviewed the genetic engineering in A. annua to improve the artemisinin content, which included overexpressing artemisinin biosynthesis pathway genes, blocking key genes in competitive pathways, and regulating the expression of transcription factors related to artemisinin biosynthesis. Finally, the research progress of artemisinin production in other plants (Nicotiana, Physcomitrella, etc.) was discussed. The current advances in artemisinin biosynthesis may help lay the foundation for the remarkable up-regulation of artemisinin production in A. annua through gene editing or molecular design breeding in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Le Zhao
- School of Pharmacy, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, China
- Co-Construction Collaborative Innovation Center for Chinese Medicine and Respiratory Diseases by Henan and Education Ministry of P. R. China, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, China
| | - Yunhao Zhu
- School of Pharmacy, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, China
- Co-Construction Collaborative Innovation Center for Chinese Medicine and Respiratory Diseases by Henan and Education Ministry of P. R. China, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, China
| | - Haoyu Jia
- School of Pharmacy, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, China
| | - Yongguang Han
- School of Pharmacy, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, China
| | - Xiaoke Zheng
- School of Pharmacy, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, China
- Co-Construction Collaborative Innovation Center for Chinese Medicine and Respiratory Diseases by Henan and Education Ministry of P. R. China, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, China
| | - Min Wang
- College of Chemistry and Materials Engineering, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Plant Research and Development, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China
- Correspondence: (M.W.); (W.F.); Tel.: +86-134-2629-2115 (M.W.); +86-371-60190296 (W.F.)
| | - Weisheng Feng
- School of Pharmacy, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, China
- Co-Construction Collaborative Innovation Center for Chinese Medicine and Respiratory Diseases by Henan and Education Ministry of P. R. China, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, China
- Correspondence: (M.W.); (W.F.); Tel.: +86-134-2629-2115 (M.W.); +86-371-60190296 (W.F.)
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6
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Klocko AL. Genetic Containment for Molecular Farming. PLANTS 2022; 11:plants11182436. [PMID: 36145835 PMCID: PMC9501302 DOI: 10.3390/plants11182436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Revised: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Plant molecular farming can provide humans with a wide variety of plant-based products including vaccines, therapeutics, polymers, industrial enzymes, and more. Some of these products, such as Taxol, are produced by endogenous plant genes, while many others require addition of genes by artificial gene transfer. Thus, some molecular farming plants are transgenic (or cisgenic), while others are not. Both the transgenic nature of many molecular farming plants and the fact that the products generated are of high-value and specific in purpose mean it is essential to prevent accidental cross-over of molecular farming plants and products into food or feed. Such mingling could occur either by gene flow during plant growth and harvest or by human errors in material handling. One simple approach to mitigate possible transfer would be to use only non-food non-feed species for molecular farming purposes. However, given the extent of molecular farming products in development, testing, or approval that do utilize food or feed crops, a ban on use of these species would be challenging to implement. Therefore, other approaches will need to be considered for mitigation of cross-flow between molecular farming and non-molecular-farming plants. This review summarized some of the production systems available for molecular farming purposes and options to implement or improve plant containment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy L Klocko
- Department of Biology, University of Colorado Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs, CO 80918, USA
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Liao J, Liu T, Xie L, Mo C, Huang X, Cui S, Jia X, Lan F, Luo Z, Ma X. Plant Metabolic Engineering by Multigene Stacking: Synthesis of Diverse Mogrosides. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231810422. [PMID: 36142335 PMCID: PMC9499096 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231810422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Revised: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Mogrosides are a group of health-promoting natural products that extracted from Siraitia grosvenorii fruit (Luo-han-guo or monk fruit), which exhibited a promising practical application in natural sweeteners and pharmaceutical development. However, the production of mogrosides is inadequate to meet the need worldwide, and uneconomical synthetic chemistry methods are not generally recommended for structural complexity. To address this issue, an in-fusion based gene stacking strategy (IGS) for multigene stacking has been developed to assemble 6 mogrosides synthase genes in pCAMBIA1300. Metabolic engineering of Nicotiana benthamiana and Arabidopsis thaliana to produce mogrosides from 2,3-oxidosqualene was carried out. Moreover, a validated HPLC-MS/MS method was used for the quantitative analysis of mogrosides in transgenic plants. Herein, engineered Arabidopsis thaliana produced siamenoside I ranging from 29.65 to 1036.96 ng/g FW, and the content of mogroside III at 202.75 ng/g FW, respectively. The production of mogroside III was from 148.30 to 252.73 ng/g FW, and mogroside II-E with concentration between 339.27 and 5663.55 ng/g FW in the engineered tobacco, respectively. This study provides information potentially applicable to develop a powerful and green toolkit for the production of mogrosides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingjing Liao
- The Artemisinin Research Center, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Tingyao Liu
- College of Horticulture, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, China
| | - Lei Xie
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Changming Mo
- Guangxi Crop Genetic Improvement and Biotechnology Lab, Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanning 530007, China
| | - Xiyang Huang
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Phytochemicals and Sustainable Utilization, Guangxi Institute of Botany, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guilin 541006, China
| | - Shengrong Cui
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Xunli Jia
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Fusheng Lan
- Guilin GFS Monk Fruit Corp, Guilin 541006, China
| | - Zuliang Luo
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100193, China
- Correspondence: (Z.L.); (X.M.); Tel.: +86-(010)-57833155 (X.M.)
| | - Xiaojun Ma
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100193, China
- Correspondence: (Z.L.); (X.M.); Tel.: +86-(010)-57833155 (X.M.)
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8
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Habibi P, Shi Y, Fatima Grossi-de-Sa M, Khan I. Plants as Sources of Natural and Recombinant Antimalaria Agents. Mol Biotechnol 2022; 64:1177-1197. [PMID: 35488142 PMCID: PMC9053566 DOI: 10.1007/s12033-022-00499-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Malaria is one of the severe infectious diseases that has victimized about half a civilization billion people each year worldwide. The application of long-lasting insecticides is the main strategy to control malaria; however, a surge in antimalarial drug development is also taking a leading role to break off the infections. Although, recurring drug resistance can compromise the efficiency of both conventional and novel antimalarial medicines. The eradication of malaria is significantly contingent on discovering novel potent agents that are low cost and easy to administer. In this context, plant metabolites inhibit malaria infection progression and might potentially be utilized as an alternative treatment for malaria, such as artemisinin. Advances in genetic engineering technology, especially the advent of molecular farming, have made plants more versatile in producing protein drugs (PDs) to treat infectious diseases, including malaria. These recent developments in genetic modifications have enabled the production of native pharmaceutically active compounds and the accumulation of diverse heterologous proteins such as human antibodies, booster vaccines, and many PDs to treat infectious diseases and genetic disorders. This review will discuss the pivotal role of a plant-based production system that expresses natural antimalarial agents or host protein drugs to cure malaria infections. The potential of these natural and induced compounds will support modern healthcare systems in treating malaria infections, especially in developing countries to mitigate human fatalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peyman Habibi
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Yao Shi
- Department of Basic and Applied Sciences, School of Dental Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Maria Fatima Grossi-de-Sa
- Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Brasília-DF, Brazil
- Catholic University of Brasília, Brasília-DF, Brazil
- National Institute of Science and Technology, INCT Plant Stress Biotech, Embrapa, Brazil
| | - Imran Khan
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.
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9
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Farmanpour-Kalalagh K, Beyraghdar Kashkooli A, Babaei A, Rezaei A, van der Krol AR. Artemisinins in Combating Viral Infections Like SARS-CoV-2, Inflammation and Cancers and Options to Meet Increased Global Demand. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:780257. [PMID: 35197994 PMCID: PMC8859114 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.780257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Artemisinin is a natural bioactive sesquiterpene lactone containing an unusual endoperoxide 1, 2, 4-trioxane ring. It is derived from the herbal medicinal plant Artemisia annua and is best known for its use in treatment of malaria. However, recent studies also indicate the potential for artemisinin and related compounds, commonly referred to as artemisinins, in combating viral infections, inflammation and certain cancers. Moreover, the different potential modes of action of artemisinins make these compounds also potentially relevant to the challenges the world faces in the COVID-19 pandemic. Initial studies indicate positive effects of artemisinin or Artemisia spp. extracts to combat SARS-CoV-2 infection or COVID-19 related symptoms and WHO-supervised clinical studies on the potential of artemisinins to combat COVID-19 are now in progress. However, implementing multiple potential new uses of artemisinins will require effective solutions to boost production, either by enhancing synthesis in A. annua itself or through biotechnological engineering in alternative biosynthesis platforms. Because of this renewed interest in artemisinin and its derivatives, here we review its modes of action, its potential application in different diseases including COVID-19, its biosynthesis and future options to boost production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karim Farmanpour-Kalalagh
- Department of Horticultural Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Arman Beyraghdar Kashkooli
- Department of Horticultural Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
- *Correspondence: Arman Beyraghdar Kashkooli,
| | - Alireza Babaei
- Department of Horticultural Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ali Rezaei
- Department of Horticultural Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
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10
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Mani V, Park S, Kim JA, Lee SI, Lee K. Metabolic Perturbation and Synthetic Biology Strategies for Plant Terpenoid Production-An Updated Overview. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 10:2179. [PMID: 34685985 PMCID: PMC8539415 DOI: 10.3390/plants10102179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Revised: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Terpenoids represent one of the high-value groups of specialized metabolites with vast structural diversity. They exhibit versatile human benefits and have been successfully exploited in several sectors of day-to-day life applications, including cosmetics, foods, and pharmaceuticals. Historically, the potential use of terpenoids is challenging, and highly hampered by their bioavailability in their natural sources. Significant progress has been made in recent years to overcome such challenges by advancing the heterologous production platforms of hosts and metabolic engineering technologies. Herein, we summarize the latest developments associated with analytical platforms, metabolic engineering, and synthetic biology, with a focus on two terpenoid classes: monoterpenoids and sesquiterpenoids. Accumulated data showed that subcellular localization of both the precursor pool and the introduced enzymes were the crucial factors for increasing the production of targeted terpenoids in plants. We believe this timely review provides a glimpse of current state-of-the-art techniques/methodologies related to terpenoid engineering that would facilitate further improvements in terpenoids research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Kijong Lee
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Rural Development Administration, Jeonju 54874, Korea; (V.M.); (S.P.); (J.A.K.); (S.I.L.)
