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Love AC, Purdy TN, Hubert FM, Kirwan EJ, Holland DC, Moore BS. Discovery of Latent Cannabichromene Cyclase Activity in Marine Bacterial Flavoenzymes. ACS Synth Biol 2024; 13:1343-1354. [PMID: 38459634 PMCID: PMC11031283 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.4c00051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/10/2024]
Abstract
Production of phytocannabinoids remains an area of active scientific interest due to the growing use of cannabis by the public and the underexplored therapeutic potential of the over 100 minor cannabinoids. While phytocannabinoids are biosynthesized by Cannabis sativa and other select plants and fungi, structural analogs and stereoisomers can only be accessed synthetically or through heterologous expression. To date, the bioproduction of cannabinoids has required eukaryotic hosts like yeast since key, native oxidative cyclization enzymes do not express well in bacterial hosts. Here, we report that two marine bacterial flavoenzymes, Clz9 and Tcz9, perform oxidative cyclization reactions on phytocannabinoid precursors to efficiently generate cannabichromene scaffolds. Furthermore, Clz9 and Tcz9 express robustly in bacteria and display significant tolerance to organic solvent and high substrate loading, thereby enabling fermentative production of cannabichromenic acid in Escherichia coli and indicating their potential for biocatalyst development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna C. Love
- Center for Marine Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Trevor N. Purdy
- Center for Marine Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Felix M. Hubert
- Center for Marine Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Ella J. Kirwan
- Center for Marine Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Darren C. Holland
- Center for Marine Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Bradley S. Moore
- Center for Marine Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
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Mass Spectrometry-Based Metabolomics of Phytocannabinoids from Non-Cannabis Plant Origins. MOLECULES (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 27:molecules27103301. [PMID: 35630777 PMCID: PMC9147514 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27103301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Revised: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Phytocannabinoids are isoprenylated resorcinyl polyketides produced mostly in glandular trichomes of Cannabis sativa L. These discoveries led to the identification of cannabinoid receptors, which modulate psychotropic and pharmacological reactions and are found primarily in the human central nervous system. As a result of the biogenetic process, aliphatic ketide phytocannabinoids are exclusively found in the cannabis species and have a limited natural distribution, whereas phenethyl-type phytocannabinoids are present in higher plants, liverworts, and fungi. The development of cannabinomics has uncovered evidence of new sources containing various phytocannabinoid derivatives. Phytocannabinoids have been isolated as artifacts from their carboxylated forms (pre-cannabinoids or acidic cannabinoids) from plant sources. In this review, the overview of the phytocannabinoid biosynthesis is presented. Different non-cannabis plant sources are described either from those belonging to the angiosperm species and bryophytes, together with their metabolomic structures. Lastly, we discuss the legal framework for the ingestion of these biological materials which currently receive the attention as a legal high.
