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Shalu S, Karthikanath PKR, Vaidyanathan VK, Blank LM, Germer A, Balakumaran PA. Microbial Squalene: A Sustainable Alternative for the Cosmetics and Pharmaceutical Industry - A Review. Eng Life Sci 2024; 24:e202400003. [PMID: 39391272 PMCID: PMC11464149 DOI: 10.1002/elsc.202400003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2024] [Indexed: 10/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Squalene is a natural triterpenoid and a biosynthetic precursor of steroids and hopanoids in microorganisms, plants, humans, and other animals. Squalene has exceptional properties, such as its antioxidant activity, a high penetrability of the skin, and the ability to trigger the immune system, promoting its application in the cosmetic, sustenance, and pharmaceutical industries. Because sharks are the primary source of squalene, there is a need to identify low-cost, environment friendly, and sustainable alternatives for producing squalene commercially. This shift has prompted scientists to apply biotechnological advances to research microorganisms for synthesizing squalene. This review summarizes recent metabolic and bioprocess engineering strategies in various microorganisms for the biotechnological production of this valuable molecule.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saseendran Shalu
- Department of Molecular Biology and BiotechnologyCollege of AgricultureKerala Agricultural UniversityVellayaniKeralaIndia
| | - Panam Kunnel Raveendranathan Karthikanath
- Chemical Sciences and Technology DivisionCSIR ‐ National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (CSIR‐NIIST)ThiruvananthapuramKeralaIndia
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR)GhaziabadIndia
| | - Vinoth Kumar Vaidyanathan
- Integrated Bioprocessing LaboratoryDepartment of BiotechnologySchool of BioengineeringSRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRMIST)KattankulathurIndia
| | - Lars M. Blank
- iAMB ‐ Institute of Applied MicrobiologyABBt ‐ Aachen Biology and BiotechnologyRWTH Aachen UniversityAachenGermany
| | - Andrea Germer
- iAMB ‐ Institute of Applied MicrobiologyABBt ‐ Aachen Biology and BiotechnologyRWTH Aachen UniversityAachenGermany
| | - Palanisamy Athiyaman Balakumaran
- Chemical Sciences and Technology DivisionCSIR ‐ National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (CSIR‐NIIST)ThiruvananthapuramKeralaIndia
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR)GhaziabadIndia
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2
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Boland DJ, Cornejo-Corona I, Browne DR, Murphy RL, Mullet J, Okada S, Devarenne TP. Reclassification of Botryococcus braunii chemical races into separate species based on a comparative genomics analysis. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0304144. [PMID: 39074348 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0304144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 07/31/2024] Open
Abstract
The colonial green microalga Botryococcus braunii is well known for producing liquid hydrocarbons that can be utilized as biofuel feedstocks. B. braunii is taxonomically classified as a single species made up of three chemical races, A, B, and L, that are mainly distinguished by the hydrocarbons produced. We previously reported a B race draft nuclear genome, and here we report the draft nuclear genomes for the A and L races. A comparative genomic study of the three B. braunii races and 14 other algal species within Chlorophyta revealed significant differences in the genomes of each race of B. braunii. Phylogenomically, there was a clear divergence of the three races with the A race diverging earlier than both the B and L races, and the B and L races diverging from a later common ancestor not shared by the A race. DNA repeat content analysis suggested the B race had more repeat content than the A or L races. Orthogroup analysis revealed the B. braunii races displayed more gene orthogroup diversity than three closely related Chlamydomonas species, with nearly 24-36% of all genes in each B. braunii race being specific to each race. This analysis suggests the three races are distinct species based on sufficient differences in their respective genomes. We propose reclassification of the three chemical races to the following species names: Botryococcus alkenealis (A race), Botryococcus braunii (B race), and Botryococcus lycopadienor (L race).
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Affiliation(s)
- Devon J Boland
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A & M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
- Texas A&M Institute for Genome Sciences & Society (TIGSS), College Station, Texas, United States of America
| | - Ivette Cornejo-Corona
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A & M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
| | - Daniel R Browne
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A & M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
- AI & Computational Biology, LanzaTech Inc., Skokie, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Rebecca L Murphy
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A & M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
- Biology Department, Centenary College of Louisiana, Shreveport, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - John Mullet
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A & M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
| | - Shigeru Okada
- Laboratory of Aquatic Natural Products Chemistry, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Yayoi, Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Timothy P Devarenne
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A & M University, College Station, Texas, United States of America
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3
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Park SC, Steffan BN, Yun Lim F, Gupta R, Ayaloglu Butun F, Chen H, Ye R, Decker T, Wu CC, Kelleher NL, Woo Bok J, Keller NP. Terpenoid balance in Aspergillus nidulans unveiled by heterologous squalene synthase expression. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadk7416. [PMID: 38381828 PMCID: PMC10881027 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adk7416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
Filamentous fungi produce numerous uncharacterized natural products (NPs) that are often challenging to characterize because of cryptic expression in laboratory conditions. Previously, we have successfully isolated novel NPs by expressing fungal artificial chromosomes (FACs) from a variety of fungal species into Aspergillus nidulans. Here, we demonstrate a twist to FAC utility wherein heterologous expression of a Pseudogymnoascus destructans FAC in A. nidulans altered endogenous terpene biosynthetic pathways. In contrast to wild type, the FAC transformant produced increased levels of squalene and aspernidine type compounds, including three new nidulenes (1- 2, and 5), and lost nearly all ability to synthesize the major A. nidulans characteristic terpene, austinol. Deletion of a squalene synthase gene in the FAC restored wild-type chemical profiles. The altered squalene to farnesyl pyrophosphate ratio leading to synthesis of nidulenes and aspernidines at the expense of farnesyl pyrophosphate-derived austinols provides unexpected insight into routes of terpene synthesis in fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sung Chul Park