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11
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Wu T, Kerbler SM, Fernie AR, Zhang Y. Plant cell cultures as heterologous bio-factories for secondary metabolite production. PLANT COMMUNICATIONS 2021; 2:100235. [PMID: 34746764 PMCID: PMC8554037 DOI: 10.1016/j.xplc.2021.100235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Revised: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 08/19/2021] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Synthetic biology has been developing rapidly in the last decade and is attracting increasing attention from many plant biologists. The production of high-value plant-specific secondary metabolites is, however, limited mostly to microbes. This is potentially problematic because of incorrect post-translational modification of proteins and differences in protein micro-compartmentalization, substrate availability, chaperone availability, product toxicity, and cytochrome p450 reductase enzymes. Unlike other heterologous systems, plant cells may be a promising alternative for the production of high-value metabolites. Several commercial plant suspension cell cultures from different plant species have been used successfully to produce valuable metabolites in a safe, low cost, and environmentally friendly manner. However, few metabolites are currently being biosynthesized using plant platforms, with the exception of the natural pigment anthocyanin. Both Arabidopsis thaliana and Nicotiana tabacum cell cultures can be developed by multiple gene transformations and CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing. Given that the introduction of heterologous biosynthetic pathways into Arabidopsis and N. tabacum is not widely used, the biosynthesis of foreign metabolites is currently limited; however, therein lies great potential. Here, we discuss the exemplary use of plant cell cultures and prospects for using A. thaliana and N. tabacum cell cultures to produce valuable plant-specific metabolites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tong Wu
- Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Pflanzenphysiologie, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| | - Sandra M. Kerbler
- Leibniz-Institute für Gemüse- und Zierpflanzenbau, Theodor-Echtermeyer-Weg 1, 14979 Groβbeeren, Germany
| | - Alisdair R. Fernie
- Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Pflanzenphysiologie, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany
- Center of Plant Systems Biology and Biotechnology, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
| | - Youjun Zhang
- Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Pflanzenphysiologie, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany
- Center of Plant Systems Biology and Biotechnology, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
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12
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Amorpha-4,11-diene synthase: a key enzyme in artemisinin biosynthesis and engineering. ABIOTECH 2021; 2:276-288. [PMID: 36303880 PMCID: PMC9590458 DOI: 10.1007/s42994-021-00058-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Amorpha-4,11-diene synthase (ADS) catalyzes the first committed step in the artemisinin biosynthetic pathway, which is the first catalytic reaction enzymatically and genetically characterized in artemisinin biosynthesis. The advent of ADS in Artemisia annua is considered crucial for the emergence of the specialized artemisinin biosynthetic pathway in the species. Microbial production of amorpha-4,11-diene is a breakthrough in metabolic engineering and synthetic biology. Recently, numerous new techniques have been used in ADS engineering; for example, assessing the substrate promiscuity of ADS to chemoenzymatically produce artemisinin. In this review, we discuss the discovery and catalytic mechanism of ADS, its application in metabolic engineering and synthetic biology, as well as the role of sesquiterpene synthases in the evolutionary origin of artemisinin.
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13
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Arya SS, Rookes JE, Cahill DM, Lenka SK. Next-generation metabolic engineering approaches towards development of plant cell suspension cultures as specialized metabolite producing biofactories. Biotechnol Adv 2020; 45:107635. [PMID: 32976930 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2020.107635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Revised: 09/04/2020] [Accepted: 09/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Plant cell suspension culture (PCSC) has emerged as a viable technology to produce plant specialized metabolites (PSM). While Taxol® and ginsenoside are two examples of successfully commercialized PCSC-derived PSM, widespread utilization of the PCSC platform has yet to be realized primarily due to a lack of understanding of the molecular genetics of PSM biosynthesis. Recent advances in computational, molecular and synthetic biology tools provide the opportunity to rapidly characterize and harness the specialized metabolic potential of plants. Here, we discuss the prospects of integrating computational modeling, artificial intelligence, and precision genome editing (CRISPR/Cas and its variants) toolboxes to discover the genetic regulators of PSM. We also explore how synthetic biology can be applied to develop metabolically optimized PSM-producing native and heterologous PCSC systems. Taken together, this review provides an interdisciplinary approach to realize and link the potential of next-generation computational and molecular tools to convert PCSC into commercially viable PSM-producing biofactories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sagar S Arya
- TERI-Deakin Nano Biotechnology Centre, The Energy and Resources Institute, Gurugram, Haryana 122001, India; Deakin University, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Waurn Ponds Campus, Geelong, Victoria 3216, Australia
| | - James E Rookes
- Deakin University, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Waurn Ponds Campus, Geelong, Victoria 3216, Australia
| | - David M Cahill
- Deakin University, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Waurn Ponds Campus, Geelong, Victoria 3216, Australia
| | - Sangram K Lenka
- TERI-Deakin Nano Biotechnology Centre, The Energy and Resources Institute, Gurugram, Haryana 122001, India.
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14
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Kaminski KP, Goepfert S, Ivanov NV, Peitsch MC. Production of Valuable Compounds in Tobacco. THE TOBACCO PLANT GENOME 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-29493-9_15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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15
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Li J, Mutanda I, Wang K, Yang L, Wang J, Wang Y. Chloroplastic metabolic engineering coupled with isoprenoid pool enhancement for committed taxanes biosynthesis in Nicotiana benthamiana. Nat Commun 2019; 10:4850. [PMID: 31649252 PMCID: PMC6813417 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-12879-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2018] [Accepted: 09/27/2019] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Production of the anticancer drug Taxol and its precursors in heterologous hosts is more sustainable than extraction from tissues of yew trees or chemical synthesis. Although attempts to engineer the Taxol pathway in microbes have made significant progress, challenges such as functional expression of plant P450 enzymes remain to be addressed. Here, we introduce taxadiene synthase, taxadiene-5α-hydroxylase, and cytochrome P450 reductase in a high biomass plant Nicotiana benthamiana. Using a chloroplastic compartmentalized metabolic engineering strategy, combined with enhancement of isoprenoid precursors, we show that the engineered plants can produce taxadiene and taxadiene-5α-ol, the committed taxol intermediates, at 56.6 μg g-1 FW and 1.3 μg g-1 FW, respectively. In addition to the tools and strategies reported here, this study highlights the potential of Nicotiana spp. as an alternative platform for Taxol production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianhua Li
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Ishmael Mutanda
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Kaibo Wang
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Henan Key Laboratory of Plant Stress Biology, Henan University, Kaifeng, 475004, China
| | - Lei Yang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics and Resources, Plant Science Research Center, Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden, Shanghai, 201602, China
| | - Jiawei Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Yong Wang
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200032, China.
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16
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Insights into Heterologous Biosynthesis of Arteannuin B and Artemisinin in Physcomitrella patens. Molecules 2019; 24:molecules24213822. [PMID: 31652784 PMCID: PMC6864739 DOI: 10.3390/molecules24213822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2019] [Revised: 10/08/2019] [Accepted: 10/21/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
: Metabolic engineering is an integrated bioengineering approach, which has made considerable progress in producing terpenoids in plants and fermentable hosts. Here, the full biosynthetic pathway of artemisinin, originating from Artemisia annua, was integrated into the moss Physcomitrella patens. Different combinations of the five artemisinin biosynthesis genes were ectopically expressed in P. patens to study biosynthesis pathway activity, but also to ensure survival of successful transformants. Transformation of the first pathway gene, ADS, into P. patens resulted in the accumulation of the expected metabolite, amorpha-4,11-diene, and also accumulation of a second product, arteannuin B. This demonstrates the presence of endogenous promiscuous enzyme activity, possibly cytochrome P450s, in P. patens. Introduction of three pathway genes, ADS-CYP71AV1-ADH1 or ADS-DBR2-ALDH1 both led to the accumulation of artemisinin, hinting at the presence of one or more endogenous enzymes in P. patens that can complement the partial pathways to full pathway activity. Transgenic P. patens lines containing the different gene combinations produce artemisinin in varying amounts. The pathway gene expression in the transgenic moss lines correlates well with the chemical profile of pathway products. Moreover, expression of the pathway genes resulted in lipid body formation in all transgenic moss lines, suggesting that these may have a function in sequestration of heterologous metabolites. This work thus provides novel insights into the metabolic response of P. patens and its complementation potential for A. annua artemisinin pathway genes. Identification of the related endogenous P. patens genes could contribute to a further successful metabolic engineering of artemisinin biosynthesis, as well as bioengineering of other high-value terpenoids in P. patens.
