A promiscuous coenzyme A ligase provides benzoyl-coenzyme A for xanthone biosynthesis in Hypericum

Xanthones: Biosynthesis and Trafficking in Plants, Fungi and Lichens

Xanthones are a class of secondary metabolites produced by plant organisms. They are characterized by a wide structural variety and numerous biological activities that make them valuable metabolites for use in the pharmaceutical field. This review shows the current knowledge of the xanthone biosynthetic pathway with a focus on the precursors and the enzymes involved, as well as on the cellular and organ localization of xanthones in plants. Xanthone biosynthesis in plants involves the shikimate and the acetate pathways which originate in plastids and endoplasmic reticulum, respectively. The pathway continues following three alternative routes, two phenylalanine-dependent and one phenylalanine-independent. All three routes lead to the biosynthesis of 2,3',4,6-tetrahydroxybenzophenone, which is the central intermediate. Unlike plants, the xanthone core in fungi and lichens is wholly derived from polyketide. Although organs and tissues synthesizing and accumulating xanthones are known in plants, no information is yet available on their subcellular and cellular localization in fungi and lichens. This review highlights the studies published to date on xanthone biosynthesis and trafficking in plant organisms, from which it emerges that the mechanisms underlying their synthesis need to be further investigated in order to exploit them for application purposes.

Xanthone Biosynthetic Pathway in Plants: A Review

Xanthones are secondary metabolites rich in structural diversity and possess a broad array of pharmacological properties, such as antitumor, antidiabetic, and anti-microbes. These aromatic compounds are found in higher plants, such as Clusiaceae, Hypericaceae, and Gentianaceae, yet their biosynthetic pathways have not been comprehensively updated especially within the last decade (up to 2021). In this review, plant xanthone biosynthesis is detailed to illuminate their intricacies and differences between species. The pathway initially involves the shikimate pathway, either through L-phenylalanine-dependent or -independent pathway, that later forms an intermediate benzophenone, 2,3',4,6-tetrahydoxybenzophenone. This is followed by a regioselective intramolecular mediated oxidative coupling to form xanthone ring compounds, 1,3,5-trihydroxyxanthone (1,3,5-THX) or 1,3,7-THX, the core precursors for xanthones in most plants. Recent evidence has shed some lights onto the enzymes and reactions involved in this xanthone pathway. In particular, several biosynthetic enzymes have been characterized at both biochemical and molecular levels from various organisms including Hypericum spp., Centaurium erythraea and Garcinia mangostana. Proposed pathways for a plethora of other downstream xanthone derivatives including swertianolin and gambogic acid (derived from 1,3,5-THX) as well as gentisin, hyperixanthone A, α-mangostin, and mangiferin (derived from 1,3,7-THX) have also been thoroughly covered. This review reports one of the most complete xanthone pathways in plants. In the future, the information collected here will be a valuable resource for a more directed molecular works in xanthone-producing plants as well as in synthetic biology application.

Deep roots and many branches: Origins of plant-specialized metabolic enzymes in general metabolism

Collectively, plants produce hundreds of thousands of specialized metabolites from simple building blocks such as amino acids, fatty acids, and isoprenoids. As additional specialized metabolic enzymes are described, there is increasing recognition of the importance of cooption of general metabolic enzymes to specialized metabolism by gene duplication, narrowing of expression, and alteration of enzymatic activities. Here, we examine how several classes of enzymes were each coopted multiple times. We demonstrate the simplicity of achieving the synthesis of analogous chemicals by coopting existing enzymes and summarize emerging insights that could inform rational metabolic engineering of both general and specialized metabolic enzymes.

