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Bradley SA, Hansson FG, Lehka BJ, Rago D, Pinho P, Peng H, Adhikari KB, Haidar AK, Hansen LG, Volkova D, Holtz M, Muyo Abad S, Ma X, Koudounas K, Besseau S, Gautron N, Mélin C, Marc J, Birer Williams C, Courdavault V, Jensen ED, Keasling JD, Zhang J, Jensen MK. Yeast Platforms for Production and Screening of Bioactive Derivatives of Rauwolscine. ACS Synth Biol 2024; 13:1498-1512. [PMID: 38635307 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.4c00039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
Monoterpene indole alkaloids (MIAs) make up a highly bioactive class of metabolites produced by a range of tropical and subtropical plants. The corynanthe-type MIAs are a stereochemically complex subclass with therapeutic potential against a large number of indications including cancer, psychotic disorders, and erectile dysfunction. Here, we report yeast-based cell factories capable of de novo production of corynanthe-type MIAs rauwolscine, yohimbine, tetrahydroalstonine, and corynanthine. From this, we demonstrate regioselective biosynthesis of 4 fluorinated derivatives of these compounds and de novo biosynthesis of 7-chlororauwolscine by coexpression of a halogenase with the biosynthetic pathway. Finally, we capitalize on the ability of these cell factories to produce derivatives of these bioactive scaffolds to establish a proof-of-principle drug discovery pipeline in which the corynanthe-type MIAs are screened for bioactivity on human drug targets, expressed in yeast. In doing so, we identify antagonistic and agonistic behavior against the human adrenergic G protein-coupled receptors ADRA2A and ADRA2B, and the serotonergic receptor 5HT4b, respectively. This study thus demonstrates a proto-drug discovery pipeline for bioactive plant-inspired small molecules based on one-pot biocatalysis of natural and new-to-nature corynanthe-type MIAs in yeast.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel A Bradley
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Frederik G Hansson
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Beata J Lehka
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Daniela Rago
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Pedro Pinho
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Huadong Peng
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Khem B Adhikari
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Ahmad K Haidar
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Lea G Hansen
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Lyngby, Denmark
- Biomia ApS, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Daria Volkova
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Maxence Holtz
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Sergi Muyo Abad
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Xin Ma
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Konstantinos Koudounas
- EA2106 Biomolécules et Biotechnologies Végétales, Université de Tours, F-37200 Tours, France
| | - Sébastien Besseau
- EA2106 Biomolécules et Biotechnologies Végétales, Université de Tours, F-37200 Tours, France
| | - Nicolas Gautron
- EA2106 Biomolécules et Biotechnologies Végétales, Université de Tours, F-37200 Tours, France
| | - Céline Mélin
- EA2106 Biomolécules et Biotechnologies Végétales, Université de Tours, F-37200 Tours, France
| | - Jillian Marc
- EA2106 Biomolécules et Biotechnologies Végétales, Université de Tours, F-37200 Tours, France
| | - Caroline Birer Williams
- EA2106 Biomolécules et Biotechnologies Végétales, Université de Tours, F-37200 Tours, France
| | - Vincent Courdavault
- EA2106 Biomolécules et Biotechnologies Végétales, Université de Tours, F-37200 Tours, France
| | - Emil D Jensen
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Jay D Keasling
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Lyngby, Denmark
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, California 94608,United States
- Biological Systems and Engineering Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720,United States
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Center for Synthetic Biochemistry, Institute for Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technologies, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Jie Zhang
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Lyngby, Denmark
- Biomia ApS, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Michael K Jensen
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Lyngby, Denmark
- Biomia ApS, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
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Liu HY, Qian F, Zhang HM, Gui Q, Wang YW, Wang P. Tri-enzyme fusion of tryptophan halogenase achieves a concise strategy for coenzyme self-sufficiency and the continuous halogenation of L-tryptophan. Biotechnol J 2024; 19:e2300557. [PMID: 38581092 DOI: 10.1002/biot.202300557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2023] [Revised: 01/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024]
Abstract
