101
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The ease and complexity of identifying and using specialized metabolites for crop engineering. Emerg Top Life Sci 2022; 6:153-162. [PMID: 35302160 PMCID: PMC9023015 DOI: 10.1042/etls20210248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Revised: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Plants produce a broad variety of specialized metabolites with distinct biological activities and potential applications. Despite this potential, most biosynthetic pathways governing specialized metabolite production remain largely unresolved across the plant kingdom. The rapid advancement of genetics and biochemical tools has enhanced our ability to identify plant specialized metabolic pathways. Further advancements in transgenic technology and synthetic biology approaches have extended this to a desire to design new pathways or move existing pathways into new systems to address long-running difficulties in crop systems. This includes improving abiotic and biotic stress resistance, boosting nutritional content, etc. In this review, we assess the potential and limitations for (1) identifying specialized metabolic pathways in plants with multi-omics tools and (2) using these enzymes in synthetic biology or crop engineering. The goal of these topics is to highlight areas of research that may need further investment to enhance the successful application of synthetic biology for exploiting the myriad of specialized metabolic pathways.
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102
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Braffman NR, Ruskoski TB, Davis KM, Glasser NR, Johnson C, Okafor CD, Boal AK, Balskus EP. Structural basis for an unprecedented enzymatic alkylation in cylindrocyclophane biosynthesis. eLife 2022; 11:75761. [PMID: 35212625 PMCID: PMC8916777 DOI: 10.7554/elife.75761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The cyanobacterial enzyme CylK assembles the cylindrocyclophane natural products by performing two unusual alkylation reactions, forming new carbon–carbon bonds between aromatic rings and secondary alkyl halide substrates. This transformation is unprecedented in biology, and the structure and mechanism of CylK are unknown. Here, we report X-ray crystal structures of CylK, revealing a distinctive fusion of a Ca2+-binding domain and a β-propeller fold. We use a mutagenic screening approach to locate CylK’s active site at its domain interface, identifying two residues, Arg105 and Tyr473, that are required for catalysis. Anomalous diffraction datasets collected with bound bromide ions, a product analog, suggest that these residues interact with the alkyl halide electrophile. Additional mutagenesis and molecular dynamics simulations implicate Asp440 in activating the nucleophilic aromatic ring. Bioinformatic analysis of CylK homologs from other cyanobacteria establishes that they conserve these key catalytic amino acids, but they are likely associated with divergent reactivity and altered secondary metabolism. By gaining a molecular understanding of this unusual biosynthetic transformation, this work fills a gap in our understanding of how alkyl halides are activated and used by enzymes as biosynthetic intermediates, informing enzyme engineering, catalyst design, and natural product discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathaniel R Braffman
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, United States
| | - Terry B Ruskoski
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, United States
| | - Katherine M Davis
- Department of Chemistry, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, United States
| | - Nathaniel R Glasser
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, United States
| | - Cassidy Johnson
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, United States
| | - C Denise Okafor
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, United States
| | - Amie K Boal
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, United States
| | - Emily P Balskus
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, United States
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103
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Zhang HQ, Yan CX, Xiao J, Wang YW, Peng Y. Recent advances in the total synthesis of 2,7'-cyclolignans. Org Biomol Chem 2022; 20:1623-1636. [PMID: 35129186 DOI: 10.1039/d1ob02457d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The synthetic progress of bioactive 2,7'-cyclolignans is reviewed. After a short introduction to biosynthesis and chemoenzymatic synthesis, the chemical synthesis of various aryltetralin, dihydronaphthalene and 7'-arylnaphthalene-types of these lignans is demonstrated. Notably, newly developed methods, such as Pd-catalyzed C-H arylation, organocatalysis and photocatalysis under visible-light, are discussed during the construction of their skeleton. These efforts will stimulate further development of novel synthetic strategies for this kind of natural product with important biological activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han-Qiu Zhang
- Sichuan Engineering Research Center for Biomimetic Synthesis of Natural Drugs, School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu 610031, People's Republic of China.
| | - Chu-Xuan Yan
- Sichuan Engineering Research Center for Biomimetic Synthesis of Natural Drugs, School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu 610031, People's Republic of China.
| | - Jian Xiao
- Sichuan Engineering Research Center for Biomimetic Synthesis of Natural Drugs, School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu 610031, People's Republic of China.
| | - Ya-Wen Wang
- Sichuan Engineering Research Center for Biomimetic Synthesis of Natural Drugs, School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu 610031, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yu Peng
- Sichuan Engineering Research Center for Biomimetic Synthesis of Natural Drugs, School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu 610031, People's Republic of China.
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104
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Li X, Shimaya R, Dairi T, Chang WC, Ogasawara Y. Identification of Cyclopropane Formation in the Biosyntheses of Hormaomycins and Belactosins: Sequential Nitration and Cyclopropanation by Metalloenzymes. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2022; 61:e202113189. [PMID: 34904348 PMCID: PMC8810744 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202113189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Hormaomycins and belactosins are peptide natural products that contain unusual cyclopropane moieties. Bioinformatics analysis of the corresponding biosynthetic gene clusters showed that two conserved genes, hrmI/belK and hrmJ/belL, were potential candidates for catalyzing cyclopropanation. Using in vivo and in vitro assays, the functions of HrmI/BelK and HrmJ/BelL were established. HrmI and BelK, which are heme oxygenase-like dinuclear iron enzymes, catalyze oxidation of the ϵ-amino group of l-lysine to afford l-6-nitronorleucine. Subsequently, HrmJ and BelL, which are iron- and α-ketoglutarate-dependent oxygenases, effectively convert l-6-nitronorleucine into 3-(trans-2-nitrocyclopropyl)-alanine through C4-C6 bond installation. These observations disclose a novel pathway of cyclopropane ring construction and exemplify the new chemistry involving metalloenzymes in natural product biosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojun Li
- Department of Chemistry, North Carolina State University, 2620 Yarbrough Drive, Raleigh, NC 27695 (USA)
| | - Ryo Shimaya
- Graduate School of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, Hokkaido University, N13 W8, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-8628 (Japan)
| | - Tohru Dairi
- Graduate School of Engineering, Hokkaido University, N13 W8, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-8628 (Japan)
| | - Wei-chen Chang
- Department of Chemistry, North Carolina State University, 2620 Yarbrough Drive, Raleigh, NC 27695 (USA)
| | - Yasushi Ogasawara
- Graduate School of Engineering, Hokkaido University, N13 W8, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-8628 (Japan)
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105
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Bai Y, Yang C, Halitschke R, Paetz C, Kessler D, Burkard K, Gaquerel E, Baldwin IT, Li D. Natural history-guided omics reveals plant defensive chemistry against leafhopper pests. Science 2022; 375:eabm2948. [PMID: 35113706 DOI: 10.1126/science.abm2948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Although much is known about plant traits that function in nonhost resistance against pathogens, little is known about nonhost resistance against herbivores, despite its agricultural importance. Empoasca leafhoppers, serious agricultural pests, identify host plants by eavesdropping on unknown outputs of jasmonate (JA)-mediated signaling. Forward- and reverse-genetics lines of a native tobacco plant were screened in native habitats with native herbivores using high-throughput genomic, transcriptomic, and metabolomic tools to reveal an Empoasca-elicited JA-JAZi module. This module induces an uncharacterized caffeoylputrescine-green leaf volatile compound, catalyzed by a polyphenol oxidase in a Michael addition reaction, which we reconstitute in vitro; engineer in crop plants, where it requires a berberine bridge enzyme-like 2 (BBL2) for its synthesis; and show that it confers resistance to leafhoppers. Natural history-guided forward genetics reveals a conserved nonhost resistance mechanism useful for crop protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuechen Bai
- Department of Molecular Ecology, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, D-07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Caiqiong Yang
- Department of Molecular Ecology, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, D-07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Rayko Halitschke
- Department of Molecular Ecology, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, D-07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Christian Paetz
- Department of Biosynthesis/NMR, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, D-07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Danny Kessler
- Department of Molecular Ecology, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, D-07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Konrad Burkard
- Department of Molecular Ecology, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, D-07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Emmanuel Gaquerel
- Institut de Biologie Moléculaire des Plantes du CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Ian T Baldwin
- Department of Molecular Ecology, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, D-07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Dapeng Li
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- CAS-JIC Center of Excellence for Plant and Microbial Sciences (CEPAMS), Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
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106
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Shan C, Zhao L, Shi Y, Zhang S, Wu H, Yang M, Yang Q, Wu J. Transcriptome analyses reveal the expression profile of genes related to lignan biosynthesis in Anthriscus sylvestris L. Hoffm. Gen. PHYSIOLOGY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF PLANTS : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FUNCTIONAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2022; 28:333-346. [PMID: 35400889 PMCID: PMC8943078 DOI: 10.1007/s12298-022-01156-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Revised: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Anthriscus sylvestris L. Hoffm. Gen (A. sylvestris) is a perennial herb widely used for antitussive and diuretic purposes in traditional Korean and Chinese medicine. Lignans are critical secondary metabolites with widely pharmacological activities in A. sylvestris. Using transcriptome data of A. sylvestris, we identified genes related to lignan biosynthesis. In all, 123,852 unigenes were obtained from the flowers, leaves, roots, and stems of A. sylvestris with the Illumina HiSeq 4000 platform. The average length of unigenes was 1,123 bp and 91,217 (73.65%) of them were annotated in public databases. Differentially expressed genes and root-specific genes were analyzed between roots and the other three tissue types by comparing gene expression profiles. Specifically, the key enzyme genes involved in lignan biosynthesis were identified and analyzed. The expression levels of some of these genes were highest in the roots, consistent with the accumulation of deoxypodophyllotoxin. These expression levels were experimentally verified via quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). This research provides valuable information on the transcriptome data of A. sylvestris and the identification of candidate genes associated with the biosynthesis of lignans, laying the foundation for further research on genomics in A. sylvestris and related species. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-022-01156-w.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunmiao Shan
- Anhui University of Chinese Medicine and Anhui Academy of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, 230038 China
- Key Laboratory of Xin’an Medicine, Ministry of Education, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, 230038 China
| | - Liqiang Zhao
- Anhui University of Chinese Medicine and Anhui Academy of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, 230038 China
- Key Laboratory of Xin’an Medicine, Ministry of Education, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, 230038 China
| | - Yuanyuan Shi
- Anhui University of Chinese Medicine and Anhui Academy of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, 230038 China
- Key Laboratory of Xin’an Medicine, Ministry of Education, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, 230038 China
| | - Shengxiang Zhang
- Anhui University of Chinese Medicine and Anhui Academy of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, 230038 China
- Key Laboratory of Xin’an Medicine, Ministry of Education, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, 230038 China
| | - Huan Wu
- Anhui University of Chinese Medicine and Anhui Academy of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, 230038 China
- Key Laboratory of Xin’an Medicine, Ministry of Education, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, 230038 China
| | - Mo Yang
- Anhui University of Chinese Medicine and Anhui Academy of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, 230038 China
- Key Laboratory of Xin’an Medicine, Ministry of Education, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, 230038 China
| | - Qingshan Yang
- Anhui University of Chinese Medicine and Anhui Academy of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, 230038 China
- Synergetic Innovation Center of Anhui Authentic Chinese Medicine Quality Improvement, Hefei, 230012 China
| | - Jiawen Wu
- Anhui University of Chinese Medicine and Anhui Academy of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, 230038 China
- Key Laboratory of Xin’an Medicine, Ministry of Education, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, 230038 China
- Synergetic Innovation Center of Anhui Authentic Chinese Medicine Quality Improvement, Hefei, 230012 China
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107
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Hong CP, Kim CK, Lee DJ, Jeong HJ, Lee Y, Park SG, Kim HJ, Kang JN, Ryu H, Kwon SJ, Kang SH. Long-read transcriptome sequencing provides insight into lignan biosynthesis during fruit development in Schisandra chinensis. BMC Genomics 2022; 23:17. [PMID: 34996357 PMCID: PMC8742460 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-021-08253-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Schisandra chinensis, an ancient member of the most basal angiosperm lineage which is known as the ANITA, is a fruit-bearing vine with the pharmacological effects of a multidrug system, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective, neuroprotective, anti-osteoporosis effects. Its major bioactive compound is represented by lignans such as schisandrin. Molecular characterization of lignan biosynthesis in S. chinensis is of great importance for improving the production of this class of active compound. However, the biosynthetic mechanism of schisandrin remains largely unknown. RESULTS To understand the potential key catalytic steps and their regulation of schisandrin biosynthesis, we generated genome-wide transcriptome data from three different tissues of S. chinensis cultivar Cheongsoon, including leaf, root, and fruit, via long- and short-read sequencing technologies. A total of 132,856 assembled transcripts were generated with an average length of 1.9 kb and high assembly completeness. Overall, our data presented effective, accurate gene annotation in the prediction of functional pathways. In particular, the annotation revealed the abundance of transcripts related to phenylpropanoid biosynthesis. Remarkably, transcriptome profiling during fruit development of S. chinensis cultivar Cheongsoon revealed that the phenylpropanoid biosynthetic pathway, specific to coniferyl alcohol biosynthesis, showed a tendency to be upregulated at the postfruit development stage. Further the analysis also revealed that the pathway forms a transcriptional network with fruit ripening-related genes, especially the ABA signaling-related pathway. Finally, candidate unigenes homologous to isoeugenol synthase 1 (IGS1) and dirigent-like protein (DIR), which are subsequently activated by phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and thus catalyze key upstream steps in schisandrin biosynthesis, were identified. Their expression was increased at the postfruit development stage, suggesting that they may be involved in the regulation of schisandrin biosynthesis in S. chinensis. CONCLUSIONS Our results provide new insights into the production and accumulation of schisandrin in S. chinensis berries and will be utilized as a valuable transcriptomic resource for improving the schisandrin content.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang Pyo Hong
- Theragen Bio Co., Ltd., Suwon, 16229, Republic of Korea.
