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Pan X, Rudolf JD, Dong LB. Class II terpene cyclases: structures, mechanisms, and engineering. Nat Prod Rep 2024; 41:402-433. [PMID: 38105714 PMCID: PMC10954422 DOI: 10.1039/d3np00033h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Covering: up to July 2023Terpene cyclases (TCs) catalyze some of the most complicated reactions in nature and are responsible for creating the skeletons of more than 95 000 terpenoid natural products. The canonical TCs are divided into two classes according to their structures, functions, and mechanisms. The class II TCs mediate acid-base-initiated cyclization reactions of isoprenoid diphosphates, terpenes without diphosphates (e.g., squalene or oxidosqualene), and prenyl moieties on meroterpenes. The past twenty years witnessed the emergence of many class II TCs, their reactions and their roles in biosynthesis. Class II TCs often act as one of the first steps in the biosynthesis of biologically active natural products including the gibberellin family of phytohormones and fungal meroterpenoids. Due to their mechanisms and biocatalytic potential, TCs elicit fervent attention in the biosynthetic and organic communities and provide great enthusiasm for enzyme engineering to construct novel and bioactive molecules. To engineer and expand the structural diversities of terpenoids, it is imperative to fully understand how these enzymes generate, precisely control, and quench the reactive carbocation intermediates. In this review, we summarize class II TCs from nature, including sesquiterpene, diterpene, triterpene, and meroterpenoid cyclases as well as noncanonical class II TCs and inspect their sequences, structures, mechanisms, and structure-guided engineering studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingming Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China.
| | - Jeffrey D Rudolf
- Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611-7011, USA.
| | - Liao-Bin Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China.
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Ren X, Lin C, Huang Y, Su T, Guo J, Yang L. Miltiradiene Production by Cytoplasmic Metabolic Engineering in Nicotiana benthamiana. Metabolites 2023; 13:1188. [PMID: 38132870 PMCID: PMC10745046 DOI: 10.3390/metabo13121188] [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: 11/06/2023] [Revised: 11/26/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Plant natural products are important sources of innovative drugs, but the extraction and isolation of medicinal natural products from plants is challenging as these compounds have complex structures that are difficult to synthesize chemically. Therefore, utilizing heterologous expression systems to produce medicinal natural products in plants is a novel, environmentally friendly, and sustainable method. In this study, Nicotiana benthamiana was used as the plant platform to successfully produce miltiradiene, the key intermediate of tanshinones, which are the bioactive constituents of the Chinese medicinal plant Salvia miltiorrhiza. The yield of miltiradiene was increased through cytoplasmic engineering strategies combined with the enhancement of isoprenoid precursors. Additionally, we discovered that overexpressing SmHMGR alone accelerated apoptosis in tobacco leaves. Due to the richer membrane systems and cofactors in tobacco compared to yeast, tobacco is more conducive to the expression of plant enzymes. Therefore, this study lays the foundation for dissecting the tanshinone biosynthetic pathway in tobacco, which is essential for subsequent research. Additionally, it highlights the potential of N. benthamiana as an alternative platform for the production of natural products in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangxiang Ren
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China; (X.R.); (T.S.)
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics and Resources, Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden, Shanghai 201602, China; (C.L.); (Y.H.)
| | - Chuhang Lin
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics and Resources, Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden, Shanghai 201602, China; (C.L.); (Y.H.)
| | - Yanbo Huang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics and Resources, Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden, Shanghai 201602, China; (C.L.); (Y.H.)
| | - Tao Su
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China; (X.R.); (T.S.)
| | - Juan Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Dao-Di Herbs, Beijing 100700, China;
| | - Lei Yang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics and Resources, Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden, Shanghai 201602, China; (C.L.); (Y.H.)
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Gomes TG, de Assis Fonseca FC, Alves GSC, de Siqueira FG, Miller RNG. Development of reference genes for RT-qPCR analysis of gene expression in Pleurotus pulmonarius for biotechnological applications. Sci Rep 2023; 13:12296. [PMID: 37516784 PMCID: PMC10387064 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-39115-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Jatropha curcas is an oilseed crop with biorefinery applications. Whilst cake generated following oil extraction offers potential as a protein source for animal feed, inactivation of toxic phorbol esters present in the material is necessary. Pleurotus pulmonarius is a detoxifying agent for jatropha cake with additional potential as animal feed, edible mushroom and for enzyme production. For the characterization of fungal genes involved in phorbol ester degradation, together with other industrial applications, reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) is a tool that enables accurate quantification of gene expression. For this, reliable analysis requires reference genes for normalization of mRNA levels validated under conditions employed for target genes. The stability of potential reference genes β-TUB, ACTIN, GAPDH, PHOS, EF1α, TRPHO, LAC, MNP3, MYP and VP were evaluated following growth of P. pulmonarius on toxic, non-toxic jatropha cake and a combined treatment, respectively. NormFinder and geNorm algorithms for expression stability analysis identified PHOS, EF1α and MNP3 as appropriate for normalizing gene expression. Reference gene combinations contrasting in ranking were compared following normalization of relative expression of the CHU_2040 gene, encoding an esterase enzyme potentially involved in phorbol ester degradation. The reference genes for P. pulmonarius will facilitate the elucidation of mechanisms involved in detoxification of phorbol esters as well as analysis of target genes for application in biorefinery models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taísa Godoy Gomes
- Departamento de Biologia Celular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade de Brasília, Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro, Brasília, DF, 70910-900, Brazil
| | - Fernando Campos de Assis Fonseca
- Departamento de Biologia Celular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade de Brasília, Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro, Brasília, DF, 70910-900, Brazil
- Instituto Federal de Goiás (IFG), Águas Lindas, GO, 72910-733, Brazil
| | - Gabriel Sergio Costa Alves
- Departamento de Biologia Celular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade de Brasília, Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro, Brasília, DF, 70910-900, Brazil
| | | | - Robert Neil Gerard Miller
- Departamento de Biologia Celular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade de Brasília, Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro, Brasília, DF, 70910-900, Brazil.
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Zhao L, Liu J, Wang J, Duan X, Hui S. Key secondary metabolite markers for Wuchang Daohuaxiang rice discrimination in China. Food Res Int 2023; 169:112943. [PMID: 37254367 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2023.112943] [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: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
This study aimed to comprehensively elucidate the vital secondary metabolites of Wuchang Daohuaxiang (DHX) rice through widely targeted metabolomics analysis. Among the secondary metabolites detected, a total of 30 differential ones were screened out and categorized into 4 different classes, including 6 alkaloids (20%), 15 flavonoids (50%), 6 phenolic acids (20%), and 3 terpenoids (10%) between DHX and control groups. Of these, compounds as zarzissine, fagomine, arbutin, p-Hydroxypheny-β-D-allopyranoside, pimaric acid, kaurenoic acid, and isopimaric acid were more abundant in DHX than control group, with the possibility in serve as key secondary metabolites of DHX rice. Furthermore, arbutin, trigonelline and 6'-O-Feruloyl-D-sucrose were optimized as potential biomarkers for DHX rice discrimination. This study would supply data support for DHX rice authenticity and quality improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luyao Zhao
- Academy of National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration, Beijing 100037, PR China.
| | - Jianlei Liu
- Academy of National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration, Beijing 100037, PR China
| | - Jishi Wang
- Key Laboratory for Environmental Factors Control of Agro-product Quality Safety, Ministry of Agriculture, Agro-Environmental Protection Institute, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Tianjin 300191, PR China
| | - Xiaoliang Duan
- Academy of National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration, Beijing 100037, PR China.
| | - Sun Hui
- Academy of National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration, Beijing 100037, PR China.
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Tong Y, Ma X, Hu T, Chen K, Cui G, Su P, Xu H, Gao W, Jiang T, Huang L. Structural and mechanistic insights into the precise product synthesis by a bifunctional miltiradiene synthase. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL 2023; 21:165-175. [PMID: 36161753 PMCID: PMC9829396 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.13933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2022] [Revised: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Selaginella moellendorffii miltiradiene synthase (SmMDS) is a unique bifunctional diterpene synthase (diTPS) that catalyses the successive cyclization of (E,E,E)-geranylgeranyl diphosphate (GGPP) via (+)-copalyl diphosphate (CPP) to miltiradiene, which is a crucial precursor of important medicinal compounds, such as triptolide, ecabet sodium and carnosol. Miltiradiene synthetic processes have been studied in monofunctional diTPSs, while the precise mechanism by which active site amino acids determine product simplicity and the experimental evidence for reaction intermediates remain elusive. In addition, how bifunctional diTPSs work compared to monofunctional enzymes is attractive for detailed research. Here, by mutagenesis studies of SmMDS, we confirmed that pimar-15-en-8-yl+ is an intermediate in miltiradiene synthesis. Moreover, we determined the apo-state and the GGPP-bound state crystal structures of SmMDS. By structure analysis and mutagenesis experiments, possible contributions of key residues both in class I and II active sites were suggested. Based on the structural and functional analyses, we confirmed the copal-15-yl+ intermediate and unveiled more details of the catalysis process in the SmMDS class I active site. Moreover, the structural and experimental results suggest an internal channel for (+)-CPP produced in the class II active site moving towards the class I active site. Our research is a good example for intermediate identification of diTPSs and provides new insights into the product specificity determinants and intermediate transport, which should greatly facilitate the precise controlled synthesis of various diterpenes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuru Tong
- National Resource Center for Chinese Materia MedicaChina Academy of Chinese Medical SciencesBeijingChina
- School of Pharmaceutical SciencesCapital Medical UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Xiaoli Ma
- National Laboratory of BiomacromoleculesInstitute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Tianyuan Hu
- School of Pharmaceutical SciencesCapital Medical UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Kang Chen
- National Resource Center for Chinese Materia MedicaChina Academy of Chinese Medical SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Guanghong Cui
- National Resource Center for Chinese Materia MedicaChina Academy of Chinese Medical SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Ping Su
- National Resource Center for Chinese Materia MedicaChina Academy of Chinese Medical SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Haifeng Xu
- National Laboratory of BiomacromoleculesInstitute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Wei Gao
- Beijing Shijitan HospitalCapital Medical UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Tao Jiang
- National Laboratory of BiomacromoleculesInstitute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Luqi Huang
- National Resource Center for Chinese Materia MedicaChina Academy of Chinese Medical SciencesBeijingChina
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Lee JB, Ohmura T, Yamamura Y. Functional Characterization of Three Diterpene Synthases Responsible for Tetracyclic Diterpene Biosynthesis in Scoparia dulcis. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 12:69. [PMID: 36616198 PMCID: PMC9824296 DOI: 10.3390/plants12010069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Scoparia dulcis produces unique biologically active diterpenoids such as scopadulcic acid B (SDB). They are biosynthesized from geranylgeranyl diphosphate (GGPP) via syn-copalyl diphosphate (syn-CPP) and scopadulanol as an important key intermediate. In this paper, we functionally characterized three diterpene synthases, SdCPS2, SdKSL1 and SdKSL2, from S. dulcis. The SdCPS2 catalyzed a cyclization reaction from GGPP to syn-CPP, and SdKSL1 did from syn-CPP to scopadulan-13α-ol. On the other hand, SdKSL2 was found to incorporate a non-sense mutation at 682. Therefore, we mutated the nucleotide residue from A to G in SdKSL2 to produce SdKSL2mut, and it was able to recover the catalytic function from syn-CPP to syn-aphidicol-16-ene, the precursor to scopadulin. From our results, SdCPS2 and SdKSL1 might be important key players for SDB biosynthesis in S. dulcis.