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17
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Paolis AD, Frugis G, Giannino D, Iannelli MA, Mele G, Rugini E, Silvestri C, Sparvoli F, Testone G, Mauro ML, Nicolodi C, Caretto S. Plant Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology: Following Mariotti's Steps. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2019; 8:E18. [PMID: 30634627 PMCID: PMC6359066 DOI: 10.3390/plants8010018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2018] [Revised: 12/30/2018] [Accepted: 01/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
This review is dedicated to the memory of Prof. Domenico Mariotti, who significantly contributed to establishing the Italian research community in Agricultural Genetics and carried out the first experiments of Agrobacterium-mediated plant genetic transformation and regeneration in Italy during the 1980s. Following his scientific interests as guiding principles, this review summarizes the recent advances obtained in plant biotechnology and fundamental research aiming to: (i) Exploit in vitro plant cell and tissue cultures to induce genetic variability and to produce useful metabolites; (ii) gain new insights into the biochemical function of Agrobacterium rhizogenes rol genes and their application to metabolite production, fruit tree transformation, and reverse genetics; (iii) improve genetic transformation in legume species, most of them recalcitrant to regeneration; (iv) untangle the potential of KNOTTED1-like homeobox (KNOX) transcription factors in plant morphogenesis as key regulators of hormonal homeostasis; and (v) elucidate the molecular mechanisms of the transition from juvenility to the adult phase in Prunus tree species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelo De Paolis
- Istituto di Scienze delle Produzioni Alimentari (ISPA), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Via Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy.
| | - Giovanna Frugis
- Istituto di Biologia e Biotecnologia Agraria (IBBA), UOS Roma, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Via Salaria Km. 29,300, Monterotondo Scalo, 00015 Roma, Italy.
| | - Donato Giannino
- Istituto di Biologia e Biotecnologia Agraria (IBBA), UOS Roma, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Via Salaria Km. 29,300, Monterotondo Scalo, 00015 Roma, Italy.
| | - Maria Adelaide Iannelli
- Istituto di Biologia e Biotecnologia Agraria (IBBA), UOS Roma, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Via Salaria Km. 29,300, Monterotondo Scalo, 00015 Roma, Italy.
| | - Giovanni Mele
- Istituto di Biologia e Biotecnologia Agraria (IBBA), UOS Roma, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Via Salaria Km. 29,300, Monterotondo Scalo, 00015 Roma, Italy.
| | - Eddo Rugini
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Forestali (DAFNE), Università degli Studi della Tuscia, Via San Camillo De Lellis S.N.C., 01100 Viterbo, Italy.
| | - Cristian Silvestri
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Forestali (DAFNE), Università degli Studi della Tuscia, Via San Camillo De Lellis S.N.C., 01100 Viterbo, Italy.
| | - Francesca Sparvoli
- Istituto di Biologia e Biotecnologia Agraria (IBBA), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Via Bassini 15, 20133 Milano, Italy.
| | - Giulio Testone
- Istituto di Biologia e Biotecnologia Agraria (IBBA), UOS Roma, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Via Salaria Km. 29,300, Monterotondo Scalo, 00015 Roma, Italy.
| | - Maria Luisa Mauro
- Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie, Sapienza Università di Roma, P.le A. Moro 5, 00185 Roma, Italy.
| | - Chiara Nicolodi
- Istituto di Biologia e Biotecnologia Agraria (IBBA), UOS Roma, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Via Salaria Km. 29,300, Monterotondo Scalo, 00015 Roma, Italy.
| | - Sofia Caretto
- Istituto di Scienze delle Produzioni Alimentari (ISPA), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Via Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy.
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18
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Yin JL, Wong WS. Production of santalenes and bergamotene in Nicotiana tabacum plants. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0203249. [PMID: 30608920 PMCID: PMC6319812 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0203249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2018] [Accepted: 12/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Terpenes play an important role in plant-insect relationships, and these relationships can potentially be modified by altering the profile of terpenes emitted from plants using metabolic engineering methods. Transgenic plants generated by employing such methods offer the prospect of low-cost sustainable pest management; in this regard, we used chloroplast targeting and cytosolic mevalonic acid pathway enhancement in this study to investigate the interaction of santalenes and bergamotene with insects. The santalene- and bergamotene-emitting transgenic tobacco plants thus generated were utilized to study host preference in the green peach aphid (Myzus persicae (Sulzer)). The results showed that co-expression of either 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGR) or truncated HMGR with santalene synthase led to the production of higher amounts of santalenes and bergamotene in transgenic tobacco plants, and that these santalene- and bergamotene-emitting plants were attractive to green peach aphids. We accordingly propose that such transgenic plants may have potential application in pest management as a trap crop to prevent green peach aphid infestation of wild-type tobacco plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun-Lin Yin
- YMU-HKBU Joint Laboratory of Traditional Natural Medicine, Yunnan Minzu University, Kunming, China
- Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, National University of Singapore, 1 Research Link, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Woon-Seng Wong
- Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, National University of Singapore, 1 Research Link, Singapore, Singapore
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19
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Guerriero G, Berni R, Muñoz-Sanchez JA, Apone F, Abdel-Salam EM, Qahtan AA, Alatar AA, Cantini C, Cai G, Hausman JF, Siddiqui KS, Hernández-Sotomayor SMT, Faisal M. Production of Plant Secondary Metabolites: Examples, Tips and Suggestions for Biotechnologists. Genes (Basel) 2018; 9:E309. [PMID: 29925808 PMCID: PMC6027220 DOI: 10.3390/genes9060309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 117] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2018] [Revised: 06/12/2018] [Accepted: 06/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Plants are sessile organisms and, in order to defend themselves against exogenous (a)biotic constraints, they synthesize an array of secondary metabolites which have important physiological and ecological effects. Plant secondary metabolites can be classified into four major classes: terpenoids, phenolic compounds, alkaloids and sulphur-containing compounds. These phytochemicals can be antimicrobial, act as attractants/repellents, or as deterrents against herbivores. The synthesis of such a rich variety of phytochemicals is also observed in undifferentiated plant cells under laboratory conditions and can be further induced with elicitors or by feeding precursors. In this review, we discuss the recent literature on the production of representatives of three plant secondary metabolite classes: artemisinin (a sesquiterpene), lignans (phenolic compounds) and caffeine (an alkaloid). Their respective production in well-known plants, i.e., Artemisia, Coffea arabica L., as well as neglected species, like the fibre-producing plant Urtica dioica L., will be surveyed. The production of artemisinin and caffeine in heterologous hosts will also be discussed. Additionally, metabolic engineering strategies to increase the bioactivity and stability of plant secondary metabolites will be surveyed, by focusing on glycosyltransferases (GTs). We end our review by proposing strategies to enhance the production of plant secondary metabolites in cell cultures by inducing cell wall modifications with chemicals/drugs, or with altered concentrations of the micronutrient boron and the quasi-essential element silicon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gea Guerriero
- Research and Innovation Department, Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology, 5 avenue des Hauts-Fourneaux, L-4362 Esch/Alzette, Luxembourg.
| | - Roberto Berni
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, via P.A. Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena, Italy.
- Trees and timber institute-National research council of Italy (CNR-IVALSA), via Aurelia 49, 58022 Follonica (GR), Italy.
| | - J Armando Muñoz-Sanchez
- Unidad de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular de Plantas, Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán, Calle 43 # 130 X 32 y 34, Col. Chuburná de Hidalgo, Mérida, Yucatán 97205, Mexico.
| | - Fabio Apone
- Arterra Biosciences srl/Vitalab srl, via B. Brin 69, 80142 Naples, Italy.
| | - Eslam M Abdel-Salam
- Department of Botany & Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Ahmad A Qahtan
- Department of Botany & Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Abdulrahman A Alatar
- Department of Botany & Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Claudio Cantini
- Trees and timber institute-National research council of Italy (CNR-IVALSA), via Aurelia 49, 58022 Follonica (GR), Italy.
| | - Giampiero Cai
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, via P.A. Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena, Italy.
| | - Jean-Francois Hausman
- Research and Innovation Department, Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology, 5 avenue des Hauts-Fourneaux, L-4362 Esch/Alzette, Luxembourg.
| | - Khawar Sohail Siddiqui
- Life Sciences Department, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM), 31261 Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.
| | - S M Teresa Hernández-Sotomayor
- Unidad de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular de Plantas, Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán, Calle 43 # 130 X 32 y 34, Col. Chuburná de Hidalgo, Mérida, Yucatán 97205, Mexico.
| | - Mohammad Faisal
- Department of Botany & Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia.
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20
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Fu R, Martin C, Zhang Y. Next-Generation Plant Metabolic Engineering, Inspired by an Ancient Chinese Irrigation System. MOLECULAR PLANT 2018; 11:47-57. [PMID: 28893713 DOI: 10.1016/j.molp.2017.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2017] [Revised: 08/06/2017] [Accepted: 09/01/2017] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Specialized secondary metabolites serve not only to protect plants against abiotic and biotic challenges, but have also been used extensively by humans to combat diseases. Due to the great importance of medicinal plants for health, we need to find new and sustainable ways to improve the production of the specialized metabolites. In addition to direct extraction, recent progress in metabolic engineering of plants offers an alternative supply option. We argue that metabolic engineering for producing the secondary metabolites in plants may have distinct advantages over microbial production platforms, and thus propose new approaches of plant metabolic engineering, which are inspired by an ancient Chinese irrigation system. Metabolic engineering strategies work at three levels: introducing biosynthetic genes, using transcription factors, and improving metabolic flux including increasing the supply of precursors, energy, and reducing power. In addition, recent progress in biotechnology contributes markedly to better engineering, such as the use of specific promoters and the deletion of competing branch pathways. We propose that next-generation plant metabolic engineering will improve current engineering strategies, for the purpose of producing valuable metabolites in plants on industrial scales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rao Fu
- Key Laboratory of Bio-resource and Eco-environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
| | - Cathie Martin
- Department of Metabolic Biology, John Innes Centre, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Yang Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Bio-resource and Eco-environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China.
