151
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Slagman S, Fessner WD. Biocatalytic routes to anti-viral agents and their synthetic intermediates. Chem Soc Rev 2021; 50:1968-2009. [DOI: 10.1039/d0cs00763c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
An assessment of biocatalytic strategies for the synthesis of anti-viral agents, offering guidelines for the development of sustainable production methods for a future COVID-19 remedy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sjoerd Slagman
- Institut für Organische Chemie und Biochemie
- Technische Universität Darmstadt
- Germany
| | - Wolf-Dieter Fessner
- Institut für Organische Chemie und Biochemie
- Technische Universität Darmstadt
- Germany
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152
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Chen X, Chen J, Feng J, Wang Y, Li S, Xiao Y, Diao Y, Zhang L, Chen W. Tandem UGT71B5s Catalyze Lignan Glycosylation in Isatis indigotica With Substrates Promiscuity. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:637695. [PMID: 33868336 PMCID: PMC8044456 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.637695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Lignans are a class of chemicals formed by the combination of two molecules of phenylpropanoids with promising nutritional and pharmacological activities. Lignans glucosides, which are converted from aglycones catalyzed by uridine diphosphate (UDP) glycosyltransferases (UGTs), have abundant bioactivities. In the present study, two UGTs from Isatis indigotica Fort., namely IiUGT71B5a and IiUGT71B5b, were characterized to catalyze the glycosylation of lignans with promiscuities toward various sugar acceptors and sugar donors, and pinoresinol was the preferred substrate. IiUGT71B5a was capable of efficiently producing both pinoresinol monoglycoside and diglycoside. However, IiUGT71B5b only produced monoglycoside, and exhibited considerably lower activity than IiUGT71B5a. Substrate screening indicated that ditetrahydrofuran is the essential structural characteristic for sugar acceptors. The transcription of IiUGT71B5s was highly consistent with the spatial distribution of pinoresinol glucosides, suggesting that IiUGT71B5s may play biological roles in the modification of pinoresinol in I. indigotica roots. This study not only provides insights into lignan biosynthesis, but also elucidates the functional diversity of the UGT family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Chen
- Center of Chinese Traditional Medicine Resources and Biotechnology, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Huaqiao University, Fujian, China
| | - Junfeng Chen
- Center of Chinese Traditional Medicine Resources and Biotechnology, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jingxian Feng
- Center of Chinese Traditional Medicine Resources and Biotechnology, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yun Wang
- Biomedical Innovation R&D Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shunuo Li
- Center of Chinese Traditional Medicine Resources and Biotechnology, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ying Xiao
- Center of Chinese Traditional Medicine Resources and Biotechnology, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yong Diao
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Huaqiao University, Fujian, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Lei Zhang,
| | - Wansheng Chen
- Center of Chinese Traditional Medicine Resources and Biotechnology, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Wansheng Chen,
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153
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Huang Z, Lumb JP. Mimicking oxidative radical cyclizations of lignan biosynthesis using redox-neutral photocatalysis. Nat Chem 2020; 13:24-32. [PMID: 33349693 DOI: 10.1038/s41557-020-00603-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2020] [Accepted: 11/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Oxidative cyclizations create many unique chemical structures that are characteristic of biologically active natural products. Many of these reactions are catalysed by 'non-canonical' or 'thwarted' iron oxygenases and appear to involve long-lived radicals. Mimicking these biosynthetic transformations with chemical equivalents has been a long-standing goal of synthetic chemists but the fleeting nature of radicals, particularly under oxidizing conditions, makes this challenging. Here we use redox-neutral photocatalysis to generate radicals that are likely to be involved in the biosynthesis of lignan natural products. We present the total syntheses of highly oxidized dibenzocyclooctadienes, which feature densely fused, polycyclic frameworks that originate from a common radical progenitor. We show that multiple factors control the fate of the proposed biosynthetic radicals, as they select between 5- or 11-membered ring cyclizations and a number of different terminating events. Our syntheses create new opportunities to explore the medicinal properties of these natural products, while shedding light on their biosynthetic origin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Huang
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Jean-Philip Lumb
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
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154
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Chen TY, Xue S, Tsai WC, Chien TC, Guo Y, Chang WC. Deciphering Pyrrolidine and Olefin Formation Mechanism in Kainic Acid Biosynthesis. ACS Catal 2020. [DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.0c03879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Tzu-Yu Chen
- Department of Chemistry, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
| | - Shan Xue
- Department of Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
| | - Wei-Chih Tsai
- Department of Chemistry, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei 11677, Taiwan
| | - Tun-Cheng Chien
- Department of Chemistry, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei 11677, Taiwan
| | - Yisong Guo
- Department of Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
| | - Wei-chen Chang
- Department of Chemistry, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
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155
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Gao L, Lei X. Biosynthetic Intermediate Probes for Visualizing and Identifying the Biosynthetic Enzymes of Plant Metabolites. Chembiochem 2020; 22:982-984. [PMID: 33231344 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202000530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Revised: 10/08/2020] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Plant metabolites play important roles in both plant physiology and drug discovery. Taking advantage of new emerging technologies such as next generation sequencing (NGS), whole genome assembly, bioinformatics, omics-based strategies have been demonstrated as popular and powerful ways to elucidate complex metabolic pathways in plants. In this viewpoint, biosynthetic intermediates probes have been proposed as the potentinal tools to study the plant natural product biosynthesis via chemical proteomics appoaches or transcriptome analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Gao
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Synthetic and Functional Biomolecules Center, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, P. R. China
| | - Xiaoguang Lei
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Synthetic and Functional Biomolecules Center, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, P. R. China
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156
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Decembrino D, Ricklefs E, Wohlgemuth S, Girhard M, Schullehner K, Jach G, Urlacher VB. Assembly of Plant Enzymes in E. coli for the Production of the Valuable (-)-Podophyllotoxin Precursor (-)-Pluviatolide. ACS Synth Biol 2020; 9:3091-3103. [PMID: 33095000 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.0c00354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Lignans are plant secondary metabolites with a wide range of reported health-promoting bioactivities. Traditional routes toward these natural products involve, among others, the extraction from plant sources and chemical synthesis. However, the availability of the sources and the complex chemical structures of lignans often limit the feasibility of these approaches. In this work, we introduce a newly assembled biosynthetic route in E. coli for the efficient conversion of the common higher-lignan precursor (+)-pinoresinol to the noncommercially available (-)-pluviatolide via three intermediates. (-)-Pluviatolide is considered a crossroad compound in lignan biosynthesis, because the methylenedioxy bridge in its structure, resulting from the oxidation of (-)-matairesinol, channels the biosynthetic pathway toward the microtubule depolymerizer (-)-podophyllotoxin. This oxidation reaction is catalyzed with high regio- and enantioselectivity by a cytochrome P450 monooxygenase from Sinopodophyllum hexandrum (CYP719A23), which was expressed and optimized regarding redox partners in E. coli. Pinoresinol-lariciresinol reductase from Forsythia intermedia (FiPLR), secoisolariciresinol dehydrogenase from Podophyllum pleianthum (PpSDH), and CYP719A23 were coexpressed together with a suitable NADPH-dependent reductase to ensure P450 activity, allowing for four sequential biotransformations without intermediate isolation. By using an E. coli strain coexpressing the enzymes originating from four plants, (+)-pinoresinol was efficiently converted, allowing the isolation of enantiopure (-)-pluviatolide at a concentration of 137 mg/L (ee ≥99% with 76% isolated yield).