| | - Chang-Kug Kim
- Genomics Division, National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, RDA, Jeonju, 54874, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong Jin Lee
- Theragen Bio Co., Ltd., Suwon, 16229, Republic of Korea
| | - Hee Jeong Jeong
- Department of Industrial Plant Science & Technology, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, 28644, Republic of Korea
| | - Yi Lee
- Department of Industrial Plant Science & Technology, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, 28644, Republic of Korea
| | - Sin-Gi Park
- Theragen Bio Co., Ltd., Suwon, 16229, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyo-Jin Kim
- Jeollabukdo ARES Medicinal Resource Research Institute, Jinan, 55440, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji-Nam Kang
- Genomics Division, National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, RDA, Jeonju, 54874, Republic of Korea
| | - Hojin Ryu
- Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, 28644, Republic of Korea
| | - Soo-Jin Kwon
- Genomics Division, National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, RDA, Jeonju, 54874, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang-Ho Kang
- Genomics Division, National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, RDA, Jeonju, 54874, Republic of Korea.
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108
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Mechanistic analysis of carbon-carbon bond formation by deoxypodophyllotoxin synthase. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:2113770119. [PMID: 34969844 PMCID: PMC8740726 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2113770119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The completion of the tetracyclic core of etoposide, classified by the World Health Organization as an essential medicine, by the Fe/2OG oxygenase deoxypodophyllotoxin synthase follows a hybrid radical-polar pathway not previously seen in other members of this enzyme class. The implication of a substrate-based benzylic carbocation in this mechanism will inform ongoing efforts to create analogs of this important drug with improved or emergent properties and represents a new route for resolution of the initial substrate radical that is common to members of the class. This study adds to our understanding on a growing number of biochemical transformations in which carbocation intermediates are likely to be crucial. Deoxypodophyllotoxin contains a core of four fused rings (A to D) with three consecutive chiral centers, the last being created by the attachment of a peripheral trimethoxyphenyl ring (E) to ring C. Previous studies have suggested that the iron(II)- and 2-oxoglutarate–dependent (Fe/2OG) oxygenase, deoxypodophyllotoxin synthase (DPS), catalyzes the oxidative coupling of ring B and ring E to form ring C and complete the tetracyclic core. Despite recent efforts to deploy DPS in the preparation of deoxypodophyllotoxin analogs, the mechanism underlying the regio- and stereoselectivity of this cyclization event has not been elucidated. Herein, we report 1) two structures of DPS in complex with 2OG and (±)-yatein, 2) in vitro analysis of enzymatic reactivity with substrate analogs, and 3) model reactions addressing DPS’s catalytic mechanism. The results disfavor a prior proposal of on-pathway benzylic hydroxylation. Rather, the DPS-catalyzed cyclization likely proceeds by hydrogen atom abstraction from C7', oxidation of the benzylic radical to a carbocation, Friedel–Crafts-like ring closure, and rearomatization of ring B by C6 deprotonation. This mechanism adds to the known pathways for transformation of the carbon-centered radical in Fe/2OG enzymes and suggests what types of substrate modification are likely tolerable in DPS-catalyzed production of deoxypodophyllotoxin analogs.
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109
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Xu S, Wu S, Li Y. Investigating Plant Biosynthetic Pathways Using Heterologous Gene Expression: Yeast as a Heterologous Host. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2489:369-393. [PMID: 35524060 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2273-5_19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Plant natural products (PNPs) are valuable resources for the development of pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals, yet the biosynthesis and metabolism of PNPs are largely unknown. Heterologous pathway reconstitution is a heavily adopted strategy in secondary metabolism characterization. Yeast systems have been broadly utilized in the heterologous production of PNPs and have been considered as a promising platform to investigate plant biosynthetic pathways. Here, we describe the reconstitution and verification of the upstream part of brassinolide biosynthesis in S. cerevisiae using this method.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanhui Xu
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Sheng Wu
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Yanran Li
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA.
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110
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Sun X, Xue X, Wang X, Zhang C, Zheng D, Song W, Zhao J, Wei J, Wu Z, Zhang Z. Natural variation of ZmCGT1 is responsible for isoorientin accumulation in maize silk. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2022; 109:64-76. [PMID: 34695260 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.15549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Revised: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Maize (Zea mays L.) silk contains high levels of flavonoids and is widely used to promote human health. Isoorientin, a natural C-glycoside flavone abundant in maize silk, has attracted considerable attention due to its potential value. Although different classes of flavonoid have been well characterized in plants, the genes involved in the biosynthesis of isoorientin in maize are largely unknown. Here, we used targeted metabolic profiling of isoorientin on the silks in an association panel consisting of 294 maize inbred lines. We identified the gene ZmCGT1 by genome-wide association analysis. The ZmCGT1 protein was characterized as a 2-hydroxyflavanone C-glycosyltransferase that can C-glycosylate 2-hydroxyflavanone to form flavone-C-glycoside after dehydration. Moreover, ZmCGT1 overexpression increased isoorientin levels and RNA interference-mediated ZmCGT1 knockdown decreased accumulation of isoorientin in maize silk. Further, two nucleotide polymorphisms, A502C and A1022G, which led to amino acid changes I168L and E341G, respectively, were identified to be functional polymorphisms responsible for the natural variation in isoorientin levels. In summary, we identified the gene ZmCGT1, which plays an important role in isoorientin biosynthesis, providing insights into the genetic basis of the natural variation in isoorientin levels in maize silk. The identified favorable CG allele of ZmCGT1 may be further used for genetic improvement of nutritional quality in maize.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaorong Sun
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Agricultural Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaofeng Xue
- Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaqing Wang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Maize DNA Fingerprinting and Molecular Breeding, Maize Research Center, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Chun Zhang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Agricultural Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Dengyu Zheng
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Agricultural Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Song
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Maize DNA Fingerprinting and Molecular Breeding, Maize Research Center, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jiuran Zhao
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Maize DNA Fingerprinting and Molecular Breeding, Maize Research Center, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jianhua Wei
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Agricultural Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhongyi Wu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Agricultural Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhongbao Zhang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Agricultural Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, China
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111
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Nguyen TAM, McConnachie M, Nguyen TD, Dang TTT. Discovery and Characterization of Oxidative Enzymes Involved in Monoterpenoid Indole Alkaloid Biosynthesis. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2505:141-164. [PMID: 35732943 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2349-7_11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Monoterpene indole alkaloid (MIA) constitutes a structurally diverse plant natural product group with remarkable pharmacological activities. Many MIAs have been routinely used as potent drugs for several diseases, including leukemia (vinblastine), lung cancer (camptothecin), and malaria (quinine). Nevertheless, MIAs are biosynthesized at extremely low abundance in plants and, in many cases, require additional chemical functionalizations before their therapeutic uses. As oxygenations and oxidative rearrangements are critical throughout MIAs' structural scaffolding and modifications, the discovery and engineering of oxidative enzymes play essential roles in understanding and boosting the supplies of MIAs. Recent advances in omics technologies and synthetic biology have provided unprecedented amount of biochemical data and tools, paving a wide pathway for discovering, characterizing, and engineering enzymes involved in MIA biosynthesis. Here, we discuss the latest progress in understanding the roles of oxidative enzymes in MIA metabolism and describe a bioinformatic and biochemical pipeline to identify, characterize, and make use of these plant biocatalysts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tuan-Anh Minh Nguyen
- Department of Chemistry, Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, BC, Canada
| | - Matthew McConnachie
- Department of Chemistry, Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, BC, Canada
| | - Trinh-Don Nguyen
- Department of Chemistry, Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, BC, Canada
| | - Thu-Thuy T Dang
- Department of Chemistry, Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, BC, Canada.