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21
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Badshah SL, Ullah A, Ahmad N, Almarhoon ZM, Mabkhot Y. Increasing the Strength and Production of Artemisinin and Its Derivatives. Molecules 2018; 23:E100. [PMID: 29301383 PMCID: PMC6017432 DOI: 10.3390/molecules23010100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2017] [Revised: 12/19/2017] [Accepted: 12/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Artemisinin is a natural sesquiterpene lactone obtained from the Artemisia annua herb. It is widely used for the treatment of malaria. In this article, we have reviewed the role of artemisinin in controlling malaria, spread of resistance to artemisinin and the different methods used for its large scale production. The highest amount of artemisinin gene expression in tobacco leaf chloroplast leads to the production of 0.8 mg/g of the dry weight of the plant. This will revolutionize the treatment and control of malaria in third world countries. Furthermore, the generations of novel derivatives of artemisinin- and trioxane ring structure-inspired compounds are important for the treatment of malaria caused by resistant plasmodial species. Synthetic endoperoxide-like artefenomel and its derivatives are crucial for the control of malaria and such synthetic compounds should be further explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Syed Lal Badshah
- Department of Chemistry, Islamia College University Peshawar, Peshawar 25120, Pakistan.
| | - Asad Ullah
- Department of Chemistry, Islamia College University Peshawar, Peshawar 25120, Pakistan.
| | - Nasir Ahmad
- Department of Chemistry, Islamia College University Peshawar, Peshawar 25120, Pakistan.
| | - Zainab M Almarhoon
- Department of Chemistry, College of Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Yahia Mabkhot
- Department of Chemistry, College of Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia.
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22
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Catania TM, Branigan CA, Stawniak N, Hodson J, Harvey D, Larson TR, Czechowski T, Graham IA. Silencing amorpha-4,11-diene synthase Genes in Artemisia annua Leads to FPP Accumulation. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2018; 9:547. [PMID: 29896204 PMCID: PMC5986941 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2018.00547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2018] [Accepted: 04/09/2018] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Artemisia annua is established as an efficient crop for the production of the anti-malarial compound artemisinin, a sesquiterpene lactone synthesized and stored in Glandular Secretory Trichomes (GSTs) located on the leaves and inflorescences. Amorpha-4,11-diene synthase (AMS) catalyzes the conversion of farnesyl pyrophosphate (FPP) to amorpha-4,11-diene and diphosphate, which is the first committed step in the synthesis of artemisinin. FPP is the precursor for sesquiterpene and sterol biosynthesis in the plant. This work aimed to investigate the effect of blocking the synthesis of artemisinin in the GSTs of a high artemisinin yielding line, Artemis, by down regulating AMS. We determined that there are up to 12 AMS gene copies in Artemis, all expressed in GSTs. We used sequence homology to design an RNAi construct under the control of a GST specific promoter that was predicted to be effective against all 12 of these genes. Stable transformation of Artemis with this construct resulted in over 95% reduction in the content of artemisinin and related products, and a significant increase in the FPP pool. The Artemis AMS silenced lines showed no morphological alterations, and metabolomic and gene expression analysis did not detect any changes in the levels of other major sesquiterpene compounds or sesquiterpene synthase genes in leaf material. FPP also acts as a precursor for squalene and sterol biosynthesis but levels of these compounds were also not altered in the AMS silenced lines. Four unknown oxygenated sesquiterpenes were produced in these lines, but at extremely low levels compared to Artemis non-transformed controls (NTC). This study finds that engineering A. annua GSTs in an Artemis background results in endogenous terpenes related to artemisinin being depleted with the precursor FPP actually accumulating rather than being utilized by other endogenous enzymes. The challenge now is to establish if this precursor pool can act as substrate for production of alternative sesquiterpenes in A. annua.
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23
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Kotopka BJ, Li Y, Smolke CD. Synthetic biology strategies toward heterologous phytochemical production. Nat Prod Rep 2018; 35:902-920. [DOI: 10.1039/c8np00028j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
This review summarizes the recent progress in heterologous phytochemical biosynthetic pathway reconstitution in plant, bacteria, and yeast, with a focus on the synthetic biology strategies applied in these engineering efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yanran Li
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering
- Riverside
- USA
| | - Christina D. Smolke
- Department of Bioengineering
- Stanford University
- Stanford
- USA
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub
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24
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Ikram NKBK, Simonsen HT. A Review of Biotechnological Artemisinin Production in Plants. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2017; 8:1966. [PMID: 29187859 PMCID: PMC5694819 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2017.01966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2017] [Accepted: 10/31/2017] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Malaria is still an eminent threat to major parts of the world population mainly in sub-Saharan Africa. Researchers around the world continuously seek novel solutions to either eliminate or treat the disease. Artemisinin, isolated from the Chinese medicinal herb Artemisia annua, is the active ingredient in artemisinin-based combination therapies used to treat the disease. However, naturally artemisinin is produced in small quantities, which leads to a shortage of global supply. Due to its complex structure, it is difficult chemically synthesize. Thus to date, A. annua remains as the main commercial source of artemisinin. Current advances in genetic and metabolic engineering drives to more diverse approaches and developments on improving in planta production of artemisinin, both in A. annua and in other plants. In this review, we describe efforts in bioengineering to obtain a higher production of artemisinin in A. annua and stable heterologous in planta systems. The current progress and advancements provides hope for significantly improved production in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nur K. B. K. Ikram
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Henrik T. Simonsen
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
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25
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Ma D, Li G, Zhu Y, Xie DY. Overexpression and Suppression of Artemisia annua 4-Hydroxy-3-Methylbut-2-enyl Diphosphate Reductase 1 Gene ( AaHDR1) Differentially Regulate Artemisinin and Terpenoid Biosynthesis. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2017; 8:77. [PMID: 28197158 PMCID: PMC5281613 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2017.00077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2016] [Accepted: 01/13/2017] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
4-Hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl diphosphate reductase (HDR) catalyzes the last step of the 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol 4- phosphate (MEP) pathway to synthesize isopentenyl pyrophosphate (IPP) and dimethylallyl diphosphate (DMAPP). To date, little is known regarding effects of an increase or a decrease of a HDR expression on terpenoid and other metabolite profiles in plants. In our study, an Artemisia annua HDR cDNA (namely AaHDR1) was cloned from leaves. Expression profiling showed that it was highly expressed in leaves, roots, stems, and flowers with different levels. Green florescence protein fusion and confocal microscope analyses showed that AaHDR1 was localized in chloroplasts. The overexpression of AaHDR1 increased contents of artemisinin, arteannuin B and other sesquiterpenes, and multiple monoterpenes. By contrast, the suppression of AaHDR1 by anti-sense led to opposite results. In addition, an untargeted metabolic profiling showed that the overexpression and suppression altered non-polar metabolite profiles. In conclusion, the overexpression and suppression of AaHDR1 protein level in plastids differentially affect artemisinin and other terpenoid biosynthesis, and alter non-polar metabolite profiles of A. annua. Particularly, its overexpression leading to the increase of artemisinin production is informative to future metabolic engineering of this antimalarial medicine.
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26
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Malhotra K, Subramaniyan M, Rawat K, Kalamuddin M, Qureshi MI, Malhotra P, Mohmmed A, Cornish K, Daniell H, Kumar S. Compartmentalized Metabolic Engineering for Artemisinin Biosynthesis and Effective Malaria Treatment by Oral Delivery of Plant Cells. MOLECULAR PLANT 2016; 9:1464-1477. [PMID: 27773616 PMCID: PMC5980236 DOI: 10.1016/j.molp.2016.09.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2016] [Revised: 09/13/2016] [Accepted: 09/26/2016] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Artemisinin is highly effective against drug-resistant malarial parasites, which affects nearly half of the global population and kills >500 000 people each year. The primary cost of artemisinin is the very expensive process used to extract and purify the drug from Artemisia annua. Elimination of this apparently unnecessary step will make this potent antimalarial drug affordable to the global population living in endemic regions. Here we reported the oral delivery of a non-protein drug artemisinin biosynthesized (∼0.8 mg/g dry weight) at clinically meaningful levels in tobacco by engineering two metabolic pathways targeted to three different cellular compartments (chloroplast, nucleus, and mitochondria). The doubly transgenic lines showed a three-fold enhancement of isopentenyl pyrophosphate, and targeting AACPR, DBR2, and CYP71AV1 to chloroplasts resulted in higher expression and an efficient photo-oxidation of dihydroartemisinic acid to artemisinin. Partially purified extracts from the leaves of transgenic tobacco plants inhibited in vitro growth progression of Plasmodium falciparum-infected red blood cells. Oral feeding of whole intact plant cells bioencapsulating the artemisinin reduced the parasitemia levels in challenged mice in comparison with commercial drug. Such novel synergistic approaches should facilitate low-cost production and delivery of artemisinin and other drugs through metabolic engineering of edible plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karan Malhotra
- Metabolic Engineering Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Mayavan Subramaniyan
- Metabolic Engineering Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Khushboo Rawat
- Malaria Research Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Md Kalamuddin
- Malaria Research Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - M Irfan Qureshi
- Department of Biotechnology, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi 110025, India
| | - Pawan Malhotra
- Malaria Research Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Asif Mohmmed
- Malaria Research Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Katrina Cornish
- Department of Horticulture and Crop Science, The Ohio State University, Wooster, OH 44691, USA
| | - Henry Daniell
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Dental Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Shashi Kumar
- Metabolic Engineering Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India.
