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Chen X, Hudson GA, Mineo C, Amer B, Baidoo EEK, Crowe SA, Liu Y, Keasling JD, Scheller HV. Deciphering triterpenoid saponin biosynthesis by leveraging transcriptome response to methyl jasmonate elicitation in Saponaria vaccaria. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7101. [PMID: 37925486 PMCID: PMC10625584 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42877-0] [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: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Methyl jasmonate (MeJA) is a known elicitor of plant specialized metabolism, including triterpenoid saponins. Saponaria vaccaria is an annual herb used in traditional Chinese medicine, containing large quantities of oleanane-type triterpenoid saponins with anticancer properties and structural similarities to the vaccine adjuvant QS-21. Leveraging the MeJA-elicited saponin biosynthesis, we identify multiple enzymes catalyzing the oxidation and glycosylation of triterpenoids in S. vaccaria. This exploration is aided by Pacbio full-length transcriptome sequencing and gene expression analysis. A cellulose synthase-like enzyme can not only glucuronidate triterpenoid aglycones but also alter the product profile of a cytochrome P450 monooxygenase via preference for the aldehyde intermediate. Furthermore, the discovery of a UDP-glucose 4,6-dehydratase and a UDP-4-keto-6-deoxy-glucose reductase reveals the biosynthetic pathway for the rare nucleotide sugar UDP-D-fucose, a likely sugar donor for fucosylation of plant natural products. Our work enables the production and optimization of high-value saponins in microorganisms and plants through synthetic biology approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyue Chen
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, 5885 Hollis Street, Emeryville, CA, 94608, USA
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Graham A Hudson
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, 5885 Hollis Street, Emeryville, CA, 94608, USA
- California Institute of Quantitative Biosciences (QB3), University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Charlotte Mineo
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, 5885 Hollis Street, Emeryville, CA, 94608, USA
| | - Bashar Amer
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, 5885 Hollis Street, Emeryville, CA, 94608, USA
- Biological Systems and Engineering Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Edward E K Baidoo
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, 5885 Hollis Street, Emeryville, CA, 94608, USA
- Biological Systems and Engineering Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Samantha A Crowe
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, 5885 Hollis Street, Emeryville, CA, 94608, USA
- California Institute of Quantitative Biosciences (QB3), University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Yuzhong Liu
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, 5885 Hollis Street, Emeryville, CA, 94608, USA
- California Institute of Quantitative Biosciences (QB3), University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Jay D Keasling
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, 5885 Hollis Street, Emeryville, CA, 94608, USA
- California Institute of Quantitative Biosciences (QB3), University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Biological Systems and Engineering Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
- Center for Synthetic Biochemistry, Shenzhen Institutes for Advanced Technologies, Shenzhen, China
| | - Henrik V Scheller
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA.
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, 5885 Hollis Street, Emeryville, CA, 94608, USA.
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA.