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Decembrino
- Institute of Biochemistry, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstraße 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Esther Ricklefs
- Institute of Biochemistry, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstraße 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Stefan Wohlgemuth
- 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
| | - Katrin Schullehner
- Phytowelt Green Technologies GmbH, Kölsumer Weg 33, 41334 Nettetal, Germany
| | - Guido Jach
- Phytowelt Green Technologies GmbH, Kölsumer Weg 33, 41334 Nettetal, Germany
| | - Vlada B. Urlacher
- Institute of Biochemistry, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstraße 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
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157
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Xiang JC, Wang Q, Zhu J. Radical-Cation Cascade to Aryltetralin Cyclic Ether Lignans Under Visible-Light Photoredox Catalysis. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2020; 59:21195-21202. [PMID: 32744786 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202007548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2020] [Revised: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The development of concise, sustainable, and cost-effective synthesis of aryltetralin lignans, bearing either a fused lactone or cyclic ether, is of significant medicinal importance. Reported is that in the presence of Fukuzumi's acridinium salt under blue LED irradiation, functionalized dicinnamyl ether derivatives are converted into aryltetralin cyclic ether lignans with concurrent generation of three stereocenters in good to high yields with up to 20:1 diastereoselectivity. Oxidation of an alkene to the radical cation is key to the success of this formal Diels-Alder reaction of electronically mismatched diene and dienophile. Applying this methodology, six natural products, aglacin B, aglacin C, sulabiroin A, sulabiroin B, gaultherin C, and isoshonanin, are synthesized in only two to three steps from readily available biomass-derived monolignols. A revised structure is proposed for gaultherin C.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia-Chen Xiang
- Laboratory of Synthesis and Natural Products, Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, EPFL-SB-ISIC-LSPN, BCH 5304, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Qian Wang
- Laboratory of Synthesis and Natural Products, Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, EPFL-SB-ISIC-LSPN, BCH 5304, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Jieping Zhu
- Laboratory of Synthesis and Natural Products, Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, EPFL-SB-ISIC-LSPN, BCH 5304, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
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158
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Li J, Zhang X, Renata H. Biocatalytic Oxidative Cyclization with 2-ODD-PH. TRENDS IN CHEMISTRY 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.trechm.2020.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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159
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Ko DK, Brandizzi F. Network-based approaches for understanding gene regulation and function in plants. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2020; 104:302-317. [PMID: 32717108 PMCID: PMC8922287 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.14940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2020] [Accepted: 07/14/2020] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Expression reprogramming directed by transcription factors is a primary gene regulation underlying most aspects of the biology of any organism. Our views of how gene regulation is coordinated are dramatically changing thanks to the advent and constant improvement of high-throughput profiling and transcriptional network inference methods: from activities of individual genes to functional interactions across genes. These technical and analytical advances can reveal the topology of transcriptional networks in which hundreds of genes are hierarchically regulated by multiple transcription factors at systems level. Here we review the state of the art of experimental and computational methods used in plant biology research to obtain large-scale datasets and model transcriptional networks. Examples of direct use of these network models and perspectives on their limitations and future directions are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dae Kwan Ko
- MSU-DOE Plant Research Lab, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
- Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Federica Brandizzi
- MSU-DOE Plant Research Lab, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
- Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
- Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
- For correspondence ()
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160
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Sun B, Zhou X, Chen C, Chen C, Chen K, Chen M, Liu S, Chen G, Cao B, Cao F, Lei J, Zhu Z. Coexpression network analysis reveals an MYB transcriptional activator involved in capsaicinoid biosynthesis in hot peppers. HORTICULTURE RESEARCH 2020; 7:162. [PMID: 33082969 PMCID: PMC7527512 DOI: 10.1038/s41438-020-00381-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2020] [Revised: 06/18/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2020] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Plant biosynthesis involves numerous specialized metabolites with diverse chemical natures and biological activities. The biosynthesis of metabolites often exclusively occurs in response to tissue-specific combinatorial developmental cues that are controlled at the transcriptional level. Capsaicinoids are a group of specialized metabolites that confer a pungent flavor to pepper fruits. Capsaicinoid biosynthesis occurs in the fruit placenta and combines its developmental cues. Although the capsaicinoid biosynthetic pathway has been largely characterized, the regulatory mechanisms that control capsaicinoid metabolism have not been fully elucidated. In this study, we combined fruit placenta transcriptome data with weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) to generate coexpression networks. A capsaicinoid-related gene module was identified in which the MYB transcription factor CaMYB48 plays a critical role in regulating capsaicinoid in pepper. Capsaicinoid biosynthetic gene (CBG) and CaMYB48 expression primarily occurs in the placenta and is consistent with capsaicinoid biosynthesis. CaMYB48 encodes a nucleus-localized protein that primarily functions as a transcriptional activator through its C-terminal activation motif. CaMYB48 regulates capsaicinoid biosynthesis by directly regulating the expression of CBGs, including AT3a and KasIa. Taken together, the results of this study indicate ways to generate robust networks optimized for the mining of CBG-related regulators, establishing a foundation for future research elucidating capsaicinoid regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Binmei Sun
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Horticultural Crops (South China), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642 China
| | - Xin Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Horticultural Crops (South China), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642 China
- Jiangxi Agricultural Engineering College, Zhangshu, 331200 Jiangxi China
| | - Changming Chen
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Horticultural Crops (South China), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642 China
| | - Chengjie Chen
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Horticultural Crops (South China), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642 China
| | - Kunhao Chen
- Guangdong Helinong Seeds, Co., Ltd., Shantou, 515800 Guangdong China
- Guangdong Helinong Agricultural Research Institute, Co., Ltd., Shantou, 515800 Guangdong China
| | - Muxi Chen
- Guangdong Helinong Seeds, Co., Ltd., Shantou, 515800 Guangdong China
- Guangdong Helinong Agricultural Research Institute, Co., Ltd., Shantou, 515800 Guangdong China
| | - Shaoqun Liu
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Horticultural Crops (South China), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642 China
| | - Guoju Chen
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Horticultural Crops (South China), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642 China
| | - Bihao Cao
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Horticultural Crops (South China), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642 China
| | - Fanrong Cao
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Horticultural Crops (South China), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642 China
| | - Jianjun Lei
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Horticultural Crops (South China), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642 China
- Henry School of Agricultural Science and Engineering, Shaoguan University, Guangdong, 512005 China
| | - Zhangsheng Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Horticultural Crops (South China), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642 China
- Peking University—Southern University of Science and Technology Joint Institute of Plant and Food Sciences, Department of Biology, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055 China
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161
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Romanowski S, Eustáquio AS. Synthetic biology for natural product drug production and engineering. Curr Opin Chem Biol 2020; 58:137-145. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2020.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2020] [Revised: 09/09/2020] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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162
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Beyond the semi-synthetic artemisinin: metabolic engineering of plant-derived anti-cancer drugs. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2020; 65:17-24. [DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2019.11.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2019] [Revised: 11/12/2019] [Accepted: 11/14/2019] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
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163
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Xiang J, Wang Q, Zhu J. Radical‐Cation Cascade to Aryltetralin Cyclic Ether Lignans Under Visible‐Light Photoredox Catalysis. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202007548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jia‐Chen Xiang
- Laboratory of Synthesis and Natural Products Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne EPFL-SB-ISIC-LSPN, BCH 5304 1015 Lausanne Switzerland
| | - Qian Wang
- Laboratory of Synthesis and Natural Products Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne EPFL-SB-ISIC-LSPN, BCH 5304 1015 Lausanne Switzerland
| | - Jieping Zhu
- Laboratory of Synthesis and Natural Products Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne EPFL-SB-ISIC-LSPN, BCH 5304 1015 Lausanne Switzerland
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164
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A novel podophyllotoxin derivative with higher anti-tumor activity produced via 4′-demethylepipodophyllotoxin biotransformation by Penicillium purpurogenum. Process Biochem 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.procbio.2020.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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165
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Zwick CR, Renata H. Harnessing the biocatalytic potential of iron- and α-ketoglutarate-dependent dioxygenases in natural product total synthesis. Nat Prod Rep 2020; 37:1065-1079. [PMID: 32055818 PMCID: PMC7426249 DOI: 10.1039/c9np00075e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Covering: up to the end of 2019Iron- and α-ketoglutarate-dependent dioxygenases (Fe/αKGs) represent a versatile and intriguing enzyme family by virtue of their ability to directly functionalize unactivated C-H bonds at the cost of αKG and O2. Fe/αKGs play an important role in the biosynthesis of natural products, valuable biologically active secondary metabolites frequently pursued as drug leads. The field of natural product total synthesis seeks to contruct these molecules as effeciently as possible, although natural products continue to challenge chemists due to their intricate structural complexity. Chemoenzymatic approaches seek to remedy the shortcomings of traditional synthetic methodology by combining Nature's biosynthetic machinery with traditional chemical methods to efficiently construct natural products. Although other oxygenase families have been widely employed for this purpose, Fe/αKGs remain underutilized. The following review will cover recent chemoenzymatic total syntheses involving Fe/αKG enzymes. Additionally, related information involving natural product biosynthesis, methods development, and non-chemoenzymatic total syntheses will be discussed to inform retrosynthetic logic and synthetic design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian R Zwick
- The Scripps Research Institute, 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter, FL 33458, USA.
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166
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Nett RS, Lau W, Sattely ES. Discovery and engineering of colchicine alkaloid biosynthesis. Nature 2020; 584:148-153. [PMID: 32699417 PMCID: PMC7958869 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-020-2546-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2019] [Accepted: 06/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Few complete pathways have been established for the biosynthesis of medicinal compounds from plants. Accordingly, many plant-derived therapeutics are isolated directly from medicinal plants or plant cell culture1. A lead example is colchicine, a US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved treatment for inflammatory disorders that is sourced from Colchicum and Gloriosa species2-5. Here we use a combination of transcriptomics, metabolic logic and pathway reconstitution to elucidate a near-complete biosynthetic pathway to colchicine without prior knowledge of biosynthetic genes, a sequenced genome or genetic tools in the native host. We uncovered eight genes from Gloriosa superba for the biosynthesis of N-formyldemecolcine, a colchicine precursor that contains the characteristic tropolone ring and pharmacophore of colchicine6. Notably, we identified a non-canonical cytochrome P450 that catalyses the remarkable ring expansion reaction that is required to produce the distinct carbon scaffold of colchicine. We further used the newly identified genes to engineer a biosynthetic pathway (comprising 16 enzymes in total) to N-formyldemecolcine in Nicotiana benthamiana starting from the amino acids phenylalanine and tyrosine. This study establishes a metabolic route to tropolone-containing colchicine alkaloids and provides insights into the unique chemistry that plants use to generate complex, bioactive metabolites from simple amino acids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan S Nett
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Warren Lau
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Elizabeth S Sattely
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford, CA, USA.