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112
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Li X, Shimaya R, Dairi T, Chang W, Ogasawara Y. Identification of Cyclopropane Formation in the Biosyntheses of Hormaomycins and Belactosins: Sequential Nitration and Cyclopropanation by Metalloenzymes. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202113189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojun Li
- Department of Chemistry North Carolina State University 2620 Yarbrough Drive Raleigh NC 27695 USA
| | - Ryo Shimaya
- Graduate School of Chemical Sciences and Engineering Hokkaido University N13W8, Kita-ku Sapporo Hokkaido 060-8628 Japan
| | - Tohru Dairi
- Graduate School of Engineering Hokkaido University N13W8, Kita-ku Sapporo Hokkaido 060-8628 Japan
| | - Wei‐chen Chang
- Department of Chemistry North Carolina State University 2620 Yarbrough Drive Raleigh NC 27695 USA
| | - Yasushi Ogasawara
- Graduate School of Engineering Hokkaido University N13W8, Kita-ku Sapporo Hokkaido 060-8628 Japan
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113
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Orčić D, Berežni S, Škorić D, Mimica-Dukić N. Comprehensive study of Anthriscus sylvestris lignans. PHYTOCHEMISTRY 2021; 192:112958. [PMID: 34560578 DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2021.112958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Revised: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Wild chervil (Anthriscus sylvestris) is a widespread, wild-growing herbaceous plant from Apiaceae family, known for high content of lignans related to podophyllotoxin, and thus representing a promising new source for their industrial isolation. The data on detailed chemical profile of A. sylvestris lignans are still lacking. By combining fractionation with non-targeted LC-DAD-ESI-MS/MS metabolite profiling, we have identified, fully or tentatively, 46 lignans, 12 of which were never reported in A. sylvestris and 19 in any biological source. The dominant lignans were found to be nemerosin, yatein, deoxypodophyllotoxin, podophyllotoxin, podophyllotoxone and guayadequiol. In addition to well-known dibenzylbutyrolactones, aryltetralins and 7-oxygenated aryltetralins, we found several oxygenated lignan classes previously undescribed in A. sylvestris - 7-hydroxy, 7-oxo and 8-hydroxydibenzylbutyrolactones, a 7'-oxotetrahydrofuran and a 7-hydroxyarylnaphthalene. To facilitate future rapid classification and identification of lignans in raw extracts, UV, MS and NMR spectral features of different lignan classes are described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dejan Orčić
- University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 3, 21000, Novi Sad, Serbia.
| | - Sanja Berežni
- University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 3, 21000, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Dušan Škorić
- University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 3, 21000, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Neda Mimica-Dukić
- University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 3, 21000, Novi Sad, Serbia
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114
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Mydy LS, Chigumba DN, Kersten RD. Plant Copper Metalloenzymes As Prospects for New Metabolism Involving Aromatic Compounds. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:692108. [PMID: 34925392 PMCID: PMC8672867 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.692108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Copper is an important transition metal cofactor in plant metabolism, which enables diverse biocatalysis in aerobic environments. Multiple classes of plant metalloenzymes evolved and underwent genetic expansions during the evolution of terrestrial plants and, to date, several representatives of these copper enzyme classes have characterized mechanisms. In this review, we give an updated overview of chemistry, structure, mechanism, function and phylogenetic distribution of plant copper metalloenzymes with an emphasis on biosynthesis of aromatic compounds such as phenylpropanoids (lignin, lignan, flavonoids) and cyclic peptides with macrocyclizations via aromatic amino acids. We also review a recent addition to plant copper enzymology in a copper-dependent peptide cyclase called the BURP domain. Given growing plant genetic resources, a large pool of copper biocatalysts remains to be characterized from plants as plant genomes contain on average more than 70 copper enzyme genes. A major challenge in characterization of copper biocatalysts from plant genomes is the identification of endogenous substrates and catalyzed reactions. We highlight some recent and future trends in filling these knowledge gaps in plant metabolism and the potential for genomic discovery of copper-based enzymology from plants.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Roland D. Kersten
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
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115
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Papon N, Copp BR, Courdavault V. Marine drugs: Biology, pipelines, current and future prospects for production. Biotechnol Adv 2021; 54:107871. [PMID: 34801661 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2021.107871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Revised: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The marine environment is a huge reservoir of biodiversity and represents an excellent source of chemical compounds, some of which have large economical values. In the urgent quest for new pharmaceuticals, marine-based drug discovery has progressed significantly over the past several decades and we now benefit from a series of approved marine natural products (MNPs) to treat cancer and pain while an additional collection of promising leads are in clinical trials. However, the discovery and supply of MNPs has always been challenging given their low bioavailability and structural complexity. Their manufacture for pre-clinical and clinical development but also commercialization mainly relies upon marine source extraction and chemical synthesis, which are associated with high costs, unsustainability and severe environmental problems. In this review, we discuss how metabolic engineering now raises reasonable expectations for the implementation of microbial cell factories, which may provide a sustainable approach for MNP-based drug supply in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Papon
- Univ. Angers, Univ. Brest, GEIHP, SFR ICAT, F-49000 Angers, France.
| | - Brent R Copp
- School of Chemical Sciences, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand.
| | - Vincent Courdavault
- Université de Tours, EA2106 Biomolécules et Biotechnologies Végétales, Tours, France.
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116
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Wang H, Guo H, Wang N, Huo YX. Toward the Heterologous Biosynthesis of Plant Natural Products: Gene Discovery and Characterization. ACS Synth Biol 2021; 10:2784-2795. [PMID: 34757715 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.1c00315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Plant natural products (PNPs) represent a vast and diverse group of natural products, which have wide applications such as emulsifiers in cosmetics, sweeteners in foods, and active ingredients in medicines. Large-scale production of certain PNPs (e.g., artemisinin, taxol) has been implemented by reconstruction of biosynthetic pathways in heterologous hosts. However, unknown biosynthetic pathways greatly restrict wide applications of heterologous production of PNPs of interest. With the rapid development of sequencing and multiomics analysis technologies, huge amounts of omics data, i.e., genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics, have been deposited in public databases, which is a precious resource for identification of the unknown biosynthetic pathway of PNPs. Herein, we have enumerated the approaches which have been widely used to screen candidate genes involved in the biosynthesis of PNPs of interest. We also discuss recent developments in the characterization of putative genes and elucidation of the complete biosynthetic pathway in heterologous hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huiyan Wang
- School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, No. 5 South Zhongguancun Street, 100081 Beijing, China
| | - Hao Guo
- School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, No. 5 South Zhongguancun Street, 100081 Beijing, China
| | - Ning Wang
- School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, No. 5 South Zhongguancun Street, 100081 Beijing, China
| | - Yi-Xin Huo
- School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, No. 5 South Zhongguancun Street, 100081 Beijing, China
- Tobacco Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Qingdao 266101, China
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117
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Xu DQ, Cheng SY, Zhang JQ, Lin HF, Chen YY, Yue SJ, Tian M, Tang YP, Zhao YC. Morus alba L. Leaves - Integration of Their Transcriptome and Metabolomics Dataset: Investigating Potential Genes Involved in Flavonoid Biosynthesis at Different Harvest Times. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:736332. [PMID: 34868120 PMCID: PMC8637763 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.736332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
The mulberry leaf is a classic herb commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine. It has also been used as animal feed for livestock and its fruits have been made into a variety of food products. Traditionally, mulberry (Morus alba L.) leaf harvesting after frost is thought to have better medicinal properties, but the underlying mechanism remains largely unsolved. To elucidate the biological basis of mulberry leaves after frost, we first explored the content changes of various compounds in mulberry leaves at different harvest times. Significant enrichment of flavonoids was observed with a total of 224 differential metabolites after frost. Subsequently, we analyzed the transcriptomic data of mulberry leaves collected at different harvest times and successfully annotated 22,939 unigenes containing 1,695 new genes. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis revealed 26, 20, and 59 unigenes related to flavonoids synthesis in three different groups harvested at different times. We found that the expression levels of flavonoid biosynthesis-related unigenes also increased when harvested at a delayed time, which was consistent with the flavonoid accumulation discovered by the metabolomic analysis. The results indicated that low temperature may be a key trigger in flavonoid biosynthesis of mulberry leaves by increasing the expression of flavonoid biosynthesis-related genes. This study also provided a theoretical basis for the optimal harvest time of mulberry leaves.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ding-Qiao Xu
- Key Laboratory of Shaanxi Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine for TCM Compatibility, School of Pharmacy, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xi’an, China
| | - Shu-Yan Cheng
- Department of Resources Science of Traditional Chinese Medicines, State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jun-Qing Zhang
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Han-Feng Lin
- Department of Resources Science of Traditional Chinese Medicines, State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yan-Yan Chen
- Key Laboratory of Shaanxi Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine for TCM Compatibility, School of Pharmacy, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xi’an, China
| | - Shi-Jun Yue
- Key Laboratory of Shaanxi Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine for TCM Compatibility, School of Pharmacy, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xi’an, China
| | - Meng Tian
- Key Laboratory of Shaanxi Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine for TCM Compatibility, School of Pharmacy, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xi’an, China
| | - Yu-Ping Tang
- Key Laboratory of Shaanxi Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine for TCM Compatibility, School of Pharmacy, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xi’an, China
| | - Yu-Cheng Zhao
- Department of Resources Science of Traditional Chinese Medicines, State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
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118
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Hao DC, Li P, Xiao PG, He CN. Dissection of full-length transcriptome and metabolome of Dichocarpum (Ranunculaceae): implications in evolution of specialized metabolism of Ranunculales medicinal plants. PeerJ 2021; 9:e12428. [PMID: 34760397 PMCID: PMC8574218 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.12428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Several main families of Ranunculales are rich in alkaloids and other medicinal compounds; many species of these families are used in traditional and folk medicine. Dichocarpum is a representative medicinal genus of Ranunculaceae, but the genetic basis of its metabolic phenotype has not been investigated, which hinders its sustainable conservation and utilization. We use the third-generation high-throughput sequencing and metabolomic techniques to decipher the full-length transcriptomes and metabolomes of five Dichocarpum species endemic in China, and 71,598 non-redundant full-length transcripts were obtained, many of which are involved in defense, stress response and immunity, especially those participating in the biosynthesis of specialized metabolites such as benzylisoquinoline alkaloids (BIAs). Twenty-seven orthologs extracted from trancriptome datasets were concatenated to reconstruct the phylogenetic tree, which was verified by the clustering analysis based on the metabolomic profile and agreed with the Pearson correlation between gene expression patterns of Dichocarpum species. The phylogenomic analysis of phytometabolite biosynthesis genes, e.g., (S)-norcoclaurine synthase, methyltransferases, cytochrome p450 monooxygenases, berberine bridge enzyme and (S)-tetrahydroprotoberberine oxidase, revealed the evolutionary trajectories leading to the chemodiversity, especially that of protoberberine type, aporphine type and bis-BIA abundant in Dichocarpum and related genera. The biosynthesis pathways of these BIAs are proposed based on full-length transcriptomes and metabolomes of Dichocarpum. Within Ranunculales, the gene duplications are common, and a unique whole genome duplication is possible in Dichocarpum. The extensive correlations between metabolite content and gene expression support the co-evolution of various genes essential for the production of different specialized metabolites. Our study provides insights into the transcriptomic and metabolomic landscapes of Dichocarpum, which will assist further studies on genomics and application of Ranunculales plants.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Pei Li
- Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Pei-Gen Xiao
- Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Chun-Nian He
- Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
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119
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Zhou J, Hu T, Liu Y, Tu L, Song Y, Lu Y, Zhang Y, Tong Y, Zhao Y, Su P, Wu X, Huang L, Gao W. Cytochrome P450 catalyses the 29-carboxyl group formation of celastrol. PHYTOCHEMISTRY 2021; 190:112868. [PMID: 34273756 DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2021.112868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Celastrol, a potent anticancer and anti-obesity drug, was first isolated from Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. f. and it is produced in small quantities in many members of the Celastraceae family. The heterologous reconstitution of celastrol biosynthesis could be a promising method for the efficient production of celastrol and natural and unnatural derivatives thereof, yet only part of the biosynthetic pathway is known. Here, we report a cytochrome P450 monooxygenase (TwCYP712K1) from T. wilfordii that performs the three-step oxidation of friedelin to polpunonic acid in the celastrol pathway. Heterologous expression of TwCYP712K1 showed that TwCYP712K1 catalyses not only the transformation of friedelin to polpunonic acid but also the oxidation of β-amyrin or α-amyrin. The role of TwCYP712K1 in the biosynthesis of celastrol was further revealed via RNA interference. Some key residues of TwCYP712K1 were also screened by molecular docking and site-directed mutagenesis. Our results lay a solid foundation for further elucidating the biosynthesis of celastrol and related triterpenoids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiawei Zhou
- Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100038, China; College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310014, China; School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
| | - Tianyuan Hu
- College of Pharmacy, School of Medicine, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, China
| | - Yuan Liu
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
| | - Lichan Tu
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
| | - Yadi Song
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
| | - Yun Lu
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
| | - Yifeng Zhang
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
| | - Yuru Tong
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, 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
| | - Ping Su
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL, 33458, USA
| | - Xiaoyi Wu
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, 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
| | - Wei Gao
- Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100038, China; School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China.