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Purdy TN, Moore BS, Lukowski AL. Harnessing ortho-Quinone Methides in Natural Product Biosynthesis and Biocatalysis. JOURNAL OF NATURAL PRODUCTS 2022; 85:688-701. [PMID: 35108487 PMCID: PMC9006567 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.1c01026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
The implementation of ortho-quinone methide (o-QM) intermediates in complex molecule assembly represents a remarkably efficient strategy designed by Nature and utilized by synthetic chemists. o-QMs have been taken advantage of in biomimetic syntheses for decades, yet relatively few examples of o-QM-generating enzymes in natural product biosynthetic pathways have been reported. The biosynthetic enzymes that have been discovered thus far exhibit tremendous potential for biocatalytic applications, enabling the selective production of desirable compounds that are otherwise intractable or inherently difficult to achieve by traditional synthetic methods. Characterization of this biosynthetic machinery has the potential to shine a light on new enzymes capable of similar chemistry on diverse substrates, thus expanding our knowledge of Nature's catalytic repertoire. The presently known o-QM-generating enzymes include flavin-dependent oxidases, hetero-Diels-Alderases, S-adenosyl-l-methionine-dependent pericyclases, and α-ketoglutarate-dependent nonheme iron enzymes. In this review, we discuss their diverse enzymatic mechanisms and potential as biocatalysts in constructing natural product molecules such as cannabinoids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trevor N Purdy
- Center for Marine Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Bradley S Moore
- Center for Marine Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - April L Lukowski
- Center for Marine Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
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Bouyahya A, El Allam A, Zeouk I, Taha D, Zengin G, Goh BH, Catauro M, Montesano D, El Omari N. Pharmacological Effects of Grifolin: Focusing on Anticancer Mechanisms. Molecules 2022; 27:284. [PMID: 35011516 PMCID: PMC8746472 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27010284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 12/31/2021] [Accepted: 12/31/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Grifolin is a volatile compound contained in essential oils of several medicinal plants. Several studies show that this substance has been the subject of numerous pharmacological investigations, which have yielded interesting results. Grifolin demonstrated beneficial effects for health via its multiple pharmacological activities. It has anti-microbial properties against bacteria, fungi, and parasites. In addition, grifolin exhibited remarkable anti-cancer effects on different human cancer cells. The anticancer action of this molecule is related to its ability to act at cellular and molecular levels on different checkpoints controlling the signaling pathways of human cancer cell lines. Grifolin can induce apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, autophagy, and senescence in these cells. Despite its major pharmacological properties, grifolin has only been investigated in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, further investigations concerning pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic tests are required for any possible pharmaceutical application of this substance. Moreover, toxicological tests and other investigations involving humans as a study model are required to validate the safety and clinical applications of grifolin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdelhakim Bouyahya
- Laboratory of Human Pathologies Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Mohammed V University, Rabat 10106, Morocco; (A.B.); (A.E.A.)
| | - Aicha El Allam
- Laboratory of Human Pathologies Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Mohammed V University, Rabat 10106, Morocco; (A.B.); (A.E.A.)
| | - Ikrame Zeouk
- Pharmaceutical Industry Laboratory, National Agency of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Taounate 34025, Morocco;
| | - Douae Taha
- Laboratoire de Spectroscopie, Modélisation Moléculaire, Matériaux, Nanomatériaux, Eau et Environnement, CERNE2D, Faculté des Sciences, Mohammed V University, Rabat 10106, Morocco;
| | - Gokhan Zengin
- Physiology and Biochemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Biology, Science Faculty, Selcuk University, 42130 Konya, Turkey;
| | - Bey Hing Goh
- Biofunctional Molecule Exploratory (BMEX) Research Group, School of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, Subang Jaya 47500, Malaysia;
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Michelina Catauro
- Department of Engineering, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Via Roma 29, 81031 Aversa, Italy
| | - Domenico Montesano
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Nasreddine El Omari
- Laboratory of Histology, Embryology and Cytogenetic, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Mohammed V University, Rabat 10100, Morocco;
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Arif Y, Singh P, Bajguz A, Hayat S. Phytocannabinoids Biosynthesis in Angiosperms, Fungi, and Liverworts and Their Versatile Role. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 10:1307. [PMID: 34203173 PMCID: PMC8309193 DOI: 10.3390/plants10071307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2021] [Revised: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Phytocannabinoids are a structurally diverse class of bioactive naturally occurring compounds found in angiosperms, fungi, and liverworts and produced in several plant organs such as the flower and glandular trichrome of Cannabis sativa, the scales in Rhododendron, and oil bodies of liverworts such as Radula species; they show a diverse role in humans and plants. Moreover, phytocannabinoids are prenylated polyketides, i.e., terpenophenolics, which are derived from isoprenoid and fatty acid precursors. Additionally, targeted productions of active phytocannabinoids have beneficial properties via the genes involved and their expression in a heterologous host. Bioactive compounds show a remarkable non-hallucinogenic biological property that is determined by the variable nature of the side chain and prenyl group defined by the enzymes involved in their biosynthesis. Phytocannabinoids possess therapeutic, antibacterial, and antimicrobial properties; thus, they are used in treating several human diseases. This review gives the latest knowledge on their role in the amelioration of abiotic (heat, cold, and radiation) stress in plants. It also aims to provide synthetic and biotechnological approaches based on combinatorial biochemical and protein engineering to synthesize phytocannabinoids with enhanced properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yamshi Arif
- Department of Botany, Plant Physiology Section, Faculty of Life Sciences, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 202002, India; (Y.A.); (P.S.); (S.H.)
