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Lipko A, Swiezewska E. Isoprenoid generating systems in plants - A handy toolbox how to assess contribution of the mevalonate and methylerythritol phosphate pathways to the biosynthetic process. Prog Lipid Res 2016; 63:70-92. [PMID: 27133788 DOI: 10.1016/j.plipres.2016.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2015] [Revised: 01/07/2016] [Accepted: 04/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Isoprenoids comprise an astonishingly diverse group of metabolites with numerous potential and actual applications in medicine, agriculture and the chemical industry. Generation of efficient platforms producing isoprenoids is a target of numerous laboratories. Such efforts are generally enhanced if the native biosynthetic routes can be identified, and if the regulatory mechanisms responsible for the biosynthesis of the compound(s) of interest can be determined. In this review a critical summary of the techniques applied to establish the contribution of the two alternative routes of isoprenoid production operating in plant cells, the mevalonate and methylerythritol pathways, with a focus on their co-operation (cross-talk) is presented. Special attention has been paid to methodological aspects of the referred studies, in order to give the reader a deeper understanding for the nuances of these powerful techniques. This review has been designed as an organized toolbox, which might offer the researchers comments useful both for project design and for interpretation of results obtained.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agata Lipko
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Ewa Swiezewska
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland.
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52
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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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53
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Guo J, Ma X, Cai Y, Ma Y, Zhan Z, Zhou YJ, Liu W, Guan M, Yang J, Cui G, Kang L, Yang L, Shen Y, Tang J, Lin H, Ma X, Jin B, Liu Z, Peters RJ, Zhao ZK, Huang L. Cytochrome P450 promiscuity leads to a bifurcating biosynthetic pathway for tanshinones. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2016; 210:525-34. [PMID: 26682704 PMCID: PMC4930649 DOI: 10.1111/nph.13790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 140] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2015] [Accepted: 10/29/2015] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Cytochromes P450 (CYPs) play a key role in generating the structural diversity of terpenoids, the largest group of plant natural products. However, functional characterization of CYPs has been challenging because of the expansive families found in plant genomes, diverse reactivity and inaccessibility of their substrates and products. Here we present the characterization of two CYPs, CYP76AH3 and CYP76AK1, which act sequentially to form a bifurcating pathway for the biosynthesis of tanshinones, the oxygenated diterpenoids from the Chinese medicinal plant Danshen (Salvia miltiorrhiza). These CYPs had similar transcription profiles to that of the known gene responsible for tanshinone production in elicited Danshen hairy roots. Biochemical and RNA interference studies demonstrated that both CYPs are promiscuous. CYP76AH3 oxidizes ferruginol at two different carbon centers, and CYP76AK1 hydroxylates C-20 of two of the resulting intermediates. Together, these convert ferruginol into 11,20-dihydroxy ferruginol and 11,20-dihydroxy sugiol en route to tanshinones. Moreover, we demonstrated the utility of these CYPs by engineering yeast for heterologous production of six oxygenated diterpenoids, which in turn enabled structural characterization of three novel compounds produced by CYP-mediated oxidation. Our results highlight the incorporation of multiple CYPs into diterpenoid metabolic engineering, and a continuing trend of CYP promiscuity generating complex networks in terpenoid biosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- 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, P. R. China
| | - Xiaohui 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, P. R. China
- Pharmacy College, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, P.R. China
| | - Yuan Cai
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, P. R. China
- Division of Biotechnology, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, CAS, Dalian, 116023, P.R. 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, P. R. China
| | - Zhilai Zhan
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, P. R. China
| | - Yongjin J Zhou
- Division of Biotechnology, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, CAS, Dalian, 116023, P.R. China
| | - Wujun Liu
- Division of Biotechnology, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, CAS, Dalian, 116023, P.R. China
| | - Mengxin Guan
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, P. R. China
| | - Jian Yang
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, P. R. 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, P. R. China
| | - Liping Kang
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, P. R. China
| | - Lei Yang
- Plant Science Research Center, Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics and Resources, Shanghai 201602, P.R. 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, P. R. 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, P. R. China
| | - Huixin Lin
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, P. R. China
| | - Xiaojing 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, P. R. 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, P. R. China
| | - Zhenming Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, P. R. China
| | - Reuben J. Peters
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Zongbao K. Zhao
- Division of Biotechnology, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, CAS, Dalian, 116023, P.R. China
- Corresponding authors: Luqi Huang, Tel: 86-10-84044340. , Zongbao K. Zhao, Tel: 86-411-84379211.
| | - 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, P. R. China
- Corresponding authors: Luqi Huang, Tel: 86-10-84044340. , Zongbao K. Zhao, Tel: 86-411-84379211.