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167
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Khayam AU, Patel H, Faiola NA, Figueroa Milla AE, Dilshad E, Mirza B, Huang Y, Sheikh MS. Quinovic acid purified from medicinal plant Fagonia indica mediates anticancer effects via death receptor 5. Mol Cell Biochem 2020; 474:159-169. [PMID: 32734538 DOI: 10.1007/s11010-020-03841-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 07/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Plants are major source for discovery and development of anticancer drugs. Several plant-based anticancer drugs are currently in clinical use. Fagonia indica is a plant of medicinal value in the South Asian countries. Using mass spectrometry and NMR spectroscopy, several compounds were purified from the F. indica extract. We have used one of the purified compounds quinovic acid (QA) and found that QA strongly suppressed the growth and viability of human breast and lung cancer cells. QA did not inhibit growth and viability of non-tumorigenic breast cells. QA mediated its anticancer effects by inducing cell death. QA-induced cell death was associated with biochemical features of apoptosis such as activation of caspases 3 and 8 as well as PARP cleavage. QA also upregulated mRNA and protein levels of death receptor 5 (DR5). Further investigation revealed that QA did not alter DR5 gene promoter activity, but enhanced DR5 mRNA and protein stabilities. DR5 is one of the major components of the extrinsic pathway of apoptosis. Accordingly, Apo2L/TRAIL, the DR5 ligand, potentiated the anticancer effects of QA. Our results indicate that QA mediates its anticancer effects, at least in part, by engaging DR5-depentent pathway to induce apoptosis. Based on our results, we propose that QA in combination with Apo2L/TRAIL can be further investigated as a novel therapeutic approach for breast and lung cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asma Umer Khayam
- Department of Pharmacology, State University of New York (SUNY), Upstate Medical University, 750 E Adams St, Syracuse, NY, 13210, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-I-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Harsh Patel
- Department of Pharmacology, State University of New York (SUNY), Upstate Medical University, 750 E Adams St, Syracuse, NY, 13210, USA
| | - Nicholas A Faiola
- Department of Pharmacology, State University of New York (SUNY), Upstate Medical University, 750 E Adams St, Syracuse, NY, 13210, USA
| | - Andre E Figueroa Milla
- Department of Pharmacology, State University of New York (SUNY), Upstate Medical University, 750 E Adams St, Syracuse, NY, 13210, USA
| | - Erum Dilshad
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biosciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Capital University of Science and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Bushra Mirza
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-I-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Ying Huang
- Department of Pharmacology, State University of New York (SUNY), Upstate Medical University, 750 E Adams St, Syracuse, NY, 13210, USA
| | - M Saeed Sheikh
- Department of Pharmacology, State University of New York (SUNY), Upstate Medical University, 750 E Adams St, Syracuse, NY, 13210, USA.
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168
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Shi M, Liao P, Nile SH, Georgiev MI, Kai G. Biotechnological Exploration of Transformed Root Culture for Value-Added Products. Trends Biotechnol 2020; 39:137-149. [PMID: 32690221 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2020.06.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2020] [Revised: 06/22/2020] [Accepted: 06/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
Medicinal plants produce valuable secondary metabolites with anticancer, analgesic, anticholinergic or other activities, but low metabolite levels and limited available tissue restrict metabolite yields. Transformed root cultures, also called hairy roots, provide a feasible approach for producing valuable secondary metabolites. Various strategies have been used to enhance secondary metabolite production in hairy roots, including increasing substrate availability, regulating key biosynthetic genes, multigene engineering, combining genetic engineering and elicitation, using transcription factors (TFs), and introducing new genes. In this review, we focus on recent developments in hairy roots from medicinal plants, techniques to boost production of desired secondary metabolites, and the development of new technologies to study these metabolites. We also discuss recent trends, emerging applications, and future perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Shi
- Laboratory of Medicinal Plant Biotechnology, College of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 311402, China
| | - Pan Liao
- Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, 175 South University Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2063, USA
| | - Shivraj Hariram Nile
- Laboratory of Medicinal Plant Biotechnology, College of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 311402, China
| | - Milen I Georgiev
- Laboratory of Metabolomics, The Stephan Angeloff Institute of Microbiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 139 Ruski Blvd, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria; Center of Plant Systems Biology and Biotechnology, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria.
| | - Guoyin Kai
- Laboratory of Medicinal Plant Biotechnology, College of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 311402, China.
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169
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Liu X, Zhu X, Wang H, Liu T, Cheng J, Jiang H. Discovery and modification of cytochrome P450 for plant natural products biosynthesis. Synth Syst Biotechnol 2020; 5:187-199. [PMID: 32637672 PMCID: PMC7332504 DOI: 10.1016/j.synbio.2020.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2020] [Revised: 06/21/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Cytochrome P450s are widespread in nature and play key roles in the diversification and functional modification of plant natural products. Over the last few years, there has been remarkable progress in plant P450s identification with the rapid development of sequencing technology, "omics" analysis and synthetic biology. However, challenges still persist in respect of crystal structure, heterologous expression and enzyme engineering. Here, we reviewed several research hotspots of P450 enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of plant natural products, including P450 databases, gene mining, heterologous expression and protein engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaonan Liu
- 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
| | - 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
| | - Hui Wang
- College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Tianjin, 300457, China
| | - Tian Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, College of Life Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi, 530004, China.,Key Laboratory of Systems Microbial Biotechnology, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, 300308, China
| | - Jian Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Systems Microbial Biotechnology, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, 300308, China
| | - Huifeng Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Systems Microbial Biotechnology, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, 300308, China
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170
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Zetzsche LE, Narayan ARH. Broadening the scope of biocatalytic C-C bond formation. Nat Rev Chem 2020; 4:334-346. [PMID: 34430708 PMCID: PMC8382263 DOI: 10.1038/s41570-020-0191-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The impeccable control over chemo-, site-, and stereoselectivity possible in enzymatic reactions has led to a surge in the development of new biocatalytic methods. Despite carbon-carbon (C-C) bonds providing the central framework for organic molecules, development of biocatalytic methods for their formation has been largely confined to the use of a select few lyases over the last several decades, limiting the types of C-C bond-forming transformations possible through biocatalytic methods. This Review provides an update on the suite of enzymes available for highly selective biocatalytic C-C bond formation. Examples will be discussed in reference to the (1) native activity of enzymes, (2) alteration of activity through protein or substrate engineering for broader applicability, and (3) utility of the biocatalyst for abiotic synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara E. Zetzsche
- Program in Chemical Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Alison R. H. Narayan
- Program in Chemical Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
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171
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Cyperus articulatus L. (Cyperaceae) Rhizome Essential Oil Causes Cell Cycle Arrest in the G 2/M Phase and Cell Death in HepG2 Cells and Inhibits the Development of Tumors in a Xenograft Model. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25112687. [PMID: 32527068 PMCID: PMC7321242 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25112687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Revised: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 06/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Cyperus articulatus L. (Cyperaceae), popularly known in Brazil as “priprioca” or “piriprioca”, is a tropical and subtropical plant used in popular medical practices to treat many diseases, including cancer. In this study, C. articulatus rhizome essential oil (EO), collected from the Brazilian Amazon rainforest, was addressed in relation to its chemical composition, induction of cell death in vitro and inhibition of tumor development in vivo, using human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells as a cell model. EO was obtained by hydrodistillation using a Clevenger-type apparatus and characterized qualitatively and quantitatively by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC-FID), respectively. The cytotoxic activity of EO was examined against five cancer cell lines (HepG2, HCT116, MCF-7, HL-60 and B16-F10) and one non-cancerous one (MRC-5) using the Alamar blue assay. Cell cycle distribution and cell death were investigated using flow cytometry in HepG2 cells treated with EO after 24, 48 and 72 h of incubation. The cells were also stained with May–Grunwald–Giemsa to analyze the morphological changes. The anti-liver-cancer activity of EO in vivo was evaluated in C.B-17 severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice with HepG2 cell xenografts. The main representative substances of this EO sample were muskatone (11.6%), cyclocolorenone (10.3%), α-pinene (8.26%), pogostol (6.36%), α-copaene (4.83%) and caryophyllene oxide (4.82%). EO showed IC50 values for cancer cell lines ranging from 28.5 µg/mL for HepG2 to >50 µg/mL for HCT116, and an IC50 value for non-cancerous of 46.0 µg/mL (MRC-5), showing selectivity indices below 2-fold for all cancer cells tested. HepG2 cells treated with EO showed cell cycle arrest at G2/M along with internucleosomal DNA fragmentation. The morphological alterations included cell shrinkage and chromatin condensation. Treatment with EO also increased the percentage of apoptotic-like cells. The in vivo tumor mass inhibition rates of EO were 46.5–50.0%. The results obtained indicate the anti-liver-cancer potential of C. articulatus rhizome EO.