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27
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Wang S, Towler MJ, Weathers PJ. Root regulation of artemisinin production in Artemisia annua: trichome and metabolite evidence. PLANTA 2016; 244:999-1010. [PMID: 27339275 DOI: 10.1007/s00425-016-2560-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2016] [Accepted: 06/15/2016] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Roots of plants with high artemisinin-producing leaves increased leaf production of artemisinin in low-producing plants and vice versa indicating roots are involved in controlling artemisinin biosynthesis in shoots. The anti-malarial sesquiterpene, artemisinin, is produced and stored in glandular trichomes (GLTs) of Artemisia annua. Evidence suggested roots, which produce no significant artemisinin nor precursor compounds, regulate production of artemisinin biosynthesis in the leaves. Using grafting, we studied the relationship between rootstock and scion by measuring GLTs and five artemisinic metabolites (artemisinin, deoxyartemisinin, dihydroartemisinic acid, artemisinic acid, arteannuin B) in scions of ungrafted, self-grafted, and cross-grafted plants among three cultivars: S and 15 both having GLTs with artemisinin at 1.49 and 0.57 %, respectively, and G producing neither GLTs nor detectable artemisinin. All artemisinin-producing self-grafts, e.g., S/S (scion/rootstock) and 15/15, produced more artemisinin than ungrafted plants, likely from grafting stress. S/S grafts also produced more GLTs. The 15/S grafts produced more artemisinin than S/15, suggesting rootstocks from high producing S plants stimulated artemisinin production in 15 scions. S/15 grafts yielded less artemisinin than S/S, but more than either 15/15 or ungrafted n15 and nS; S/15 grafts also had a lower density of GLTs than S/S, suggesting rootstock inhibition of the scion. The S rootstock induced trace artemisinin production in G scions, but did not induce GLT formation in G/S grafts. Different grafts exhibited different trichome morphologies and effects on artemisinic pathway flux. This study provides new information regarding the role of roots in GLT development and artemisinin production in this important medicinal plant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sibo Wang
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Melissa J Towler
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Pamela J Weathers
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA, USA.
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28
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Comparison of the Exposure Time Dependence of the Activities of Synthetic Ozonide Antimalarials and Dihydroartemisinin against K13 Wild-Type and Mutant Plasmodium falciparum Strains. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2016; 60:4501-10. [PMID: 27161632 PMCID: PMC4958167 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00574-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2016] [Accepted: 05/03/2016] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Fully synthetic endoperoxide antimalarials, namely, OZ277 (RBx11160; also known as arterolane) and OZ439 (artefenomel), have been approved for marketing or are currently in clinical development. We undertook an analysis of the kinetics of the in vitro responses of Plasmodium falciparum to the new ozonide antimalarials. For these studies we used a K13 mutant (artemisinin resistant) isolate from a region in Cambodia and a genetically matched (artemisinin sensitive) K13 revertant. We used a pulsed-exposure assay format to interrogate the time dependence of the response. Because the ozonides have physicochemical properties different from those of the artemisinins, assay optimization was required to ensure that the drugs were completely removed following the pulsed exposure. Like that of artemisinins, ozonide activity requires active hemoglobin degradation. Short pulses of the ozonides were less effective than short pulses of dihydroartemisinin; however, when early-ring-stage parasites were exposed to drugs for periods relevant to their in vivo exposure, the ozonide antimalarials were markedly more effective.
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29
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Arendt P, Pollier J, Callewaert N, Goossens A. Synthetic biology for production of natural and new-to-nature terpenoids in photosynthetic organisms. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2016; 87:16-37. [PMID: 26867713 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.13138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2015] [Revised: 01/26/2016] [Accepted: 02/02/2016] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
With tens of thousands of characterized members, terpenoids constitute the largest class of natural compounds that are synthesized by all living organisms. Several terpenoids play primary roles in the maintenance of cell membrane fluidity, as pigments or as phytohormones, but most of them function as specialized metabolites that are involved in plant resistance to herbivores or plant-environment interactions. Terpenoids are an essential component of human nutrition, and many are economically important pharmaceuticals, aromatics and potential next-generation biofuels. Because of the often low abundance in their natural source, as well as the demand for novel terpenoid structures with new or improved bioactivities, terpenoid biosynthesis has become a prime target for metabolic engineering and synthetic biology projects. In this review we focus on the creation of new-to-nature or tailor-made plant-derived terpenoids in photosynthetic organisms, in particular by means of combinatorial biosynthesis and the activation of silent metabolism. We reflect on the characteristics of different potential photosynthetic host organisms and recent advances in synthetic biology and discuss their utility for the (heterologous) production of (novel) terpenoids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Arendt
- Department of Plant Systems Biology, VIB, B-9052, Gent, Belgium
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, B-9052, Gent, Belgium
- Laboratory for Protein Biochemistry and Biomolecular Engineering, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Ghent University, B-9000, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Medical Biotechnology Center, B-9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jacob Pollier
- Department of Plant Systems Biology, VIB, B-9052, Gent, Belgium
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, B-9052, Gent, Belgium
| | - Nico Callewaert
- Laboratory for Protein Biochemistry and Biomolecular Engineering, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Ghent University, B-9000, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Medical Biotechnology Center, B-9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Alain Goossens
- Department of Plant Systems Biology, VIB, B-9052, Gent, Belgium
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, B-9052, Gent, Belgium
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30
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Fuentes P, Zhou F, Erban A, Karcher D, Kopka J, Bock R. A new synthetic biology approach allows transfer of an entire metabolic pathway from a medicinal plant to a biomass crop. eLife 2016; 5:e13664. [PMID: 27296645 PMCID: PMC4907697 DOI: 10.7554/elife.13664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2015] [Accepted: 05/08/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Artemisinin-based therapies are the only effective treatment for malaria, the most devastating disease in human history. To meet the growing demand for artemisinin and make it accessible to the poorest, an inexpensive and rapidly scalable production platform is urgently needed. Here we have developed a new synthetic biology approach, combinatorial supertransformation of transplastomic recipient lines (COSTREL), and applied it to introduce the complete pathway for artemisinic acid, the precursor of artemisinin, into the high-biomass crop tobacco. We first introduced the core pathway of artemisinic acid biosynthesis into the chloroplast genome. The transplastomic plants were then combinatorially supertransformed with cassettes for all additional enzymes known to affect flux through the artemisinin pathway. By screening large populations of COSTREL lines, we isolated plants that produce more than 120 milligram artemisinic acid per kilogram biomass. Our work provides an efficient strategy for engineering complex biochemical pathways into plants and optimizing the metabolic output.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulina Fuentes
- Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Pflanzenphysiologie, Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| | - Fei Zhou
- Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Pflanzenphysiologie, Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| | - Alexander Erban
- Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Pflanzenphysiologie, Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| | - Daniel Karcher
- Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Pflanzenphysiologie, Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| | - Joachim Kopka
- Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Pflanzenphysiologie, Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| | - Ralph Bock
- Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Pflanzenphysiologie, Potsdam-Golm, Germany
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31