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120
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Adaptive mechanisms of plant specialized metabolism connecting chemistry to function. Nat Chem Biol 2021; 17:1037-1045. [PMID: 34552220 DOI: 10.1038/s41589-021-00822-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2020] [Accepted: 05/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
As sessile organisms, plants evolved elaborate metabolic systems that produce a plethora of specialized metabolites as a means to survive challenging terrestrial environments. Decades of research have revealed the genetic and biochemical basis for a multitude of plant specialized metabolic pathways. Nevertheless, knowledge is still limited concerning the selective advantages provided by individual and collective specialized metabolites to the reproductive success of diverse host plants. Here we review the biological functions conferred by various classes of plant specialized metabolites in the context of the interaction of plants with their surrounding environment. To achieve optimal multifunctionality of diverse specialized metabolic processes, plants use various adaptive mechanisms at subcellular, cellular, tissue, organ and interspecies levels. Understanding these mechanisms and the evolutionary trajectories underlying their occurrence in nature will ultimately enable efficient bioengineering of desirable metabolic traits in chassis organisms.
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121
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Evaluation of Angelica decursiva reference genes under various stimuli for RT-qPCR data normalization. Sci Rep 2021; 11:18993. [PMID: 34556773 PMCID: PMC8460625 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-98434-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Angelica decursiva is one of the lending traditional Chinese medicinal plants producing coumarins. Notably, several studies have focused on the biosynthesis and not the RT-qPCR (quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction) study of coumarins. This RT-qPCR technique has been extensively used to investigate gene expression levels in plants and the selection of reference genes which plays a crucial role in standardizing the data form the RT-qPCR analysis. In our study, 11 candidate reference genes were selected from the existing transcriptome data of Angelica decursiva. Here, four different types of statistical algorithms (geNorm, NormFinder, BestKeeper, and Delta Ct) were used to calculate and evaluate the stability of gene expression under different external treatments. Subsequently, RefFinder analysis was used to determine the geometric average of each candidate gene ranking, and to perform comprehensive index ranking. The obtained results showed that among all the 11 candidate reference genes, SAND family protein (SAND), protein phosphatase 2A gene (PP2A), and polypyrimidine tract-binding protein (PTBP) were the most stable reference genes, where Nuclear cap binding protein 2 (NCBP2), TIP41-like protein (TIP41), and Beta-6-tubulin (TUBA) were the least stable genes. To the best of our knowledge, this work is the first to evaluate the stability of reference genes in the Angelica decursiva which has provided an important foundation on the use of RT-qPCR for an accurate and far-reaching gene expression analysis in this medicinal plant.
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122
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Decembrino D, Raffaele A, Knöfel R, Girhard M, Urlacher VB. Synthesis of (-)-deoxypodophyllotoxin and (-)-epipodophyllotoxin via a multi-enzyme cascade in E. coli. Microb Cell Fact 2021; 20:183. [PMID: 34544406 PMCID: PMC8454061 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-021-01673-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The aryltetralin lignan (−)−podophyllotoxin is a potent antiviral and anti-neoplastic compound that is mainly found in Podophyllum plant species. Over the years, the commercial demand for this compound rose notably because of the high clinical importance of its semi-synthetic chemotherapeutic derivatives etoposide and teniposide. To satisfy this demand, (−)−podophyllotoxin is conventionally isolated from the roots and rhizomes of Sinopodophyllum hexandrum, which can only grow in few regions and is now endangered by overexploitation and environmental damage. For these reasons, targeting the biosynthesis of (−)−podophyllotoxin precursors or analogues is fundamental for the development of novel, more sustainable supply routes. Results We recently established a four-step multi-enzyme cascade to convert (+)−pinoresinol into (−)−matairesinol in E. coli. Herein, a five-step multi-enzyme biotransformation of (−)−matairesinol to (−)−deoxypodophyllotoxin was proven effective with 98 % yield at a concentration of 78 mg/L. Furthermore, the extension of this cascade to a sixth step leading to (−)−epipodophyllotoxin was evaluated. To this end, seven enzymes were combined in the reconstituted pathway involving inter alia three plant cytochrome P450 monooxygenases, with two of them being functionally expressed in E. coli for the first time. Conclusions Both, (−)−deoxypodophyllotoxin and (−)−epipodophyllotoxin, are direct precursors to etoposide and teniposide. Thus, the reconstitution of biosynthetic reactions of Sinopodophyllum hexandrum as an effective multi-enzyme cascade in E. coli represents a solid step forward towards a more sustainable production of these essential pharmaceuticals. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12934-021-01673-5.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Decembrino
- Institute of Biochemistry, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstraße 1, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Alessandra Raffaele
- Institute of Biochemistry, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstraße 1, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Ronja Knöfel
- Institute of Biochemistry, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstraße 1, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Marco Girhard
- Institute of Biochemistry, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstraße 1, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Vlada B Urlacher
- Institute of Biochemistry, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstraße 1, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany.
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123
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Zhu X, Liu X, Liu T, Wang Y, Ahmed N, Li Z, Jiang H. Synthetic biology of plant natural products: From pathway elucidation to engineered biosynthesis in plant cells. PLANT COMMUNICATIONS 2021; 2:100229. [PMID: 34746761 PMCID: PMC8553972 DOI: 10.1016/j.xplc.2021.100229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Revised: 04/11/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Plant natural products (PNPs) are the main sources of drugs, food additives, and new biofuels and have become a hotspot in synthetic biology. In the past two decades, the engineered biosynthesis of many PNPs has been achieved through the construction of microbial cell factories. Alongside the rapid development of plant physiology, genetics, and plant genetic modification techniques, hosts have now expanded from single-celled microbes to complex plant systems. Plant synthetic biology is an emerging field that combines engineering principles with plant biology. In this review, we introduce recent advances in the biosynthetic pathway elucidation of PNPs and summarize the progress of engineered PNP biosynthesis in plant cells. Furthermore, a future vision of plant synthetic biology is proposed. Although we are still a long way from overcoming all the bottlenecks in plant synthetic biology, the ascent of this field is expected to provide a huge opportunity for future agriculture and industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxi Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Systems Microbial Biotechnology, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin 300308, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- National Technology Innovation Center of Synthetic Biology, Tianjin 300308, China
| | - Xiaonan Liu
- Key Laboratory of Systems Microbial Biotechnology, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin 300308, China
- National Technology Innovation Center of Synthetic Biology, Tianjin 300308, China
| | - Tian Liu
- Key Laboratory of Systems Microbial Biotechnology, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin 300308, China
- Life Science and Technology College, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi 530004, China
- National Technology Innovation Center of Synthetic Biology, Tianjin 300308, China
| | - Yina Wang
- Key Laboratory of Systems Microbial Biotechnology, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin 300308, China
- National Technology Innovation Center of Synthetic Biology, Tianjin 300308, China
- Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, Yunnan 650201, China
| | - Nida Ahmed
- Key Laboratory of Systems Microbial Biotechnology, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin 300308, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- National Technology Innovation Center of Synthetic Biology, Tianjin 300308, China
| | - Zhichao Li
- Key Laboratory of Systems Microbial Biotechnology, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin 300308, China
- National Technology Innovation Center of Synthetic Biology, Tianjin 300308, China
| | - Huifeng Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Systems Microbial Biotechnology, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin 300308, China
- National Technology Innovation Center of Synthetic Biology, Tianjin 300308, China
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124
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Dudley QM, Cai YM, Kallam K, Debreyne H, Carrasco Lopez JA, Patron NJ. Biofoundry-assisted expression and characterization of plant proteins. Synth Biol (Oxf) 2021; 6:ysab029. [PMID: 34693026 PMCID: PMC8529701 DOI: 10.1093/synbio/ysab029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Many goals in synthetic biology, including the elucidation and refactoring of biosynthetic pathways and the engineering of regulatory circuits and networks, require knowledge of protein function. In plants, the prevalence of large gene families means it can be particularly challenging to link specific functions to individual proteins. However, protein characterization has remained a technical bottleneck, often requiring significant effort to optimize expression and purification protocols. To leverage the ability of biofoundries to accelerate design-built-test-learn cycles, we present a workflow for automated DNA assembly and cell-free expression of plant proteins that accelerates optimization and enables rapid screening of enzyme activity. First, we developed a phytobrick-compatible Golden Gate DNA assembly toolbox containing plasmid acceptors for cell-free expression using Escherichia coli or wheat germ lysates as well as a set of N- and C-terminal tag parts for detection, purification and improved expression/folding. We next optimized automated assembly of miniaturized cell-free reactions using an acoustic liquid handling platform and then compared tag configurations to identify those that increase expression. We additionally developed a luciferase-based system for rapid quantification that requires a minimal 11-amino acid tag and demonstrate facile removal of tags following synthesis. Finally, we show that several functional assays can be performed with cell-free protein synthesis reactions without the need for protein purification. Together, the combination of automated assembly of DNA parts and cell-free expression reactions should significantly increase the throughput of experiments to test and understand plant protein function and enable the direct reuse of DNA parts in downstream plant engineering workflows.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quentin M Dudley
- Engineering Biology, Earlham Institute, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, Norfolk UK
| | - Yao-Min Cai
- Engineering Biology, Earlham Institute, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, Norfolk UK
| | - Kalyani Kallam
- Engineering Biology, Earlham Institute, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, Norfolk UK
| | - Hubert Debreyne
- Engineering Biology, Earlham Institute, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, Norfolk UK
| | | | - Nicola J Patron
- Engineering Biology, Earlham Institute, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, Norfolk UK
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125
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Medema MH, de Rond T, Moore BS. Mining genomes to illuminate the specialized chemistry of life. Nat Rev Genet 2021; 22:553-571. [PMID: 34083778 PMCID: PMC8364890 DOI: 10.1038/s41576-021-00363-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
All organisms produce specialized organic molecules, ranging from small volatile chemicals to large gene-encoded peptides, that have evolved to provide them with diverse cellular and ecological functions. As natural products, they are broadly applied in medicine, agriculture and nutrition. The rapid accumulation of genomic information has revealed that the metabolic capacity of virtually all organisms is vastly underappreciated. Pioneered mainly in bacteria and fungi, genome mining technologies are accelerating metabolite discovery. Recent efforts are now being expanded to all life forms, including protists, plants and animals, and new integrative omics technologies are enabling the increasingly effective mining of this molecular diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marnix H Medema
- Bioinformatics Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Tristan de Rond
- Center for Marine Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Bradley S Moore
- Center for Marine Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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126