| | - Priyanka Singh
- Department of Botany, Plant Physiology Section, Faculty of Life Sciences, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 202002, India; (Y.A.); (P.S.); (S.H.)
| | - Andrzej Bajguz
- Department of Biology and Plant Ecology, Faculty of Biology, University of Bialystok, Ciolkowskiego 1J, 15-245 Bialystok, Poland
| | - Shamsul Hayat
- Department of Botany, Plant Physiology Section, Faculty of Life Sciences, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 202002, India; (Y.A.); (P.S.); (S.H.)
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Daurichromenic Acid from the Chinese Traditional Medicinal Plant Rhododendron dauricum Inhibits Sphingomyelin Synthase and Aβ Aggregation. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25184077. [PMID: 32906602 PMCID: PMC7571127 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25184077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2020] [Revised: 08/31/2020] [Accepted: 09/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Species of the genus Rhododendron have been used in traditional Chinese medicine, with the medicinal herb "Manshanfong" used as an expectorant and for the treatment of acute bronchitis. Daurichromenic acid (DCA), a constituent of Rhododendron dauricum, is a meroterpenoid with antibacterial, anti-HIV, and anti-inflammatory activities. However, the mechanisms underlying these pharmacologic activities are poorly understood. To develop new drugs based on DCA, more information is required regarding its interactions with biomolecules. The present study showed that DCA inhibits the activity of the enzyme sphingomyelin synthase, with an IC50 of 4 µM. The structure-activity relationships between DCA and sphingomyelin synthase were evaluated using derivatives and cyclized hongoquercin A. In addition, DCA was found to inhibit amyloid β aggregation. These results may help in the design of effective drugs based on DCA.
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Qian S, Clomburg JM, Gonzalez R. Engineering Escherichia coli as a platform for the in vivo synthesis of prenylated aromatics. Biotechnol Bioeng 2019; 116:1116-1127. [PMID: 30659582 DOI: 10.1002/bit.26932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2018] [Revised: 01/07/2019] [Accepted: 01/16/2019] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Prenylated aromatics (PAs) are an important class of natural products with valuable pharmaceutical applications. To address current limitations of their sourcing from plants, here, we present a microbial platform for the in vivo synthesis of PAs based on the aromatic prenyltransferase NphB from Streptomyces sp. strain CL190. As proof of concept, we targeted the prenylation of phenolic/phenolcarboxylic acids, including orsellinic (OSA), divarinolic (DVA), and olivetolic (OLA) acids, whose prenylated products have important biopharmaceutical applications. Although the ability of wild-type NphB to catalyze the prenylation reaction with each acid was validated by in vitro characterization, improvement of product titers in vivo required protein modeling and rational design to engineer NphB variants with increased activity and product selectivity. When a designed NphB variant with eightfold improved catalytic efficiency toward OSA was expressed in an Escherichia coli host engineered to generate geranyl pyrophosphate at high flux through the mevalonate pathway, we observed up to 300 mg/L prenylated products by exogenously supplying OSA. The improved properties of engineered NphB were also utilized to demonstrate the diversification of this in vivo platform by using both different aromatic acceptors and different prenyl donors to generate various PA compounds, including medicinally important compounds such as cannabigerovarinic, cannabigerolic, and grifolic acids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuai Qian
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas
| | - James M Clomburg
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas.,Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida
| | - Ramon Gonzalez
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas.,Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida
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