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Pulice G, Pelaz S, Matías-Hernández L. Molecular Farming in Artemisia annua, a Promising Approach to Improve Anti-malarial Drug Production. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2016; 7:329. [PMID: 27047510 PMCID: PMC4796020 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2016.00329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2015] [Accepted: 03/03/2016] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Malaria is a parasite infection affecting millions of people worldwide. Even though progress has been made in prevention and treatment of the disease; an estimated 214 million cases of malaria occurred in 2015, resulting in 438,000 estimated deaths; most of them occurring in Africa among children under the age of five. This article aims to review the epidemiology, future risk factors and current treatments of malaria, with particular focus on the promising potential of molecular farming that uses metabolic engineering in plants as an effective anti-malarial solution. Malaria represents an example of how a health problem may, on one hand, influence the proper development of a country, due to its burden of the disease. On the other hand, it constitutes an opportunity for lucrative business of diverse stakeholders. In contrast, plant biofarming is proposed here as a sustainable, promising, alternative for the production, not only of natural herbal repellents for malaria prevention but also for the production of sustainable anti-malarial drugs, like artemisinin (AN), used for primary parasite infection treatments. AN, a sesquiterpene lactone, is a natural anti-malarial compound that can be found in Artemisia annua. However, the low concentration of AN in the plant makes this molecule relatively expensive and difficult to produce in order to meet the current worldwide demand of Artemisinin Combination Therapies (ACTs), especially for economically disadvantaged people in developing countries. The biosynthetic pathway of AN, a process that takes place only in glandular secretory trichomes of A. annua, is relatively well elucidated. Significant efforts have been made using plant genetic engineering to increase production of this compound. These include diverse genetic manipulation approaches, such as studies on diverse transcription factors which have been shown to regulate the AN genetic pathway and other biological processes. Results look promising; however, further efforts should be addressed toward optimization of the most cost-effective biofarming approaches for synthesis and production of medicines against the malaria parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Pulice
- Sequentia Biotech, Parc Científic de BarcelonaBarcelona, Spain
| | - Soraya Pelaz
- Plant Development and Signal Transduction Department, Centre for Research in Agricultural GenomicsBarcelona, Spain
- Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis AvançatsBarcelona, Spain
| | - Luis Matías-Hernández
- Sequentia Biotech, Parc Científic de BarcelonaBarcelona, Spain
- Plant Development and Signal Transduction Department, Centre for Research in Agricultural GenomicsBarcelona, Spain
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32
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Majdi M, Ashengroph M, Abdollahi MR. Sesquiterpene lactone engineering in microbial and plant platforms: parthenolide and artemisinin as case studies. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2015; 100:1041-1059. [DOI: 10.1007/s00253-015-7128-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2015] [Revised: 10/24/2015] [Accepted: 10/27/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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33
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Ma DM, Wang Z, Wang L, Alejos-Gonzales F, Sun MA, Xie DY. A Genome-Wide Scenario of Terpene Pathways in Self-pollinated Artemisia annua. MOLECULAR PLANT 2015; 8:1580-98. [PMID: 26192869 DOI: 10.1016/j.molp.2015.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2014] [Revised: 06/07/2015] [Accepted: 07/08/2015] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Scenarios of genes to metabolites in Artemisia annua remain uninvestigated. Here, we report the use of an integrated approach combining metabolomics, transcriptomics, and gene function analyses to characterize gene-to-terpene and terpene pathway scenarios in a self-pollinating variety of this species. Eighty-eight metabolites including 22 sesquiterpenes (e.g., artemisinin), 26 monoterpenes, two triterpenes, one diterpene and 38 other non-polar metabolites were identified from 14 tissues. These metabolites were differentially produced by leaves and flowers at lower to higher positions. Sequences from cDNA libraries of six tissues were assembled into 18 871 contigs and genome-wide gene expression profiles in tissues were strongly associated with developmental stages and spatial specificities. Sequence mining identified 47 genes that mapped to the artemisinin, non-amorphadiene sesquiterpene, monoterpene, triterpene, 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate and mevalonate pathways. Pearson correlation analysis resulted in network integration that characterized significant correlations of gene-to-gene expression patterns and gene expression-to-metabolite levels in six tissues simultaneously. More importantly, manipulations of amorpha-4,11-diene synthase gene expression not only affected the activity of this pathway toward artemisinin, artemisinic acid, and arteannuin b but also altered non-amorphadiene sesquiterpene and genome-wide volatile profiles. Such gene-to-terpene landscapes associated with different tissues are fundamental to the metabolic engineering of artemisinin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong-Ming Ma
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | - Zhilong Wang
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | - Liangjiang Wang
- Department of Genetics and Biochemistry, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
| | - Fatima Alejos-Gonzales
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | - Ming-An Sun
- Virginia Bioinformatics Institute, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - De-Yu Xie
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA.
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Zhu J, Chen L, Hu X, Song L, Wang M, Yu R. Region-selective biosynthesis of artemisinic acid glycosides by crown galls of Panax quinquefolium and their in vitro antitumor activities. Pharmacogn Mag 2015; 11:518-23. [PMID: 26246726 PMCID: PMC4522837 DOI: 10.4103/0973-1296.160460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2014] [Revised: 09/26/2014] [Accepted: 07/10/2015] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The biosynthesis of artemisinin derivatives is one of the interesting subjects. Artemisinic acid (AA) has been widely studied as a supposed intermediate in the biosynthetic pathway leading to artemisinin in Artemisia annua. OBJECTIVE To investigate the bioconversion of AA by transgenic crown galls of Panax quinquefolium. MATERIALS AND METHODS AA was administered into crown galls of P. quinquefolium and co-cultured for 2 days. The methanol extract was separated by column chromatography, and the structures of two biosynthesis products were elucidated by physicochemical and spectroscopic methods. Co-culture time curves on conversion were also established. In addition, the effects of AA on the growth and ginsenosides production of crown galls of P. quinquefolium were investigated. Furthermore, the in vitro antitumor activities of AA and two glycosides against HepG2 cell line were evaluated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. RESULTS Glycosylation of AA by crown galls of P. quinquefolium was observed, and two region-selectively glycosylated products were obtained (AA-1, AA-2), involving one new compound (AA-2). Their structures were elucidated to be AA β-D-glucopyranosyl ester (AA-1) and AA β-D-glucopyranosyl-(2 → 1)-β-D-glucopyranosyl ester (AA-2). The maximum yield of AA-1 was 19.3% on the 1(st) co-culture day while that of AA-2 was 59.1% on the 2(nd) day. MTT assay showed that the activity of monosaccharide glycoside (AA-1) was better than that of disaccharide glycoside (AA-2). CONCLUSION Two AA glycosides involved one new compound with potential antitumor activity were obtained by region-selective biosynthesis with crown galls of P. quinquefolium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianhua Zhu
- Biotechnological Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Jinan University, China ; Department of Natural Medicinal Chemistry, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Lijia Chen
- Biotechnological Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Jinan University, China
| | - Xianjing Hu
- Department of Pharmacology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Liyan Song
- Department of Pharmacology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Mingxuan Wang
- Biotechnological Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Jinan University, China
| | - Rongmin Yu
- Biotechnological Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Jinan University, China ; Department of Natural Medicinal Chemistry, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
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Use of Model-Based Nutrient Feeding for Improved Production of Artemisinin by Hairy Roots of Artemisia Annua in a Modified Stirred Tank Bioreactor. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 2015. [PMID: 26206459 DOI: 10.1007/s12010-015-1750-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Artemisinin has been indicated to be a potent drug for the cure of malaria. Batch growth and artemisinin production kinetics of hairy root cultures of Artemisia annua were studied under shake flask conditions which resulted in accumulation of 12.49 g/L biomass and 0.27 mg/g artemisinin. Using the kinetic data, a mathematical model was identified to understand and optimize the system behavior. The developed model was then extrapolated to design nutrient feeding strategies during fed-batch cultivation for enhanced production of artemisinin. In one of the fed-batch cultivation, sucrose (37 g/L) feeding was done at a constant feed rate of 0.1 L/day during 10-15 days, which led to improved artemisinin accumulation of 0.77 mg/g. The second strategy of fed-batch hairy root cultivation involved maintenance of pseudo-steady state sucrose concentration (20.8 g/L) during 10-15 days which resulted in artemisinin accumulation of 0.99 mg/g. Fed-batch cultivation (with the maintenance of pseudo-steady state of substrate) of Artemisia annua hairy roots was, thereafter, implemented in bioreactor cultivation, which featured artemisinin accumulation of 1.0 mg/g artemisinin in 16 days of cultivation. This is the highest reported artemisinin yield by hairy root cultivation in a bioreactor.