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Khlystov NA, Yoshikuni Y, Deutsch S, Sattely ES. A plant host, Nicotiana benthamiana, enables the production and study of fungal lignin-degrading enzymes. Commun Biol 2021; 4:1027. [PMID: 34471192 PMCID: PMC8410833 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-02464-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2019] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Lignin has significant potential as an abundant and renewable source for commodity chemicals yet remains vastly underutilized. Efforts towards engineering a biochemical route to the valorization of lignin are currently limited by the lack of a suitable heterologous host for the production of lignin-degrading enzymes. Here, we show that expression of fungal genes in Nicotiana benthamiana enables production of members from seven major classes of enzymes associated with lignin degradation (23 of 35 tested) in soluble form for direct use in lignin activity assays. We combinatorially characterized a subset of these enzymes in the context of model lignin dimer oxidation, revealing that fine-tuned coupling of peroxide-generators to peroxidases results in more extensive C-C bond cleavage compared to direct addition of peroxide. Comparison of peroxidase isoform activity revealed that the extent of C-C bond cleavage depends on peroxidase identity, suggesting that peroxidases are individually specialized in the context of lignin oxidation. We anticipate the use of N. benthamiana as a platform to rapidly produce a diverse array of fungal lignin-degrading enzymes will facilitate a better understanding of their concerted role in nature and unlock their potential for lignin valorization, including within the plant host itself.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikita A Khlystov
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Yasuo Yoshikuni
- U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Samuel Deutsch
- U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Elizabeth S Sattely
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
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127
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Abstract
The Pd-catalyzed carbon-carbon bond formation pioneered by Heck in 1969 has dominated medicinal chemistry development for the ensuing fifty years. As the demand for more complex three-dimensional active pharmaceuticals continues to increase, preparative enzyme-mediated assembly, by virtue of its exquisite selectivity and sustainable nature, is poised to provide a practical and affordable alternative for accessing such compounds. In this minireview, we summarize recent state-of-the-art developments in practical enzyme-mediated assembly of carbocycles. When appropriate, background information on the enzymatic transformation is provided and challenges and/or limitations are also highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weijin Wang
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter, FL, 33458, USA
| | - Douglass F Taber
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter, FL, 33458, USA
| | - Hans Renata
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
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128
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Henche S, Nestl BM, Hauer B. Enzymatic Friedel‐Crafts Alkylation Using Squalene‐Hopene Cyclases. ChemCatChem 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/cctc.202100452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Henche
- Institute of Biochemistry and Technical Biochemistry Department of Technical Biochemistry Universitaet Stuttgart Allmandring 31 70569 Stuttgart Germany
| | | | - Bernhard Hauer
- Institute of Biochemistry and Technical Biochemistry Department of Technical Biochemistry Universitaet Stuttgart Allmandring 31 70569 Stuttgart Germany
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129
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Li CQ, Lei HM, Hu QY, Li GH, Zhao PJ. Recent Advances in the Synthetic Biology of Natural Drugs. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2021; 9:691152. [PMID: 34395399 PMCID: PMC8358299 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.691152] [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: 04/05/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural drugs have been transformed and optimized during the long process of evolution. These compounds play a very important role in the protection of human health and treatment of human diseases. Sustainable approaches to the generation of raw materials for pharmaceutical products have been extensively investigated in drug research and development because chemical synthesis is costly and generates pollution. The present review provides an overview of the recent advances in the synthetic biology of natural drugs. Particular attention is paid to the investigations of drugs that may be mass-produced by the pharmaceutical industry after optimization of the corresponding synthetic systems. The present review describes the reconstruction and optimization of biosynthetic pathways for nine drugs, including seven drugs from plant sources and two drugs from microbial sources, suggesting a new strategy for the large-scale preparation of some rare natural plant metabolites and highly bioactive microbial compounds. Some of the suggested synthetic methods remain in a preliminary exploration stage; however, a number of these methods demonstrated considerable application potential. The authors also discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the application of synthetic biology and various expression systems for heterologous expression of natural drugs. Thus, the present review provides a useful perspective for researchers attempting to use synthetic biology to produce natural drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Pei-Ji Zhao
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, and Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
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130
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Pyser J, Chakrabarty S, Romero EO, Narayan ARH. State-of-the-Art Biocatalysis. ACS CENTRAL SCIENCE 2021; 7:1105-1116. [PMID: 34345663 PMCID: PMC8323117 DOI: 10.1021/acscentsci.1c00273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2021] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
The use of enzyme-mediated reactions has transcended ancient food production to the laboratory synthesis of complex molecules. This evolution has been accelerated by developments in sequencing and DNA synthesis technology, bioinformatic and protein engineering tools, and the increasingly interdisciplinary nature of scientific research. Biocatalysis has become an indispensable tool applied in academic and industrial spheres, enabling synthetic strategies that leverage the exquisite selectivity of enzymes to access target molecules. In this Outlook, we outline the technological advances that have led to the field's current state. Integration of biocatalysis into mainstream synthetic chemistry hinges on increased access to well-characterized enzymes and the permeation of biocatalysis into retrosynthetic logic. Ultimately, we anticipate that biocatalysis is poised to enable the synthesis of increasingly complex molecules at new levels of efficiency and throughput.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua
B. Pyser
- Department
of Chemistry, Life Sciences Institute, and Program in Chemical Biology, University of Michigan, , 210 Washtenaw Avenue, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United
States
| | - Suman Chakrabarty
- Department
of Chemistry, Life Sciences Institute, and Program in Chemical Biology, University of Michigan, , 210 Washtenaw Avenue, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United
States
| | - Evan O. Romero
- Department
of Chemistry, Life Sciences Institute, and Program in Chemical Biology, University of Michigan, , 210 Washtenaw Avenue, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United
States
| | - Alison R. H. Narayan
- Department
of Chemistry, Life Sciences Institute, and Program in Chemical Biology, University of Michigan, , 210 Washtenaw Avenue, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United
States
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131
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Wang F, Chen L, Chen S, Chen H, Liu Y. Characterization of two closely related citrus cultivars using UPLC-ESI-MS/MS-based widely targeted metabolomics. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0254759. [PMID: 34283861 PMCID: PMC8291699 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0254759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2020] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Citrus cultivars are widely spread worldwide, and some of them only differ by specific mutations along the genome. It is difficult to distinguish them by traditional morphological identification. To accurately identify such similar cultivars, the subtle differences between them must be detected. In this study, UPLC-ESI-MS/MS-based widely targeted metabolomics analysis was conducted to study the chemical differences between two closely related citrus cultivars, Citrus reticulata 'DHP' and C. reticulata 'BZH'. Totally 352 metabolites including 11 terpenoids, 35 alkaloids, 80 phenolic acids, 25 coumarins, 7 lignans, 184 flavonoids and 10 other compounds were detected and identified; Among them, 15 metabolites are unique to DHP and 16 metabolites are unique to BZH. Hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), principal component analysis (PCA), and orthogonal signal correction and partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) can be used to clearly discriminate between DHP and BZH. 93 metabolites including 36 down-regulated and 57 up-regulated are significantly different in DHP and BZH. They are mainly involved in the biosynthesis of flavonoids, flavones, flavonols, and isoflavonoids. In addition, the relative content levels of flavonoids, alkaloids, and terpenoids are much higher in the peel of DHP than that of BZH, the presence of which may correlate with the quality difference of the peels. The results reported herein indicate that metabolite analysis based on UPLC-ESI-MS/MS is an effective means of identifying cultivars with different genotypes, especially those that cannot be distinguished based on traditional identification methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fu Wang
- Department of Pharmacy, Standardization Education Ministry Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu University of TCM, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Food & Drugs Authority of Nanchong, Nanchong, Sichuan, China
| | - Lin Chen
- Department of Pharmacy, Standardization Education Ministry Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu University of TCM, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Shiwei Chen
- Food & Drugs Authority of Nanchong, Nanchong, Sichuan, China
| | - Hongping Chen
- Department of Pharmacy, Standardization Education Ministry Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu University of TCM, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Youping Liu
- Department of Pharmacy, Standardization Education Ministry Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu University of TCM, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
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132
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Xue J, Lu D, Wang S, Lu Z, Liu W, Wang X, Fang Z, He X. Integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis provides insight into the regulation of leaf senescence in rice. Sci Rep 2021; 11:14083. [PMID: 34238989 PMCID: PMC8266841 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-93532-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Leaf senescence is one of the most precisely modulated developmental process and affects various agronomic traits of rice. Anti-senescence rice varieties are important for breeding application. However, little is known about the mechanisms underlying the metabolic regulatory process of leaf senescence in rice. In this study, we performed transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses of the flag leaves in Yuenong Simiao (YN) and YB, two indica rice cultivars that differ in terms of their leaf senescence. We found 8524 genes/204 metabolites were differentially expressed/accumulated in YN at 30 days after flowering (DAF) compared to 0 DAF, and 8799 genes/205 metabolites were differentially expressed in YB at 30 DAF compared to 0 DAF. Integrative analyses showed that a set of genes and metabolites involved in flavonoid pathway were significantly enriched. We identified that relative accumulation of PHENYLALANINE AMMONIA-LYASE (PAL), CINNAMATE 4-HYDROXYLASE (C4H), 4-COUMAROYL-COA LIGASE (4CL), CHALCONE SYNTHASE (CHS) and CHALCONE ISOMERASE (CHI) in YN30/0 was higher than that in YB30/0. Three flavonoid derivatives, including phloretin, luteolin and eriodictyol, showed lower abundances in YB than in YN at 30 DAF. We further revealed a MYB transcription factor, which is encoded by OsR498G0101613100 gene, could suppress the expression of CHI and CHS. Our results suggested a comprehensive analysis of leaf senescence in a view of transcriptome and metabolome and would contribute to exploring the molecular mechanism of leaf senescence in rice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiao Xue
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of New Technology in Rice Breeding, Rice Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, People's Republic of China
| | - Dongbai Lu
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of New Technology in Rice Breeding, Rice Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, People's Republic of China
| | - Shiguang Wang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of New Technology in Rice Breeding, Rice Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhanhua Lu
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of New Technology in Rice Breeding, Rice Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Liu
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of New Technology in Rice Breeding, Rice Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaofei Wang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of New Technology in Rice Breeding, Rice Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhiqiang Fang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of New Technology in Rice Breeding, Rice Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiuying He
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of New Technology in Rice Breeding, Rice Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, People's Republic of China.