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Chen M, Balhara V, Jaimes Castillo AM, Balsevich J, Johnston LJ. Interaction of saponin 1688 with phase separated lipid bilayers. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2017; 1859:1263-1272. [PMID: 28389202 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2017.03.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2016] [Revised: 03/14/2017] [Accepted: 03/31/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Saponins are a diverse family of naturally occurring plant triterpene or steroid glycosides that have a wide range of biological activities. They have been shown to permeabilize membranes and in some cases membrane disruption has been hypothesized to involve saponin/cholesterol complexes. We have examined the interaction of steroidal saponin 1688-1 with lipid membranes that contain cholesterol and have a mixture of liquid-ordered (Lo) and liquid-disordered (Ld) phases as a model for lipid rafts in cellular membranes. A combination of atomic force microscopy (AFM) and fluorescence was used to probe the effect of saponin on the bilayer. The results demonstrate that saponin forms defects in the membrane and also leads to formation of small aggregates on the membrane surface. Although most of the membrane damage occurs in the liquid-disordered phase, fluorescence results demonstrate that saponin localizes in both ordered and disordered membrane phases, with a modest preference for the disordered regions. Similar effects are observed for both direct incorporation of saponin in the lipid mixture used to make vesicles/bilayers and for incubation of saponin with preformed bilayers. The results suggest that the initial sites of interaction are at the interface between the domains and surrounding disordered phase. The preference for saponin localization in the disordered phase may reflect the ease of penetration of saponin into a less ordered membrane, rather than the actual cholesterol concentration in the membrane. Dye leakage assays indicate that a high concentration of saponin is required for membrane permeabilization consistent with the supported lipid bilayer experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maohui Chen
- Measurement Science and Standards, National Research Council Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0R6, Canada
| | - Vinod Balhara
- Measurement Science and Standards, National Research Council Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0R6, Canada
| | | | - John Balsevich
- Aquatic and Crop Resource Development, National Research Council Canada, Saskatoon, SK S7N 0W9, Canada
| | - Linda J Johnston
- Measurement Science and Standards, National Research Council Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0R6, Canada.
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Lu Y, Van D, Deibert L, Bishop G, Balsevich J. Antiproliferative quillaic acid and gypsogenin saponins from Saponaria officinalis L. roots. PHYTOCHEMISTRY 2015; 113:108-120. [PMID: 25534953 DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2014.11.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2014] [Revised: 11/13/2014] [Accepted: 11/14/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Nine quillaic acid and five gypsogenin bisdesmosides were isolated from roots of Saponaria officinalis L. (Caryophyllaceae). Seven of the quillaic acid saponins possessed a 3-O-β-D-galactopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-[β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 3)]-β-D-glucuronopyranosyl unit, but differed from each other in oligosaccharide units linked to the C-28 ester. The five gypsogenin saponins isolated from the roots all possessed the 3-O-β-D-galactopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-[β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 3)]-β-D-glucuronopyranosyl unit, with their oligosaccharide units linked to the C-28 ester differing. Structures were elucidated by extensive 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. The saponins were evaluated for growth inhibitory activity in two human cancer cell lines and hemolytic activity in sheep red blood cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuping Lu
- National Research Council of Canada, 110 Gymnasium Place, Saskatoon, SK S7N0W9, Canada.
| | - Dang Van
- National Research Council of Canada, 110 Gymnasium Place, Saskatoon, SK S7N0W9, Canada
| | - Leah Deibert
- National Research Council of Canada, 110 Gymnasium Place, Saskatoon, SK S7N0W9, Canada
| | - Greg Bishop
- National Research Council of Canada, 110 Gymnasium Place, Saskatoon, SK S7N0W9, Canada
| | - John Balsevich
- National Research Council of Canada, 110 Gymnasium Place, Saskatoon, SK S7N0W9, Canada
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Qi P, Zhang F, Xue R, Li Z, Chen M, Sun Z, Zhu K, Huang C. Identification of multiple constituents from seed of Vaccaria segetalis with an adsorbent-separation strategy based on liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. RAPID COMMUNICATIONS IN MASS SPECTROMETRY : RCM 2014; 28:1243-1257. [PMID: 24760565 DOI: 10.1002/rcm.6893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2013] [Revised: 03/03/2014] [Accepted: 03/06/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE Seeds of Vaccaria segetalis (Wang-Bu-Liu-Xing in Chinese) are mainly used in traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of amenorrhea, breast infections, and edema. The study was designed to identify the components and metabolites of Wang-Bu-Liu-Xing. METHODS A novel methodology combining an adsorbent-separation strategy with analysis by liquid chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (LC/QTOF-MS/MS) was established to identify the components of Wang-Bu-Liu-Xing. The adsorbent-separation technique was applied on macroporous resin (adsorbents). Different concentrations of ethanol (30%, 60%, and 95%), which covered high-to-low polarity ranges, were chosen as the elution solvent, respectively. The QTOF mass spectrometer was operated in negative ion mode with an electrospray ionization source. RESULTS A total of 52 components were successfully identified in the Wang-Bu-Liu-Xing decoction based on the fragmentation pathways and QTOF high-accuracy mass spectral analysis. To the best of our knowledge, several new saponins were reported for the first time. A total of 20 compounds, which included 10 prototypes and 10 metabolites, were also identified in rat plasma and urine after oral administration of Wang-Bu-Liu-Xing decoction. CONCLUSIONS An integrated adsorbent-separation strategy is powerful and reliable for global detection and identification of complex components in herbal prescriptions. The components identified in rat biofluids may also provide helpful chemical information for further pharmacology and active mechanism study on this herb.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Qi
- Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 501 HaiKe Rd, Pudong, 201203, Shanghai, China
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Balsevich JJ, Bishop GG, Deibert LK. Use of digitoxin and digoxin as internal standards in HPLC analysis of triterpene saponin-containing extracts. PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS : PCA 2009; 20:38-49. [PMID: 18819105 DOI: 10.1002/pca.1095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Saponins are widely distributed complex plant glycosides possessing a variety of structure-dependent bioactivities. Quantitation of individual saponins is difficult due to lack of available standards, mainly as a consequence of purification difficulties. Determination of total saponin content can be problematic, often relying on non-specific methods based on butanol solubility, haemolytic activity or formation of coloured derivatives. OBJECTIVE To develop a general quantitative method based on the use of the readily available cardenolides, digitoxin (1) and digoxin (2), as internal standards in an HPLC-PAD-based analysis. METHODOLOGY The cardenolides were run at a variety of concentrations to establish linearity and reproducibility of detector response and then evaluated as internal standards for quantitation of triterpene saponins in several plant-derived extracts by HPLC-PAD. Mixtures of saponins, largely freed from other extractables, were obtained by fractionation of total extracts on solid phase extraction columns (SPE) employing a water-methanol gradient and used for construction of calibration curves. Saponin identification and structural information was obtained via a single quadrupole mass detector using electrospray ionisation in negative ion mode (ESI(-)). RESULTS Saponin contents in six samples from five species were determined and compared with literature results and a gravimetric method based on butanol-water partitioning. Results were generally consistent with literature reports and superior to gravimetric butanol-water partitioning. CONCLUSION Digitoxin and digoxin are useful as internal standards in HPLC estimation of saponin content. Saponins from different species having similar structures and molecular weights afford similar calibration curves.
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Affiliation(s)
- J John Balsevich
- Plant Biotechnology Institute, National Research Council of Canada, 110 Gymnasium Place, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
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Ichikawa M, Ohta S, Komoto N, Ushijima M, Kodera Y, Hayama M, Shirota O, Sekita S, Kuroyanagi M. Rapid identification of triterpenoid saponins in the roots of Codonopsis lanceolata by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. J Nat Med 2008; 62:423-9. [PMID: 18636312 DOI: 10.1007/s11418-008-0270-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2008] [Accepted: 05/22/2008] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Liquid chromatography coupled with sequential mass spectrometry (LC-MS(n)) has been used to identify 3,28-bidesmosidic triterpenoid saponins, lancemaside A (1), foetidissimoside A (2), aster saponin Hb (3), lancemaside E (4), lancemaside B (5), lancemaside F (6), lancemaside G (7), lancemaside C (8), and lancemaside D (9) in the roots of Codonopsis lanceolata. Structural information about both the aglycone and the sugar moiety at the C-3 position of saponins was obtained in the negative-ion mode. On the other hand, positive-ion spectra mainly provide structural information about the sugar chains of saponins, especially the oligosaccharide moiety at the C-28 position. During subsequent fragmentation of the product ions derived from the oligosaccharide moiety at the C-28 position, fragments produced by sequential loss of a monosaccharide unit were observed. Furthermore, the structural features of two unknown saponins in the roots of C. lanceolata were assigned on the basis of the fragmentation patterns of the known saponins. These studies demonstrate that LC-MS(n) analysis has great potential for the identification and characterization of triterpenoid saponins in plant extracts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Makoto Ichikawa
- Healthcare Research Institute, Wakunaga Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, 1624 Shimokotachi, Kodacho, Akitakata, Hiroshima, 739-1195, Japan.