The halogenase-based catalysis is one of the most environmentally friendly methods for the synthesis of halogenated products, among which flavin-dependent halogenases (FDHs) have attracted great interest as one of the most promising biocatalysts due to the remarkable site-selectivity and wide substrate range. However, the complexity of constructing the NAD+-NADH-FAD-FADH2 bicoenzyme cycle system has affected the engineering applications of FDHs. In this work, a coenzyme self-sufficient tri-enzyme fusion was constructed and successfully applied to the continuous halogenation of L-tryptophan. SpFDH was firstly identified derived from Streptomyces pratensis, a highly selective halogenase capable of generating 6-chloro-tryptophan from tryptophan. Then, using gene fusion technology, SpFDH was fused with glucose dehydrogenase (GDH) and flavin reductase (FR) to form a tri-enzyme fusion, which increased the yield by 1.46-fold and making the coenzymes self-sufficient. For more efficient halogenation of L-tryptophan, a continuous halogenation bioprocess of L-tryptophan was developed by immobilizing the tri-enzyme fusion and attaching it to a continuous catalytic device, which resulted in a reaction yield of 97.6% after 12 h reaction. An FDH from S. pratensis was successfully applied in the halogenation and our study provides a concise strategy for the preparation of halogenated tryptophan mediated by multienzyme cascade catalysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han-Yu Liu
- Key Laboratory for Green Pharmaceutical Technologies and Related Equipment of Ministry of Education, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, P.R. China
- Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Engineering of Zhejiang Province, College of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Feng Qian
- Key Laboratory for Green Pharmaceutical Technologies and Related Equipment of Ministry of Education, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, P.R. China
- Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Engineering of Zhejiang Province, College of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Hai-Min Zhang
- Key Laboratory for Green Pharmaceutical Technologies and Related Equipment of Ministry of Education, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, P.R. China
- Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Engineering of Zhejiang Province, College of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Qian Gui
- Key Laboratory for Green Pharmaceutical Technologies and Related Equipment of Ministry of Education, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, P.R. China
- Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Engineering of Zhejiang Province, College of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Yao-Wu Wang
- Key Laboratory for Green Pharmaceutical Technologies and Related Equipment of Ministry of Education, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, P.R. China
- Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Engineering of Zhejiang Province, College of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Pu Wang
- Key Laboratory for Green Pharmaceutical Technologies and Related Equipment of Ministry of Education, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, P.R. China
- Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Engineering of Zhejiang Province, College of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, P.R. China
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Milne N, Sáez-Sáez J, Nielsen AM, Dyekjaer JD, Rago D, Kristensen M, Wulff T, Borodina I. Engineering Saccharomyces cerevisiae for the de novo Production of Halogenated Tryptophan and Tryptamine Derivatives. ChemistryOpen 2023; 12:e202200266. [PMID: 36929157 PMCID: PMC10068768 DOI: 10.1002/open.202200266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The indole scaffold is a recurring structure in multiple bioactive heterocycles and natural products. Substituted indoles like the amino acid tryptophan serve as a precursor for a wide range of natural products with pharmaceutical or agrochemical applications. Inspired by the versatility of these compounds, medicinal chemists have for decades exploited indole as a core structure in the drug discovery process. With the aim of tuning the properties of lead drug candidates, regioselective halogenation of the indole scaffold is a common strategy. However, chemical halogenation is generally expensive, has a poor atom economy, lacks regioselectivity, and generates hazardous waste streams. As an alternative, in this work we engineer the industrial workhorse Saccharomyces cerevisiae for the de novo production of halogenated tryptophan and tryptamine derivatives. Functional expression of bacterial tryptophan halogenases together with a partner flavin reductase and a tryptophan decarboxylase resulted in the production of halogenated tryptophan and tryptamine with chlorine or bromine. Furthermore, by combining tryptophan halogenases, production of di-halogenated molecules was also achieved. Overall, this works paves the road for the production of new-to-nature halogenated natural products in yeast.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Milne