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Wang J, Mao Y, Ma Y, Yang J, Jin B, Lin H, Tang J, Zeng W, Zhao Y, Gao W, Peters RJ, Guo J, Cui G, Huang L. Diterpene synthases from Leonurus japonicus elucidate epoxy-bridge formation of spiro-labdane diterpenoids. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 189:99-111. [PMID: 35157086 PMCID: PMC9070827 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiac056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Spiro-9,13-epoxy-labdane diterpenoids are commonly found in Leonurus species, particularly in Leonurus japonicus Houtt., which is a medicinal herb of long-standing use in Asia and in which such spiro-heterocycles are present in at least 38 diterpenoids. Here, through generation of a transcriptome and functional characterization of six diterpene synthases (diTPSs) from L. japonicus, including three class II diTPSs (LjTPS1, LjTPS3, and LjTPS4) and three class I diTPSs (LjTPS5, LjTPS6, and LjTPS7), formation of the spiro-9,13-epoxy-labdane backbone was elucidated, along with identification of the relevant diTPSs for production of other labdane-related diterpenes. Similar to what has been found with diTPSs from other plant species, while LjTPS3 specifically produces the carbon-9 (C9) hydroxylated bicycle peregrinol diphosphate (PPP), the subsequently acting LjTPS6 yields a mixture of four products, largely labda-13(16),14-dien-9-ol, but with substantial amounts of viteagnusin D and the C13-S/R epimers of 9,13-epoxy-labda-14-ene. Notably, structure-function analysis identified a critical residue in LjTPS6 (I420) in which single site mutations enable specific production of the 13S epimer. Indeed, extensive mutagenesis demonstrated that LjTPS6:I420G reacts with PPP to both specifically and efficiently produce 9,13S-epoxy-labda-14-ene, providing a specialized synthase for further investigation of derived diterpenoid biosynthesis. The results reported here provide a strong foundation for future studies of the intriguing spiro-9,13-epoxy-labdane diterpenoid metabolism found in L. japonicus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Yaping Mao
- 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
| | - Ying Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Jian Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Baolong Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Huixin Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Jinfu Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Wen Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Yujun Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Wei Gao
- Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 10038, China
| | - Reuben J Peters
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA
| | - Juan Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Guanghong Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Luqi Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
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Wang Z, Peters RJ. Tanshinones: Leading the way into Lamiaceae labdane-related diterpenoid biosynthesis. CURRENT OPINION IN PLANT BIOLOGY 2022; 66:102189. [PMID: 35196638 PMCID: PMC8940693 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbi.2022.102189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Revised: 01/06/2022] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Tanshinones are the bioactive diterpenoid constituents of the traditional Chinese medicinal herb Danshen (Salvia miltiorrhiza), and are examples of the phenolic abietanes widely found within the Lamiaceae plant family. Due to the significant interest in these labdane-related diterpenoid natural products, their biosynthesis has been intensively investigated. In addition to providing the basis for metabolic engineering efforts, this work further yielded pioneering insights into labdane-related diterpenoid biosynthesis in the Lamiaceae more broadly. This includes stereochemical foreshadowing of aromatization, with novel protein domain loss in the relevant diterpene synthase, as well as broader phylogenetic conservation of the relevant enzymes. Beyond such summary of more widespread metabolism, formation of the furan ring that characterizes the tanshinones also has been recently elucidated. Nevertheless, the biocatalysts for the pair of demethylations remain unknown, and the intriguing potential connection of these reactions to the further aromatization observed in the tanshinones are speculated upon here.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhibiao Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China; Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Reuben J Peters
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA.
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Mechanistic analysis for the origin of diverse diterpenes in Tripterygium wilfordii. Acta Pharm Sin B 2022; 12:2923-2933. [PMID: 35755287 PMCID: PMC9214345 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2022.02.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Revised: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 02/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Tripterygium wilfordii is a valuable medicinal plant rich in biologically active diterpenoids, but there are few studies on the origins of these diterpenoids in its secondary metabolism. Here, we identified three regions containing tandemly duplicated diterpene synthase genes on chromosomes (Chr) 17 and 21 of T. wilfordii and obtained 11 diterpene synthases with different functions. We further revealed that these diterpene synthases underwent duplication and rearrangement at approximately 2.3–23.7 million years ago (MYA) by whole-genome triplication (WGT), transposon mediation, and tandem duplication, followed by functional divergence. We first demonstrated that four key amino acids in the sequences of TwCPS3, TwCPS5, and TwCPS6 were altered during evolution, leading to their functional divergence and the formation of diterpene secondary metabolites. Then, we demonstrated that the functional divergence of three TwKSLs was driven by mutations in two key amino acids. Finally, we discovered the mechanisms of evolution and pseudogenization of miltiradiene synthases in T. wilfordii and elucidated that the new function in TwMS1/2 from the terpene synthase (TPS)-b subfamily was caused by progressive changes in multiple amino acids after the WGT event. Our results provide key evidence for the formation of diverse diterpenoids during the evolution of secondary metabolites in T. wilfordii.
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Yang R, Du Z, Qiu T, Sun J, Shen Y, Huang L. Discovery and Functional Characterization of a Diverse Diterpene Synthase Family in the Medicinal Herb Isodon lophanthoides Var. gerardiana. PLANT & CELL PHYSIOLOGY 2021; 62:1423-1435. [PMID: 34133748 DOI: 10.1093/pcp/pcab089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2021] [Revised: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Isodon lophanthoides var. gerardiana (Lamiaceae), also named xihuangcao, is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb that exhibits a broad range of pharmacological activities. Abietane-type diterpenoids are the characteristic constituents of I. lophanthoides, yet their biosynthesis has not been elucidated. Although the aerial parts are the most commonly used organs of I. lophanthoides, metabolite profiling by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry showed the underground parts also contain large amounts of labdane diterpenoids including abietatriene, miltiradiene and ferruginol, which are distinct from the 13-hydroxy-8(14)-abietene detected in the aerial parts. Comparative transcriptome analysis of root and leaf samples identified a diverse diterpene synthase family including 6 copalyl diphosphate synthase (IlCPS1-6) and 5 kaurene synthase-like (IlKSL1-5). Here we report the functional characterization of six of these enzymes using yeast heterologous expression system. Both IlCPS1 and IlCPS3 synthesized (+)-copalyl diphosphate (CPP), in combination with IlKSL1 resulted in miltiradiene, precursor of abietane-type diterpenoids, while coupling with IlKSL5 led to the formation of hydroxylated diterpene scaffold nezukol. Expression profiling and phylogenetic analysis further support the distinct evolutionary relationship and spatial distribution of IlCPS1 and IlCPS3. IlCPS2 converted GGPP into labda-7,13E-dien-15-ol diphosphate. IlCPS6 was identified as ent-CPS, indicating a role in gibberellin metabolism. We further identified a single residue that determined the water addition of nezukol synthase IlKSL5. Substitution of alanine 513 with isoleucine completely altered the product outcome from hydroxylated nezukol to isopimara-7,15-diene. Together, these findings elucidated the early steps of bioactive abietane-type diterpenoid biosynthesis in I. lophanthoides and the catalytic mechanism of nezukol synthase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruikang Yang
- Lingnan Medical Research Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, 12 Jichang Rd, Guangzhou 510405, China
| | - Zuying Du
- Lingnan Medical Research Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, 12 Jichang Rd, Guangzhou 510405, China
- The First Clinical Medical School, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510405, China
| | - Ting Qiu
- Lingnan Medical Research Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, 12 Jichang Rd, Guangzhou 510405, China
- The First Clinical Medical School, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510405, China
| | - Jie Sun
- Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Synthesis of Zhejiang Province, College of biotechnology and bioengineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, 18 Chaowang Rd Hangzhou 310014, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yanting Shen
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Physiology and Ecology, School of Pharmaceutical Science, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, 232 Waihuan Rd, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Lili Huang
- Lingnan Medical Research Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, 12 Jichang Rd, Guangzhou 510405, China
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Physiology and Ecology, School of Pharmaceutical Science, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, 232 Waihuan Rd, Guangzhou 510006, China
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Gao K, Zha WL, Zhu JX, Zheng C, Zi JC. A review: biosynthesis of plant-derived labdane-related diterpenoids. Chin J Nat Med 2021; 19:666-674. [PMID: 34561077 DOI: 10.1016/s1875-5364(21)60100-0] [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: 07/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Plant-derived labdane-related diterpenoids (LRDs) represent a large group of terpenoids. LRDs possess either a labdane-type bicyclic core structure or more complex ring systems derived from labdane-type skeletons, such as abietane, pimarane, kaurane, etc. Due to their various pharmaceutical activities and unique properties, many of LRDs have been widely used in pharmaceutical, food and perfume industries. Biosynthesis of various LRDs has been extensively studied, leading to characterization of a large number of new biosynthetic enzymes. The biosynthetic pathways of important LRDs and the relevant enzymes (especially diterpene synthases and cytochrome P450 enzymes) were summarized in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke Gao
- College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Wen-Long Zha
- College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Jian-Xun Zhu
- College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Cheng Zheng
- Zhejiang Institute for Food and Drug Control, NMPA Key Laboratory for Quality Evaluation of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hangzhou 310052, China.
| | - Jia-Chen Zi
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China.
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Nguyen THT, Do THT, Tien Trung N, Nguyen TP, Phan DCT, Vo VG, Nguyen NH, Duong TH. Further terpenoids from Vitex negundo L. growing in Vietnam. JOURNAL OF SAUDI CHEMICAL SOCIETY 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jscs.2021.101298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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13
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Devi AB, Sarala R. Substantial effect of phytochemical constituents against the pandemic disease influenza-a review. FUTURE JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES 2021; 7:120. [PMID: 34150912 PMCID: PMC8196934 DOI: 10.1186/s43094-021-00269-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2020] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Influenza is an acute respiratory tract infection caused by the influenza virus. Vaccination and antiviral drugs are the two methods opted to control the disease. Besides their efficiency, they also cause adverse side effects. Hence, scientists turned their attention to powerful herbal medicines. This review put focus on various proven, scientifically validated anti-influenza compounds produced by the plants suggested for the production of newer drugs for the better treatment of influenza and its related antiviral diseases too. Main body In this review, fifty medicinal herb phytochemical constituents and their anti-influenza activities have been documented. Specifically, this review brings out the accurate and substantiates mechanisms of action of these constituents. This study categorizes the phytochemical constituents into primary and secondary metabolites which provide a source for synthesizing and developing new drugs. Conclusion This article provides a summary of the actions of the herbal constituents. Since the mechanisms of action of the components are elucidated, the pandemic situation arising due to influenza and similar antiviral diseases can be handled promisingly with greater efficiency. However, clinical trials are in great demand. The formulation of usage may be a single drug compound or multi-herbal combination. These, in turn, open up a new arena for the pharmaceutical industries to develop innovative drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Brindha Devi
- Department of Botany, Periyar EVR College (Autonomous), (Affiliated to Bharathidasan University, Trichy-24), Trichy-620 023, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - R Sarala
- Department of Botany, Periyar EVR College (Autonomous), (Affiliated to Bharathidasan University, Trichy-24), Trichy-620 023, Tamil Nadu, India
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14
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Hu Z, Liu X, Tian M, Ma Y, Jin B, Gao W, Cui G, Guo J, Huang L. Recent progress and new perspectives for diterpenoid biosynthesis in medicinal plants. Med Res Rev 2021; 41:2971-2997. [PMID: 33938025 DOI: 10.1002/med.21816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Revised: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Diterpenoids, including more than 18,000 compounds, represent an important class of metabolites that encompass both phytohormones and some industrially relevant compounds. These molecules with complex, diverse structures and physiological activities, have high value in the pharmaceutical industry. Most medicinal diterpenoids are extracted from plants. Major advances in understanding the biosynthetic pathways of these active compounds are providing unprecedented opportunities for the industrial production of diterpenoids by metabolic engineering and synthetic biology. Here, we summarize recent developments in the field of diterpenoid biosynthesis from medicinal herbs. An overview of the pathways and known biosynthetic enzymes is presented. In particular, we look at the main findings from the past decade and review recent progress in the biosynthesis of different groups of ringed compounds. We also discuss diterpenoid production using synthetic biology and metabolic engineering strategies, and draw on new technologies and discoveries to bring together many components into a useful framework for diterpenoid production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhimin Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiuyu Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.,School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China
| | - Mei Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Ying Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Baolong Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Gao
- School of Pharmaceutical, Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Guanghong Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Juan Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Luqi Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
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15
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Ma LT, Wang CH, Hon CY, Lee YR, Chu FH. Discovery and characterization of diterpene synthases in Chamaecyparis formosensis Matsum. which participated in an unprecedented diterpenoid biosynthesis route in conifer. PLANT SCIENCE : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2021; 304:110790. [PMID: 33568294 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2020.110790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2020] [Revised: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 12/06/2020] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Chamaecyparis formosensis Matsum. is an endemic and precious coniferous species of Taiwan, and is known for a high abundance of specialized metabolites, which contributes to the excellent timber durability. Several terpenoids were identified and isolated from C. formosensis wood and needles, and exhibit anti-fungal and anti-bacterial bioactivities, which may participate in plant defense against pathogens. In various identified compounds, not only cadinene and ferruginol, were identified in C. formosensis extracts but also unique diterpenoids, which include pisferal, totarol, and derivates of isoabienol. To understand the biosynthesis of these specific diterpenoids, we conducted a series of functional characterization of the C. formosensis diterpene synthases (CfdiTPSs), which participate in skeleton formation and differentiation of diterpenes. In this study, we identified eight diTPSs from C. formosensis transcriptome, and they all contain either class I or class II motif, which indicates they are all monofunctional enzymes. These candidates consist of three class II diTPSs and five class I diTPSs, and after conducting in vivo and in vitro assays, class II diTPS CfCPS1 was characterized as a (+)-copalyl diphosphate synthase ((+)-CPS), and class I diTPSs CfKSL1 could further convert (+)-copalyl diphosphate ((+)-CPP) to levopimaradiene. Meanwhile, CfKSL1 also accepted labda-13-en-8-ol diphosphate (LPP) as substrate and formed monoyl oxide. Another class I diTPS, CfKSL4, exhibits a strong enzymatic ability of isoabienol synthase, which is firstly reported in conifer. This finding provides potential participants in the biosynthesis of unique diterpenoids, and with this knowledge, we can further expand our understanding of diterpenoid metabolism in Cupressaceae and their potential role in plant defense.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Ting Ma
- School of Forestry and Resource Conservation, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan
| | - Chang-Hsin Wang
- School of Forestry and Resource Conservation, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan
| | - Chong-Yao Hon
- School of Forestry and Resource Conservation, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Ru Lee
- School of Forestry and Resource Conservation, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan
| | - Fang-Hua Chu
- School of Forestry and Resource Conservation, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan.