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Kuljanabhagavad T, Thongphasuk P, Chamulitrat W, Wink M. Triterpene saponins from Chenopodium quinoa Willd. PHYTOCHEMISTRY 2008; 69:1919-26. [PMID: 18452959 DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2008.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2007] [Revised: 02/26/2008] [Accepted: 03/04/2008] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Twenty triterpene saponins (1-20) have been isolated from different parts of Chenopodium quinoa (flowers, fruits, seed coats, and seeds) and their structures have been elucidated by analysis of chemical and spectroscopic data including 1D- and 2D-NMR. Four compounds (1-4) were identified: 3beta-[(O-beta-d-glucopyranosyl-(1-->3)-alpha-l-arabinopyranosyl)oxy]-23-oxo-olean-12-en-28-oic acid beta-d-glucopyranoside (1), 3beta-[(O-beta-d-glucopyranosyl-(1-->3)-alpha-l-arabinopyranosyl)oxy]-27-oxo-olean-12-en-28-oic acid beta-d-glucopyranoside (2), 3-O-alpha-l-arabinopyranosyl serjanic acid 28-O-beta-d-glucopyranosyl ester (3), and 3-O-beta-d-glucuronopyranosyl serjanic acid 28-O-beta-d-glucopyranosyl ester (4). The following known compounds have not previously been reported as saponin constituents from the flowers and the fruits of this plant: two bidesmosides of serjanic acid (5,6), four bidesmosides of oleanolic acid (7-10), five bidesmosides of phytolaccagenic acid (11-15), four bidesmosides of hederagenin (16-19), and one bidesmoside of 3beta,23,30-trihydroxy olean-12-en-28-oic acid (20). The cytotoxicity of these saponins and their aglycones was tested in HeLa cells. Induction of apoptosis in Caco-2 cells by bidesmosidic saponins 1-4 and their aglycones I-III was determined by flow cytometric DNA analysis. The saponins with an aldehyde group were most active. The relationships between structure and cytotoxic activity of saponins and their aglycones are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiwatt Kuljanabhagavad
- Chemistry Program, Faculty of Science and Technology, Suan Dusit Rajabhat University, Bangkok 10300, Thailand
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Meesapyodsuk D, Balsevich J, Reed DW, Covello PS. Saponin biosynthesis in Saponaria vaccaria. cDNAs encoding beta-amyrin synthase and a triterpene carboxylic acid glucosyltransferase. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2007; 143:959-69. [PMID: 17172290 PMCID: PMC1803722 DOI: 10.1104/pp.106.088484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Saponaria vaccaria (Caryophyllaceae), a soapwort, known in western Canada as cowcockle, contains bioactive oleanane-type saponins similar to those found in soapbark tree (Quillaja saponaria; Rosaceae). To improve our understanding of the biosynthesis of these saponins, a combined polymerase chain reaction and expressed sequence tag approach was taken to identify the genes involved. A cDNA encoding a beta-amyrin synthase (SvBS) was isolated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and characterized by expression in yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae). The SvBS gene is predominantly expressed in leaves. A S. vaccaria developing seed expressed sequence tag collection was developed and used for the isolation of a full-length cDNA bearing sequence similarity to ester-forming glycosyltransferases. The gene product of the cDNA, classified as UGT74M1, was expressed in Escherichia coli, purified, and identified as a triterpene carboxylic acid glucosyltransferase. UGT74M1 is expressed in roots and leaves and appears to be involved in monodesmoside biosynthesis in S. vaccaria.
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