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, 2800, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark.,Octarine Bio ApS, Lersø Parkallé 42, 1. Sal, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Javier Sáez-Sáez
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, 2800, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Annette Munch Nielsen
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, 2800, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark.,Octarine Bio ApS, Lersø Parkallé 42, 1. Sal, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jane Dannow Dyekjaer
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, 2800, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Daniela Rago
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, 2800, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Mette Kristensen
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, 2800, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Tune Wulff
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, 2800, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Irina Borodina
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, 2800, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
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Davis K, Gkotsi DS, Smith DRM, Goss RJM, Caputi L, O’Connor SE. Nicotiana benthamiana as a Transient Expression Host to Produce Auxin Analogs. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2020; 11:581675. [PMID: 33329644 PMCID: PMC7714751 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.581675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Plant secondary metabolites have applications for the food, biofuel, and pharmaceutical industries. Recent advances in pathway elucidation and host expression systems now allow metabolic engineering of plant metabolic pathways to produce "new-to-nature" derivatives with novel biological activities, thereby amplifying the range of industrial uses for plant metabolites. Here we use a transient expression system in the model plant Nicotiana benthamiana to reconstitute the two-step plant-derived biosynthetic pathway for auxin (indole acetic acid) to achieve accumulation up to 500 ng/g fresh mass (FM). By expressing these plant-derived enzymes in combination with either bacterial halogenases and alternative substrates, we can produce both natural and new-to-nature halogenated auxin derivatives up to 990 ng/g FM. Proteins from the auxin synthesis pathway, tryptophan aminotransferases (TARs) and flavin-dependent monooxygenases (YUCs), could be transiently expressed in combination with four separate bacterial halogenases to generate halogenated auxin derivatives. Brominated auxin derivatives could also be observed after infiltration of the transfected N. benthamiana with potassium bromide and the halogenases. Finally, the production of additional auxin derivatives could also be achieved by co-infiltration of TAR and YUC genes with various tryptophan analogs. Given the emerging importance of transient expression in N. benthamiana for industrial scale protein and product expression, this work provides insight into the capacity of N. benthamiana to interface bacterial genes and synthetic substrates to produce novel halogenated metabolites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharine Davis
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Danai S. Gkotsi
- School of Chemistry, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, United Kingdom
| | - Duncan R. M. Smith
- School of Chemistry, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, United Kingdom
| | - Rebecca J. M. Goss
- School of Chemistry, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, United Kingdom
| | - Lorenzo Caputi
- Department of Natural Product Biosynthesis, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany
| | - Sarah E. O’Connor
- Department of Natural Product Biosynthesis, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany
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Bradley SA, Zhang J, Jensen MK. Deploying Microbial Synthesis for Halogenating and Diversifying Medicinal Alkaloid Scaffolds. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2020; 8:594126. [PMID: 33195162 PMCID: PMC7644825 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.594126] [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: 08/12/2020] [Accepted: 10/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Plants produce some of the most potent therapeutics and have been used for thousands of years to treat human diseases. Today, many medicinal natural products are still extracted from source plants at scale as their complexity precludes total synthesis from bulk chemicals. However, extraction from plants can be an unreliable and low-yielding source for human therapeutics, making the supply chain for some of these life-saving medicines expensive and unstable. There has therefore been significant interest in refactoring these plant pathways in genetically tractable microbes, which grow more reliably and where the plant pathways can be more easily engineered to improve the titer, rate and yield of medicinal natural products. In addition, refactoring plant biosynthetic pathways in microbes also offers the possibility to explore new-to-nature chemistry more systematically, and thereby help expand the chemical space that can be probed for drugs as well as enable the study of pharmacological properties of such new-to-nature chemistry. This perspective will review the recent progress toward heterologous production of plant medicinal alkaloids in microbial systems. In particular, we focus on the refactoring of halogenated alkaloids in yeast, which has created an unprecedented opportunity for biosynthesis of previously inaccessible new-to-nature variants of the natural alkaloid scaffolds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel A Bradley