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16
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Yang M, Liu G, Yamamura Y, Chen F, Fu J. Divergent Evolution of the Diterpene Biosynthesis Pathway in Tea Plants ( Camellia sinensis) Caused by Single Amino Acid Variation of ent-Kaurene Synthase. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2020; 68:9930-9939. [PMID: 32841021 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.0c03488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Most plant terpenoids are classified as secondary metabolites. A small portion of them are products of primary metabolism biosynthesized by relatively conserved pathways. Gibberellins (GAs), which are essential for plant growth and development, are diterpenoid phytohormones. (E,E,E)-Geranylgeranyl diphosphate (GGPP) is the precursor for both GAs and other diterpenoids of secondary metabolism. ent-Kaurene biosynthesis from GGPP is a key step of GA formation, which is catalyzed by two sequential and dedicated diterpene synthases (diTPSs): ent-copalyl diphosphate synthase (CPS) and ent-kaurene synthase (KS) of the terpene synthase gene family. Sharing a common evolutionary origin, CPS and KS belong to different TPS subfamilies. Tea plant (Camellia sinensis), the subject of this study, is a leaf-based economic crop. Budbreak mainly manipulated by GAs is a primary factor for targeted tea breeding. The key genes for gibberellin biosynthesis are known; however, they have not yet been characterized in tea plants. Here, we identified and functionally characterized three diterpene biosynthesis-related genes, including one CPS and two highly similar KSs in tea plants. These genes were initially identified through transcriptome sequencing. The functional characterization determined by enzymatic activity assay indicated that CsCPS could catalyze GGPP to form ent-copalyl diphosphate (ent-CPP), which was further used as the substrate by CsKS1 to produce ent-kaurene or by CsKS2 to produce 16α-hydroxy-ent-kaurane with ent-kaurene as a minor product, respectively. We demonstrated that the divergent evolution of diterpene biosynthesis in tea plants resulted from gene duplication of KSs, followed by functional divergence caused by single amino acid variation. This study would provide an insight into the diterpenoid metabolism and GA biosynthesis in tea plants to further understand leaf bud development or insect resistance and to provide a genetic basis for tea plant breeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei Yang
- Tea Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310008, China
- Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
- Key Laboratory of Tea Quality and Safety Control, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Hangzhou 310008, China
| | - Guanhua Liu
- Tea Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310008, China
- Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
- Key Laboratory of Tea Quality and Safety Control, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Hangzhou 310008, China
- College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Yoshimi Yamamura
- Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences for Research, University of Toyama, Toyama 9300194, Japan
| | - Feng Chen
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
| | - Jianyu Fu
- Tea Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310008, China
- Key Laboratory of Tea Quality and Safety Control, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Hangzhou 310008, China
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17
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Hu T, Zhou J, Tong Y, Su P, Li X, Liu Y, Liu N, Wu X, Zhang Y, Wang J, Gao L, Tu L, Lu Y, Jiang Z, Zhou YJ, Gao W, Huang L. Engineering chimeric diterpene synthases and isoprenoid biosynthetic pathways enables high-level production of miltiradiene in yeast. Metab Eng 2020; 60:87-96. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ymben.2020.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2019] [Revised: 02/25/2020] [Accepted: 03/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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18
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Karunanithi PS, Berrios DI, Wang S, Davis J, Shen T, Fiehn O, Maloof JN, Zerbe P. The foxtail millet (Setaria italica) terpene synthase gene family. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2020; 103:781-800. [PMID: 32282967 PMCID: PMC7497057 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.14771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2020] [Revised: 03/15/2020] [Accepted: 03/24/2020] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Terpenoid metabolism plays vital roles in stress defense and the environmental adaptation of monocot crops. Here, we describe the identification of the terpene synthase (TPS) gene family of the panicoid food and bioenergy model crop foxtail millet (Setaria italica). The diploid S. italica genome contains 32 TPS genes, 17 of which were biochemically characterized in this study. Unlike other thus far investigated grasses, S. italica contains TPSs producing all three ent-, (+)- and syn-copalyl pyrophosphate stereoisomers that naturally occur as central building blocks in the biosynthesis of distinct monocot diterpenoids. Conversion of these intermediates by the promiscuous TPS SiTPS8 yielded different diterpenoid scaffolds. Additionally, a cytochrome P450 monooxygenase (CYP99A17), which genomically clustered with SiTPS8, catalyzes the C19 hydroxylation of SiTPS8 products to generate the corresponding diterpene alcohols. The presence of syntenic orthologs to about 19% of the S. italica TPSs in related grasses supports a common ancestry of selected pathway branches. Among the identified enzyme products, abietadien-19-ol, syn-pimara-7,15-dien-19-ol and germacrene-d-4-ol were detectable in planta, and gene expression analysis of the biosynthetic TPSs showed distinct and, albeit moderately, inducible expression patterns in response to biotic and abiotic stress. In vitro growth-inhibiting activity of abietadien-19-ol and syn-pimara-7,15-dien-19-ol against Fusarium verticillioides and Fusarium subglutinans may indicate pathogen defensive functions, whereas the low antifungal efficacy of tested sesquiterpenoids supports other bioactivities. Together, these findings expand the known chemical space of monocot terpenoid metabolism to enable further investigations of terpenoid-mediated stress resilience in these agriculturally important species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prema S. Karunanithi
- Department of Plant BiologyUniversity of California–DavisOne Shields AvenueDavis95616CAUSA
| | - David I. Berrios
- Department of Plant BiologyUniversity of California–DavisOne Shields AvenueDavis95616CAUSA
| | - Sadira Wang
- Department of Plant BiologyUniversity of California–DavisOne Shields AvenueDavis95616CAUSA
| | - John Davis
- Department of Plant BiologyUniversity of California–DavisOne Shields AvenueDavis95616CAUSA
| | - Tong Shen
- West Coast Metabolomics CenterUniversity of California–DavisOne Shields AvenueDavis95616CAUSA
| | - Oliver Fiehn
- West Coast Metabolomics CenterUniversity of California–DavisOne Shields AvenueDavis95616CAUSA
| | - Julin N. Maloof
- Department of Plant BiologyUniversity of California–DavisOne Shields AvenueDavis95616CAUSA
| | - Philipp Zerbe
- Department of Plant BiologyUniversity of California–DavisOne Shields AvenueDavis95616CAUSA
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19
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Zhou F, Pichersky E. More is better: the diversity of terpene metabolism in plants. CURRENT OPINION IN PLANT BIOLOGY 2020; 55:1-10. [PMID: 32088555 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbi.2020.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2019] [Revised: 01/15/2020] [Accepted: 01/21/2020] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
All plants synthesize a diverse array of terpenoid metabolites. Some are common to all, but many are synthesized only in specific taxa and presumably evolved as adaptations to specific ecological conditions. While the basic terpenoid biosynthetic pathways are common in all plants, recent discoveries have revealed many variations in the way plants synthesized specific terpenes. A major theme is the much greater number of substrates that can be used by enzymes belonging to the terpene synthase (TPS) family. Other recent discoveries include non-TPS enzymes that catalyze the formation of terpenes, and novel transport mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Zhou
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Eran Pichersky
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
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20
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Sakagami Y, Kondo N, Sawayama Y, Yamakoshi H, Nakamura S. Total Syntheses of Marrubiin and Related Labdane Diterpene Lactones. MOLECULES (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2020; 25:molecules25071610. [PMID: 32244661 PMCID: PMC7180712 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25071610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2020] [Revised: 03/27/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Total syntheses of the labdane diterpene lactones marrubiin, marrulibacetal, desertine, marrulibacetal A, marrubasch F, cyllenine C, marrulanic acid, and marrulactone are described. The trans-decalin moiety of these molecules was constructed in a stereoselective manner by a Pauson-Khand reaction, and the resultant cyclopentenone was oxidatively cleaved for formation of the lactone ring. Elongation of the side chain at C9 was achieved by an epoxide-opening reaction with a variety of nucleophiles, and the functional group manipulations completed the syntheses of these natural products. Stereochemistries of desertine could be established by the transformations.