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54
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Probing the promiscuity of ent-kaurene oxidases via combinatorial biosynthesis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2016; 113:2526-31. [PMID: 26884192 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1512096113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The substrate specificity of enzymes from natural products' metabolism is a topic of considerable interest, with potential biotechnological use implicit in the discovery of promiscuous enzymes. However, such studies are often limited by the availability of substrates and authentic standards for identification of the resulting products. Here, a modular metabolic engineering system is used in a combinatorial biosynthetic approach toward alleviating this restriction. In particular, for studies of the multiply reactive cytochrome P450, ent-kaurene oxidase (KO), which is involved in production of the diterpenoid plant hormone gibberellin. Many, but not all, plants make a variety of related diterpenes, whose structural similarity to ent-kaurene makes them potential substrates for KO. Use of combinatorial biosynthesis enabled analysis of more than 20 such potential substrates, as well as structural characterization of 12 resulting unknown products, providing some insight into the underlying structure-function relationships. These results highlight the utility of this approach for investigating the substrate specificity of enzymes from complex natural products' biosynthesis.
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Mao H, Liu J, Ren F, Peters RJ, Wang Q. Characterization of CYP71Z18 indicates a role in maize zealexin biosynthesis. PHYTOCHEMISTRY 2016; 121:4-10. [PMID: 26471326 DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2015.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2015] [Revised: 09/26/2015] [Accepted: 10/07/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Maize (Zea mays) produces zealexins as phytoalexins, with the inducible production of these antibiotics providing biochemical protection against fungal infection. However, the biosynthesis of these sesquiterpenoids has remained unclear. In particular, it is unclear how the olefinic precursor, (S)-β-macrocarpene produced by the characterized maize sesquiterpene synthases TPS6/11, is further elaborated to form the bioactive zealexins. The first step is likely to be conversion of carbon-15 (C15) from a methyl group to a carboxylic acid by a cytochrome P450 mono-oxygenase (CYP). In this study, CYP71Z18, whose transcription is strongly induced by fungal infection, was found to catalyze oxidation of C15 in (S)-β-macrocarpene, forming zealexin A1. The inducible transcription of CYP71Z18 matches that observed for TPS6/11 and the accumulation of zealexins, which is consistent with a role for CYP71Z18 in sesquiterpenoid phytoalexin production. This completes identification of zealexin A1 biosynthesis, and represents the initial CYP identified for the production of maize terpenoid phytoalexins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongjie Mao
- College of Agronomy, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China.
| | - Jiang Liu
- College of Agronomy, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China.
| | - Fei Ren
- College of Agronomy, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China.
| | - Reuben J Peters
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA.
| | - Qiang Wang
- College of Agronomy, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China; Institute of Ecological Agriculture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China.
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56
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Emmerstorfer-Augustin A, Pichler H. Production of Aromatic Plant Terpenoids in Recombinant Baker's Yeast. Methods Mol Biol 2016; 1405:79-89. [PMID: 26843167 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-3393-8_8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Plant terpenoids are high-value compounds broadly applied as food additives or fragrances in perfumes and cosmetics. Their biotechnological production in yeast offers an attractive alternative to extraction from plants. Here, we provide two optimized protocols for the production of the plant terpenoid trans-nootkatol with recombinant S. cerevisiae by either (I) converting externally added (+)-valencene with resting cells or (II) cultivating engineered self-sufficient production strains. By synthesis of the hydrophobic compounds in self-sufficient production cells, phase transfer issues can be avoided and the highly volatile products can be enriched in and easily purified from n-dodecane, which is added to the cell broth as second phase.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Harald Pichler
- ACIB - Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology, Petersgasse 14, 8010, Graz, Austria.,Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, NAWI Graz, Graz University of Technology, Petersgasse 14/2, 8010, Graz, Austria
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57