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Jie Zhang
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Michael K Jensen
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
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Menon BRK, Richmond D, Menon N. Halogenases for biosynthetic pathway engineering: Toward new routes to naturals and non-naturals. CATALYSIS REVIEWS-SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 2020. [DOI: 10.1080/01614940.2020.1823788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Binuraj R. K. Menon
- Warwick Integrative Synthetic Biology Centre, School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - Daniel Richmond
- Warwick Integrative Synthetic Biology Centre, School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - Navya Menon
- Warwick Integrative Synthetic Biology Centre, School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
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Neumann M, Prahl S, Caputi L, Hill L, Kular B, Walter A, Patallo EP, Milbredt D, Aires A, Schöpe M, O'Connor S, van Pée KH, Ludwig-Müller J. Hairy root transformation of Brassica rapa with bacterial halogenase genes and regeneration to adult plants to modify production of indolic compounds. PHYTOCHEMISTRY 2020; 175:112371. [PMID: 32283438 DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2020.112371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2019] [Revised: 03/31/2020] [Accepted: 04/01/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
During the last years halogenated compounds have drawn a lot of attention. Metabolites with one or more halogen atoms are often more active than their non-halogenated derivatives like indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and 4-Cl-IAA. Within this work, bacterial flavin-dependent tryptophan halogenase genes were inserted into Brassica rapa ssp. pekinensis (Chinese cabbage) with the aim to produce novel halogenated indole compounds. It was investigated which tryptophan-derived indole metabolites, such as indole glucosinolates or potential degradation products can be synthesized by the transgenic root cultures. In vivo and in vitro activity of halogenases heterologously produced was shown and the production of chlorinated tryptophan in transgenic root lines was confirmed. Furthermore, chlorinated indole-3-acetonitrile (Cl-IAN) was detected. Other tryptophan-derived indole metabolites, such as IAA or indole glucosinolates were not found in the transgenic roots in a chlorinated form. The influence of altered growth conditions on the amount of produced chlorinated compounds was evaluated. We found an increase in Cl-IAN production at low temperatures (8 °C), but otherwise no significant changes were observed. Furthermore, we were able to regenerate the wild type and transgenic root cultures to adult plants, of which the latter still produced chlorinated metabolites. Therefore, we conclude that the genetic information had been stably integrated. The transgenic plants showed a slightly altered phenotype compared to plants grown from seeds since they also still expressed the rol genes. By this approach we were able to generate various stably transformed plant materials from which it was possible to isolate chlorinated tryptophan and Cl-IAN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madeleine Neumann
- Faculty of Biology, Institute of Botany, Technische Universität Dresden, 01062, Dresden, Germany
| | | | - Lorenzo Caputi
- Department of Natural Product Synthesis, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, 07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Lionel Hill
- John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UH, United Kingdom
| | - Baldeep Kular
- John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UH, United Kingdom
| | - Antje Walter
- Faculty of Biology, Institute of Botany, Technische Universität Dresden, 01062, Dresden, Germany
| | - Eugenio P Patallo
- Biochemistry, Technische Universität Dresden, 01062, Dresden, Germany
| | - Daniela Milbredt
- Biochemistry, Technische Universität Dresden, 01062, Dresden, Germany
| | - Alfredo Aires
- Centre for the Research and Technology for Agro-Environment and Biological Sciences, CITAB, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, 5001-801, Vila Real, Portugal
| | | | - Sarah O'Connor
- Department of Natural Product Synthesis, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, 07745, Jena, Germany
| | | | - Jutta Ludwig-Müller
- Faculty of Biology, Institute of Botany, Technische Universität Dresden, 01062, Dresden, Germany.