Characterization of a Cytosolic Acyl-Activating Enzyme Catalyzing the Formation of 4-Methylvaleryl-CoA for Pogostone Biosynthesis in Pogostemon Cablin

Pogostone, a compound with various pharmaceutical activities, is a major constituent of the essential oil preparation called Pogostemonis Herba, which is obtained from the plant Pogostemon cablin. The biosynthesis of pogostone has not been elucidated, but 4-methylvaleryl-CoA (4MVCoA) is a likely precursor. We analyzed the distribution of pogostone in P. cablin using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and found that pogostone accumulates at high levels in the main stems and leaves of young plants. A search for the acyl-activating enzyme (AAE) that catalyzes the formation of 4MVCoA from 4-methylvaleric acid was launched, using an RNAseq-based approach to identify 31 unigenes encoding putative AAEs including the PcAAE2, the transcript profile of which shows a strong positive correlation with the distribution pattern of pogostone. The protein encoded by PcAAE2 was biochemically characterized in vitro and shown to catalyze the formation of 4MVCoA from 4-methylvaleric acid. Phylogenetic analysis showed that PcAAE2 is closely related to other AAE proteins in P. cablin and other species that are localized to the peroxisomes. However, PcAAE2 lacks a peroxisome targeting sequence 1 (PTS1) and is localized in the cytosol.

A peroxisomal β-oxidative pathway contributes to the formation of C6-C1 aromatic volatiles in poplar

Benzenoids (C6-C1 aromatic compounds) play important roles in plant defense and are often produced upon herbivory. Black cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa) produces a variety of volatile and nonvolatile benzenoids involved in various defense responses. However, their biosynthesis in poplar is mainly unresolved. We showed feeding of the poplar leaf beetle (Chrysomela populi) on P. trichocarpa leaves led to increased emission of the benzenoid volatiles benzaldehyde, benzylalcohol, and benzyl benzoate. The accumulation of salicinoids, a group of nonvolatile phenolic defense glycosides composed in part of benzenoid units, was hardly affected by beetle herbivory. In planta labeling experiments revealed that volatile and nonvolatile poplar benzenoids are produced from cinnamic acid (C6-C3). The biosynthesis of C6-C1 aromatic compounds from cinnamic acid has been described in petunia (Petunia hybrida) flowers where the pathway includes a peroxisomal-localized chain shortening sequence, involving cinnamate-CoA ligase (CNL), cinnamoyl-CoA hydratase/dehydrogenase (CHD), and 3-ketoacyl-CoA thiolase (KAT). Sequence and phylogenetic analysis enabled the identification of small CNL, CHD, and KAT gene families in P. trichocarpa. Heterologous expression of the candidate genes in Escherichia coli and characterization of purified proteins in vitro revealed enzymatic activities similar to those described in petunia flowers. RNA interference-mediated knockdown of the CNL subfamily in gray poplar (Populus x canescens) resulted in decreased emission of C6-C1 aromatic volatiles upon herbivory, while constitutively accumulating salicinoids were not affected. This indicates the peroxisomal β-oxidative pathway participates in the formation of volatile benzenoids. The chain shortening steps for salicinoids, however, likely employ an alternative pathway.

Cytosolic aromatic aldehyde dehydrogenase provides benzoic acid for xanthone biosynthesis in Hypericum

Benzoic acid is a building block of a multitude of well-known plant natural products, such as paclitaxel and cocaine. Its simple chemical structure contrasts with its complex biosynthesis. Hypericum species are rich in polyprenylated benzoic acid-derived xanthones, which have received attention due to their biological impact on human health. The upstream biosynthetic sequence leading to xanthones is still incomplete. To supply benzoic acid for xanthone biosynthesis, Hypericum calycinum cell cultures use the CoA-dependent non-β-oxidative pathway, which starts with peroxisomal cinnamate CoA-ligase (HcCNL). Here, we use the xanthone-producing cell cultures to identify the transcript for benzaldehyde dehydrogenase (HcBD), a pivotal player in the non-β-oxidative pathways. In addition to benzaldehyde, the enzyme efficiently catalyzes the oxidation of trans-cinnamaldehyde in vitro. The enzymatic activity is strictly dependent on the presence of NAD⁺ as co-factor. HcBD is localized to the cytosol upon ectopic expression of reporter fusion constructs. HcBD oxidizes benzaldehyde, which moves across the peroxisome membrane, to form benzoic acid. Increases in the HcCNL and HcBD transcript levels precede the elicitor-induced xanthone accumulation. The current work addresses a crucial step in the yet incompletely understood CoA-dependent non-β-oxidative route of benzoic acid biosynthesis. Addressing this step may offer a new biotechnological tool to enhance product formation in biofactories.