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Zhou JY, Yuan J, Li X, Ning YF, Dai CC. Endophytic Bacterium-Triggered Reactive Oxygen Species Directly Increase Oxygenous Sesquiterpenoid Content and Diversity in Atractylodes lancea. Appl Environ Microbiol 2015; 82:1577-1585. [PMID: 26712554 PMCID: PMC4771314 DOI: 10.1128/aem.03434-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2015] [Accepted: 12/21/2015] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Oxygenous terpenoids are active components of many medicinal plants. However, current studies that have focused on enzymatic oxidation reactions cannot comprehensively clarify the mechanisms of oxygenous terpenoid synthesis and diversity. This study shows that an endophytic bacterium can trigger the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that directly increase oxygenous sesquiterpenoid content and diversity in Atractylodes lancea. A. lancea is a famous but endangered Chinese medicinal plant that contains abundant oxygenous sesquiterpenoids. Geo-authentic A. lancea produces a wider range and a greater abundance of oxygenous sesquiterpenoids than the cultivated herb. Our previous studies have shown the mechanisms behind endophytic promotion of the production of sesquiterpenoid hydrocarbon scaffolds; however, how endophytes promote the formation of oxygenous sesquiterpenoids and their diversity is unclear. After colonization by Pseudomonas fluorescens ALEB7B, oxidative burst and oxygenous sesquiterpenoid accumulation in A. lancea occur synchronously. Treatment with exogenous hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) or singlet oxygen induces oxidative burst and promotes oxygenous sesquiterpenoid accumulation in planta. Conversely, pretreatment of plantlets with the ROS scavenger ascorbic acid significantly inhibits the oxidative burst and oxygenous sesquiterpenoid accumulation induced by P. fluorescens ALEB7B. Further in vitro oxidation experiments show that several oxygenous sesquiterpenoids can be obtained from direct oxidation caused by H2O2 or singlet oxygen. In summary, this study demonstrates that endophytic bacterium-triggered ROS can directly oxidize oxygen-free sesquiterpenoids and increase the oxygenous sesquiterpenoid content and diversity in A. lancea, providing a novel explanation of the mechanisms of oxygenous terpenoid synthesis in planta and an essential complementarity to enzymatic oxidation reactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia-Yu Zhou
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Microbes and Functional Genomics, Jiangsu Engineering and Technology Research Center for Industrialization of Microbial Resources, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Jie Yuan
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Microbes and Functional Genomics, Jiangsu Engineering and Technology Research Center for Industrialization of Microbial Resources, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Xia Li
- Jiangsu High Quality Rice Research and Development Center, Nanjing Branch of China National Center Rice Improvement, Institute of Food Crops, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Yi-Fan Ning
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Microbes and Functional Genomics, Jiangsu Engineering and Technology Research Center for Industrialization of Microbial Resources, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Chuan-Chao Dai
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Microbes and Functional Genomics, Jiangsu Engineering and Technology Research Center for Industrialization of Microbial Resources, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
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58
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E. O'Connor
- The John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UH, United Kingdom;
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59
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Schifrin A, Litzenburger M, Ringle M, Ly TTB, Bernhardt R. New Sesquiterpene Oxidations with CYP260A1 and CYP264B1 fromSorangium cellulosumSo ce56. Chembiochem 2015; 16:2624-32. [DOI: 10.1002/cbic.201500417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Schifrin
- Universität des Saarlandes; Biochemie; Campus B2.2 66123 Saarbrücken Germany
| | - Martin Litzenburger
- Universität des Saarlandes; Biochemie; Campus B2.2 66123 Saarbrücken Germany
| | - Michael Ringle
- Universität des Saarlandes; Biochemie; Campus B2.2 66123 Saarbrücken Germany
| | - Thuy T. B. Ly
- Universität des Saarlandes; Biochemie; Campus B2.2 66123 Saarbrücken Germany
- Institute of Biotechnology; Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST); 18-Hoang Quoc Viet Hanoi Vietnam
| | - Rita Bernhardt
- Universität des Saarlandes; Biochemie; Campus B2.2 66123 Saarbrücken Germany
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60
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Xu Z, Peters RJ, Weirather J, Luo H, Liao B, Zhang X, Zhu Y, Ji A, Zhang B, Hu S, Au KF, Song J, Chen S. Full-length transcriptome sequences and splice variants obtained by a combination of sequencing platforms applied to different root tissues of Salvia miltiorrhiza and tanshinone biosynthesis. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2015; 82:951-961. [PMID: 25912611 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.12865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 222] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2015] [Revised: 04/19/2015] [Accepted: 04/21/2015] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Danshen, Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, is one of the most widely used herbs in traditional Chinese medicine, wherein its rhizome/roots are particularly valued. The corresponding bioactive components include the tanshinone diterpenoids, the biosynthesis of which is a subject of considerable interest. Previous investigations of the S. miltiorrhiza transcriptome have relied on short-read next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology, and the vast majority of the resulting isotigs do not represent full-length cDNA sequences. Moreover, these efforts have been targeted at either whole plants or hairy root cultures. Here, we demonstrate that the tanshinone pigments are produced and accumulate in the root periderm, and apply a combination of NGS and single-molecule real-time (SMRT) sequencing to various root tissues, particularly including the periderm, to provide a more complete view of the S. miltiorrhiza transcriptome, with further insight into tanshinone biosynthesis as well. In addition, the use of SMRT long-read sequencing offered the ability to examine alternative splicing, which was found to occur in approximately 40% of the detected gene loci, including several involved in isoprenoid/terpenoid metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhichao Xu