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Exploring the Biocatalytic Potential of Fe/α‐Ketoglutarate‐Dependent Halogenases. Chemistry 2020; 26:7336-7345. [DOI: 10.1002/chem.201905752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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9
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Recent Advances in Flavin-Dependent Halogenase Biocatalysis: Sourcing, Engineering, and Application. Catalysts 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/catal9121030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The introduction of a halogen atom into a small molecule can effectively modulate its properties, yielding bioactive substances of agrochemical and pharmaceutical interest. Consequently, the development of selective halogenation strategies is of high technological value. Besides chemical methodologies, enzymatic halogenations have received increased interest as they allow the selective installation of halogen atoms in molecular scaffolds of varying complexity under mild reaction conditions. Today, a comprehensive library of aromatic halogenases exists, and enzyme as well as reaction engineering approaches are being explored to broaden this enzyme family’s biocatalytic application range. In this review, we highlight recent developments in the sourcing, engineering, and application of flavin-dependent halogenases with a special focus on chemoenzymatic and coupled biosynthetic approaches.
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Gerasymenko I, Sheludko Y, Fräbel S, Staniek A, Warzecha H. Combinatorial biosynthesis of small molecules in plants: Engineering strategies and tools. Methods Enzymol 2019; 617:413-442. [PMID: 30784411 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2018.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Biosynthetic capacity of plants, rooted in a near inexhaustible supply of photosynthetic energy and founded upon an intricate matrix of metabolic networks, makes them versatile chemists producing myriad specialized compounds. Along with tremendous success in elucidation of several plant biosynthetic routes, their reestablishment in heterologous hosts has been a hallmark of recent bioengineering endeavors. However, current efforts in the field are, in the main, aimed at grafting the pathways to fermentable recipient organisms, like bacteria or yeast. Conversely, while harboring orthologous metabolic trails, select plant species now emerge as viable vehicles for mobilization and engineering of complex biosynthetic pathways. Their distinctive features, like intricate cell compartmentalization and formation of specialized production and storage structures on tissue and organ level, make plants an especially promising chassis for the manufacture of considerable amounts of high-value natural small molecules. Inspired by the fundamental tenets of synthetic biology, capitalizing on the versatility of the transient plant transformation system, and drawing on the unique compartmentation of plant cells, we explore combinatorial approaches affording production of natural and new-to-nature, bespoke chemicals of potential importance. Here, we focus on the transient engineering of P450 monooxygenases, alone or in concert with other orthogonal catalysts, like tryptophan halogenases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iryna Gerasymenko
- Plant Biotechnology and Metabolic Engineering, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Yuriy Sheludko
- Plant Biotechnology and Metabolic Engineering, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Sabine Fräbel
- Plant Biotechnology and Metabolic Engineering, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Agata Staniek
- Plant Biotechnology and Metabolic Engineering, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Heribert Warzecha
- Plant Biotechnology and Metabolic Engineering, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany.