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21
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Ma LT, Lee YR, Tsao NW, Wang SY, Zerbe P, Chu FH. Biochemical characterization of diterpene synthases of Taiwania cryptomerioides expands the known functional space of specialized diterpene metabolism in gymnosperms. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2019; 100:1254-1272. [PMID: 31448467 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.14513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2019] [Revised: 08/13/2019] [Accepted: 08/19/2019] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Taiwania cryptomerioides is a monotypic gymnosperm species, valued for the high decay resistance of its wood. This durability has been attributed to the abundance of terpenoids, especially the major diterpenoid metabolite ferruginol, with antifungal and antitermite activity. Specialized diterpenoid metabolism in gymnosperms primarily recruits bifunctional class-I/II diterpene synthases (diTPSs), whereas monofunctional class-II and class-I enzymes operate in angiosperms. In this study, we identified a previously unrecognized group of monofunctional diTPSs in T. cryptomerioides, which suggests a distinct evolutionary divergence of the diTPS family in this species. Specifically, five monofunctional diTPS functions not previously observed in gymnosperms were characterized, including monofunctional class-II enzymes forming labda-13-en-8-ol diphosphate (LPP, TcCPS2) and (+)-copalyl diphosphate (CPP, TcCPS4), and three class-I diTPSs producing biformene (TcKSL1), levopimaradiene (TcKSL3) and phyllocladanol (TcKSL5), respectively. Methyl jasmonate (MeJA) elicited the accumulation of levopimaradiene and the corresponding biosynthetic diTPS genes, TcCPS4 and TcKSL3, is consistent with a possible role in plant defense. Furthermore, TcCPS4 and TcKSL3 are likely to contribute to abietatriene biosynthesis via levopimaradiene as an intermediate in ferruginol biosynthesis in Taiwania. In conclusion, this study provides deeper insight into the functional landscape and molecular evolution of specialized diterpenoid metabolism in gymnosperms as a basis to better understand the role of these metabolites in tree chemical defense.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Ting Ma
- School of Forestry and Resource Conservation, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Ru Lee
- School of Forestry and Resource Conservation, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan
| | - Nai-Wen Tsao
- Department of Forestry, National Chung-Hsing University, Taichung, 402, Taiwan
| | - Sheng-Yang Wang
- Department of Forestry, National Chung-Hsing University, Taichung, 402, Taiwan
| | - Philipp Zerbe
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Fang-Hua Chu
- School of Forestry and Resource Conservation, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan
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22
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Tan H, Chen X, Liang N, Chen R, Chen J, Hu C, Li Q, Li Q, Pei W, Xiao W, Yuan Y, Chen W, Zhang L. Transcriptome analysis reveals novel enzymes for apo-carotenoid biosynthesis in saffron and allows construction of a pathway for crocetin synthesis in yeast. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2019; 70:4819-4834. [PMID: 31056664 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erz211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2019] [Accepted: 04/30/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Crocus sativus is generally considered the source of saffron spice which is rich in apo-carotenoid compounds such as crocins, crocetin, picrocrocin, and safranal, which possess effective pharmacological activities. However, little is known about the exact genes involved in apo-carotenoid biosynthesis in saffron and the potential mechanism of specific accumulation in the stigma. In this study, we integrated stigmas at different developmental stages to perform in-depth transcriptome and dynamic metabolomic analyses to discover the potential key catalytic steps involved in apo-carotenoid biosynthesis in saffron. A total of 61 202 unigenes were obtained, and 28 regulators and 32 putative carotenogenic genes were captured after the co-expression network analysis. Moreover, 15 candidate genes were predicted to be closely related to safranal and crocin production, in which one aldehyde dehydrogenase (CsALDH3) was validated to oxidize crocetin dialdehyde into crocetin and a crocetin-producing yeast strain was created. In addition, a new branch pathway that catalyses the conversion of geranyl-geranyl pyrophosphate to copalol and ent-kaurene by the class II diterpene synthase CsCPS1 and three class I diterpene synthases CsEKL1/2/3 were investigated for the first time. Such gene to apo-carotenoid landscapes illuminate the synthetic charactersistics and regulators of apo-carotenoid biosynthesis, laying the foundation for a deep understanding of the biosynthesis mechanism and metabolic engineering of apo-carotenoids in plants or microbes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hexin Tan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xianghui Chen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Nan Liang
- Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
- SynBio Research Platform, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Ruibing Chen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Junfeng Chen
- Department of Pharmacy, Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Chaoyang Hu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qi Li
- Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qing Li
- Department of Pharmacy, Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Weizhong Pei
- Shanghai Traditional Chinese Medicine Co., Ltd, Shanghai, China
| | - Wenhai Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
- SynBio Research Platform, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Yingjin Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
- SynBio Research Platform, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Wansheng Chen
- Department of Pharmacy, Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A & F University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
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23
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Jia M, Mishra SK, Tufts S, Jernigan RL, Peters RJ. Combinatorial biosynthesis and the basis for substrate promiscuity in class I diterpene synthases. Metab Eng 2019; 55:44-58. [PMID: 31220664 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymben.2019.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2019] [Revised: 06/04/2019] [Accepted: 06/14/2019] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Terpene synthases are capable of mediating complex reactions, but fundamentally simply catalyze lysis of allylic diphosphate esters with subsequent deprotonation. Even with the initially generated tertiary carbocation this offers a variety of product outcomes, and deprotonation further can be preceded by the addition of water. This is particularly evident with labdane-related diterpenes (LRDs) where such lysis follows bicyclization catalyzed by class II diterpene cyclases (DTCs) that generates preceding structural variation. Previous investigation revealed that two diterpene synthases (DTSs), one bacterial and the other plant-derived, exhibit extreme substrate promiscuity, but yet still typically produce exo-ene or tertiary alcohol LRD derivatives, respectively (i.e., demonstrating high catalytic specificity), enabling rational combinatorial biosynthesis. Here two DTSs that produce either cis or trans endo-ene LRD derivatives, also plant and bacterial (respectively), were examined for their potential analogous utility. Only the bacterial trans-endo-ene forming DTS was found to exhibit significant substrate promiscuity (with moderate catalytic specificity). This further led to investigation of the basis for substrate promiscuity, which was found to be more closely correlated with phylogenetic origin than reaction complexity. Specifically, bacterial DTSs exhibited significantly more substrate promiscuity than those from plants, presumably reflecting their distinct evolutionary context. In particular, plants typically have heavily elaborated LRD metabolism, in contrast to the rarity of such natural products in bacteria, and the lack of potential substrates presumably alleviates selective pressure against such promiscuity. Regardless of such speculation, this work provides novel biosynthetic access to almost 19 LRDs, demonstrating the power of the combinatorial approach taken here.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meirong Jia
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA
| | - Sambit K Mishra
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA
| | - Samuel Tufts
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA
| | - Robert L Jernigan
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA
| | - Reuben J Peters
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA.
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24
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Karunanithi PS, Dhanota P, Addison JB, Tong S, Fiehn O, Zerbe P. Functional characterization of the cytochrome P450 monooxygenase CYP71AU87 indicates a role in marrubiin biosynthesis in the medicinal plant Marrubium vulgare. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2019; 19:114. [PMID: 30909879 PMCID: PMC6434833 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-019-1702-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2018] [Accepted: 03/06/2019] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Horehound (Marrubium vulgare) is a medicinal plant whose signature bioactive compounds, marrubiin and related furanoid diterpenoid lactones, have potential applications for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases and type II diabetes. Lack of scalable plant cultivation and the complex metabolite profile of M. vulgare limit access to marrubiin via extraction from plant biomass. Knowledge of the marrubiin-biosynthetic enzymes can enable the development of metabolic engineering platforms for marrubiin production. We previously identified two diterpene synthases, MvCPS1 and MvELS, that act sequentially to form 9,13-epoxy-labd-14-ene. Conversion of 9,13-epoxy-labd-14-ene by cytochrome P450 monooxygenase (P450) enzymes can be hypothesized to facilitate key functional modification reactions in the formation of marrubiin and related compounds. RESULTS Mining a M. vulgare leaf transcriptome database identified 95 full-length P450 candidates. Cloning and functional analysis of select P450 candidates showing high transcript abundance revealed a member of the CYP71 family, CYP71AU87, that catalyzed the hydroxylation of 9,13-epoxy-labd-14-ene to yield two isomeric products, 9,13-epoxy labd-14-ene-18-ol and 9,13-epoxy labd-14-ene-19-ol, as verified by GC-MS and NMR analysis. Additional transient Nicotiana benthamiana co-expression assays of CYP71AU87 with different diterpene synthase pairs suggested that CYP71AU87 is specific to the sequential MvCPS1 and MvELS product 9,13-epoxy-labd-14-ene. Although the P450 products were not detectable in planta, high levels of CYP71AU87 gene expression in marrubiin-accumulating tissues supported a role in the formation of marrubiin and related diterpenoids in M. vulgare. CONCLUSIONS In a sequential reaction with the diterpene synthase pair MvCPS1 and MvELS, CYP71AU87 forms the isomeric products 9,13-epoxy labd-14-ene-18/19-ol as probable intermediates in marrubiin biosynthesis. Although its metabolic relevance in planta will necessitate further genetic studies, identification of the CYP71AU87 catalytic activity expands our knowledge of the functional landscape of plant P450 enzymes involved in specialized diterpenoid metabolism and can provide a resource for the formulation of marrubiin and related bioactive natural products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prema S. Karunanithi
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California Davis, 1 Shields Avenue, Davis, CA USA
| | - Puja Dhanota
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California Davis, 1 Shields Avenue, Davis, CA USA
| | - J. Bennett Addison
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182 USA
| | - Shen Tong
- West Coast Metabolomics Center, University of California-Davis, 1 Shields Avenue, Davis, CA USA
| | - Oliver Fiehn
- West Coast Metabolomics Center, University of California-Davis, 1 Shields Avenue, Davis, CA USA
- Biochemistry Department, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Philipp Zerbe
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California Davis, 1 Shields Avenue, Davis, CA USA
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25
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Jin B, Guo J, Tang J, Tong Y, Ma Y, Chen T, Wang Y, Shen Y, Zhao Y, Lai C, Cui G, Huang L. An alternative splicing alters the product outcome of a class I terpene synthase in Isodon rubescens. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2019; 512:310-313. [PMID: 30890335 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2019.03.057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2019] [Accepted: 03/10/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
The labdane-related diterpenoids are an important superfamily of natural products. Their structural diversity mainly depends on diterpene synthases, which generate the hydrocarbon skeletal structures. Isodon rubescens contains an expanded family of class I terpene synthases with different functions. Here we report a novel class I terpene synthase cDNA (IrKSL3a) with loss of 18 nucleotides compared with the reported cDNA sequence (IrKSL3). Inspection of IrKSL3 genomic sequence indicated that IrKSL3a and IrKSL3 transcripts may be generated by an alternative splicing event that utilizes different 3' splice site. In vitro assays showed that IrKSL3a produced isopimaradiene and miltiradiene, while IrKSL3 only produced miltiradiene. Protein sequence alignment found the six residues encoded by the alternative exon was unique to IrKSL3, which are 17 residues away from the conserved DDXXD motif. A deletion mutant of IrKSL3 showed that maintaining two residues within the six-amino acid is sufficient for miltiradiene production, while the other mutants lost nearly all enzymatic function. Our results illustrated how product outcomes can be changed by alternative splicing, and further gave an interesting example for studying the loop conformation in tuning product outcome in class I terpene synthase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baolong Jin
- College of Pharmacy, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, 430065, China; State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China.
| | - Juan Guo
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China.
| | - Jinfu Tang
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China.
| | - Yuru Tong
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China.
| | - Ying Ma
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China.
| | - Tong Chen
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China.
| | - Yanan Wang
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China.
| | - Ye Shen
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China.
| | - Yujun Zhao
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China.
| | - Changjiangsheng Lai
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China.
| | - Guanghong Cui
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China.
| | - Luqi Huang
- College of Pharmacy, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, 430065, China; State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China.
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26
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Du G, Gong HY, Feng KN, Chen QQ, Yang YL, Fu XL, Lu S, Zeng Y. Diterpene synthases facilitating production of the kaurane skeleton of eriocalyxin B in the medicinal plant Isodon eriocalyx. PHYTOCHEMISTRY 2019; 158:96-102. [PMID: 30496917 DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2018.11.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2018] [Revised: 11/12/2018] [Accepted: 11/18/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The Isodon plants (Lamiaceae) have been used in traditional Chinese medicine to alleviate sufferings from inflammations and cancers. This feature has been attributed to the presence of pharmacologically active ent-kaurane diterpenoids such as eriocalyxin B and oridonin. The Isodon eriocalyx (Dunn) Kudô species native to southwest China can accumulate a particularly high content of ent-kaurane diterpenoids (∼1.5% w/w of dried leaves). We previously identified diterpene synthases IeCPS1 and IeCPS2 as ent-copalyl diphosphate synthases (ent-CPS) potentially involved in Isodon ent-kaurane diterpenoids biosynthesis. In this study, analysis of RNA-seq transcriptome of the I. eriocalyx plant revealed three other diterpene synthase genes (IeCPS3, IeKS1, and IeKSL1). Their functional characterization through coupled in vitro enzyme assays has confirmed that IeCPS3 is an ent-CPS specifically producing ent-copalyl diphosphate (ent-CPP). IeKS1 accepted ent-CPP to produce exclusively ent-kaurene and may thus be defined as an ent-kaurene synthase (ent-KS). When IeKSL1 was combined with IeCPS2 or IeCPS3, no product was detected. Based on tissue-specific expression and metabolic localization studies, the IeCPS3 and IeKS1 transcripts were significantly accumulated in leaves where the ent-kaurane diterpenoid eriocalyxin B dominates, whereas weak expression of both were observed in germinating seeds in which gibberellin biosynthetic pathway is normally active. Our findings suggest that both IeCPS3 and IeKS1 possess dual roles in general (gibberellins) and specialized diterpenoid metabolism, such as that of the Isodon ent-kaurane diterpenoids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gang Du
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Natural Medicinal Chemistry, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, Yunnan, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Hai-Yan Gong
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Natural Medicinal Chemistry, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, Yunnan, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Ke-Na Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Natural Medicinal Chemistry, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, Yunnan, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Qian-Qian Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Natural Medicinal Chemistry, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, Yunnan, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yan-Long Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Natural Medicinal Chemistry, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, Yunnan, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Xiao-Li Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Natural Medicinal Chemistry, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, Yunnan, China
| | - Shan Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Ying Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Natural Medicinal Chemistry, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, Yunnan, China.