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Reuben J Peters
- Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA
| | - Jason Weirather
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA
| | - Hongmei Luo
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Baosheng Liao
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Xin Zhang
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Yingjie Zhu
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Chinese Medical Science, Beijing, 100700, China
| | - Aijia Ji
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Bing Zhang
- Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Songnian Hu
- Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Kin Fai Au
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA
| | - Jingyuan Song
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Shilin Chen
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100193, China
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Chinese Medical Science, Beijing, 100700, China
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61
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Kitaoka N, Wu Y, Xu M, Peters RJ. Optimization of recombinant expression enables discovery of novel cytochrome P450 activity in rice diterpenoid biosynthesis. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2015; 99:7549-58. [PMID: 25758958 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-015-6496-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2014] [Revised: 02/09/2015] [Accepted: 02/19/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
The oxygenation reactions catalyzed by cytochromes P450 (CYPs) play critical roles in plant natural products biosynthesis. At the same time, CYPs are one of most challenging enzymes to functionally characterize due to the difficulty of recombinantly expressing these membrane-associated monooxygenases. In the course of investigating rice diterpenoid biosynthesis, we have developed a synthetic biology approach for functional expression of relevant CYPs in Escherichia coli. In certain cases, activity was observed for only one of two closely related paralogs although it seems clear that related reactions are required for production of the known diterpenoids. Here, we report that optimization of the recombinant expression system enabled characterization of not only these previously recalcitrant CYPs, but also discovery of additional activity relevant to rice diterpenoid biosynthesis. Of particular interest, CYP701A8 was found to catalyze 3β-hydroxylation of syn-pimaradiene, which is presumably relevant to momilactone biosynthesis, while CYP71Z6 & 7 were found to catalyze multiple reactions, with CYP71Z6 catalyzing the production of 2α,3α-dihydroxy-ent-isokaurene via 2α-hydroxy-ent-isokaurene, and CYP71Z7 catalyzing the production of 3α-hydroxy-ent-cassadien-2-one via 2α-hydroxy-ent-cassadiene and ent-cassadien-2-one, which may be relevant to oryzadione and phytocassane biosynthesis, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naoki Kitaoka
- Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA
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62
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Investigation of terpene diversification across multiple sequenced plant genomes. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2014; 112:E81-8. [PMID: 25502595 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1419547112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 179] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Plants produce an array of specialized metabolites, including chemicals that are important as medicines, flavors, fragrances, pigments and insecticides. The vast majority of this metabolic diversity is untapped. Here we take a systematic approach toward dissecting genetic components of plant specialized metabolism. Focusing on the terpenes, the largest class of plant natural products, we investigate the basis of terpene diversity through analysis of multiple sequenced plant genomes. The primary drivers of terpene diversification are terpenoid synthase (TS) "signature" enzymes (which generate scaffold diversity), and cytochromes P450 (CYPs), which modify and further diversify these scaffolds, so paving the way for further downstream modifications. Our systematic search of sequenced plant genomes for all TS and CYP genes reveals that distinct TS/CYP gene pairs are found together far more commonly than would be expected by chance, and that certain TS/CYP pairings predominate, providing signals for key events that are likely to have shaped terpene diversity. We recover TS/CYP gene pairs for previously characterized terpene metabolic gene clusters and demonstrate new functional pairing of TSs and CYPs within previously uncharacterized clusters. Unexpectedly, we find evidence for different mechanisms of pathway assembly in eudicots and monocots; in the former, microsyntenic blocks of TS/CYP gene pairs duplicate and provide templates for the evolution of new pathways, whereas in the latter, new pathways arise by mixing and matching of individual TS and CYP genes through dynamic genome rearrangements. This is, to our knowledge, the first documented observation of the unique pattern of TS and CYP assembly in eudicots and monocots.
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