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Geissler M, Volk J, Stehle F, Kayser O, Warzecha H. Subcellular localization defines modification and production of Δ 9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid synthase in transiently transformed Nicotiana benthamiana. Biotechnol Lett 2018; 40:981-987. [PMID: 29619743 DOI: 10.1007/s10529-018-2545-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2018] [Accepted: 03/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Through heterologous expression of the tetrahydrocannabinolic acid synthase (THCAS) coding sequence from Cannabis sativa L. in Nicotiana benthamiana, we evaluated a transient plant-based expression system for the production of enzymes involved in cannabinoid biosynthesis. RESULTS Thcas was modularized according to the GoldenBraid grammar and its expression tested upon alternative subcellular localization of the encoded catalyst with and without fusion to a fluorescent protein. THCAS was detected only when ER targeting was used; cytosolic and plastidal localization resulted in no detectable protein. Moreover, THCAS seems to be glycosylated in N. benthamiana, suggesting that this modification might have an influence on the stability of the protein. Activity assays with cannabigerolic acid as a substrate showed that the recombinant enzyme produced not only THCA (123 ± 12 fkat g FW-1 activity towards THCA production) but also cannabichromenic acid (CBCA; 31 ± 2.6 fkat g FW-1 activity towards CBCA production). CONCLUSION Nicotiana benthamiana is a suitable host for the generation of cannabinoid producing enzymes. To attain whole pathway integration, careful analysis of subcellular localization is necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcus Geissler
- Plant Biotechnology and Metabolic Engineering, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Schnittspahnstraße 4, 64287, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Jascha Volk
- Plant Biotechnology and Metabolic Engineering, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Schnittspahnstraße 4, 64287, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Felix Stehle
- Laboratory of Technical Biochemistry, Department of Biochemical and Chemical Engineering, TU Dortmund University, Emil-Figge-Str. 66, 44227, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Oliver Kayser
- Laboratory of Technical Biochemistry, Department of Biochemical and Chemical Engineering, TU Dortmund University, Emil-Figge-Str. 66, 44227, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Heribert Warzecha
- Plant Biotechnology and Metabolic Engineering, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Schnittspahnstraße 4, 64287, Darmstadt, Germany.
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12
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Fraley AE, Sherman DH. Halogenase engineering and its utility in medicinal chemistry. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2018; 28:1992-1999. [PMID: 29731363 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2018.04.066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2018] [Revised: 04/27/2018] [Accepted: 04/28/2018] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Halogenation is commonly used in medicinal chemistry to improve the potency of pharmaceutical leads. While synthetic methods for halogenation present selectivity and reactivity challenges, halogenases have evolved over time to perform selective reactions under benign conditions. The optimization of halogenation biocatalysts has utilized enzyme evolution and structure-based engineering alongside biotransformation in a variety of systems to generate stable site-selective variants. The recent improvements in halogenase-catalyzed reactions has demonstrated the utility of these biocatalysts for industrial purposes, and their ability to achieve a broad substrate scope implies a synthetic tractability with increasing relevance in medicinal chemistry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy E Fraley
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States; Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States
| | - David H Sherman
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States; Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States; Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States.
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Andorfer MC, Lewis JC. Understanding and Improving the Activity of Flavin-Dependent Halogenases via Random and Targeted Mutagenesis. Annu Rev Biochem 2018; 87:159-185. [PMID: 29589959 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-biochem-062917-012042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Flavin-dependent halogenases (FDHs) catalyze the halogenation of organic substrates by coordinating reactions of reduced flavin, molecular oxygen, and chloride. Targeted and random mutagenesis of these enzymes have been used to both understand and alter their reactivity. These studies have led to insights into residues essential for catalysis and FDH variants with improved stability, expanded substrate scope, and altered site selectivity. Mutations throughout FDH structures have contributed to all of these advances. More recent studies have sought to rationalize the impact of these mutations on FDH function and to identify new FDHs to deepen our understanding of this enzyme class and to expand their utility for biocatalytic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary C Andorfer