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27
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Johnson SR, Bhat WW, Bibik J, Turmo A, Hamberger B, Evolutionary Mint Genomics Consortium, Hamberger B. A database-driven approach identifies additional diterpene synthase activities in the mint family (Lamiaceae). J Biol Chem 2019; 294:1349-1362. [PMID: 30498089 PMCID: PMC6349103 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra118.006025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2018] [Revised: 11/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Members of the mint family (Lamiaceae) accumulate a wide variety of industrially and medicinally relevant diterpenes. We recently sequenced leaf transcriptomes from 48 phylogenetically diverse Lamiaceae species. Here, we summarize the available chemotaxonomic and enzyme activity data for diterpene synthases (diTPSs) in the Lamiaceae and leverage the new transcriptomes to explore the diTPS sequence and functional space. Candidate genes were selected with an intent to evenly sample the sequence homology space and to focus on species in which diTPS transcripts were found, yet from which no diterpene structures have been previously reported. We functionally characterized nine class II diTPSs and 10 class I diTPSs from 11 distinct plant species and found five class II activities, including two novel activities, as well as a spectrum of class I activities. Among the class II diTPSs, we identified a neo-cleroda-4(18),13E-dienyl diphosphate synthase from Ajuga reptans, catalyzing the likely first step in the biosynthesis of a variety of insect-antifeedant compounds. Among the class I diTPSs was a palustradiene synthase from Origanum majorana, leading to the discovery of specialized diterpenes in that species. Our results provide insights into the diversification of diterpene biosynthesis in the mint family and establish a comprehensive foundation for continued investigation of diterpene biosynthesis in the Lamiaceae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean R Johnson
- Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, East Lansing, Michigan 48824
| | - Wajid Waheed Bhat
- Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, East Lansing, Michigan 48824; Pharmacology and Toxicology, East Lansing, Michigan 48824
| | - Jacob Bibik
- Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, East Lansing, Michigan 48824
| | - Aiko Turmo
- Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, East Lansing, Michigan 48824
| | - Britta Hamberger
- Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, East Lansing, Michigan 48824
| | | | - Björn Hamberger
- Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, East Lansing, Michigan 48824.
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28
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Karunanithi PS, Zerbe P. Terpene Synthases as Metabolic Gatekeepers in the Evolution of Plant Terpenoid Chemical Diversity. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2019; 10:1166. [PMID: 31632418 PMCID: PMC6779861 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2019.01166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 133] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2019] [Accepted: 08/26/2019] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Terpenoids comprise tens of thousands of small molecule natural products that are widely distributed across all domains of life. Plants produce by far the largest array of terpenoids with various roles in development and chemical ecology. Driven by selective pressure to adapt to their specific ecological niche, individual species form only a fraction of the myriad plant terpenoids, typically representing unique metabolite blends. Terpene synthase (TPS) enzymes are the gatekeepers in generating terpenoid diversity by catalyzing complex carbocation-driven cyclization, rearrangement, and elimination reactions that enable the transformation of a few acyclic prenyl diphosphate substrates into a vast chemical library of hydrocarbon and, for a few enzymes, oxygenated terpene scaffolds. The seven currently defined clades (a-h) forming the plant TPS family evolved from ancestral triterpene synthase- and prenyl transferase-type enzymes through repeated events of gene duplication and subsequent loss, gain, or fusion of protein domains and further functional diversification. Lineage-specific expansion of these TPS clades led to variable family sizes that may range from a single TPS gene to families of more than 100 members that may further function as part of modular metabolic networks to maximize the number of possible products. Accompanying gene family expansion, the TPS family shows a profound functional plasticity, where minor active site alterations can dramatically impact product outcome, thus enabling the emergence of new functions with minimal investment in evolving new enzymes. This article reviews current knowledge on the functional diversity and molecular evolution of the plant TPS family that underlies the chemical diversity of bioactive terpenoids across the plant kingdom.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prema S Karunanithi
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Philipp Zerbe
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, United States
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29
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Zhang H, Jin B, Bu J, Guo J, Chen T, Ma Y, Tang J, Cui G, Huang L. Transcriptomic Insight into Terpenoid Biosynthesis and Functional Characterization of Three Diterpene Synthases in Scutellaria barbata. Molecules 2018; 23:molecules23112952. [PMID: 30424547 PMCID: PMC6278268 DOI: 10.3390/molecules23112952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2018] [Revised: 11/06/2018] [Accepted: 11/08/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Scutellaria barbata (Lamiaceae) is an important medicinal herb widely used in China, Korea, India, and other Asian countries. Neo-clerodane diterpenoids are the largest known group of Scutellaria diterpenoids and show promising cytotoxic activity against several cancer cell lines. Here, Illumina-based deep transcriptome analysis of flowers, the aerial parts (leaf and stem), and roots of S. barbata was used to explore terpenoid-related genes. In total, 121,958,564 clean RNA-sequence reads were assembled into 88,980 transcripts, with an average length of 1370 nt and N50 length of 2144 nt, indicating high assembly quality. We identified nearly all known terpenoid-related genes (33 genes) involved in biosynthesis of the terpenoid backbone and 14 terpene synthase genes which generate skeletons for different terpenoids. Three full length diterpene synthase genes were functionally identified using an in vitro assay. SbTPS8 and SbTPS9 were identified as normal-CPP and ent-CPP synthase, respectively. SbTPS12 reacts with SbTPS8 to produce miltiradiene. Furthermore, SbTPS12 was proven to be a less promiscuous class I diterpene synthase. These results give a comprehensive understanding of the terpenoid biosynthesis in S. barbata and provide useful information for enhancing the production of bioactive neo-clerodane diterpenoids through genetic engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huabei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China.
| | - Baolong Jin
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China.
- College of Pharmacy, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan 430065, China.
| | - Junling Bu
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China.
| | - Juan Guo
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China.
| | - Tong Chen
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China.
| | - Ying Ma
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China.
| | - Jinfu Tang
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China.
| | - Guanghong Cui
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China.
| | - Luqi Huang
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China.
- College of Pharmacy, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan 430065, China.
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30
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Liu T, Zhang C, Lu W. Heterologous production of levopimaric acid in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Microb Cell Fact 2018; 17:114. [PMID: 30021574 PMCID: PMC6050663 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-018-0964-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2018] [Accepted: 07/16/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Levopimaric acid (LA), a type of diterpene resin acid produced by plants, is a significant industrial intermediate that is mainly produced via phytoextraction. This work aimed to apply synthetic biology to produce LA in yeast strains from a simple carbon source. Results Levopimaradiene (LP), the precursor of LA, was produced via LP synthase (LPS) expression in yeast. LPS was then modified by N-terminal truncating and site-directed mutagenesis. The strain containing t79LPSMM (79 N-terminal amino acid truncating and M593I/Y700F mutation) produced 6.92 mg/L of LP, which were 23-fold higher than the strain containing LPS. Next, t79LPSMM was expressed in a new metabolically engineered chassis, and the final LP production increased 164-folds to 49.21 mg/L. Three cytochrome P450 reductases (CPRs) were co-expressed with CYP720B1 (the enzyme responsible for LA production from LP) in yeast to evaluate their LA producing abilities, and the CPR from Taxus cuspidata (TcCPR) was found to be the best (achieved 23.13 mg/L of LA production). CYP720B1 and TcCPR genes overexpression in the multi-copy site of the S.cerevisiae genome led to a 1.9-fold increase in LA production to 45.24 mg/L in a shake-flask culture. Finally, LA production was improved to 400.31 mg/L via fed-batch fermentation in a 5-L bioreactor. Conclusions This is the first report to produce LA in a yeast cell factory and the highest titer of LA is achieved. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12934-018-0964-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Liu
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, People's Republic of China
| | - Chuanbo Zhang
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenyu Lu
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, People's Republic of China. .,Key Laboratory of System Bioengineering, Tianjin University, Ministry of Education, Tianjin, 300072, People's Republic of China. .,Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), SynBio Res Platform, Tianjin, 300072, People's Republic of China.