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172
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Demirer GS, Zhang H, Goh NS, Pinals RL, Chang R, Landry MP. Carbon nanocarriers deliver siRNA to intact plant cells for efficient gene knockdown. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2020; 6:eaaz0495. [PMID: 32637592 PMCID: PMC7314522 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aaz0495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2019] [Accepted: 05/08/2020] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Posttranscriptional gene silencing (PTGS) is a powerful tool to understand and control plant metabolic pathways, which is central to plant biotechnology. PTGS is commonly accomplished through delivery of small interfering RNA (siRNA) into cells. Standard plant siRNA delivery methods (Agrobacterium and viruses) involve coding siRNA into DNA vectors and are only tractable for certain plant species. Here, we develop a nanotube-based platform for direct delivery of siRNA and show high silencing efficiency in intact plant cells. We demonstrate that nanotubes successfully deliver siRNA and silence endogenous genes, owing to effective intracellular delivery and nanotube-induced protection of siRNA from nuclease degradation. This study establishes that nanotubes could enable a myriad of plant biotechnology applications that rely on RNA delivery to intact cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gozde S. Demirer
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Huan Zhang
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Natalie S. Goh
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Rebecca L. Pinals
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Roger Chang
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Markita P. Landry
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, QB3, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute, Berkeley, CA 94702, USA
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
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173
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Pu X, He C, Yang Y, Wang W, Hu K, Xu Z, Song J. In Vivo Production of Five Crocins in the Engineered Escherichia coli. ACS Synth Biol 2020; 9:1160-1168. [PMID: 32216376 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.0c00039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Crocins are highly valuable medicinal compounds for treating human disorders, and they also serve as spices and coloring agents. However, the supply of crocins from plant extractions is insufficient for current demands, and using synthetic biology to produce crocins remains a big challenge. Here, we report the in vivo production of five types of crocins in E. coli with GjUGT94E13 and GjUGT74F8, which are responsible for the glycosylation of crocetin, from the crocin-producing plant Gardenia jasminoides. Subsequently, native UDP-glucose biosynthesis in E. coli is strengthened by the overexpression of pgm and galU. The optimization of catalytic reactions has demonstrated that 50 mM NaH2PO4-Na2HPO4 buffer (pH 8.0) plus 5% glucose is the best medium to use for the efficient glycosylation of crocetin. In engineered E. coli, the conversion rate of crocin III and crocin V from crocetin (50 mg/L) by the catalysis of GjUGT74F8 was increased to 66.1%, and the conversion rate of five types of crocins from crocetin (50 mg/L) via GjUGT94E13 and GjUGT74F8 was 59.6%, much higher than the catalytic activity of the reported microbial UGTs. This study not only sheds light on the in vivo biosynthesis of crocins in E. coli, but also provides important genetic tools for the de novo synthesis of crocins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangdong Pu
- Key Lab of Chinese Medicine Resources Conservation, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of the People’s Republic of China, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Chunnian He
- Key Lab of Chinese Medicine Resources Conservation, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of the People’s Republic of China, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100193, China
- Engineering Research Center of Chinese Medicine Resource, Ministry of Education, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Yan Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Wei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Kaizhi Hu
- Chongqing Institute of Medicinal Plant Cultivation, Chongqing, 408435, China
| | - Zhichao Xu
- Key Lab of Chinese Medicine Resources Conservation, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of the People’s Republic of China, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100193, China
- Engineering Research Center of Chinese Medicine Resource, Ministry of Education, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Jingyuan Song
- Key Lab of Chinese Medicine Resources Conservation, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of the People’s Republic of China, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100193, China
- Engineering Research Center of Chinese Medicine Resource, Ministry of Education, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100193, China
- Yunnan Branch, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Jinghong, 666100, China
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174
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Jacobowitz JR, Weng JK. Exploring Uncharted Territories of Plant Specialized Metabolism in the Postgenomic Era. ANNUAL REVIEW OF PLANT BIOLOGY 2020; 71:631-658. [PMID: 32176525 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-arplant-081519-035634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
For millennia, humans have used plants for food, raw materials, and medicines, but only within the past two centuries have we begun to connect particular plant metabolites with specific properties and utilities. Since the utility of classical molecular genetics beyond model species is limited, the vast specialized metabolic systems present in the Earth's flora remain largely unstudied. With an explosion in genomics resources and a rapidly expanding toolbox over the past decade, exploration of plant specialized metabolism in nonmodel species is becoming more feasible than ever before. We review the state-of-the-art tools that have enabled this rapid progress. We present recent examples of de novo biosynthetic pathway discovery that employ various innovative approaches. We also draw attention to the higher-order organization of plant specialized metabolism at subcellular, cellular, tissue, interorgan, and interspecies levels, which will have important implications for the future design of comprehensive metabolic engineering strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph R Jacobowitz
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA;
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
| | - Jing-Ke Weng
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA;
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
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175
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Chu L, Huang J, Muhammad M, Deng Z, Gao J. Genome mining as a biotechnological tool for the discovery of novel marine natural products. Crit Rev Biotechnol 2020; 40:571-589. [PMID: 32308042 DOI: 10.1080/07388551.2020.1751056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Compared to terrestrial environments, the oceans harbor a variety of environments, creating higher biodiversity, which gives marine natural products a high occurrence of significant biology and novel chemistry. However, traditional bioassay-guided isolation and purification strategies are severely limiting the discovery of additional novel natural products from the ocean. With an increasing number of marine microorganisms being sequenced, genome mining is gradually becoming a powerful tool to retrieve novel marine natural products. In this review, we have summarized genome mining approaches used to analyze key enzymes of biosynthetic pathways and predict the chemical structure of new gene clusters by introducing successful stories that used genome mining strategy to identify new marine-derived compounds. Furthermore, we also put forward challenges for genome mining techniques and their proposed solutions. The detailed analysis of the genome mining strategy will help researchers to understand this novel technique and its application. With the development of a genome sequence, genome mining strategies will be applied more widely, which will drive rapid development in the field of marine natural product development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leixia Chu
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Biology, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Jinping Huang
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Biology, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Mustafa Muhammad
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Biology, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Zixin Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, Joint International Laboratory on Metabolic and Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiangtao Gao
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Biology, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
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176
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Yin Y, Li Y, Jiang D, Zhang X, Gao W, Liu C. De novo biosynthesis of liquiritin in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Acta Pharm Sin B 2020; 10:711-721. [PMID: 32322472 PMCID: PMC7161706 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2019.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2019] [Revised: 06/22/2019] [Accepted: 07/13/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Liquiritigenin (LG), isoliquiritigenin (Iso-LG), together with their respective glycoside derivatives liquiritin (LN) and isoliquiritin (Iso-LN), are the main active flavonoids of Glycyrrhiza uralensis, which is arguably the most widely used medicinal plant with enormous demand on the market, including Chinese medicine prescriptions, preparations, health care products and even food. Pharmacological studies have shown that these ingredients have broad medicinal value, including anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory effects. Although the biosynthetic pathway of glycyrrhizin, a triterpenoid component from G. uralensis, has been fully analyzed, little attention has been paid to the biosynthesis of the flavonoids of this plant. To obtain the enzyme-coding genes responsible for the biosynthesis of LN, analysis and screening were carried out by combining genome and comparative transcriptome database searches of G. uralensis and homologous genes of known flavonoid biosynthesis pathways. The catalytic functions of candidate genes were determined by in vitro or in vivo characterization. This work characterized the complete biosynthetic pathway of LN and achieved the de novo biosynthesis of liquiritin in Saccharomyces cerevisiae using endogenous yeast metabolites as precursors and cofactors for the first time, which provides a possibility for the economical and sustainable production and application of G. uralensis flavonoids through synthetic biology.
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Key Words
- 4CL, 4-coumarate CoA ligase
- C4H, cinnamate 4-hydroxylase
- CHI, chalcone isomerase
- CHR, chalcone reductase
- CHS, chalcone synthase
- CiA, cinnamic acid
- F7GT, flavone 7-O-glucosyltransferase
- Glycyrrhiza uralensis
- Heterologous synthesis
- Iso-LG, isoliquiritigenin
- Iso-LN, isoliquiritin
- Isoliquiritigenin
- Isoliquiritin
- LG, liquiritigenin
- LN, liquiritin
- Liquiritigenin
- Liquiritin
- MeJA, methyl jasmonate
- PAL, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase
- Phe, phenylalanine
- Saccharomyces cerevisiae
- UGT, UDP-glucosyltransferase
- p-CA, p-coumaric acid
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177
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Hwang JK, Moinuddin SG, Davin LB, Lewis NG. Pinoresinol‐lariciresinol reductase: Substrate versatility, enantiospecificity, and kinetic properties. Chirality 2020; 32:770-789. [DOI: 10.1002/chir.23218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Julianne K. Hwang
- Institute of Biological ChemistryWashington State University Pullman Washington
| | - Syed G.A. Moinuddin
- Institute of Biological ChemistryWashington State University Pullman Washington
| | - Laurence B. Davin
- Institute of Biological ChemistryWashington State University Pullman Washington
| | - Norman G. Lewis
- Institute of Biological ChemistryWashington State University Pullman Washington
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178
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Courdavault V, O'Connor SE, Oudin A, Besseau S, Papon N. Towards the Microbial Production of Plant-Derived Anticancer Drugs. Trends Cancer 2020; 6:444-448. [PMID: 32459998 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2020.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2019] [Revised: 02/06/2020] [Accepted: 02/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Many of the plant-derived compounds used in chemotherapies are currently produced by semisynthesis, which results in limited supplies at exorbitant market prices. However, the synthetic biology era, which began ca 15 years ago, has progressively yielded encouraging advances by using engineered microbes for the practical production of cheaper plant anticancer drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Courdavault
- Biomolécules et Biotechnologies Végétales, BBV, EA2106, Université de Tours, Tours, France.