- Department of Biology and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA;
| | - Jared C Lewis
- Department of Chemistry, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA;
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14
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Fräbel S, Wagner B, Krischke M, Schmidts V, Thiele CM, Staniek A, Warzecha H. Engineering of new-to-nature halogenated indigo precursors in plants. Metab Eng 2018; 46:20-27. [PMID: 29466700 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymben.2018.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2017] [Revised: 12/14/2017] [Accepted: 02/13/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Plants are versatile chemists producing a tremendous variety of specialized compounds. Here, we describe the engineering of entirely novel metabolic pathways in planta enabling generation of halogenated indigo precursors as non-natural plant products. Indican (indolyl-β-D-glucopyranoside) is a secondary metabolite characteristic of a number of dyers plants. Its deglucosylation and subsequent oxidative dimerization leads to the blue dye, indigo. Halogenated indican derivatives are commonly used as detection reagents in histochemical and molecular biology applications; their production, however, relies largely on chemical synthesis. To attain the de novo biosynthesis in a plant-based system devoid of indican, we employed a sequence of enzymes from diverse sources, including three microbial tryptophan halogenases substituting the amino acid at either C5, C6, or C7 of the indole moiety. Subsequent processing of the halotryptophan by bacterial tryptophanase TnaA in concert with a mutant of the human cytochrome P450 monooxygenase 2A6 and glycosylation of the resulting indoxyl derivatives by an endogenous tobacco glucosyltransferase yielded corresponding haloindican variants in transiently transformed Nicotiana benthamiana plants. Accumulation levels were highest when the 5-halogenase PyrH was utilized, reaching 0.93 ± 0.089 mg/g dry weight of 5-chloroindican. The identity of the latter was unambiguously confirmed by NMR analysis. Moreover, our combinatorial approach, facilitated by the modular assembly capabilities of the GoldenBraid cloning system and inspired by the unique compartmentation of plant cells, afforded testing a number of alternative subcellular localizations for pathway design. In consequence, chloroplasts were validated as functional biosynthetic venues for haloindican, with the requisite reducing augmentation of the halogenases as well as the cytochrome P450 monooxygenase fulfilled by catalytic systems native to the organelle. Thus, our study puts forward a viable alternative production platform for halogenated fine chemicals, eschewing reliance on fossil fuel resources and toxic chemicals. We further contend that in planta generation of halogenated indigoid precursors previously unknown to nature offers an extended view on and, indeed, pushes forward the established frontiers of biosynthetic capacity of plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabine Fräbel
- Plant Biotechnology and Metabolic Engineering, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Schnittspahnstraße 4, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Bastian Wagner
- Plant Biotechnology and Metabolic Engineering, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Schnittspahnstraße 4, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Markus Krischke
- Lehrstuhl für Pharmazeutische Biologie, Julius-von-Sachs-Institut der Universität Würzburg, Julius-von-Sachs-Platz 2, 97082 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Volker Schmidts
- Clemens-Schöpf-Institut für Organische Chemie und Biochemie, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Alarich-Weiss-Str. 4, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Christina M Thiele
- Clemens-Schöpf-Institut für Organische Chemie und Biochemie, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Alarich-Weiss-Str. 4, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Agata Staniek
- Plant Biotechnology and Metabolic Engineering, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Schnittspahnstraße 4, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Heribert Warzecha
- Plant Biotechnology and Metabolic Engineering, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Schnittspahnstraße 4, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany.
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Patallo EP, Walter A, Milbredt D, Thomas M, Neumann M, Caputi L, O'Connor S, Ludwig-Müller J, van Pée KH. Strategies to Produce Chlorinated Indole-3-Acetic Acid and Indole-3-Acetic Acid Intermediates. ChemistrySelect 2017. [DOI: 10.1002/slct.201701933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Eugenio P. Patallo
- Fachrichtung Chemie und Lebensmittelchemie; Allgemeine Biochemie, TU Dresden; 01062 Dresden Germany
| | - Antje Walter
- Fachrichtung Biologie; Institut für Botanik, TU Dresden; 01062 Dresden Germany
| | - Daniela Milbredt
- Fachrichtung Chemie und Lebensmittelchemie; Allgemeine Biochemie, TU Dresden; 01062 Dresden Germany
| | - Marion Thomas
- Fachrichtung Chemie und Lebensmittelchemie; Allgemeine Biochemie, TU Dresden; 01062 Dresden Germany
| | - Madeleine Neumann
- Fachrichtung Biologie; Institut für Botanik, TU Dresden; 01062 Dresden Germany
| | - Lorenzo Caputi