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31
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Schulte S, Potter KC, Lemke C, Peters RJ. Catalytic Bases and Stereocontrol in Lamiaceae Class II Diterpene Cyclases. Biochemistry 2018; 57:3473-3479. [PMID: 29787239 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.8b00193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Plants from the widespread Lamiaceae family produce many labdane-related diterpenoids, a number of which serve medicinal roles, and whose biosynthesis is initiated by class II diterpene cyclases (DTCs). These enzymes utilize a general acid-base catalyzed cyclo-isomerization reaction to produce various stereoisomers of the eponymous labdaenyl carbocation intermediate, which can then undergo rearrangement and/or the addition of water prior to terminating deprotonation. Identification of the pair of residues that cooperatively serve as the catalytic base in the DTCs that produce ent-copalyl diphosphate (CPP) required for gibberellin phytohormone biosynthesis in all vascular plants has led to insight into the addition of water as well as rearrangement. Lamiaceae plants generally contain an additional DTC that produces the enantiomeric normal CPP, as well as others that yield hydroxylated products derived from the addition of water. Here the catalytic base in these DTCs was investigated. Notably, changing two adjacent residues that seem to serve as the catalytic base in the normal CPP synthase from Salvia miltiorrhiza (SmCPS) to the residues found in the closely related perigrinol diphosphate synthase from Marrubium vulgare (MvPPS), which produces a partially rearranged and hydroxylated product derived from the distinct syn stereoisomer of labdaenyl+, altered the product outcome in an unexpected fashion. Specifically, the relevant SmCPS:H315N/T316V double mutant produces terpentedienyl diphosphate, which is derived from complete substituent rearrangement of syn rather than normal labdaenyl+. Accordingly, alteration of the residues that normally serve as the catalytic base surprisingly can impact stereocontrol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Schulte
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology , Iowa State University , Ames , Iowa 50011 , United States
| | - Kevin C Potter
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology , Iowa State University , Ames , Iowa 50011 , United States
| | - Cody Lemke
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology , Iowa State University , Ames , Iowa 50011 , United States
| | - Reuben J Peters
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology , Iowa State University , Ames , Iowa 50011 , United States
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32
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Gomes TG, Hadi SIIA, Costa Alves GS, Mendonça S, De Siqueira FG, Miller RNG. Current Strategies for the Detoxification of Jatropha curcas Seed Cake: A Review. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2018; 66:2510-2522. [PMID: 29498277 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.7b05691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Jatropha curcas is an important oilseed plant, with considerable potential in the development of biodiesel. Although Jatropha seed cake, the byproduct of oil extraction, is a residue rich in nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and carbon, with high protein content suitable for application in animal feed, the presence of toxic phorbol esters limits its application in feed supplements and fertilizers. This review summarizes the current methods available for detoxification of this residue, based upon chemical, physical, biological, or combined processes. The advantages and disadvantages of each process are discussed, and future directions involving genomic and proteomic approaches for advancing our understanding of biodegradation processes involving microorganisms are highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taisa G Gomes
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Biologia Celular , Universidade de Brasília , Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro, Asa Norte , 70910-900 , Brasília , DF , Brazil
| | - Sámed I I A Hadi
- Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais , Instituto de Ciências Biológicas - ICB , Av. Pres. Antônio Carlos, 6627 , 31270-010 , Belo Horizonte , MG , Brazil
| | - Gabriel S Costa Alves
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Biologia Celular , Universidade de Brasília , Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro, Asa Norte , 70910-900 , Brasília , DF , Brazil
| | - Simone Mendonça
- Embrapa Agroenergia, STN-70297-400 , 70297-400 , Brasília , DF , Brazil
| | | | - Robert N G Miller
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Biologia Celular , Universidade de Brasília , Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro, Asa Norte , 70910-900 , Brasília , DF , Brazil
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Heskes AM, Sundram TC, Boughton BA, Jensen NB, Hansen NL, Crocoll C, Cozzi F, Rasmussen S, Hamberger B, Hamberger B, Staerk D, Møller BL, Pateraki I. Biosynthesis of bioactive diterpenoids in the medicinal plant Vitex agnus-castus. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2018; 93:943-958. [PMID: 29315936 PMCID: PMC5838521 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.13822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2017] [Revised: 12/04/2017] [Accepted: 12/14/2017] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Vitex agnus-castus L. (Lamiaceae) is a medicinal plant historically used throughout the Mediterranean region to treat menstrual cycle disorders, and is still used today as a clinically effective treatment for premenstrual syndrome. The pharmaceutical activity of the plant extract is linked to its ability to lower prolactin levels. This feature has been attributed to the presence of dopaminergic diterpenoids that can bind to dopamine receptors in the pituitary gland. Phytochemical analyses of V. agnus-castus show that it contains an enormous array of structurally related diterpenoids and, as such, holds potential as a rich source of new dopaminergic drugs. The present work investigated the localisation and biosynthesis of diterpenoids in V. agnus-castus. With the assistance of matrix-assisted laser desorption ionisation-mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI), diterpenoids were localised to trichomes on the surface of fruit and leaves. Analysis of a trichome-specific transcriptome database, coupled with expression studies, identified seven candidate genes involved in diterpenoid biosynthesis: three class II diterpene synthases (diTPSs); three class I diTPSs; and a cytochrome P450 (CYP). Combinatorial assays of the diTPSs resulted in the formation of a range of different diterpenes that can account for several of the backbones of bioactive diterpenoids observed in V. agnus-castus. The identified CYP, VacCYP76BK1, was found to catalyse 16-hydroxylation of the diol-diterpene, peregrinol, to labd-13Z-ene-9,15,16-triol when expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Notably, this product is a potential intermediate in the biosynthetic pathway towards bioactive furan- and lactone-containing diterpenoids that are present in this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison M. Heskes
- Plant Biochemistry LaboratoryDepartment of Plant and Environmental SciencesUniversity of CopenhagenThorvaldsensvej 40DK‐1871Frederiksberg CDenmark
- Center for Synthetic Biology ‘bioSYNergy’Department of Plant and Environmental SciencesUniversity of CopenhagenThorvaldsensvej 40DK‐1871Frederiksberg CDenmark
- VILLUM Center for Plant PlasticityDepartment of Plant and Environmental SciencesUniversity of CopenhagenThorvaldsensvej 40DK‐1871Frederiksberg CDenmark
| | - Tamil C.M. Sundram
- Plant Biochemistry LaboratoryDepartment of Plant and Environmental SciencesUniversity of CopenhagenThorvaldsensvej 40DK‐1871Frederiksberg CDenmark
- Department of Plant ScienceKulliyyah of ScienceInternational Islamic University Malaysia50728Kuala LumpurMalaysia
| | - Berin A. Boughton
- Metabolomics AustraliaSchool of BioSciencesThe University of MelbourneVic.3010Australia
| | | | - Nikolaj L. Hansen
- Plant Biochemistry LaboratoryDepartment of Plant and Environmental SciencesUniversity of CopenhagenThorvaldsensvej 40DK‐1871Frederiksberg CDenmark
- Center for Synthetic Biology ‘bioSYNergy’Department of Plant and Environmental SciencesUniversity of CopenhagenThorvaldsensvej 40DK‐1871Frederiksberg CDenmark
- VILLUM Center for Plant PlasticityDepartment of Plant and Environmental SciencesUniversity of CopenhagenThorvaldsensvej 40DK‐1871Frederiksberg CDenmark
| | - Christoph Crocoll
- DynaMo CenterDepartment of Plant and Environmental SciencesUniversity of CopenhagenThorvaldsensvej 40DK‐1871Frederiksberg CDenmark
| | - Federico Cozzi
- Plant Biochemistry LaboratoryDepartment of Plant and Environmental SciencesUniversity of CopenhagenThorvaldsensvej 40DK‐1871Frederiksberg CDenmark
| | - Simon Rasmussen
- Department of Bio and Health InformaticsTechnical University of DenmarkDK‐2800LyngbyDenmark
| | - Britta Hamberger
- Plant Biochemistry LaboratoryDepartment of Plant and Environmental SciencesUniversity of CopenhagenThorvaldsensvej 40DK‐1871Frederiksberg CDenmark
- Center for Synthetic Biology ‘bioSYNergy’Department of Plant and Environmental SciencesUniversity of CopenhagenThorvaldsensvej 40DK‐1871Frederiksberg CDenmark
- VILLUM Center for Plant PlasticityDepartment of Plant and Environmental SciencesUniversity of CopenhagenThorvaldsensvej 40DK‐1871Frederiksberg CDenmark
| | - Björn Hamberger
- Plant Biochemistry LaboratoryDepartment of Plant and Environmental SciencesUniversity of CopenhagenThorvaldsensvej 40DK‐1871Frederiksberg CDenmark
- Center for Synthetic Biology ‘bioSYNergy’Department of Plant and Environmental SciencesUniversity of CopenhagenThorvaldsensvej 40DK‐1871Frederiksberg CDenmark
- VILLUM Center for Plant PlasticityDepartment of Plant and Environmental SciencesUniversity of CopenhagenThorvaldsensvej 40DK‐1871Frederiksberg CDenmark
| | - Dan Staerk
- Department of Drug Design and PharmacologyFaculty of Health and Medical SciencesUniversity of CopenhagenDK‐2100CopenhagenDenmark
| | - Birger L. Møller
- Plant Biochemistry LaboratoryDepartment of Plant and Environmental SciencesUniversity of CopenhagenThorvaldsensvej 40DK‐1871Frederiksberg CDenmark
- Center for Synthetic Biology ‘bioSYNergy’Department of Plant and Environmental SciencesUniversity of CopenhagenThorvaldsensvej 40DK‐1871Frederiksberg CDenmark
- VILLUM Center for Plant PlasticityDepartment of Plant and Environmental SciencesUniversity of CopenhagenThorvaldsensvej 40DK‐1871Frederiksberg CDenmark
| | - Irini Pateraki
- Plant Biochemistry LaboratoryDepartment of Plant and Environmental SciencesUniversity of CopenhagenThorvaldsensvej 40DK‐1871Frederiksberg CDenmark
- Center for Synthetic Biology ‘bioSYNergy’Department of Plant and Environmental SciencesUniversity of CopenhagenThorvaldsensvej 40DK‐1871Frederiksberg CDenmark
- VILLUM Center for Plant PlasticityDepartment of Plant and Environmental SciencesUniversity of CopenhagenThorvaldsensvej 40DK‐1871Frederiksberg CDenmark
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Murphy KM, Ma LT, Ding Y, Schmelz EA, Zerbe P. Functional Characterization of Two Class II Diterpene Synthases Indicates Additional Specialized Diterpenoid Pathways in Maize ( Zea mays). FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2018; 9:1542. [PMID: 30405674 PMCID: PMC6206430 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2018.01542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2018] [Accepted: 10/02/2018] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
As a major staple food, maize (Zea mays) is critical to food security. Shifting environmental pressures increasingly hamper crop defense capacities, causing expanded harvest loss. Specialized labdane-type diterpenoids are key components of maize chemical defense and ecological adaptation. Labdane diterpenoid biosynthesis most commonly requires the pairwise activity of class II and class I diterpene synthases (diTPSs) that convert the central precursor geranylgeranyl diphosphate into distinct diterpenoid scaffolds. Two maize class II diTPSs, ANTHER EAR 1 and 2 (ZmAN1/2), have been previously identified as catalytically redundant ent-copalyl diphosphate (CPP) synthases. ZmAN1 is essential for gibberellin phytohormone biosynthesis, whereas ZmAN2 is stress-inducible and governs the formation of defensive kauralexin and dolabralexin diterpenoids. Here, we report the biochemical characterization of the two remaining class II diTPSs present in the maize genome, COPALYL DIPHOSPHATE SYNTHASE 3 (ZmCPS3) and COPALYL DIPHOSPHATE SYNTHASE 4 (ZmCPS4). Functional analysis via microbial co-expression assays identified ZmCPS3 as a (+)-CPP synthase, with functionally conserved orthologs occurring in wheat (Triticum aestivum) and numerous dicot species. ZmCPS4 formed the unusual prenyl diphosphate, 8,13-CPP (labda-8,13-dien-15-yl diphosphate), as verified by mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance. As a minor product, ZmCPS4 also produced labda-13-en-8-ol diphosphate (LPP). Root gene expression profiles did not indicate an inducible role of ZmCPS3 in maize stress responses. By contrast, ZmCPS4 showed a pattern of inducible gene expression in roots exposed to oxidative stress, supporting a possible role in abiotic stress responses. Identification of the catalytic activities of ZmCPS3 and ZmCPS4 clarifies the first committed reactions controlling the diversity of defensive diterpenoids in maize, and suggests the existence of additional yet undiscovered diterpenoid pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine M. Murphy
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Li-Ting Ma
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
- School of Forestry and Resource Conservation, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yezhang Ding
- Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Eric A. Schmelz
- Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Philipp Zerbe
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
- *Correspondence: Philipp Zerbe,
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Pelot KA, Hagelthorn LM, Addison JB, Zerbe P. Biosynthesis of the oxygenated diterpene nezukol in the medicinal plant Isodon rubescens is catalyzed by a pair of diterpene synthases. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0176507. [PMID: 28445526 PMCID: PMC5405970 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0176507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2017] [Accepted: 04/11/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Plants produce an immense diversity of natural products (i.e. secondary or specialized metabolites) that offer a rich source of known and potentially new pharmaceuticals and other desirable bioproducts. The Traditional Chinese Medicinal plant Isodon rubescens (Lamiaceae) contains an array of bioactive labdane-related diterpenoid natural products. Of these, the ent-kauranoid oridonin is the most prominent specialized metabolite that has been extensively studied for its potent antimicrobial and anticancer efficacy. Mining of a previously established transcriptome of I. rubescens leaf tissue identified seven diterpene synthase (diTPSs) candidates. Here we report the functional characterization of four I. rubescens diTPSs. IrTPS5 and IrTPS3 were identified as an ent-copalyl diphosphate (CPP) synthase and a (+)-CPP synthase, respectively. Distinct transcript abundance of IrTPS5 and the predicted ent-CPP synthase IrTPS1 suggested a role of IrTPS5 in specialized ent-kaurene metabolism possibly en route to oridonin. Nicotiana benthamiana co-expression assays demonstrated that IrTPS4 functions sequentially with IrTPS3 to form miltiradiene. In addition, IrTPS2 converted the IrTPS3 product (+)-CPP into the hydroxylated tricyclic diterpene nezukol not previously identified in I. rubescens. Metabolite profiling verified the presence of nezukol in I. rubescens leaf tissue. The proposed IrTPS2-catalyzed reaction mechanism proceeds via the common ionization of the diphosphate group of (+)-CPP, followed by formation of an intermediary pimar-15-en-8-yl+ carbocation and neutralization of the carbocation by water capture at C-8 to yield nezukol, as confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis. Oxygenation activity is rare for the family of class I diTPSs and offers new catalysts for developing metabolic engineering platforms to produce a broader spectrum of bioactive diterpenoid natural products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle A. Pelot
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California-Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Lynne M. Hagelthorn
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California-Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - J. Bennett Addison
- Department of Chemistry, University of California-Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Philipp Zerbe
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California-Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