| | - Sarah E O'Connor
- Department of Natural Product Biosynthesis, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany.
| | - Audrey Oudin
- Biomolécules et Biotechnologies Végétales, BBV, EA2106, Université de Tours, Tours, France
| | - Sébastien Besseau
- Biomolécules et Biotechnologies Végétales, BBV, EA2106, Université de Tours, Tours, France
| | - Nicolas Papon
- Groupe d'Etude des Interactions Hôte-Pathogène, GEIHP, EA3142, Univ Angers, SFR 4208 ICAT, Angers, France
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179
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Qiu F, Zeng J, Wang J, Huang JP, Zhou W, Yang C, Lan X, Chen M, Huang SX, Kai G, Liao Z. Functional genomics analysis reveals two novel genes required for littorine biosynthesis. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2020; 225:1906-1914. [PMID: 31705812 DOI: 10.1111/nph.16317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2019] [Accepted: 11/01/2019] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Some medicinal plants of the Solanaceae produce pharmaceutical tropane alkaloids (TAs), such as hyoscyamine and scopolamine. Littorine is a key biosynthetic intermediate in the hyoscyamine and scopolamine biosynthetic pathways. However, the mechanism underlying littorine formation from the precursors phenyllactate and tropine is not completely understood. Here, we report the elucidation of littorine biosynthesis through a functional genomics approach and functional identification of two novel biosynthesis genes that encode phenyllactate UDP-glycosyltransferase (UGT1) and littorine synthase (LS). UGT1 and LS are highly and specifically expressed in Atropa belladonna secondary roots. Suppression of either UGT1 or LS disrupted the biosynthesis of littorine and its TA derivatives (hyoscyamine and scopolamine). Purified His-tagged UGT1 catalysed phenyllactate glycosylation to form phenyllactylglucose. UGT1 and LS co-expression in tobacco leaves led to littorine synthesis if tropine and phenyllactate were added. This identification of UGT1 and LS provides the missing link in littorine biosynthesis. The results pave the way for producing hyoscyamine and scopolamine for medical use by metabolic engineering or synthetic biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Qiu
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Plant Resource Conservation and Germplasm Innovation, SWU-TAAHC Medicinal Plant Joint R&D Centre, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Junlan Zeng
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Plant Resource Conservation and Germplasm Innovation, SWU-TAAHC Medicinal Plant Joint R&D Centre, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Plant Resource Conservation and Germplasm Innovation, SWU-TAAHC Medicinal Plant Joint R&D Centre, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Jian-Ping Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, CAS Centre for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China
| | - Wei Zhou
- Laboratory of Medicinal Plant Biotechnology, College of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 311402, China
| | - Chunxian Yang
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Plant Resource Conservation and Germplasm Innovation, SWU-TAAHC Medicinal Plant Joint R&D Centre, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Xiaozhong Lan
- TAAHC-SWU Medicinal Plant Joint R&D Centre, Tibetan Collaborative Innovation Centre of Agricultural and Animal Husbandry Resources, Xizang Agricultural and Animal Husbandry College, Nyingchi of Tibet, 860000, China
| | - Min Chen
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Luminescent and Real-Time Analytical Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Sheng-Xiong Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, CAS Centre for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China
| | - Guoyin Kai
- Laboratory of Medicinal Plant Biotechnology, College of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 311402, China
| | - Zhihua Liao
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Plant Resource Conservation and Germplasm Innovation, SWU-TAAHC Medicinal Plant Joint R&D Centre, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
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180
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Dugé de Bernonville T, Papon N, Clastre M, O’Connor SE, Courdavault V. Identifying Missing Biosynthesis Enzymes of Plant Natural Products. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2020; 41:142-146. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2019.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2019] [Revised: 11/07/2019] [Accepted: 12/29/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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181
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Nam SB, Khatun N, Kang YW, Park BY, Woo SK. Controllable one-pot synthesis for scaffold diversity via visible-light photoredox-catalyzed Giese reaction and further transformation. Chem Commun (Camb) 2020; 56:2873-2876. [PMID: 32037420 DOI: 10.1039/c9cc08781h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
This study presents a controllable one-pot synthesis for constructing valuable scaffolds (alcohols, 2,3-dihydrofurans, α-cyano-γ-butyrolactones, and γ-butyrolactones) via a visible-light photoredox-catalyzed Giese reaction and further transformation. This one-pot reaction can selectively synthesize the desired scaffold in excellent yields with good functional group tolerance. To further highlight the broad applicability of this controllable one-pot reaction, we have established flow reaction conditions with short reaction times for the scale-up of each scaffold and demonstrated the further transformation of 2,3-dihydrofurans and α-cyano-γ-butyrolactones to achieve scaffold diversity for applications in drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Su Been Nam
- Department of Chemistry, University of Ulsan, 93 Daehak-Ro, Nam-Gu, Ulsan 44610, Korea.
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182
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Current advances in acteoside biosynthesis pathway elucidation and biosynthesis. Fitoterapia 2020; 142:104495. [PMID: 32045692 DOI: 10.1016/j.fitote.2020.104495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2019] [Revised: 02/05/2020] [Accepted: 02/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Acteoside is an important bioactive natural product distributed in many plant species, composed of four moieties such as caffeic acid, glucose, rhamnose and phenylethyl alcohol, and possesses some bioactivities such as anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, neuro-protective, anti-tumor and so on. However, acteoside content in medicinal plants is low, and acteoside stability is bad, so acteoside biosynthesis is a problem. Recent years, acteoside biosynthesis pathway elucidation and bio-production have been widely investigated, so many achievements have been made up to now. In this study, we reviewed current advances in both the elucidation and bio-production such as the putative methods and enzymatic determination of acteoside biosynthesis pathway, functional analyses of the roles of some candidate genes for verbascoside biosynthesis by transgenic technology, acteoside production via metabolic engineering and synthetic biology approaches and plant tissue culture. Moreover, we first established a combined putative acteoside biosynthesis pathway based on its recent studies in animals, plants and microbes. Meanwhile, we pointed out both problems to shortcomings, and highlighted its future development trend. These results will provide references for the complete elucidation of acteoside biosynthesis pathway and the improvement of acteoside content in medicinal plants and acteoside production via microbial and plant metabolic engineering and synthetic biology approaches, and inform the readers critically of the latest developments of them.
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183
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Chen R, Yang S, Zhang L, Zhou YJ. Advanced Strategies for Production of Natural Products in Yeast. iScience 2020; 23:100879. [PMID: 32087574 PMCID: PMC7033514 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2020.100879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2019] [Revised: 01/27/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural products account for more than 50% of all small-molecule pharmaceutical agents currently in clinical use. However, low availability often becomes problematic when a bioactive natural product is promising to become a pharmaceutical or leading compound. Advances in synthetic biology and metabolic engineering provide a feasible solution for sustainable supply of these compounds. In this review, we have summarized current progress in engineering yeast cell factories for production of natural products, including terpenoids, alkaloids, and phenylpropanoids. We then discuss advanced strategies in metabolic engineering at three different dimensions, including point, line, and plane (corresponding to the individual enzymes and cofactors, metabolic pathways, and the global cellular network). In particular, we comprehensively discuss how to engineer cofactor biosynthesis for enhancing the biosynthesis efficiency, other than the enzyme activity. Finally, current challenges and perspective are also discussed for future engineering direction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruibing Chen
- Division of Biotechnology, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 457 Zhongshan Road, Dalian 116023, China; Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, School of Pharmacy, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Shan Yang
- Division of Biotechnology, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 457 Zhongshan Road, Dalian 116023, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, School of Pharmacy, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China; Biomedical Innovation R&D Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Yongjin J Zhou
- Division of Biotechnology, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 457 Zhongshan Road, Dalian 116023, China; CAS Key Laboratory of Separation Science for Analytical Chemistry, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China; Dalian Key Laboratory of Energy Biotechnology, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 457 Zhongshan Road, Dalian 116023, China.