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Cankar K, Jongedijk E, Klompmaker M, Majdic T, Mumm R, Bouwmeester H, Bosch D, Beekwilder J. (+)-Valencene production in Nicotiana benthamiana is increased by down-regulation of competing pathways. Biotechnol J 2015; 10:180-9. [PMID: 25159317 DOI: 10.1002/biot.201400288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2014] [Revised: 07/01/2014] [Accepted: 08/25/2014] [Indexed: 12/16/2023]
Abstract
Plant sesquiterpenes, such as (+)-valencene, artemisinin, and farnesene are valuable chemicals for use as aromatics, pharmaceuticals, and biofuels. Plant-based production systems for terpenoids critically depend on the availability of farnesyl diphosphate (FPP). Currently, these systems show insufficient yields, due to the competition for FPP of newly introduced pathways with endogenous ones. In this study, for the first time an RNAi strategy aiming at silencing of endogenous pathways for increased (+)-valencene production was employed. Firstly, a transient production system for (+)-valencene in Nicotiana benthamiana was set up using agroinfiltration. Secondly, silencing of the endogenous 5-epi-aristolochene synthase (EAS) and squalene synthase (SQS) that compete for the FPP pool was deployed. This resulted in a N. benthamiana plant that produces (+)-valencene as a prevalent volatile with a 2.8-fold increased yield. Finally, the size of the FPP pool was increased by overexpression of enzymes that are rate-limiting in FPP biosynthesis. Combined with silencing of EAS and SQS, no further increase of (+)-valencene production was observed, but emission of farnesol. Formation of farnesol, which is a breakdown product of FPP, indicates that overproducing sesquiterpenes is no longer limited by FPP availability in the cytosol. This study shows that metabolic engineering of plants can effectively be used for increased production of desired products in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarina Cankar
- Laboratory of Plant Physiology, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Wageningen, The Netherlands; Plant Research International, Business Unit Bioscience, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Wageningen, The Netherlands
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Ikram NKBK, Zhan X, Pan XW, King BC, Simonsen HT. Stable heterologous expression of biologically active terpenoids in green plant cells. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2015; 6:129. [PMID: 25852702 PMCID: PMC4364152 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2015.00129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2014] [Accepted: 02/18/2015] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Plants biosynthesize a great diversity of biologically active small molecules of interest for fragrances, flavors, and pharmaceuticals. Among specialized metabolites, terpenoids represent the greatest molecular diversity. Many terpenoids are very complex, and total chemical synthesis often requires many steps and difficult chemical reactions, resulting in a low final yield or incorrect stereochemistry. Several drug candidates with terpene skeletons are difficult to obtain by chemical synthesis due to their large number of chiral centers. Thus, biological production remains the preferred method for industrial production for many of these compounds. However, because these chemicals are often found in low abundance in the native plant, or are produced in plants which are difficult to cultivate, there is great interest in engineering increased production or expression of the biosynthetic pathways in heterologous hosts. Although there are many examples of successful engineering of microbes such as yeast or bacteria to produce these compounds, this often requires extensive changes to the host organism's metabolism. Optimization of plant gene expression, post-translational protein modifications, subcellular localization, and other factors often present challenges. To address the future demand for natural products used as drugs, new platforms are being established that are better suited for heterologous production of plant metabolites. Specifically, direct metabolic engineering of plants can provide effective heterologous expression for production of valuable plant-derived natural products. In this review, our primary focus is on small terpenoids and we discuss the benefits of plant expression platforms and provide several successful examples of stable production of small terpenoids in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- N. Kusaira B. K. Ikram
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Copenhagen Plant Science Centre, University of CopenhagenCopenhagen, Denmark
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of MalayaKuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Xin Zhan
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Copenhagen Plant Science Centre, University of CopenhagenCopenhagen, Denmark
| | - Xi-Wu Pan
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Copenhagen Plant Science Centre, University of CopenhagenCopenhagen, Denmark
| | - Brian C. King
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Copenhagen Plant Science Centre, University of CopenhagenCopenhagen, Denmark
| | - Henrik T. Simonsen
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Copenhagen Plant Science Centre, University of CopenhagenCopenhagen, Denmark
- *Correspondence: Henrik T. Simonsen, Plant Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871 Frederiksberg, Denmark
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Sun Z, Meng H, Li J, Wang J, Li Q, Wang Y, Zhang Y. Identification of novel knockout targets for improving terpenoids biosynthesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. PLoS One 2014; 9:e112615. [PMID: 25386654 PMCID: PMC4227703 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0112615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2014] [Accepted: 10/09/2014] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Many terpenoids have important pharmacological activity and commercial value; however, application of these terpenoids is often limited by problems associated with the production of sufficient amounts of these molecules. The use of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (S. cerevisiae) for the production of heterologous terpenoids has achieved some success. The objective of this study was to identify S. cerevisiae knockout targets for improving the synthesis of heterologous terpeniods. On the basis of computational analysis of the S. cerevisiae metabolic network, we identified the knockout sites with the potential to promote terpenoid production and the corresponding single mutant was constructed by molecular manipulations. The growth rates of these strains were measured and the results indicated that the gene deletion had no adverse effects. Using the expression of amorphadiene biosynthesis as a testing model, the gene deletion was assessed for its effect on the production of exogenous terpenoids. The results showed that the dysfunction of most genes led to increased production of amorphadiene. The yield of amorphadiene produced by most single mutants was 8–10-fold greater compared to the wild type, indicating that the knockout sites can be engineered to promote the synthesis of exogenous terpenoids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiqiang Sun
- CAS Key Laboratory of Plant Germplasm Enhancement and Specialty Agriculture, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Hailin Meng
- Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- GIAT-HKU joint Center for Synthetic Biology Engineering Research, Guangzhou Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jing Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Plant Germplasm Enhancement and Specialty Agriculture, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Jianfeng Wang
- Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Qian Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Plant Germplasm Enhancement and Specialty Agriculture, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Yong Wang
- Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- * E-mail: (YW); (YZ)
| | - Yansheng Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Plant Germplasm Enhancement and Specialty Agriculture, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
- * E-mail: (YW); (YZ)
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Gene clustering in plant specialized metabolism. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2014; 26:91-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2013.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 157] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2013] [Revised: 10/22/2013] [Accepted: 10/23/2013] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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40
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Farhi M, Kozin M, Duchin S, Vainstein A. Metabolic engineering of plants for artemisinin synthesis. Biotechnol Genet Eng Rev 2013; 29:135-48. [PMID: 24568277 DOI: 10.1080/02648725.2013.821283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Artemisinin, a natural compound from Artemisia annua, is highly effective in treating drug-resistant malaria. Because chemical synthesis of this natural terpenoid is not economically feasible, its only source remains as the native plant which produces only small quantities of it, resulting in a supply that is far short of demand. Extensive efforts have been invested in metabolic engineering for the biosynthesis of artemisinin precursors in microbes. However, the production of artemisinin itself has only been achieved in plants. Since, A. annua possesses only poorly developed genetic resources for traditional breeders, molecular breeding is the best alternative. In this review, we describe the efforts taken to enhance artemisinin production in A. annua via transgenesis and advocate metabolic engineering of the complete functional artemisinin metabolic pathway in heterologous plants. In both cases, we emphasize the need to apply state-of-the-art synthetic biology approaches to ensure successful biosynthesis of the drug.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moran Farhi
- a The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Institute of Plant Sciences and Genetics in Agriculture , The Hebrew University of Jerusalem , Rehovot , 76100 , Israel
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Misra A, Conway MF, Johnnie J, Qureshi TM, Lige B, Derrick AM, Agbo EC, Sriram G. Metabolic analyses elucidate non-trivial gene targets for amplifying dihydroartemisinic acid production in yeast. Front Microbiol 2013; 4:200. [PMID: 23898325 PMCID: PMC3724057 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2013.00200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2013] [Accepted: 06/25/2013] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Synthetic biology enables metabolic engineering of industrial microbes to synthesize value-added molecules. In this, a major challenge is the efficient redirection of carbon to the desired metabolic pathways. Pinpointing strategies toward this goal requires an in-depth investigation of the metabolic landscape of the organism, particularly primary metabolism, to identify precursor and cofactor availability for the target compound. The potent antimalarial therapeutic artemisinin and its precursors are promising candidate molecules for production in microbial hosts. Recent advances have demonstrated the production of artemisinin precursors in engineered yeast strains as an alternative to extraction from plants. We report the application of in silico and in vivo metabolic pathway analyses to identify metabolic engineering targets to improve the yield of the direct artemisinin precursor dihydroartemisinic acid (DHA) in yeast. First, in silico extreme pathway (ExPa) analysis identified NADPH-malic enzyme and the oxidative pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) as mechanisms to meet NADPH demand for DHA synthesis. Next, we compared key DHA-synthesizing ExPas to the metabolic flux distributions obtained from in vivo (13)C metabolic flux analysis of a DHA-synthesizing strain. This comparison revealed that knocking out ethanol synthesis and overexpressing glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase in the oxidative PPP (gene YNL241C) or the NADPH-malic enzyme ME2 (YKL029C) are vital steps toward overproducing DHA. Finally, we employed in silico flux balance analysis and minimization of metabolic adjustment on a yeast genome-scale model to identify gene knockouts for improving DHA yields. The best strategy involved knockout of an oxaloacetate transporter (YKL120W) and an aspartate aminotransferase (YKL106W), and was predicted to improve DHA yields by 70-fold. Collectively, our work elucidates multiple non-trivial metabolic engineering strategies for improving DHA yield in yeast.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashish Misra
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of MarylandCollege Park, MD, USA
| | - Matthew F. Conway
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of MarylandCollege Park, MD, USA
| | - Joseph Johnnie
- Institute for Systems Engineering, University of MarylandCollege Park, MD, USA
| | - Tabish M. Qureshi
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of MarylandCollege Park, MD, USA
| | - Bao Lige
- Fyodor BiotechnologiesBaltimore, MD, USA
| | | | | | - Ganesh Sriram
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of MarylandCollege Park, MD, USA
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Ting HM, Wang B, Rydén AM, Woittiez L, van Herpen T, Verstappen FWA, Ruyter-Spira C, Beekwilder J, Bouwmeester HJ, van der Krol A. The metabolite chemotype of Nicotiana benthamiana transiently expressing artemisinin biosynthetic pathway genes is a function of CYP71AV1 type and relative gene dosage. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2013; 199:352-366. [PMID: 23638869 DOI: 10.1111/nph.12274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2012] [Accepted: 03/10/2013] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Artemisia annua, which produces the anti-malaria compound artemisinin, occurs as high-artemisinin production (HAP) and low-artemisinin production (LAP) chemotypes. Understanding the basis of the difference between these chemotypes would assist breeding and optimising artemisinin biosynthesis. Here we present a systematic comparison of artemisinin biosynthesis genes that may be involved in determining the chemotype (CYP71AV1, DBR2 and ALDH1). These genes were isolated from the two chemotypes and characterized using transient expression in planta. The enzyme activity of DBR2 and ALDH1 from the two chemotypes did not differ, but structural differences in CYP71AV1 from LAP and HAP chemotypes (AMOLAP and AMOHAP, respectively) resulted in altered enzyme activity. AMOLAP displays a seven amino acids N-terminal extension compared with AMOHAP. The GFP fusion of both proteins show equal localization to the ER but AMOHAP may have reduced stability. Upon transient expression in Nicotiana benthamiana, AMOLAP displayed a higher enzyme activity than AMOHAP. However, expression in combination with the other pathway genes also resulted in a qualitatively different product profile ('chemotype'); that is, in a shift in the ratio between the unsaturated and saturated (dihydro) branch of the pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hieng-Ming Ting
- Laboratory of Plant Physiology, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708 PB, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Bo Wang
- Laboratory of Plant Physiology, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708 PB, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Anna-Margareta Rydén
- Laboratory of Plant Physiology, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708 PB, Wageningen, the Netherlands
- Plant Research International, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708 PB, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Lotte Woittiez
- Laboratory of Plant Physiology, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708 PB, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Teun van Herpen
- Laboratory of Plant Physiology, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708 PB, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Francel W A Verstappen
- Laboratory of Plant Physiology, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708 PB, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Carolien Ruyter-Spira
- Laboratory of Plant Physiology, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708 PB, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Jules Beekwilder
- Laboratory of Plant Physiology, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708 PB, Wageningen, the Netherlands
- Plant Research International, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708 PB, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Harro J Bouwmeester
- Laboratory of Plant Physiology, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708 PB, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Alexander van der Krol
- Laboratory of Plant Physiology, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708 PB, Wageningen, the Netherlands
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Lange BM, Ahkami A. Metabolic engineering of plant monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes and diterpenes--current status and future opportunities. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL 2013; 11:169-96. [PMID: 23171352 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.12022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2012] [Revised: 10/05/2012] [Accepted: 10/08/2012] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Terpenoids (a.k.a. isoprenoids) represent the most diverse class of natural products found in plants, with tens of thousands of reported structures. Plant-derived terpenoids have a multitude of pharmaceutical and industrial applications, but the natural resources for their extraction are often limited and, in many cases, synthetic routes are not commercially viable. Some of the most valuable terpenoids are not accumulated in model plants or crops, and genetic resources for breeding of terpenoid natural product traits are thus poorly developed. At present, metabolic engineering, either in the native producer or a heterologous host, is the only realistic alternative to improve yield and accessibility. In this review article, we will evaluate the state of the art of modulating the biosynthetic pathways for the production of mono-, sesqui- and diterpenes in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Markus Lange
- Institute of Biological Chemistry and MJ Murdock Metabolomics Laboratory, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA.