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Pelot KA, Mitchell R, Kwon M, Hagelthorn LM, Wardman JF, Chiang A, Bohlmann J, Ro DK, Zerbe P. Biosynthesis of the psychotropic plant diterpene salvinorin A: Discovery and characterization of the Salvia divinorum clerodienyl diphosphate synthase. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2017; 89:885-897. [PMID: 27865008 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.13427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2016] [Revised: 11/03/2016] [Accepted: 11/14/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Salvia divinorum commonly known as diviner's sage, is an ethnomedicinal plant of the mint family (Lamiaceae). Salvia divinorum is rich in clerodane-type diterpenoids, which accumulate predominantly in leaf glandular trichomes. The main bioactive metabolite, salvinorin A, is the first non-nitrogenous natural compound known to function as an opioid-receptor agonist, and is undergoing clinical trials for potential use in treating neuropsychiatric diseases and drug addictions. We report here the discovery and functional characterization of two S. divinorum diterpene synthases (diTPSs), the ent-copalyl diphosphate (ent-CPP) synthase SdCPS1, and the clerodienyl diphosphate (CLPP) synthase SdCPS2. Mining of leaf- and trichome-specific transcriptomes revealed five diTPSs, two of which are class II diTPSs (SdCPS1-2) and three are class I enzymes (SdKSL1-3). Of the class II diTPSs, transient expression in Nicotiana benthamiana identified SdCPS1 as an ent-CPP synthase, which is prevalent in roots and, together with SdKSL1, exhibits a possible dual role in general and specialized metabolism. In vivo co-expression and in vitro assays combined with nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis identified SdCPS2 as a CLPP synthase. A role of SdCPS2 in catalyzing the committed step in salvinorin A biosynthesis is supported by its biochemical function, trichome-specific expression and absence of additional class II diTPSs in S. divinorum. Structure-guided mutagenesis revealed four catalytic residues that enabled the re-programming of SdCPS2 activity to afford four distinct products, thus advancing our understanding of how neo-functionalization events have shaped the array of different class II diTPS functions in plants, and may promote synthetic biology platforms for a broader spectrum of diterpenoid bioproducts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle A Pelot
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California-Davis, 1 Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Rod Mitchell
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, 2500 University Dr. NW, Calgary, AB, T2N1N4, Canada
| | - Moonhyuk Kwon
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, 2500 University Dr. NW, Calgary, AB, T2N1N4, Canada
| | - Lynne M Hagelthorn
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California-Davis, 1 Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Jacob F Wardman
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, 2500 University Dr. NW, Calgary, AB, T2N1N4, Canada
| | - Angela Chiang
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, 2185 East Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Jörg Bohlmann
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, 2185 East Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Dae-Kyun Ro
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, 2500 University Dr. NW, Calgary, AB, T2N1N4, Canada
| | - Philipp Zerbe
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California-Davis, 1 Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
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37
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Chen X, Berim A, Dayan FE, Gang DR. A (-)-kolavenyl diphosphate synthase catalyzes the first step of salvinorin A biosynthesis in Salvia divinorum. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2017; 68:1109-1122. [PMID: 28204567 PMCID: PMC5441855 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erw493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Salvia divinorum (Lamiaceae) is an annual herb used by indigenous cultures of Mexico for medicinal and ritual purposes. The biosynthesis of salvinorin A, its major bioactive neo-clerodane diterpenoid, remains virtually unknown. This investigation aimed to identify the enzyme that catalyzes the first reaction of salvinorin A biosynthesis, the formation of (-)-kolavenyl diphosphate [(-)-KPP], which is subsequently dephosphorylated to afford (-)-kolavenol. Peltate glandular trichomes were identified as the major and perhaps exclusive site of salvinorin accumulation in S. divinorum. The trichome-specific transcriptome was used to identify candidate diterpene synthases (diTPSs). In vitro and in planta characterization of a class II diTPS designated as SdKPS confirmed its activity as (-)-KPP synthase and its involvement in salvinorin A biosynthesis. Mutation of a phenylalanine into histidine in the active site of SdKPS completely converts the product from (-)-KPP into ent-copalyl diphosphate. Structural elements were identified that mediate the natural formation of the neo-clerodane backbone by this enzyme and suggest how SdKPS and other diTPSs may have evolved from ent-copalyl diphosphate synthase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyue Chen
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164,USA
| | - Anna Berim
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164,USA
| | - Franck E Dayan
- Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1177, USA
| | - David R Gang
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164,USA
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38
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Mafu S, Fischer E, Addison JB, Riberio Barbosana I, Zerbe P. Substitution of Two Active-Site Residues Alters C9-Hydroxylation in a Class II Diterpene Synthase. Chembiochem 2016; 17:2304-2307. [PMID: 27735121 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.201600419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2016] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Diterpenes form a vast and diverse class of natural products of both ecological and economic importance. Class II diterpene synthase (diTPS) enzymes control the committed biosynthetic reactions underlying diterpene chemical diversity. Homology modelling with site-directed mutagenesis identified two active-site residues in the horehound (Marrubium vulgare) class II diTPS peregrinol diphosphate synthase (MvCPS1); residue substitutions abolished the unique MvCPS1-catalysed water-capture reaction at C9 and redirected enzyme activity toward formation of an alternative product, halima-5(10),13-dienyl diphosphate. These findings contributed new insight into the steric interactions that govern diTPS-catalysed regiospecific oxygenation reactions and highlight the feasibility of diTPS engineering to provide a broader spectrum of bioactive diterpene natural products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sibongile Mafu
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Emil Fischer
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.,Present address: The Scripps Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - J Bennett Addison
- Department of Chemistry, University of California Davis, 1 Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Isabel Riberio Barbosana
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.,Present address: Federal University of Ceara, Mister Hull Avenue, 60455-760, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Philipp Zerbe
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
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39
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Jia M, Potter KC, Peters RJ. Extreme promiscuity of a bacterial and a plant diterpene synthase enables combinatorial biosynthesis. Metab Eng 2016; 37:24-34. [PMID: 27060773 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymben.2016.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2016] [Revised: 03/25/2016] [Accepted: 04/06/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Diterpenes are widely distributed across many biological kingdoms, where they serve a diverse range of physiological functions, and some have significant industrial utility. Their biosynthesis involves class I diterpene synthases (DTSs), whose activity can be preceded by that of class II diterpene cyclases (DTCs). Here, a modular metabolic engineering system was used to examine the promiscuity of DTSs. Strikingly, both a bacterial and plant DTS were found to exhibit extreme promiscuity, reacting with all available precursors with orthogonal activity, producing an olefin or hydroxyl group, respectively. Such DTS promiscuity enables combinatorial biosynthesis, with remarkably high yields for these unoptimized non-native enzymatic combinations (up to 15mg/L). Indeed, it was possible to readily characterize the 13 unknown products. Notably, 16 of the observed diterpenes were previously inaccessible, and these results provide biosynthetic routes that are further expected to enable assembly of more extended pathways to produce additionally elaborated 'non-natural' diterpenoids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meirong Jia
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Kevin C Potter
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Reuben J Peters
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA.
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Andersen-Ranberg J, Kongstad KT, Nielsen MT, Jensen NB, Pateraki I, Bach SS, Hamberger B, Zerbe P, Staerk D, Bohlmann J, Møller BL, Hamberger B. Expanding the Landscape of Diterpene Structural Diversity through Stereochemically Controlled Combinatorial Biosynthesis. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2016; 55:2142-6. [PMID: 26749264 PMCID: PMC4755150 DOI: 10.1002/anie.201510650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2015] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Plant-derived diterpenoids serve as important pharmaceuticals, food additives, and fragrances, yet their low natural abundance and high structural complexity limits their broader industrial utilization. By mimicking the modularity of diterpene biosynthesis in plants, we constructed 51 functional combinations of class I and II diterpene synthases, 41 of which are "new-to-nature". Stereoselective biosynthesis of over 50 diterpene skeletons was demonstrated, including natural variants and novel enantiomeric or diastereomeric counterparts. Scalable biotechnological production for four industrially relevant targets was accomplished in engineered strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johan Andersen-Ranberg
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Center for Synthetic Biology, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871, København, Denmark
| | | | - Morten Thrane Nielsen
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Center for Synthetic Biology, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871, København, Denmark
| | | | - Irini Pateraki
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Center for Synthetic Biology, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871, København, Denmark
| | - Søren Spanner Bach
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Center for Synthetic Biology, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871, København, Denmark
| | - Britta Hamberger
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Center for Synthetic Biology, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871, København, Denmark
| | - Philipp Zerbe
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California Davis, USA
| | - Dan Staerk
- Natural Products Research, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jörg Bohlmann
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Birger Lindberg Møller
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Center for Synthetic Biology, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871, København, Denmark
| | - Björn Hamberger
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Center for Synthetic Biology, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871, København, Denmark.
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41
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Andersen-Ranberg J, Kongstad KT, Nielsen MT, Jensen NB, Pateraki I, Bach SS, Hamberger B, Zerbe P, Staerk D, Bohlmann J, Møller BL, Hamberger B. Expanding the Landscape of Diterpene Structural Diversity through Stereochemically Controlled Combinatorial Biosynthesis. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2016. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201510650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Johan Andersen-Ranberg
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences; Center for Synthetic Biology; Thorvaldsensvej 40 1871 København Denmark
| | | | - Morten Thrane Nielsen
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences; Center for Synthetic Biology; Thorvaldsensvej 40 1871 København Denmark
| | | | - Irini Pateraki
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences; Center for Synthetic Biology; Thorvaldsensvej 40 1871 København Denmark
| | - Søren Spanner Bach
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences; Center for Synthetic Biology; Thorvaldsensvej 40 1871 København Denmark
| | - Britta Hamberger
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences; Center for Synthetic Biology; Thorvaldsensvej 40 1871 København Denmark
| | - Philipp Zerbe
- Department of Plant Biology; University of California Davis; USA
| | - Dan Staerk
- Natural Products Research; University of Copenhagen; Denmark
| | - Jörg Bohlmann
- Michael Smith Laboratories; University of British Columbia; Vancouver V6T 1Z4 Canada
| | - Birger Lindberg Møller
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences; Center for Synthetic Biology; Thorvaldsensvej 40 1871 København Denmark
| | - Björn Hamberger
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences; Center for Synthetic Biology; Thorvaldsensvej 40 1871 København Denmark
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Misra RC, Garg A, Roy S, Chanotiya CS, Vasudev PG, Ghosh S. Involvement of an ent-copalyl diphosphate synthase in tissue-specific accumulation of specialized diterpenes in Andrographis paniculata. PLANT SCIENCE : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2015; 240:50-64. [PMID: 26475187 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2015.08.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2015] [Revised: 08/13/2015] [Accepted: 08/22/2015] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Ent-labdane-related diterpene (ent-LRD) specialized (i.e. secondary) metabolites of the medicinal plant kalmegh (Andrographis paniculata) have long been known for several pharmacological activities. However, our understanding of the ent-LRD biosynthetic pathway has remained largely incomplete. Since ent-LRDs accumulate in leaves, we carried out a comparative transcriptional analysis using leaf and root tissues, and identified 389 differentially expressed transcripts, including 223 transcripts that were preferentially expressed in leaf tissue. Analysis of the transcripts revealed various specialized metabolic pathways, including transcripts of the ent-LRD biosynthetic pathway. Two class II diterpene synthases (ApCPS1 and ApCPS2) along with one (ApCPS1') and two (ApCPS2' and ApCPS2″) transcriptional variants that were the outcomes of alternative splicing of the precursor mRNA and alternative transcriptional termination, respectively, were identified. ApCPS1 and ApCPS2 encode for 832- and 817-amino acids proteins, respectively, and are phylogenetically related to the dicotyledons ent-copalyl diphosphate synthases (ent-CPSs). The spatio-temporal patterns of ent-LRD metabolites accumulation and gene expression suggested a likely role for ApCPS1 in general (i.e. primary) metabolism, perhaps by providing precursor for the biosynthesis of phytohormone gibberellin (GA). However, ApCPS2 is potentially involved in tissue-specific accumulation of ent-LRD specialized metabolites. Bacterially expressed recombinant ApCPS2 catalyzed the conversion of (E,E,E)-geranylgeranyl diphosphate (GGPP), the general precursor of diterpenes to ent-copalyl diphosphate (ent-CPP), the precursor of ent-LRDs. Taken together, these results advance our understanding of the tissue-specific accumulation of specialized ent-LRDs of medicinal importance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajesh Chandra Misra
- Biotechnology Division, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow, 226015, India
| | - Anchal Garg
- Biotechnology Division, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow, 226015, India
| | - Sudeep Roy
- Biotechnology Division, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow, 226015, India
| | - Chandan Singh Chanotiya
- Chemical Sciences Division, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow, 226015, India
| | - Prema G Vasudev
- Metabolic and Structural Biology Division, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow 226015, India
| | - Sumit Ghosh
- Biotechnology Division, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow, 226015, India.