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133
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Wen CH, Tsao NW, Wang SY, Chu FH. Color variation in young and senescent leaves of Formosan sweet gum (Liquidambar formosana) by the gene regulation of anthocyanidin biosynthesis. PHYSIOLOGIA PLANTARUM 2021; 172:1750-1763. [PMID: 33675234 DOI: 10.1111/ppl.13385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2020] [Revised: 01/30/2021] [Accepted: 02/28/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
In certain plants, leaf coloration occurs in young and senescent leaves; however, it is unclear whether these two developmental stages are controlled by the same regulatory mechanisms. Formosan sweet gum (Liquidambar formosana Hance) is a subtropical deciduous tree species that possesses attractive autumnal leaf coloration. The color of young leaves is closer to purplish red, while senescent leaves are more orange-red to dark red. It was confirmed that delphinidin and cyanidin are the two anthocyanidins that contribute to the color of Formosan sweet gum leaves, and the content of different anthocyanins influences the appearance of color. To elucidate the regulation of anthocyanidin biosynthesis, recombinant DIHYDROFLAVONOL-4-REDUCTASEs (LfDFR1 and LfDFR2) (EC 1.1.1.234) were produced, and their substrate acceptability was investigated both in vitro and in planta. The functions of flavanones and dihydroflavonols modification by FLAVONOID 3' HYDROXYLASE (LfF3'H1) (EC 1.14.14.82) and FLAVONOID 3'5' HYDROXYLASE (LfF3'5'H) (EC 1.14.14.81) were verified using a transient overexpression experiment in Nicotiana benthamiana. The results showed that LfMYB5 induced LfF3'5'H and LfMYB123 induced both LfF3'H1 and LfDFR1 in spring when the leaves were expanding, whereas LfMYB113 induced LfF3'H1, LfDFR1, and LfDFR2 in late autumn to winter when the leaves were undergoing leaf senescence. In conclusion, the color variation of Formosan sweet gum in young and senescent leaves was attributed to the composition of anthocyanidins through the transcriptional regulation of LfF3'H1 and LfF3'5'H by LfMYB5, LfMYB113, and LfMYB123.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi-Hsiang Wen
- School of Forestry and Resource Conservation, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Nai-Wen Tsao
- Department of Forestry, National Chung-Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Sheng-Yang Wang
- Department of Forestry, National Chung-Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Fang-Hua Chu
- School of Forestry and Resource Conservation, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
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134
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Chen CY, Liu SY, Yan Y, Yin L, DI P, Liu HM, Liu HZ. Candidate genes involved in the biosynthesis of lignan in Schisandra chinensis fruit based on transcriptome and metabolomes analysis. Chin J Nat Med 2021; 18:684-695. [PMID: 32928512 DOI: 10.1016/s1875-5364(20)60007-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Schisandra chinensis Turcz. (Baill.) is a plant species with fruits that have been well known in Far Eastern medicine for a long time. It has traditionally been used as a stimulating and fortifying agent in cases of physical exhaustion and to inhibit fatigue. The major bioactive compounds found in S. chinensis are lignans with a dibenzocyclooctadiene skeleton, but little is known about their biosynthesis in plants. S. chinensis is the ideal medicinal plant for studying the biosynthesis of lignans, especially the dibenzocyclooctadiene skeleton. Genomic information for this important herbal plant is unavailable. To better understand the lignan biosynthesis pathway, we generated transcriptome sequences from the fruit during ripening and performed de novo sequence assembly, yielding 136 843 unique transcripts with N50 of 1778 bp. Putative functions could be assigned to 41 824 transcripts (51.57%) based on BLAST searches against annotation databases including GO (Gene ontology) and KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes). Furthermore, 22 candidate cytochrome P450 genes and 15 candidate dirigent proteins genes that were most likely involved in the lignan biosynthesis pathway were discovered based on transcriptome sequencing of S. chinensis. The genomic data obtained from S. chinensis, especially the identification of putative genes involved in the lignan biosynthesis pathway, will facilitate our understanding of lignan biosynthesis at the molecular level. The lignan metabolite profiles were analyzed by metabolomes, the accumulation patterns of 30 metabolites involved in the lignan pathway were studied. Co-expression network of lignan contents and transcriptional changes showed 355 strong correlations (correlation coefficient, R2 > 0.9) between 21 compounds and 153 transcripts. Furthermore, the comprehensive analysis and characterization of the genes involved in lignan pathways and the metabolite profiles of lignans are expected to provide better insight regarding the diversity of the chemical composition, synthetic characteristics, and regulatory mechanisms of this medical herb.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun-Yu Chen
- College of life Science, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China.
| | - Shu-Ying Liu
- College of life Science, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
| | - Yan Yan
- College of Chinese Medicinal Materials, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
| | - Le Yin
- College of Chinese Medicinal Materials, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
| | - Peng DI
- College of Chinese Medicinal Materials, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
| | - Hui-Min Liu
- College of life Science, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China.
| | - Hong-Zhang Liu
- College of life Science, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China.
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135
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Srinivasan P, Smolke CD. Engineering cellular metabolite transport for biosynthesis of computationally predicted tropane alkaloid derivatives in yeast. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:e2104460118. [PMID: 34140414 PMCID: PMC8237673 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2104460118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Microbial biosynthesis of plant natural products (PNPs) can facilitate access to valuable medicinal compounds and derivatives. Such efforts are challenged by metabolite transport limitations, which arise when complex plant pathways distributed across organelles and tissues are reconstructed in unicellular hosts without concomitant transport machinery. We recently reported an engineered yeast platform for production of the tropane alkaloid (TA) drugs hyoscyamine and scopolamine, in which product accumulation is limited by vacuolar transport. Here, we demonstrate that alleviation of transport limitations at multiple steps in an engineered pathway enables increased production of TAs and screening of useful derivatives. We first show that supervised classifier models trained on a tissue-delineated transcriptome from the TA-producing plant Atropa belladonna can predict TA transporters with greater efficacy than conventional regression- and clustering-based approaches. We demonstrate that two of the identified transporters, AbPUP1 and AbLP1, increase TA production in engineered yeast by facilitating vacuolar export and cellular reuptake of littorine and hyoscyamine. We incorporate four different plant transporters, cofactor regeneration mechanisms, and optimized growth conditions into our yeast platform to achieve improvements in de novo hyoscyamine and scopolamine production of over 100-fold (480 μg/L) and 7-fold (172 μg/L). Finally, we leverage computational tools for biosynthetic pathway prediction to produce two different classes of TA derivatives, nortropane alkaloids and tropane N-oxides, from simple precursors. Our work highlights the importance of cellular transport optimization in recapitulating complex PNP biosyntheses in microbial hosts and illustrates the utility of computational methods for gene discovery and expansion of heterologous biosynthetic diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Christina D Smolke
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305;
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA 94158
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136
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Jamieson CS, Misa J, Tang Y, Billingsley JM. Biosynthesis and synthetic biology of psychoactive natural products. Chem Soc Rev 2021; 50:6950-7008. [PMID: 33908526 PMCID: PMC8217322 DOI: 10.1039/d1cs00065a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Psychoactive natural products play an integral role in the modern world. The tremendous structural complexity displayed by such molecules confers diverse biological activities of significant medicinal value and sociocultural impact. Accordingly, in the last two centuries, immense effort has been devoted towards establishing how plants, animals, and fungi synthesize complex natural products from simple metabolic precursors. The recent explosion of genomics data and molecular biology tools has enabled the identification of genes encoding proteins that catalyze individual biosynthetic steps. Once fully elucidated, the "biosynthetic pathways" are often comparable to organic syntheses in elegance and yield. Additionally, the discovery of biosynthetic enzymes provides powerful catalysts which may be repurposed for synthetic biology applications, or implemented with chemoenzymatic synthetic approaches. In this review, we discuss the progress that has been made toward biosynthetic pathway elucidation amongst four classes of psychoactive natural products: hallucinogens, stimulants, cannabinoids, and opioids. Compounds of diverse biosynthetic origin - terpene, amino acid, polyketide - are identified, and notable mechanisms of key scaffold transforming steps are highlighted. We also provide a description of subsequent applications of the biosynthetic machinery, with an emphasis placed on the synthetic biology and metabolic engineering strategies enabling heterologous production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cooper S Jamieson
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| | - Joshua Misa
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| | - Yi Tang
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA. and Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| | - John M Billingsley
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA. and Invizyne Technologies, Inc., Monrovia, CA, USA
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137
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A metabolic regulon reveals early and late acting enzymes in neuroactive Lycopodium alkaloid biosynthesis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2102949118. [PMID: 34112718 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2102949118] [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] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Plants synthesize many diverse small molecules that affect function of the mammalian central nervous system, making them crucial sources of therapeutics for neurological disorders. A notable portion of neuroactive phytochemicals are lysine-derived alkaloids, but the mechanisms by which plants produce these compounds have remained largely unexplored. To better understand how plants synthesize these metabolites, we focused on biosynthesis of the Lycopodium alkaloids that are produced by club mosses, a clade of plants used traditionally as herbal medicines. Hundreds of Lycopodium alkaloids have been described, including huperzine A (HupA), an acetylcholine esterase inhibitor that has generated interest as a treatment for the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. Through combined metabolomic profiling and transcriptomics, we have identified a developmentally controlled set of biosynthetic genes, or potential regulon, for the Lycopodium alkaloids. The discovery of this putative regulon facilitated the biosynthetic reconstitution and functional characterization of six enzymes that act in the initiation and conclusion of HupA biosynthesis. This includes a type III polyketide synthase that catalyzes a crucial imine-polyketide condensation, as well as three Fe(II)/2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenase (2OGD) enzymes that catalyze transformations (pyridone ring-forming desaturation, piperidine ring cleavage, and redox-neutral isomerization) within downstream HupA biosynthesis. Our results expand the diversity of known chemical transformations catalyzed by 2OGDs and provide mechanistic insight into the function of noncanonical type III PKS enzymes that generate plant alkaloid scaffolds. These data offer insight into the chemical logic of Lys-derived alkaloid biosynthesis and demonstrate the tightly coordinated coexpression of secondary metabolic genes for the biosynthesis of medicinal alkaloids.
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138
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Biochemistry of Terpenes and Recent Advances in Plant Protection. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22115710. [PMID: 34071919 PMCID: PMC8199371 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22115710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Biodiversity is adversely affected by the growing levels of synthetic chemicals released into the environment due to agricultural activities. This has been the driving force for embracing sustainable agriculture. Plant secondary metabolites offer promising alternatives for protecting plants against microbes, feeding herbivores, and weeds. Terpenes are the largest among PSMs and have been extensively studied for their potential as antimicrobial, insecticidal, and weed control agents. They also attract natural enemies of pests and beneficial insects, such as pollinators and dispersers. However, most of these research findings are shelved and fail to pass beyond the laboratory and greenhouse stages. This review provides an overview of terpenes, types, biosynthesis, and their roles in protecting plants against microbial pathogens, insect pests, and weeds to rekindle the debate on using terpenes for the development of environmentally friendly biopesticides and herbicides.
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139
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Crosstalk of Multi-Omics Platforms with Plants of Therapeutic Importance. Cells 2021; 10:cells10061296. [PMID: 34071113 PMCID: PMC8224614 DOI: 10.3390/cells10061296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Revised: 04/25/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
From time immemorial, humans have exploited plants as a source of food and medicines. The World Health Organization (WHO) has recorded 21,000 plants with medicinal value out of 300,000 species available worldwide. The promising modern "multi-omics" platforms and tools have been proven as functional platforms able to endow us with comprehensive knowledge of the proteome, genome, transcriptome, and metabolome of medicinal plant systems so as to reveal the novel connected genetic (gene) pathways, proteins, regulator sequences and secondary metabolite (molecule) biosynthetic pathways of various drug and protein molecules from a variety of plants with therapeutic significance. This review paper endeavors to abridge the contemporary advancements in research areas of multi-omics and the information involved in decoding its prospective relevance to the utilization of plants with medicinal value in the present global scenario. The crosstalk of medicinal plants with genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics approaches will be discussed.