- Biological Chemistry; John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich; NR4 7UH United Kingdom
| | - Sarah O'Connor
- Biological Chemistry; John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich; NR4 7UH United Kingdom
| | - Jutta Ludwig-Müller
- Fachrichtung Biologie; Institut für Botanik, TU Dresden; 01062 Dresden Germany
| | - Karl-Heinz van Pée
- Fachrichtung Chemie und Lebensmittelchemie; Allgemeine Biochemie, TU Dresden; 01062 Dresden Germany
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16
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Andorfer MC, Belsare KD, Girlich AM, Lewis JC. Aromatic Halogenation by Using Bifunctional Flavin Reductase-Halogenase Fusion Enzymes. Chembiochem 2017; 18:2099-2103. [PMID: 28879681 PMCID: PMC5898195 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.201700391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2017] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
The remarkable site selectivity and broad substrate scope of flavin-dependent halogenases (FDHs) has led to much interest in their potential as biocatalysts. Multiple engineering efforts have demonstrated that FDHs can be tuned for non-native substrate scope and site selectivity. FDHs have also proven useful as in vivo biocatalysts and have been successfully incorporated into biosynthetic pathways to build new chlorinated aromatic compounds in several heterologous organisms. In both cases, reduced flavin cofactor, usually supplied by a separate flavin reductase (FR), is required. Herein, we report functional synthetic, fused FDH-FR proteins containing various FDHs and FRs joined by different linkers. We show that FDH-FR fusion proteins can increase product titers compared to the individual components for in vivo biocatalysis in Escherichia coli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary C Andorfer
- Department of Chemistry, University of Chicago, 5735 South Ellis Avenue, SCL 302, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
| | - Ketaki D Belsare
- Department of Chemistry, University of Chicago, 5735 South Ellis Avenue, SCL 302, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
| | - Anna M Girlich
- Department of Chemistry, University of Chicago, 5735 South Ellis Avenue, SCL 302, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
| | - Jared C Lewis
- Department of Chemistry, University of Chicago, 5735 South Ellis Avenue, SCL 302, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
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Latham J, Brandenburger E, Shepherd SA, Menon BRK, Micklefield J. Development of Halogenase Enzymes for Use in Synthesis. Chem Rev 2017; 118:232-269. [PMID: 28466644 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.7b00032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 199] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Nature has evolved halogenase enzymes to regioselectively halogenate a diverse range of biosynthetic precursors, with the halogens introduced often having a profound effect on the biological activity of the resulting natural products. Synthetic endeavors to create non-natural bioactive small molecules for pharmaceutical and agrochemical applications have also arrived at a similar conclusion: halogens can dramatically improve the properties of organic molecules for selective modulation of biological targets in vivo. Consequently, a high proportion of pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals on the market today possess halogens. Halogenated organic compounds are also common intermediates in synthesis and are particularly valuable in metal-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions. Despite the potential utility of organohalogens, traditional nonenzymatic halogenation chemistry utilizes deleterious reagents and often lacks regiocontrol. Reliable, facile, and cleaner methods for the regioselective halogenation of organic compounds are therefore essential in the development of economical and environmentally friendly industrial processes. A potential avenue toward such methods is the use of halogenase enzymes, responsible for the biosynthesis of halogenated natural products, as biocatalysts. This Review will discuss advances in developing halogenases for biocatalysis, potential untapped sources of such biocatalysts and how further optimization of these enzymes is required to achieve the goal of industrial scale biohalogenation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Latham
- School of Chemistry and Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, The University of Manchester , 131 Princess Street, Manchester M1 7DN, United Kingdom
| | - Eileen Brandenburger
- School of Chemistry and Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, The University of Manchester , 131 Princess Street, Manchester M1 7DN, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah A Shepherd
- School of Chemistry and Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, The University of Manchester , 131 Princess Street, Manchester M1 7DN, United Kingdom
| | - Binuraj R K Menon
- School of Chemistry and Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, The University of Manchester , 131 Princess Street, Manchester M1 7DN, United Kingdom
| | - Jason Micklefield
- School of Chemistry and Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, The University of Manchester , 131 Princess Street, Manchester M1 7DN, United Kingdom
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