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184
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Yang J, Liang J, Shao L, Liu L, Gao K, Zhang JL, Sun Z, Xu W, Lin P, Yu R, Zi J. Green production of silybin and isosilybin by merging metabolic engineering approaches and enzymatic catalysis. Metab Eng 2020; 59:44-52. [PMID: 32004707 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymben.2020.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2019] [Revised: 01/23/2020] [Accepted: 01/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Silymarin extracted from milk thistle seeds, is used for treating hepatic diseases. Silybin and isosilybin are its main components, and synthesized from coupling of taxifolin and coniferyl alcohol. Here, the biosynthetic pathways of taxifolin and coniferyl alcohol were reconstructed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae for the first time. To alleviate substantial burden caused by a great deal of genetic manipulation, expression of the enzymes (e.g. ZWF1, TYR1 and ARO8) playing multiple roles in the relevant biosynthetic pathways was selectively optimized. The strain YT1035 overexpressing seven heterologous enzymes and five native enzymes and the strain YC1053 overexpressing seven heterologous enzymes and four native enzymes, respectively produce 336.8 mg/L taxifolin and 201.1 mg/L coniferyl alcohol. Silybin and isosilybin are synthesized from taxifolin and coniferyl alcohol under catalysis of APX1t (the truncated milk thistle peroxidase), with a yield of 62.5%. This study demonstrates an approach for producing silybin and isosilybin from glucose for the first time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiazeng Yang
- Biotechnological Institute of Chinese Materia Medic, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Jincai Liang
- Biotechnological Institute of Chinese Materia Medic, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Lei Shao
- Microbial Pharmacology Laboratory, Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Shanghai, 201318, China
| | - Lihong Liu
- Biotechnological Institute of Chinese Materia Medic, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Ke Gao
- Biotechnological Institute of Chinese Materia Medic, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Jun-Liang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of New Drug and Pharmaceutical Process, Shanghai Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, Shanghai, 200040, China
| | - Zhenjiao Sun
- Guangdong Qingyunshan Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Shaoguan, 512600, China
| | - Wendong Xu
- National Engineering Research Center for Modernization of Extraction and Separation Process of TCM/Guangzhou Hanfang Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Guangzhou, 510240, China
| | - Pengcheng Lin
- College of Pharmacy, Qinghai Nationalities University, Xining, 810007, China
| | - Rongmin Yu
- Biotechnological Institute of Chinese Materia Medic, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Jiachen Zi
- Biotechnological Institute of Chinese Materia Medic, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China.
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185
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Ren H, Shi C, Zhao H. Computational Tools for Discovering and Engineering Natural Product Biosynthetic Pathways. iScience 2020; 23:100795. [PMID: 31926431 PMCID: PMC6957853 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2019.100795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2019] [Revised: 11/24/2019] [Accepted: 12/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural products (NPs), also known as secondary metabolites, are produced in bacteria, fungi, and plants. NPs represent a rich source of antibacterial, antifungal, and anticancer agents. Recent advances in DNA sequencing technologies and bioinformatics unveiled nature's great potential for synthesizing numerous NPs that may confer unprecedented structural and biological features. However, discovering novel bioactive NPs by genome mining remains a challenge. Moreover, even with interesting bioactivity, the low productivity of many NPs significantly limits their practical applications. Here we discuss the progress in developing bioinformatics tools for efficient discovery of bioactive NPs. In addition, we highlight computational methods for optimizing the productivity of NPs of pharmaceutical importance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hengqian Ren
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Chengyou Shi
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Huimin Zhao
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; Departments of Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Bioengineering, Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
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186
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Li Q, Xu J, Yang L, Zhou X, Cai Y, Zhang Y. Transcriptome Analysis of Different Tissues Reveals Key Genes Associated With Galanthamine Biosynthesis in Lycoris longituba. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2020; 11:519752. [PMID: 33042169 PMCID: PMC7525064 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.519752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2019] [Accepted: 09/01/2020] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
L ycoris longituba is a traditional medicinal plant containing the bioactive compound galanthamine (Gal), a type of Amaryllidaceae alkaloid and can be used to treat Alzheimer's disease. However, research on its genome or transcriptome and associated genes in the biosynthetic pathway is incomplete. In this study, we estimated the nuclear genome size of this species to be 29.33 Gb by flow cytometry. Then, RNA sequencing of the leaves, roots, and bulbs of L. longituba was carried out. After de novo assembly, 474,589 all-transcripts and 333,440 all-unigenes were finally generated. In addition, the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, and genes involved in the galanthamine metabolic pathway encoding tyrosine decarboxylase (TYDC), phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), cinnamate 4-hydroxylase (C4H), p-coumarate 3-hydroxylase (C3H), norbelladine synthase (NBS), norbelladine 4'-O-methyltransferase (OMT), and noroxomaritidine synthase (CYP96T1) were detected and validated by real-time quantitative PCR analysis. One candidate gene, Lycoris longituba O-Methyltransferase (LlOMT), was identified in the proposed galanthamine biosynthetic pathway. Sequence analysis showed that LlOMT is a class I OMT. LlOMT is localized in the cytoplasm, and biochemical analysis indicated that the recombinant LlOMT catalyzes norbelladine to generate 4'-O-methylnorbelladine. The protoplast transformation result showed that the overexpression of LlOMT could increase the Gal content. Our results indicate that LlOMT may play a role in galanthamine biosynthesis in L. longituba. This work provides a useful resource for the metabolic engineering of Amaryllidaceae alkaloids.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Youming Cai
- *Correspondence: Youming Cai, ; Yongchun Zhang,
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187
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Torrens-Spence MP, Liu CT, Weng JK. Engineering New Branches of the Kynurenine Pathway To Produce Oxo-(2-aminophenyl) and Quinoline Scaffolds in Yeast. ACS Synth Biol 2019; 8:2735-2745. [PMID: 31714755 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.9b00368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The kynurenine pathway, named after its nonproteinogenic amino acid precursor l-kynurenine, is responsible for the de novo biosynthesis of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) in eukaryotes. Oxo-(2-aminophenyl) and quinoline molecules downstream from l-kynurenine also serve as antagonists of several receptors of the central nervous system in mammals. In this study, we engineered new biosynthetic routes in yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae to produce a suite of l-kynurenine-derived natural products. Overexpression of Homo sapiens l-tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase (HsTDO2) in S. cerevisiae led to a marked increase in the production of l-kynurenine and downstream metabolites. Using this background, new branch points to the kynurenine pathway were added through the incorporation of a Psilocybe cubensis noncanonical L-aromatic amino acid decarboxylase (PcncAAAD) capable of catalyzing both decarboxylation and decarboxylation-dependent oxidative-deamination reactions of l-kynurenine and 3-hydroxy-l-kynurenine to yield their corresponding monoamines, aldehydes, and downstream nonenzymatically cyclized quinolines. The PcncAAAD-catalyzed decarboxylation products, kynuramine and 3-hydroxykynuramine, could further be converted to quinoline scaffolds through the addition of H. sapiens monoamine oxidase A (HsMAO-A). Finally, by incorporating upstream regiospecific l-tryptophan halogenases into the engineering scheme, we produced a number of halogenated oxo-(2-aminophenyl) and quinoline compounds. This work illustrates a synthetic biology approach to expand primary metabolic pathways in the production of novel natural-product-like scaffolds amenable for downstream functionalization.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Chun-Ting Liu
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, 455 Main Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Jing-Ke Weng
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, 455 Main Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
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188
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Jia KZ, Zhu LW, Qu X, Li S, Shen Y, Qi Q, Zhang Y, Li YZ, Tang YJ. Enzymatic O-Glycosylation of Etoposide Aglycone by Exploration of the Substrate Promiscuity for Glycosyltransferases. ACS Synth Biol 2019; 8:2718-2725. [PMID: 31774653 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.9b00318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The 4-O-β-d-glucopyranoside of DMEP ((-)-4'-desmethylepipodophyllotoxin) (GDMEP), a natural product from Podophyllum hexandrum, is the direct precursor to the topoisomerase inhibitor etoposide, used in dozens of chemotherapy regimens for various malignancies. The biosynthesis pathway for DMEP has been completed, while the enzyme for biosynthesizing GDMEP is still unclear. Here, we report the enzymatic O-glycosylation of DMEP with 53% conversion by exploring the substrate promiscuity and entrances of glycosyltransferases. Notably, we found 6 essential amino acid residues surrounding the putative substrate entrances exposed to the protein surface in UGT78D2, CsUGT78D2, and CsUGT78D2-like, and these residues may determine substrate specificity and high O-glycosylation activity toward DMEP. Our results provide an effective route for one-step synthesis of GDMEP. Identification of the key residues and entrances of glycosyltransferases will promote precise identification of glycosyltransferase biocatalysts for novel substrates and provide a rational basis for glycosyltransferase engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai-Zhi Jia
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Hubei Provincial Cooperative Innovation Center of Industrial Fermentation, Key Laboratory of Fermentation Engineering (Ministry of Education), Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, China
| | - Li-Wen Zhu