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Nguyen KT, Towler MJ, Weathers PJ. The effect of roots and media constituents on trichomes and artemisinin production in Artemisia annua L. PLANT CELL REPORTS 2013; 32:207-18. [PMID: 23085820 PMCID: PMC3551342 DOI: 10.1007/s00299-012-1355-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2012] [Revised: 09/20/2012] [Accepted: 10/07/2012] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
KEY MESSAGE : Rooting of Artemisia annua increases trichome size on leaves and helps drive the final steps of the biosynthesis of the sesquiterpene antimalarial drug, artemisinin. Artemisia annua produces the antimalarial drug, artemisinin (AN), which is synthesized and stored in glandular trichomes (GLTs). In vitro-grown A. annua shoots produce more AN when they form roots. This may be a function not of the roots, but rather media components such as the phytohormones, α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP), or salts and sucrose used to maintain either rooted or unrooted shoot cultures. We investigated how three main media components altered artemisinic metabolite production, pathway gene transcripts, and GLT formation in both mature and developing leaves in rooted and unrooted cultures. Although transcript levels of AN biosynthetic genes were not altered, AN levels were significantly different, and there were major differences in both artemisinic metabolite levels and trichomes in mature versus developing leaves. For example, NAA induced higher AN production in rooted shoots, but only in mature leaves. In developing leaves, BAP increased GLT density on the leaf surface. When both phytohormones were present, GLTs were larger on young developing leaves, but smaller on mature leaves. Furthermore, although other media components increased GLT density, their size decreased on young leaves, but there was no effect on mature leaves. Roots also appeared to drive conversion of artemisinic precursors towards end products. These results suggest that, while the presence of roots affects AN and trichome production, phytohormones and other media constituents used for in vitro culture of A. annua also exert an influence.
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Kong J, Yang Y, Wang W, Cheng K, Zhu P. Artemisinic acid: A promising molecule potentially suitable for the semi-synthesis of artemisinin. RSC Adv 2013. [DOI: 10.1039/c3ra40525g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
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Houshyani B, Assareh M, Busquets A, Ferrer A, Bouwmeester HJ, Kappers IF. Three-step pathway engineering results in more incidence rate and higher emission of nerolidol and improved attraction of Diadegma semiclausum. Metab Eng 2013; 15:88-97. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ymben.2012.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2011] [Revised: 10/02/2012] [Accepted: 10/09/2012] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
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Jirschitzka J, Mattern DJ, Gershenzon J, D'Auria JC. Learning from nature: new approaches to the metabolic engineering of plant defense pathways. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2012; 24:320-8. [PMID: 23141769 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2012.10.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2012] [Revised: 10/12/2012] [Accepted: 10/18/2012] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Biotechnological manipulation of plant defense pathways can increase crop resistance to herbivores and pathogens while also increasing yields of medicinal, industrial, flavor and fragrance compounds. The most successful achievements in engineering defense pathways can be attributed to researchers striving to imitate natural plant regulatory mechanisms. For example, the introduction of transcription factors that control several genes in one pathway is often a valuable strategy to increase flux in that pathway. The use of multi-gene cassettes which mimic natural gene clusters can facilitate coordinated regulation of a pathway and speed transformation efforts. The targeting of defense pathway genes to organs and tissues in which the defensive products are typically made and stored can also increase yield as well as defensive potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Jirschitzka
- Department of Biochemistry, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Hans-Knöll-Strasse 8, D-07745 Jena, Germany
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Kanagarajan S, Muthusamy S, Gliszczyńska A, Lundgren A, Brodelius PE. Functional expression and characterization of sesquiterpene synthases from Artemisia annua L. using transient expression system in Nicotiana benthamiana. PLANT CELL REPORTS 2012; 31:1309-19. [PMID: 22565787 DOI: 10.1007/s00299-012-1250-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2012] [Revised: 03/13/2012] [Accepted: 03/17/2012] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Artemisia annua L. produces a number of sesquiterpene synthases, which catalyze the conversion of farnesyl diphosphate to various sesquiterpenes. The cDNAs encoding amorpha-4,11-diene synthase (ADS), a key enzyme in the artemisinin biosynthesis, and epi-cedrol synthase (ECS), a complex sesquiterpene cyclization synthase, were cloned into Cowpea mosaic virus-based viral vector (pEAQ-HT) with Kozak consensus motif and C-terminal histidine tag. The plasmids were transformed into Agrobacterium LBA4404 and, agroinfiltrated into Nicotiana benthamiana leaves along with vector (pJL3:p19) containing Tomato bushy stunt virus post-transcriptional gene silencing suppressor. Quantitative PCR was carried out to measure the transcript levels at 0, 3, 6, 9, 12 and 15 days post-infiltration (dpi). The highest relative expression was observed at 9 dpi for both genes. Transiently expressed recombinant proteins of ADS and ECS were confirmed by SDS-PAGE and western blot. Recombinant proteins were extracted from 9 dpi leaves and purified by immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography using histidine tag, which produced yields of 90 and 96 mg kg⁻¹ fresh weight of leaves for ADS and ECS, respectively. Activities of the purified enzymes were assayed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for product identification and quantification using valencene as internal standard. The recombinant ADS and ECS converted farnesyl diphosphate into amorpha-4,11-diene (97 %) and epi-cedrol (96 %) as the major products, respectively. The purified enzymes exhibited the specific activity of 0.002 and 0.01 μmol min⁻¹ mg⁻¹ protein for ADS and ECS, respectively. The apparent k(cat) values were 2.1 × 10⁻³ s⁻¹ and 11 × 10⁻³ s⁻¹ for ADS and ECS, respectively. KEY MESSAGE Agroinfiltration of leaves of Nicotiana bentamiana can be used to produce recombinant biosynthetic enzymes as exemplified by two sesquiterpene synthases from Artemisia annua in relatively high yields.
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Lim EK, Bowles D. Plant production systems for bioactive small molecules. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2012; 23:271-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2011.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2011] [Revised: 10/18/2011] [Accepted: 12/15/2011] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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Yu ZX, Li JX, Yang CQ, Hu WL, Wang LJ, Chen XY. The jasmonate-responsive AP2/ERF transcription factors AaERF1 and AaERF2 positively regulate artemisinin biosynthesis in Artemisia annua L. MOLECULAR PLANT 2012; 5:353-65. [PMID: 22104293 DOI: 10.1093/mp/ssr087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 269] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Plants of Artemisia annua produce artemisinin, a sesquiterpene lactone widely used in malaria treatment. Amorpha-4,11-diene synthase (ADS), a sesquiterpene synthase, and CYP71AV1, a P450 monooxygenase, are two key enzymes of the artemisinin biosynthesis pathway. Accumulation of artemisinin can be induced by the phytohormone jasmonate (JA). Here, we report the characterization of two JA-responsive AP2 family transcription factors--AaERF1 and AaERF2--from A. annua L. Both genes were highly expressed in inflorescences and strongly induced by JA. Yeast one-hybrid and electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) showed that they were able to bind to the CRTDREHVCBF2 (CBF2) and RAV1AAT (RAA) motifs present in both ADS and CYP71AV1 promoters. Transient expression of either AaERF1 or AaERF2 in tobacco induced the promoter activities of ADS or CYP71AV1, and the transgenic A. annua plants overexpressing either transcription factor showed elevated transcript levels of both ADS and CYP71AV1, resulting in increased accumulation of artemisinin and artemisinic acid. By contrast, the contents of these two metabolites were reduced in the RNAi transgenic lines in which expression of AaERF1 or AaERF2 was suppressed. These results demonstrate that AaERF1 and AaERF2 are two positive regulators of artemisinin biosynthesis and are of great value in genetic engineering of artemisinin production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zong-Xia Yu
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics and National Center for Plant Gene Research, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
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