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140
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Wang L, Maranas CD. Computationally Prospecting Potential Pathways from Lignin Monomers and Dimers toward Aromatic Compounds. ACS Synth Biol 2021; 10:1064-1076. [PMID: 33877818 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.0c00598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
The heterogeneity of the aromatic products originating from lignin catalytic depolymerization remains one of the major challenges associated with lignin valorization. Microbes have evolved catabolic pathways that can funnel heterogeneous intermediates to a few central aromatic products. These aromatic compounds can subsequently undergo intra- or extradiol ring opening to produce value-added chemicals. However, such funneling pathways are only partially characterized for a few organisms such as Sphingobium sp. SYK-6 and Pseudomonas putida KT2440. Herein, we apply the de novo pathway design tool (novoStoic) to computationally prospect possible ways of funneling lignin-derived mono- and biaryls. novoStoic employs reaction rules between molecular moieties to hypothesize de novo conversions by flagging known enzymes that carry out the same biotransformation on the most similar substrate. Both reaction rules and known reactions are then deployed by novoStoic to identify a mass-balanced biochemical network that converts a source to a target metabolite while minimizing the number of de novo steps. We demonstrate the application of novoStoic for (i) designing alternative pathways of funneling S, G, and H lignin monomers, and (ii) exploring cleavage pathways of β-1 and β-β dimers. By exploring the uncharted chemical space afforded by enzyme promiscuity, novoStoic can help predict previously unknown native pathways leveraging enzyme promiscuity and propose new carbon/energy efficient lignin funneling pathways with few heterologous enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Wang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
| | - Costas D. Maranas
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
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Xiao Y, Shao K, Zhou J, Wang L, Ma X, Wu D, Yang Y, Chen J, Feng J, Qiu S, Lv Z, Zhang L, Zhang P, Chen W. Structure-based engineering of substrate specificity for pinoresinol-lariciresinol reductases. Nat Commun 2021; 12:2828. [PMID: 33990581 PMCID: PMC8121951 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-23095-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2020] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Pinoresinol-lariciresinol reductases (PLRs) are enzymes involved in the lignan biosynthesis after the initial dimerization of two monolignols, and this represents the entry point for the synthesis of 8-8' lignans and contributes greatly to their structural diversity. Of particular interest has been the determination of how differing substrate specificities are achieved with these enzymes. Here, we present crystal structures of IiPLR1 from Isatis indigotica and pinoresinol reductases (PrRs) AtPrR1 and AtPrR2 from Arabidopsis thaliana, in the apo, substrate-bound and product-bound states. Each structure contains a head-to-tail homodimer, and the catalytic pocket comprises structural elements from both monomers. β4 loop covers the top of the pocket, and residue 98 from the loop governs catalytic specificity. The substrate specificities of IiPLR1 and AtPrR2 can be switched via structure-guided mutagenesis. Our study provides insight into the molecular mechanism underlying the substrate specificity of PLRs/PrRs and suggests an efficient strategy for the large-scale commercial production of the pharmaceutically valuable compound lariciresinol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Xiao
- Research and Development Center of Chinese Medicine Resources and Biotechnology, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Kai Shao
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jingwen Zhou
- National Engineering Laboratory for Cereal Fermentation Technology and School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China.,Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
| | - Lian Wang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Cereal Fermentation Technology and School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xueqi Ma
- Research and Development Center of Chinese Medicine Resources and Biotechnology, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Di Wu
- National Engineering Laboratory for Cereal Fermentation Technology and School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yingbo Yang
- Research and Development Center of Chinese Medicine Resources and Biotechnology, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Junfeng Chen
- Research and Development Center of Chinese Medicine Resources and Biotechnology, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jingxian Feng
- Research and Development Center of Chinese Medicine Resources and Biotechnology, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Shi Qiu
- Research and Development Center of Chinese Medicine Resources and Biotechnology, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zongyou Lv
- Research and Development Center of Chinese Medicine Resources and Biotechnology, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, School of Pharmacy, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai, China.
| | - Peng Zhang
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
| | - Wansheng Chen
- Research and Development Center of Chinese Medicine Resources and Biotechnology, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China. .,Department of Pharmacy, Changzheng Hospital, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai, China.
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142
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Courdavault V, O'Connor SE, Jensen MK, Papon N. Metabolic engineering for plant natural products biosynthesis: new procedures, concrete achievements and remaining limits. Nat Prod Rep 2021; 38:2145-2153. [PMID: 33969366 DOI: 10.1039/d0np00092b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Microorganisms and plants represent major sources of natural compounds with a plethora of bioactive properties. Among these, plant natural products (PNPs) remain indispensable to human health. With few exceptions, PNP-based pharmaceuticals come from plant specialized metabolisms and display a structure far too complex for a profitable production by total chemical synthesis. Accordingly, their industrial processes of supply are still mostly based on the extraction of final products or precursors directly from plant materials. This implies that particular contexts (e.g. pandemics, climate changes) and natural resource overexploitation are main drivers for the high production cost and recurrent supply shortages. Recently, biotechnological manufacturing alternatives gave rise to a multitude of benchmark studies implementing the production of important PNPs in various heterologous hosts. Here, we spotlight unprecedented advancements in the field of metabolic engineering dedicated to the heterologous production of a prominent series of PNPs that were achieved during the year 2020. We also discuss how the knowledge accumulated in recent years could pave the way for a broader manufacturing palette of natural products from a wide range of natural resources.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sarah E O'Connor
- Department of Natural Product Biosynthesis, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Michael K Jensen
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Nicolas Papon
- Groupe d'Etude des Interactions Hôte-Pathogène, GEIHP, EA3142, UNIV Angers, SFR 4208 ICAT, Angers, France
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143
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Lv M, Su HY, Li ML, Yang DL, Yao RY, Li MF, Wei JH. Effect of UV-B radiation on growth, flavonoid and podophyllotoxin accumulation, and related gene expression in Sinopodophyllum hexandrum. PLANT BIOLOGY (STUTTGART, GERMANY) 2021; 23 Suppl 1:202-209. [PMID: 33280221 DOI: 10.1111/plb.13226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Sinopodophyllum hexandrum is an alpine medicinal plant that produces the anticancer compound podophyllotoxin (PPT). Although a positive relationship between PPT content and altitude has been proved and low temperature enhances plant growth and PPT accumulation has also been revealed, the role of UV radiation in regulating growth and PPT accumulation is still unclear In this study, morphophysiological traits, metabolites content and related genes expression were investigated by exposing S. hexandrum seedlings to treatment with UV-B radiation. The results showed that the contents of soluble sugars and flavonoids, and the expression levels of genes involved in glycometabolism (XET and β-1,3-glucanase) and flavonoid biosynthesis (PAL,C4H,4CL,CHS1 and DTX41) were enhanced in response to UV-B compared to CK. Moreover, genes involved in stress tolerance (MYB, WRKY,APX3 and EX2) were also upregulated in response to UV-B radiation. Although the whole plant biomass exhibited slightly increased values that depended largely on root development, the contents of chlorophyll and PPT and the expression levels of genes involved in photosynthesis (matK, ndhF,rbcL and ycf5) and PPT biosynthesis (C3H,CCoAMT,CCR,CAD, DPO, PLR,SDH, CPY719A23,OMT3,CYP71CU1,OMT1and 2-ODD) were significantly decreased in response to UV-B compared to CK. It can be concluded that UV-B radiation promotes soluble sugars and flavonoids accumulation, but inhibits PPT biosynthesis in S. hexandrum.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Lv
- Gansu Provincial Key Lab of Arid Land Crop Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
| | - H-Y Su
- Gansu Provincial Key Lab of Arid Land Crop Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
| | - M-L Li
- Gansu Provincial Key Lab of Arid Land Crop Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
| | - D-L Yang
- Gansu Provincial Key Lab of Arid Land Crop Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
| | - R-Y Yao
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - M-F Li
- Gansu Provincial Key Lab of Arid Land Crop Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - J-H Wei
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
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144
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Identification and selection of reference genes for gene expression analysis by quantitative real-time PCR in Suaeda glauca's response to salinity. Sci Rep 2021; 11:8569. [PMID: 33883657 PMCID: PMC8060425 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-88151-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) using a stable reference gene is widely used for gene expression research. Suaeda glauca L. is a succulent halophyte and medicinal plant that is extensively used for phytoremediation and extraction of medicinal compounds. It thrives under high-salt conditions, which promote the accumulation of high-value secondary metabolites. However, a suitable reference gene has not been identified for gene expression standardization in S. glauca under saline conditions. Here, 10 candidate reference genes, ACT7, ACT11, CCD1, TUA5, UPL1, PP2A, DREB1D, V-H+-ATPase, MPK6, and PHT4;5, were selected from S. glauca transcriptome data. Five statistical algorithms (ΔCq, geNorm, NormFinder, BestKeeper, and RefFinder) were applied to determine the expression stabilities of these genes in 72 samples at different salt concentrations in different tissues. PP2A and TUA5 were the most stable reference genes in different tissues and salt treatments, whereas DREB1D was the least stable. The two reference genes were sufficient to normalize gene expression across all sample sets. The suitability of identified reference genes was validated with MYB and AP2 in germinating seeds of S. glauca exposed to different NaCl concentrations. Our study provides a foundational framework for standardizing qPCR analyses, enabling accurate gene expression profiling in S. glauca.
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145
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Shah Z, Gohar UF, Jamshed I, Mushtaq A, Mukhtar H, Zia-UI-Haq M, Toma SI, Manea R, Moga M, Popovici B. Podophyllotoxin: History, Recent Advances and Future Prospects. Biomolecules 2021; 11:603. [PMID: 33921719 PMCID: PMC8073934 DOI: 10.3390/biom11040603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Revised: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Podophyllotoxin, along with its various derivatives and congeners are widely recognized as broad-spectrum pharmacologically active compounds. Etoposide, for instance, is the frontline chemotherapeutic drug used against various cancers due to its superior anticancer activity. It has recently been redeveloped for the purpose of treating cytokine storm in COVID-19 patients. Podophyllotoxin and its naturally occurring congeners have low bioavailability and almost all these initially discovered compounds cause systemic toxicity and development of drug resistance. Moreover, the production of synthetic derivatives that could suffice for the clinical limitations of these naturally occurring compounds is not economically feasible. These challenges demanded continuous devotions towards improving the druggability of these drugs and continue to seek structure-optimization strategies. The discovery of renewable sources including microbial origin for podophyllotoxin is another possible approach. This review focuses on the exigency of innovation and research required in the global R&D and pharmaceutical industry for podophyllotoxin and related compounds based on recent scientific findings and market predictions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zinnia Shah
- Institute of Industrial Biotechnology (IIB), Government College University, Lahore 54000, Pakistan; (Z.S.); (U.F.G.); (I.J.); (H.M.)
| | - Umar Farooq Gohar
- Institute of Industrial Biotechnology (IIB), Government College University, Lahore 54000, Pakistan; (Z.S.); (U.F.G.); (I.J.); (H.M.)
| | - Iffat Jamshed
- Institute of Industrial Biotechnology (IIB), Government College University, Lahore 54000, Pakistan; (Z.S.); (U.F.G.); (I.J.); (H.M.)
| | - Aamir Mushtaq
- Gulab Devi Institute of Pharmacy, Gulab Devi Educational Complex, Lahore 54000, Pakistan;
| | - Hamid Mukhtar
- Institute of Industrial Biotechnology (IIB), Government College University, Lahore 54000, Pakistan; (Z.S.); (U.F.G.); (I.J.); (H.M.)
| | - Muhammad Zia-UI-Haq
- Office of Research, Innovation & Commercialization, Lahore College for Women University, Lahore 54000, Pakistan
| | - Sebastian Ionut Toma
- Faculty of Medicine, Transilvania University of Brasov, 500036 Brasov, Romania; (M.M.); (B.P.)
| | - Rosana Manea
- Faculty of Medicine, Transilvania University of Brasov, 500036 Brasov, Romania; (M.M.); (B.P.)
| | - Marius Moga
- Faculty of Medicine, Transilvania University of Brasov, 500036 Brasov, Romania; (M.M.); (B.P.)
| | - Bianca Popovici
- Faculty of Medicine, Transilvania University of Brasov, 500036 Brasov, Romania; (M.M.); (B.P.)