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Hubei Provincial Cooperative Innovation Center of Industrial Fermentation, Key Laboratory of Fermentation Engineering (Ministry of Education), Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, China
| | - Xudong Qu
- Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Shengying Li
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Yuemao Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Qingsheng Qi
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Youming Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Yue-Zhong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Ya-Jie Tang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Hubei Provincial Cooperative Innovation Center of Industrial Fermentation, Key Laboratory of Fermentation Engineering (Ministry of Education), Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, China
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
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189
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Schultz BJ, Kim SY, Lau W, Sattely ES. Total Biosynthesis for Milligram-Scale Production of Etoposide Intermediates in a Plant Chassis. J Am Chem Soc 2019; 141:19231-19235. [PMID: 31755709 PMCID: PMC7380830 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.9b10717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Etoposide is a plant-derived drug used clinically to treat several forms of cancer. Recent shortages of etoposide demonstrate the need for a more dependable production method to replace the semisynthetic method currently in place, which relies on extraction of a precursor natural product from Himalayan mayapple. Here we report milligram-scale production of (-)-deoxypodophyllotoxin, a late-stage biosynthetic precursor to the etoposide aglycone, using an engineered biosynthetic pathway in tobacco. Our strategy relies on engineering the supply of coniferyl alcohol, an endogenous tobacco metabolite and monolignol precursor to the etoposide aglycone. We show that transient expression of 16 genes, encoding both coniferyl alcohol and main etoposide aglycone pathway enzymes from mayapple, in tobacco leaves results in the accumulation of up to 4.3 mg/g dry plant weight (-)-deoxypodophyllotoxin, and enables isolation of high-purity (-)-deoxypodophyllotoxin after chromatography at levels up to 0.71 mg/g dry plant weight. Our work reveals that long (>10 step) pathways can be efficiently transferred from difficult-to-cultivate medicinal plants to a tobacco plant production chassis, and demonstrates mg-scale total biosynthesis for access to valuable precursors of the chemotherapeutic etoposide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bailey J. Schultz
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Seung Yeon Kim
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Warren Lau
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Elizabeth S. Sattely
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
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190
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Gharat SA, Shinde BA, Mule RD, Punekar SA, Dholakia BB, Jayaramaiah RH, Ramaswamy G, Giri AP. High-throughput metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses vet the potential route of cerpegin biosynthesis in two varieties of Ceropegia bulbosa Roxb. PLANTA 2019; 251:28. [PMID: 31802261 DOI: 10.1007/s00425-019-03319-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2019] [Accepted: 11/27/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Exploration with high-throughput transcriptomics and metabolomics of two varieties of Ceropegia bulbosa identifies candidate genes, crucial metabolites and a potential cerpegin biosynthetic pathway. Ceropegia bulbosa is an important medicinal plant, used in the treatment of various ailments including diarrhea, dysentery, and syphilis. This is primarily attributed to the presence of pharmaceutically active secondary metabolites, especially cerpegin. As this plant belongs to an endemic threatened category, genomic resources are not available hampering exploration on the molecular basis of cerpegin accumulation till now. Therefore, we undertook high-throughput metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses using different tissues from two varieties namely, C. bulbosa var. bulbosa and C. bulbosa var. lushii. Metabolomic analysis revealed spatial and differential accumulation of various metabolites. We chemically synthesized and characterized the cerpegin and its derivatives by liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Importantly, these comparisons suggested the presence of cerpegin and 5-allyl cerpegin in all C. bulbosa tissues. Further, de novo transcriptome analysis indicated the presence of significant transcripts for secondary metabolic pathways through the Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes database. Tissue-specific profiling of transcripts and metabolites showed a significant correlation, suggesting the intricate mechanism of cerpegin biosynthesis. The expression of potential candidate genes from the proposed cerpegin biosynthetic pathway was further validated by qRT-PCR and NanoString nCounter. Overall, our findings propose a potential route of cerpegin biosynthesis. Identified transcripts and metabolites have built a foundation as new molecular resources that could facilitate future research on biosynthesis, regulation, and engineering of cerpegin or other important metabolites in such non-model plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sachin A Gharat
- Biochemical Sciences Division, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune, 411008, India
| | - Balkrishna A Shinde
- Biochemical Sciences Division, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune, 411008, India
- Department of Biotechnology, Shivaji University, Vidyanagar, Kolhapur, 416004, India
| | - Ravindra D Mule
- Division of Organic Chemistry, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune, 411008, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002, India
| | - Sachin A Punekar
- Biospheres, Eshwari, 52/403, Lakshmi nagar, Parvati, Pune, 411009, India
| | - Bhushan B Dholakia
- Biochemical Sciences Division, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune, 411008, India
- Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune, 411008, India
| | - Ramesha H Jayaramaiah
- Biochemical Sciences Division, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune, 411008, India
- Theracues Innovations Private Limited, Sahakar nagar, Bangalore, 560092, India
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, 2751, Australia
| | | | - Ashok P Giri
- Biochemical Sciences Division, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune, 411008, India.
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191
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Louveau T, Osbourn A. The Sweet Side of Plant-Specialized Metabolism. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol 2019; 11:cshperspect.a034744. [PMID: 31235546 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a034744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Glycosylation plays a major role in the structural diversification of plant natural products. It influences the properties of molecules by modifying the reactivity and solubility of the corresponding aglycones, so influencing cellular localization and bioactivity. Glycosylation of plant natural products is usually carried out by uridine diphosphate(UDP)-dependent glycosyltransferases (UGTs) belonging to the carbohydrate-active enzyme glycosyltransferase 1 (GT1) family. These enzymes transfer sugars from UDP-activated sugar moieties to small hydrophobic acceptor molecules. Plant GT1s generally show high specificity for their sugar donors and recognize a single UDP sugar as their substrate. In contrast, they are generally promiscuous with regard to acceptors, making them attractive biotechnological tools for small molecule glycodiversification. Although microbial hosts have traditionally been used for heterologous engineering of plant-derived glycosides, transient plant expression technology offers a potentially disruptive platform for rapid characterization of new plant glycosyltransferases and biosynthesis of complex glycosides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Louveau
- Department of Metabolic Biology, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UH, United Kingdom
| | - Anne Osbourn
- Department of Metabolic Biology, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UH, United Kingdom
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192
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Xu X, Guignard C, Renaut J, Hausman JF, Gatti E, Predieri S, Guerriero G. Insights into Lignan Composition and Biosynthesis in Stinging Nettle ( Urtica dioica L.). Molecules 2019; 24:molecules24213863. [PMID: 31717749 PMCID: PMC6864805 DOI: 10.3390/molecules24213863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2019] [Revised: 10/21/2019] [Accepted: 10/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica L.) has been used as herbal medicine to treat various ailments since ancient times. The biological activity of nettle is chiefly attributed to a large group of phenylpropanoid dimers, namely lignans. Despite the pharmacological importance of nettle lignans, there are no studies addressing lignan biosynthesis in this plant. We herein identified 14 genes encoding dirigent proteins (UdDIRs) and 3 pinoresinol-lariciresinol reductase genes (UdPLRs) in nettle, which are two gene families known to be associated with lignan biosynthesis. Expression profiling of these genes on different organs/tissues revealed a specific expression pattern. Particularly, UdDIR7, 12 and 13 displayed a remarkable high expression in the top internode, fibre tissues of bottom internodes and roots, respectively. The relatively high expression of UdPLR1 and UdPLR2 in the young internodes, core tissue of bottom internode and roots is consistent with the high accumulation of lariciresinol and secoisolariciresinol in these tissues. Lignan quantification showed a high abundance of pinoresinol in roots and pinoresinol diglucosides in young internodes and leaves. This study sheds light on lignan composition and biosynthesis in nettle, providing a good basis for further functional analysis of DIRs and PLRs and, ultimately, engineering lignan metabolism in planta and in cell cultures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuan Xu
- Environmental Research and Innovation (ERIN) Department, Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), L-4362 Esch/Alzette, Luxembourg; (X.X.); (C.G.); (J.R.); (J.-F.H.)
| | - Cédric Guignard
- Environmental Research and Innovation (ERIN) Department, Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), L-4362 Esch/Alzette, Luxembourg; (X.X.); (C.G.); (J.R.); (J.-F.H.)
| | - Jenny Renaut
- Environmental Research and Innovation (ERIN) Department, Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), L-4362 Esch/Alzette, Luxembourg; (X.X.); (C.G.); (J.R.); (J.-F.H.)
| | - Jean-Francois Hausman
- Environmental Research and Innovation (ERIN) Department, Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), L-4362 Esch/Alzette, Luxembourg; (X.X.); (C.G.); (J.R.); (J.-F.H.)
| | - Edoardo Gatti
- Institute of Bioeconomy (IBE), National Research Council, I-40129 Bologna, Italy; (E.G.); (S.P.)
| | - Stefano Predieri
- Institute of Bioeconomy (IBE), National Research Council, I-40129 Bologna, Italy; (E.G.); (S.P.)
| | - Gea Guerriero
- Environmental Research and Innovation (ERIN) Department, Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), L-4362 Esch/Alzette, Luxembourg; (X.X.); (C.G.); (J.R.); (J.-F.H.)