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43
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Pearsall SM, Rowley CN, Berry A. Advances in Pathway Engineering for Natural Product Biosynthesis. ChemCatChem 2015. [DOI: 10.1002/cctc.201500602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah M. Pearsall
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology; University of Leeds; Leeds LS2 9JT UK
| | - Christopher N. Rowley
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology; University of Leeds; Leeds LS2 9JT UK
| | - Alan Berry
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology; University of Leeds; Leeds LS2 9JT UK
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Zerbe P, Bohlmann J. Enzymes for synthetic biology of ambroxide-related diterpenoid fragrance compounds. ADVANCES IN BIOCHEMICAL ENGINEERING/BIOTECHNOLOGY 2015; 148:427-47. [PMID: 25846965 DOI: 10.1007/10_2015_308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Abstract
Ambrox and related ambroxides are highly priced in the fragrance industry, and valued for their delicate odor and fixative properties. Historically, ambrox was obtained from ambergris, a waxy excretion produced by sperm whales, now an endangered species. Synthetic ambroxides have replaced ambergris in perfume manufacture. Plant labdane diterpenoids can serve as starting material for ambroxide synthesis. Among these, the diterpene alcohol sclareol is the major industrial precursor obtained from cultivated clary sage (Salvia sclarea). In plants, a large family of diterpene synthase (diTPS) enzymes controls key reactions in diterpenoid biosynthesis. Advanced metabolite profiling and high-throughput sequencing of fragrant and medicinal plants have accelerated discovery of novel diTPS functions, providing a resource for combinatorial synthetic biology and metabolic engineering approaches. This chapter highlights recent progress on the discovery, characterization, and engineering of plant diTPSs with potential uses in ambroxide production. It features biosynthesis of sclareol, cis-abienol, and diterpene resin acids, as sources of genes and enzymes for diterpenoid bioproducts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Zerbe
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, 301-2185 East Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada,
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Garg A, Agrawal L, Misra RC, Sharma S, Ghosh S. Andrographis paniculata transcriptome provides molecular insights into tissue-specific accumulation of medicinal diterpenes. BMC Genomics 2015; 16:659. [PMID: 26328761 PMCID: PMC4557604 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-015-1864-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2015] [Accepted: 08/18/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Kalmegh (Andrographis paniculata) has been widely exploited in traditional medicine for the treatment of infectious diseases and health disorders. Ent-labdane-related diterpene (ent-LRD) specialized (i.e., secondary) metabolites of kalmegh such as andrographolide, neoandrographolide and 14-deoxy-11,12-didehydroandrographolide, are known for variety of pharmacological activities. However, due to the lack of genomic and transcriptomic information, underlying molecular basis of ent-LRDs biosynthesis has remained largely unknown. To identify candidate genes of the ent-LRD biosynthetic pathway, we performed comparative transcriptome analysis using leaf and root tissues that differentially accumulate ent-LRDs. Results De novo assembly of Illumina HiSeq2000 platform-generated paired-end sequencing reads resulted into 69,011 leaf and 64,244 root transcripts which were assembled into a total of 84,628 unique transcripts. Annotation of these transcripts to the Uniprot, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Carbohydrate-Active Enzymes (CAZy) databases identified candidate transcripts of the ent-LRD biosynthetic pathway. These included transcripts that encode enzymes of the plastidial 2C-methyl-D-erythritol-4-phosphate pathway which provides C5 isoprenoid precursors for the ent-LRDs biosynthesis, geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase, class II diterpene synthase (diTPS), cytochrome P450 monooxygenase and glycosyltransferase. Three class II diTPSs (ApCPS1, ApCPS2 and ApCPS3) that showed distinct tissue-specific expression profiles and are phylogenetically related to the dicotyledon ent-copalyl diphosphate synthases, are identified. ApCPS1, ApCPS2 and ApCPS3 encode for 832-, 817- and 797- amino acids proteins of 55–63 % identity, respectively. Spatio-temporal patterns of transcripts and ent-LRDs accumulation are consistent with the involvement of ApCPS1 in general (i.e., primary) metabolism for the biosynthesis of phytohormone gibberellin, ApCPS2 in leaf specialized ent-LRDs biosynthesis and ApCPS3 in root diterpene biosynthesis. Moreover, simple sequence repeats (SSRs) that might assist in genotyping and developing specific chemotypes were identified in transcripts of the specialized metabolic pathways, including ent-LRDs. Conclusions Comparative analysis of root and leaf transcriptomes disclosed novel genes of the ent-LRD biosynthetic pathway, including three class II diTPSs that showed discrete spatio-temporal expression patterns; thus, suggesting their participation into distinct diterpene metabolic pathways of kalmegh. Overall, these results will be useful in understanding molecular basis of the medicinal ent-LRDs biosynthesis and developing breeding strategies for improving their yields. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-015-1864-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anchal Garg
- Biotechnology Division, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow, 226015, India.
| | - Lalit Agrawal
- Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow, 226001, India.
| | - Rajesh Chandra Misra
- Biotechnology Division, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow, 226015, India.
| | - Shubha Sharma
- Biotechnology Division, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow, 226015, India.
| | - Sumit Ghosh
- Biotechnology Division, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow, 226015, India.
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Zerbe P, Rodriguez SM, Mafu S, Chiang A, Sandhu HK, O'Neil-Johnson M, Starks CM, Bohlmann J. Exploring diterpene metabolism in non-model species: transcriptome-enabled discovery and functional characterization of labda-7,13E-dienyl diphosphate synthase from Grindelia robusta. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2015; 83:783-93. [PMID: 26119826 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.12925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2015] [Revised: 06/16/2015] [Accepted: 06/19/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Grindelia robusta or gumweed, is a medicinal herb of the sunflower family that forms a diverse suite of diterpenoid natural products. Its major constituents, grindelic acid and related grindelane diterpenoids accumulate in a resinous exudate covering the plants' surfaces, most prominently the unopened composite flower. Recent studies demonstrated potential pharmaceutical applications for grindelic acid and its synthetic derivatives. Mining of the previously published transcriptome of G. robusta flower tissue identified two additional diterpene synthases (diTPSs). We report the in vitro and in vivo functional characterization of an ent-kaurene synthase of general metabolism (GrTPS4) and a class II diTPS (GrTPS2) of specialized metabolism that converts geranylgeranyl diphosphate (GGPP) into labda-7,13E-dienyl diphosphate as verified by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis. Tissue-specific transcript abundance of GrTPS2 in leaves and flowers accompanied by the presence of an endocyclic 7,13 double bond in labda-7,13E-dienyl diphosphate suggest that GrTPS2 catalyzes the first committed reaction in the biosynthesis of grindelic acid and related grindelane metabolites. With the formation of labda-7,13E-dienyl diphosphate, GrTPS2 adds an additional function to the portfolio of monofunctional class II diTPSs, which catalytically most closely resembles the bifunctional labda-7,13E-dien-15-ol synthase of the lycopod Selaginella moellendorffii. Together with a recently identified functional diTPS pair of G. robusta producing manoyl oxide, GrTPS2 lays the biosynthetic foundation of the diverse array of labdane-related diterpenoids in the genus Grindelia. Knowledge of these natural diterpenoid metabolic pathways paves the way for developing biotechnology approaches toward producing grindelic acid and related bioproducts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Zerbe
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California-Davis, 1 Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, 2185 East Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Selina M Rodriguez
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California-Davis, 1 Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Sibongile Mafu
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California-Davis, 1 Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Angela Chiang
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, 2185 East Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Harpreet K Sandhu
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, 2185 East Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Mark O'Neil-Johnson
- Sequoia Sciences, 1912 Innerbelt Business Center Drive, Saint Louis, MO, 63114, USA
| | - Courtney M Starks
- Sequoia Sciences, 1912 Innerbelt Business Center Drive, Saint Louis, MO, 63114, USA
| | - Jörg Bohlmann
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, 2185 East Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
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47
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Sherman DH, Tsukamoto S, Williams RM. ORGANIC SYNTHESIS. Comment on "Asymmetric syntheses of sceptrin and massadine and evidence for biosynthetic enantiodivergence". Science 2015; 349:149. [PMID: 26160938 DOI: 10.1126/science.aaa9349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2015] [Accepted: 05/05/2015] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Ma et al. (Reports, 10 October 2014, p. 219) report asymmetric syntheses of sceptrin and massadine and, through a stereochemical reassignment, claim to "uncover enantiodivergence as a new biosynthetic paradigm for natural products." We challenge and clarify this claim with relevant examples from the literature of this well-known phenomenon of enantiodivergent congener biosynthesis within the same producing organism.
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Affiliation(s)
- David H Sherman
- Life Sciences Institute and Departments of Medicinal Chemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, and Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Sachiko Tsukamoto
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kumamoto University, 5-1 Oe-honmachi, Kumamoto 862-0973, Japan
| | - Robert M Williams
- Department of Chemistry, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA. The University of Colorado Cancer Center, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.
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Plant diterpene synthases: exploring modularity and metabolic diversity for bioengineering. Trends Biotechnol 2015; 33:419-28. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2015.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2015] [Revised: 04/15/2015] [Accepted: 04/16/2015] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Bashandy H, Jalkanen S, Teeri TH. Within leaf variation is the largest source of variation in agroinfiltration of Nicotiana benthamiana. PLANT METHODS 2015; 11:47. [PMID: 26472987 PMCID: PMC4607171 DOI: 10.1186/s13007-015-0091-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2015] [Accepted: 10/07/2015] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Transient gene expression utilizing syringe agroinfiltration offers a simple and efficient technique for different transgenic applications. Leaves of Nicotiana benthamiana show reliable and high transformation efficiency, but in quantitative assays also a certain degree of variation. We used a nested design in our agroinfiltration experiments to dissect the sources of this variation. RESULTS An intron containing firefly luciferase gene was used as a reporter for agroinfiltration. A number of 6 week old tobacco plants were infiltrated for their top leaves, several samples were punched from the leaves after 2 days of transient expression, and protein extracts from the samples were repeatedly measured for luciferase activity. Interestingly, most of the variation was due to differences between the sampling spots in the leaves, the next important source being the different leaves on each plant. Variation between similar experiments, between plants and between repetitive measurements of the extracts could be easily minimized. CONCLUSIONS Efforts and expenditure of agroinfiltration experiments can be optimized when sources of variation are known. In summary, infiltrate more plants but less leaves, sample more positions on the leaf but run only few technical replicates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hany Bashandy
- />Department of Agricultural Sciences, Viikki Plant Science Centre, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 27, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
- />Department of Genetics, Cairo University, 13 Gamaa St., Giza, 12619 Egypt
| | - Salla Jalkanen
- />Department of Agricultural Sciences, Viikki Plant Science Centre, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 27, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Teemu H. Teeri
- />Department of Agricultural Sciences, Viikki Plant Science Centre, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 27, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
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