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146
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Su H, Li J, Chen S, Sun P, Xing H, Yang D, Zhang X, Li M, Wei J. Physiological and Transcriptomic Analysis Provide Insight into Low Temperature Enhancing Hypericin Biosynthesis in Hypericum perforatum. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26082294. [PMID: 33921038 PMCID: PMC8071384 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26082294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2021] [Revised: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Hypericin (Hyp), well-known as an antidepressant, is mainly extracted from Hypericum perforatum. Although Hyp accumulation and biomass are greater at lower compared to higher temperature, the regulation mechanism has not been reported. Here, the physiological characteristics and transcriptome of H. perforatum grown at 15 and 22 °C were determined and analyzed by HPLC and de novo sequencing. The results showed that the stomatal density and opening percentages were 1.1- and 1.4-fold more, and the Hyp content was 4.5-fold greater at 15 °C compared to 22 °C. A total of 1584 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were observed at 15 versus 22 °C, with 749 characterized genes, 421 upregulated (UR) and 328 downregulated (DR). Based on biological functions, 150 genes were associated with Hyp biosynthesis, plant growth and the stress response, including photosynthesis, carbohydrate metabolism, fatty acids metabolism, cytochrome P450 (CYPs), morpho-physiological traits, heat shock proteins (HSPs), cold-responsive proteins (CRPs) and transcription factors (TFs). The differential expression levels of the master genes were confirmed by qRT-PCR and almost consistent with their Reads Per kb per Million (RPKM) values. This physiological and transcriptomic analyses provided insight into the regulation mechanisms of low temperature enhancing Hyp biosynthesis in H. perforatum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongyan Su
- Key Lab of Arid Land Crop Science/College of Life Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China; (H.S.); (J.L.); (S.C.); (P.S.); (H.X.); (D.Y.)
| | - Jie Li
- Key Lab of Arid Land Crop Science/College of Life Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China; (H.S.); (J.L.); (S.C.); (P.S.); (H.X.); (D.Y.)
| | - Sijin Chen
- Key Lab of Arid Land Crop Science/College of Life Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China; (H.S.); (J.L.); (S.C.); (P.S.); (H.X.); (D.Y.)
| | - Ping Sun
- Key Lab of Arid Land Crop Science/College of Life Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China; (H.S.); (J.L.); (S.C.); (P.S.); (H.X.); (D.Y.)
| | - Hua Xing
- Key Lab of Arid Land Crop Science/College of Life Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China; (H.S.); (J.L.); (S.C.); (P.S.); (H.X.); (D.Y.)
| | - Delong Yang
- Key Lab of Arid Land Crop Science/College of Life Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China; (H.S.); (J.L.); (S.C.); (P.S.); (H.X.); (D.Y.)
| | - Xiaona Zhang
- Gansu Herbal Medicine Planting Co., Ltd., Lanzhou 730000, China;
| | - Mengfei Li
- Key Lab of Arid Land Crop Science/College of Life Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China; (H.S.); (J.L.); (S.C.); (P.S.); (H.X.); (D.Y.)
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100193, China
- Correspondence: (M.L.); (J.W.)
| | - Jianhe Wei
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100193, China
- Correspondence: (M.L.); (J.W.)
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Kim SS, Sattely ES. Dirigent Proteins Guide Asymmetric Heterocoupling for the Synthesis of Complex Natural Product Analogues. J Am Chem Soc 2021; 143:5011-5021. [PMID: 33780244 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.0c13164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Phenylpropanoids are a class of abundant building blocks found in plants and derived from phenylalanine and tyrosine. Phenylpropanoid polymerization leads to the second most abundant biopolymer lignin while stereo- and site-selective coupling generates an array of lignan natural products with potent biological activity, including the topoisomerase inhibitor and chemotherapeutic etoposide. A key step in etoposide biosynthesis involves a plant dirigent protein that promotes selective dimerization of coniferyl alcohol, a common phenylpropanoid, to form (+)-pinoresinol, a critical C2 symmetric pathway intermediate. Despite the power of this coupling reaction for the elegant and rapid assembly of the etoposide scaffold, dirigent proteins have not been utilized to generate other complex lignan natural products. Here, we demonstrate that dirigent proteins from Podophyllum hexandrum in combination with a laccase guide the heterocoupling of natural and synthetic coniferyl alcohol analogues for the enantioselective synthesis of pinoresinol analogues. This route for complexity generation is remarkably direct and efficient: three new bonds and four stereocenters are produced from two different achiral monomers in a single step. We anticipate our results will enable biocatalytic routes to difficult-to-access non-natural lignan analogues and etoposide derivatives. Furthermore, these dirigent protein and laccase-promoted reactions of coniferyl alcohol analogues represent new regio- and enantioselective oxidative heterocouplings for which no other chemical methods have been reported.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stacie S Kim
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Elizabeth S Sattely
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
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Sun K, Su C, Li W, Gong Z, Sha C, Liu R. Quality markers based on phytochemical analysis and anti-inflammatory screening: An integrated strategy for the quality control of Dalbergia odorifera by UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2021; 84:153511. [PMID: 33652358 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2021.153511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Revised: 01/16/2021] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Quality control, key for the clinical application of traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs), should be connected to the authentication and efficacy of TCMs. The heartwood of Dalbergia odorifera has been widely used to treat inflammation-related diseases. However, in the Chinese pharmacopeia, only the total volatile oil, which does not sufficiently reflect the clinical efficacy, is used as a quality control indicator. PURPOSE Establishing a "phytochemical-specificity-effectiveness-Q-marker" analytical strategy to improve the quality control of D. odorifera. METHODS Combined with biosynthetic pathway analysis, phytochemical compositions identified by UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS were used to build substantial phytochemical groups and further discover specific Q-markers. Then, lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells were used to screen effective anti-inflammatory ingredients. Finally, a UHPLC-HRMS method was developed and validated to quantify the selected Q-markers in D. odorifera samples. RESULTS Along the constructed biosynthetic pathways, 93 phytochemical components were identified in D. odorifera, including 7 chalcones, 13 flavanones, 21 isoflavones, 21 isoflavanones, 3 flavonols, 19 neoflavones, etc. Among them, 31 compounds representing these 6 categories were further evaluated for their anti-inflammatory activities. It revealed that the extract of D. odorifera and nine flavonoids in the noncytotoxic range could alleviated lipopolysaccharide-stimulated inflammation in RAW 264.7 cells by decreasing the production of proinflammatory mediators such as nitric oxide and interleukin-6. Notably, neoflavones, as species-specific components, exhibited superior anti-inflammatory activities among the representative compounds. Finally, 12 Q-markers (butin, liquiritigenin, eriodictyol, melanettin, naringenin, butein, genistein, 4'-hydroxy-4-methoxydalbergione, isoliquiritigenin, 2,4-dihydroxy-5-methoxybenzophenone, medicarpin, and pinocembrin), which reflect specificity and effectiveness, were successfully quantified in 10 batches of samples from different origins. The origins and consistency of D. odorifera could be efficiently discriminated by hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA). CONCLUSION The analysis strategy that combines phytochemical analysis with anti-inflammatory screening clarified the therapeutic material basis and discovered Q-markers, which possibly offers a more comprehensive quality assessment of D. odorifera.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kang Sun
- School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Evaluation (Yantai University), Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Drug Delivery System and Biotech Drugs in Universities of Shandong, Yantai University, Yantai 264005, China
| | - Chaonan Su
- School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Evaluation (Yantai University), Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Drug Delivery System and Biotech Drugs in Universities of Shandong, Yantai University, Yantai 264005, China
| | - Wenjing Li
- School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Evaluation (Yantai University), Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Drug Delivery System and Biotech Drugs in Universities of Shandong, Yantai University, Yantai 264005, China
| | - Zhao Gong
- School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Evaluation (Yantai University), Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Drug Delivery System and Biotech Drugs in Universities of Shandong, Yantai University, Yantai 264005, China
| | - Chunjie Sha
- School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Evaluation (Yantai University), Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Drug Delivery System and Biotech Drugs in Universities of Shandong, Yantai University, Yantai 264005, China
| | - Rongxia Liu
- School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Evaluation (Yantai University), Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Drug Delivery System and Biotech Drugs in Universities of Shandong, Yantai University, Yantai 264005, China.
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149
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Fu R, Zhang P, Jin G, Wang L, Qi S, Cao Y, Martin C, Zhang Y. Versatility in acyltransferase activity completes chicoric acid biosynthesis in purple coneflower. Nat Commun 2021; 12:1563. [PMID: 33692355 PMCID: PMC7946891 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-21853-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 02/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench) is a popular native North American herbal plant. Its major bioactive compound, chicoric acid, is reported to have various potential physiological functions, but little is known about its biosynthesis. Here, taking an activity-guided approach, we identify two cytosolic BAHD acyltransferases that form two intermediates, caftaric acid and chlorogenic acid. Surprisingly, a unique serine carboxypeptidase-like acyltransferase uses chlorogenic acid as its acyl donor and caftaric acid as its acyl acceptor to produce chicoric acid in vacuoles, which has evolved its acyl donor specificity from the better-known 1-O-β-D-glucose esters typical for this specific type of acyltransferase to chlorogenic acid. This unusual pathway seems unique to Echinacea species suggesting convergent evolution of chicoric acid biosynthesis. Using these identified acyltransferases, we have reconstituted chicoric acid biosynthesis in tobacco. Our results emphasize the flexibility of acyltransferases and their roles in the evolution of specialized metabolism in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rao Fu
- Key Laboratory of Bio-resource and Eco-environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610064, China
| | - Pingyu Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Bio-resource and Eco-environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610064, China
| | - Ge Jin
- Key Laboratory of Bio-resource and Eco-environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610064, China
| | - Lianglei Wang
- Key Laboratory of Bio-resource and Eco-environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610064, China
| | - Shiqian Qi
- Department of Urology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Yang Cao
- Center of Growth, Metabolism and Aging, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610064, China
| | - Cathie Martin
- Department of Metabolic Biology and Biological Chemistry, John Innes Centre, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Yang Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Bio-resource and Eco-environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610064, China.
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Li YN, Ning N, Song L, Geng Y, Fan JT, Ma CY, Jiang HZ. Derivatives of Deoxypodophyllotoxin Induce Apoptosis through Bcl-2/Bax Proteins Expression. Anticancer Agents Med Chem 2021; 21:611-620. [PMID: 32748757 DOI: 10.2174/1871520620999200730160952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2020] [Revised: 05/30/2020] [Accepted: 06/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Deoxypodophyllotoxin, isolated from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Anthriscus sylvestris, is well-known because of its significant anti-tumor activity with strong toxicity in vitro and in vivo. OBJECTIVE In this article, a series of deoxypodophyllotoxin derivatives were synthesized and their anti-tumor effectiveness was evaluated. METHODS The anti-tumor activity of deoxypodophyllotoxin derivatives was investigated by the MTT assay method. Apoptosis percentage was measured by flow cytometer analysis using Annexin-V-FITC. RESULTS The derivatives revealed obvious cytotoxicity in the MTT assay by decreasing the number of late cancer cells. The decrease of Bcl-2/Bax could be observed in MCF-7, HepG2, HT-29, and MG-63 using Annexin V-FITC. The ratio of Bcl-2/Bax in the administration group was decreased, which was determined by the ELISA kit. CONCLUSION The derivatives of deoxypodophyllotoxin could induce apoptosis in tumor cell lines by influencing Bcl-2/Bax.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya-Nan Li
- School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, 610031, China
| | - Ni Ning
- School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, 610031, China
| | - Lei Song
- School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, 610031, China
| | - Yun Geng
- School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, 610031, China
| | - Jun-Ting Fan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Chao-Ying Ma
- School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, 610031, China
| | - He-Zhong Jiang
- School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, 610031, China
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