- Correspondence:
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193
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Maeda HA. Harnessing evolutionary diversification of primary metabolism for plant synthetic biology. J Biol Chem 2019; 294:16549-16566. [PMID: 31558606 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.rev119.006132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Plants produce numerous natural products that are essential to both plant and human physiology. Recent identification of genes and enzymes involved in their biosynthesis now provides exciting opportunities to reconstruct plant natural product pathways in heterologous systems through synthetic biology. The use of plant chassis, although still in infancy, can take advantage of plant cells' inherent capacity to synthesize and store various phytochemicals. Also, large-scale plant biomass production systems, driven by photosynthetic energy production and carbon fixation, could be harnessed for industrial-scale production of natural products. However, little is known about which plants could serve as ideal hosts and how to optimize plant primary metabolism to efficiently provide precursors for the synthesis of desirable downstream natural products or specialized (secondary) metabolites. Although primary metabolism is generally assumed to be conserved, unlike the highly-diversified specialized metabolism, primary metabolic pathways and enzymes can differ between microbes and plants and also among different plants, especially at the interface between primary and specialized metabolisms. This review highlights examples of the diversity in plant primary metabolism and discusses how we can utilize these variations in plant synthetic biology. I propose that understanding the evolutionary, biochemical, genetic, and molecular bases of primary metabolic diversity could provide rational strategies for identifying suitable plant hosts and for further optimizing primary metabolism for sizable production of natural and bio-based products in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroshi A Maeda
- Department of Botany, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706
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194
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Alfonzo E, Beeler AB. A sterically encumbered photoredox catalyst enables the unified synthesis of the classical lignan family of natural products. Chem Sci 2019; 10:7746-7754. [PMID: 31588322 PMCID: PMC6761868 DOI: 10.1039/c9sc02682g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2019] [Accepted: 06/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Herein, we detail a unified synthetic approach to the classical lignan family of natural products that hinges on divergence from a common intermediate that was strategically identified from nature's biosynthetic blueprints. Efforts toward accessing the common intermediate through a convergent and modular approach resulted in the discovery of a sterically encumbered photoredox catalyst that can selectively generate carbonyl ylides from electron-rich epoxides. These can undergo concerted [3 + 2] dipolar cycloadditions to afford tetrahydrofurans, which were advanced (2-4 steps) to at least one representative natural product or natural product scaffold within all six subtypes in classical lignans. The application of those synthetic blueprints to the synthesis of heterolignans bearing unnatural functionality was demonstrated, which establishes the potential of this strategy to accelerate structure-activity-relationship studies of these natural product frameworks and their rich biological activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edwin Alfonzo
- Department of Chemistry , Boston University , Boston , Massachusetts 02215 , USA .
| | - Aaron B Beeler
- Department of Chemistry , Boston University , Boston , Massachusetts 02215 , USA .
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195
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Marshall-Colón A, Kliebenstein DJ. Plant Networks as Traits and Hypotheses: Moving Beyond Description. TRENDS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2019; 24:840-852. [PMID: 31300195 DOI: 10.1016/j.tplants.2019.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2019] [Revised: 05/31/2019] [Accepted: 06/04/2019] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Biology relies on the central thesis that the genes in an organism encode molecular mechanisms that combine with stimuli and raw materials from the environment to create a final phenotypic expression representative of the genomic programming. While conceptually simple, the genotype-to-phenotype linkage in a eukaryotic organism relies on the interactions of thousands of genes and an environment with a potentially unknowable level of complexity. Modern biology has moved to the use of networks in systems biology to try to simplify this complexity to decode how an organism's genome works. Previously, biological networks were basic ways to organize, simplify, and analyze data. However, recent advances are allowing networks to move beyond description and become phenotypes or hypotheses in their own right. This review discusses these efforts, like mapping responses across biological scales, including relationships among cellular entities, and the direct use of networks as traits or hypotheses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy Marshall-Colón
- Department of Plant Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Daniel J Kliebenstein
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA; DynaMo Center of Excellence, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, DK-1871 Frederiksberg C, Denmark.
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196
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Hagel JM, Facchini PJ. Expanding the roles for 2-oxoglutarate-dependent oxygenases in plant metabolism. Nat Prod Rep 2019; 35:721-734. [PMID: 29488530 DOI: 10.1039/c7np00060j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Covering: up to 2018 2-Oxoglutarate-dependent oxygenases (2ODOs) comprise a large enzyme superfamily in plant genomes, second in size only to the cytochromes P450 monooxygenase (CYP) superfamily. 2ODOs participate in both primary and specialized plant pathways, and their occurrence across all life kingdoms points to an ancient origin. Phylogenetic evidence supports substantial expansion and diversification of 2ODOs following the split from the common ancestor of land plants. More conserved roles for these enzymes include oxidation within hormone metabolism, such as the recently described capacity of Dioxygenase for Auxin Oxidation (DAO) for governing auxin homeostasis. Conserved structural features among 2ODOs has provided a basis for continued investigation into their mechanisms, and recent structural work is expected to illuminate intriguing reactions such as that of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid oxidase (ACCO). Phylogenetic radiation among this superfamily combined with neo- and subfunctionalization has enabled recruitment to highly specialized pathways, including those yielding medicines, flavours, dyes, poisons, and compounds important for plant-environment interactions. Catalytic versatility of 2ODOs in plants and across broader taxa continues to inspire biochemists tasked with the discovery of new enzymes. This highlight article summarizes recent reports up to 2018 of 2ODOs within plant metabolism. Furthermore, the respective contributions of 2ODOs and other oxidases to natural product biosynthesis are discussed as a framework for continued discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- J M Hagel
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive N.W., Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada.
| | - P J Facchini
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive N.W., Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada.
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197
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Pluskal T, Torrens-Spence MP, Fallon TR, De Abreu A, Shi CH, Weng JK. The biosynthetic origin of psychoactive kavalactones in kava. NATURE PLANTS 2019; 5:867-878. [PMID: 31332312 DOI: 10.1038/s41477-019-0474-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2018] [Accepted: 06/13/2019] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Kava (Piper methysticum) is an ethnomedicinal shrub native to the Polynesian islands with well-established anxiolytic and analgesic properties. Its main psychoactive principles, kavalactones, form a unique class of polyketides that interact with the human central nervous system through mechanisms distinct from those of conventional psychiatric drugs. However, an unknown biosynthetic machinery and difficulty in chemical synthesis hinder the therapeutic use of kavalactones. In addition, kava also produces flavokavains, which are chalconoids with anticancer properties structurally related to kavalactones. Here, we report de novo elucidation of the key enzymes of the kavalactone and flavokavain biosynthetic network. We present the structural basis for the evolutionary development of a pair of paralogous styrylpyrone synthases that establish the kavalactone scaffold and the catalytic mechanism of a regio- and stereo-specific kavalactone reductase that produces a subset of chiral kavalactones. We further demonstrate the feasibility of engineering styrylpyrone production in heterologous hosts, thus opening a way to develop kavalactone-based non-addictive psychiatric therapeutics through synthetic biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomáš Pluskal
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | - Timothy R Fallon
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Andrea De Abreu
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Cindy H Shi
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Jing-Ke Weng
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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198
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Repeated evolution of cytochrome P450-mediated spiroketal steroid biosynthesis in plants. Nat Commun 2019; 10:3206. [PMID: 31324795 PMCID: PMC6642093 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-11286-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2019] [Accepted: 07/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Diosgenin is a spiroketal steroidal natural product extracted from plants and used as the single most important precursor for the world steroid hormone industry. The sporadic occurrences of diosgenin in distantly related plants imply possible independent biosynthetic origins. The characteristic 5,6-spiroketal moiety in diosgenin is reminiscent of the spiroketal moiety present in anthelmintic avermectins isolated from actinomycete bacteria. How plants gained the ability to biosynthesize spiroketal natural products is unknown. Here, we report the diosgenin-biosynthetic pathways in himalayan paris (Paris polyphylla), a monocot medicinal plant with hemostatic and antibacterial properties, and fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum), an eudicot culinary herb plant commonly used as a galactagogue. Both plants have independently recruited pairs of cytochromes P450 that catalyze oxidative 5,6-spiroketalization of cholesterol to produce diosgenin, with evolutionary progenitors traced to conserved phytohormone metabolism. This study paves the way for engineering the production of diosgenin and derived analogs in heterologous hosts.
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199
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Li J, Zhang X, Renata H. Asymmetric Chemoenzymatic Synthesis of (-)-Podophyllotoxin and Related Aryltetralin Lignans. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2019; 58:11657-11660. [PMID: 31241812 DOI: 10.1002/anie.201904102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
(-)-Podophyllotoxin is one of the most potent microtubule depolymerizing agents and has served as an important lead compound in antineoplastic drug discovery. Reported here is a short chemoenzymatic total synthesis of (-)-podophyllotoxin and related aryltetralin lignans. Vital to this approach is the use of an enzymatic oxidative C-C coupling reaction to construct the tetracyclic core of the natural product in a diastereoselective fashion. This strategy allows gram-scale access to (-)-deoxypodophyllotoxin and is readily adaptable to the preparation of related aryltetralin lignans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Li
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter, FL, 33458, USA
| | - Xiao Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter, FL, 33458, USA
| | - Hans Renata
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter, FL, 33458, USA
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200
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Li J, Zhang X, Renata H. Asymmetric Chemoenzymatic Synthesis of (−)‐Podophyllotoxin and Related Aryltetralin Lignans. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201904102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jian Li
- Department of Chemistry The Scripps Research Institute 130 Scripps Way Jupiter FL 33458 USA
| | - Xiao Zhang
- Department of Chemistry The Scripps Research Institute 130 Scripps Way Jupiter FL 33458 USA
| | - Hans Renata
- Department of Chemistry The Scripps Research Institute 130 Scripps Way Jupiter FL 33458 USA
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