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Breanne N. Steffan
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Fang Yun Lim
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI, USA
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Raveena Gupta
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | | | | | - Rosa Ye
- Intact Genomics Inc., St. Louis, MO, USA
| | | | | | - Neil L. Kelleher
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Jin Woo Bok
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Nancy P. Keller
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI, USA
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4
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Park SC, Steffan BN, Lim FY, Gupta R, Butun FA, Chen H, Ye R, Decker T, Wu CC, Kelleher NL, Bok JW, Keller NP. Terpenoid balance in Aspergillus nidulans unveiled by heterologous squalene synthase expression. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.20.563295. [PMID: 37905136 PMCID: PMC10614972 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.20.563295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
Filamentous fungi produce numerous uncharacterized natural products (NPs) that are often challenging to characterize due to cryptic expression in laboratory conditions. Previously, we have successfully isolated novel NPs by expressing fungal artificial chromosomes (FACs) from a variety of fungal species into Aspergillus nidulans. Here, we demonstrate a new twist to FAC utility wherein heterologous expression of a Pseudogymnoascus destructans FAC in A. nidulans altered endogenous terpene biosynthetic pathways. In contrast to wildtype, the FAC transformant produced increased levels of squalene and aspernidine type compounds, including three new nidulenes (1-2, 5), and lost nearly all ability to synthesize the major A. nidulans characteristic terpene, austinol. Deletion of a squalene synthase gene in the FAC restored wildtype chemical profiles. The altered squalene to farnesyl pyrophosphate ratio leading to synthesis of nidulenes and aspernidines at the expense of farnesyl pyrophosphate derived austinols provides unexpected insight into routes of terpene synthesis in fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sung Chul Park
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI
| | - Breanne N. Steffan
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI
| | - Fang Yun Lim
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle WA
| | - Raveena Gupta
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, IL
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Jin Woo Bok
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI
| | - Nancy P. Keller
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI
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Santoscoy MC, Jarboe LR. Production of cholesterol-like molecules impacts Escherichia coli robustness, production capacity, and vesicle trafficking. Metab Eng 2022; 73:134-143. [PMID: 35842218 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymben.2022.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2022] [Revised: 06/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/03/2022] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
The economic viability of bioprocesses is constrained by the limited range of operating conditions that can be tolerated by the cell factory. Engineering of the microbial cell membrane is one strategy that can increase robustness and thus alter this range. In this work, we targeted cellular components that contribute to maintenance of appropriate membrane function, such as: flotillin-like proteins, membrane structural proteins, and membrane lipids. Specifically, we exploited the promiscuity of squalene hopene cyclase (SHC) to produce polycyclic terpenoids with properties analogous to cholesterol. Strains producing these cholesterol-like molecules were visualized by AFM and height features were observed. Production of these cholesterol-like molecules was associated with increased tolerance towards a diversity of chemicals, particularly alcohols, and membrane trafficking processes such as lipid droplet accumulation and production of extracellular vesicles. This engineering approach improved the production titers for wax-esters and ethanol by 80- and 10-fold, respectively. Expression of SHC resulted in the production of steroids. Strains engineered to also express truncated squalene synthase (tERG9) produced diplopterol and generally did not perform as well. Increased expression of several membrane-associated proteins, such as YqiK, was observed to impact vesicle trafficking and further improve tolerance relative to SHC alone, but did not improve bio-production. Deletion of YbbJ increased lipid droplet accumulation as well as production of intracellular wax esters. This work serves as a proof of concept for engineering strategies targeting membrane physiology and trafficking to expand the production capacity of microbial cell factories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel C Santoscoy
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA
| | - Laura R Jarboe
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA.
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Nagata R, Suemune H, Kobayashi M, Shinada T, Shin‐ya K, Nishiyama M, Hino T, Sato Y, Kuzuyama T, Nagano S. Structural Basis for the Prenylation Reaction of Carbazole‐Containing Natural Products Catalyzed by Squalene Synthase‐Like Enzymes. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2022; 61:e202117430. [DOI: 10.1002/anie.202117430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ryuhei Nagata
- Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences The University of Tokyo 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku Tokyo 113-8657 Japan
| | - Hironori Suemune
- Graduate School of Engineering Tottori University 4-101 Koyama-cho Minami Tottori 680-8552 Japan
| | - Masaya Kobayashi
- Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences The University of Tokyo 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku Tokyo 113-8657 Japan
| | - Tetsuro Shinada
- Graduate School of Science Osaka City University Sugimoto, Sumiyoshi-ku Osaka 558-8585 Japan
| | - Kazuo Shin‐ya
- National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology 2-4-7 Aomi, Koto-ku Tokyo 135-0064 Japan
| | - Makoto Nishiyama
- Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences The University of Tokyo 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku Tokyo 113-8657 Japan
- Collaborative Research Institute for Innovative Microbiology (CRIIM) The University of Tokyo 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku Tokyo 113-8657 Japan
| | - Tomoya Hino
- Graduate School of Engineering Tottori University 4-101 Koyama-cho Minami Tottori 680-8552 Japan
- Center for Research on Green Sustainable Chemistry Tottori University 4-101 Koyama-cho Minami Tottori 680-8552 Japan
| | - Yusuke Sato
- Graduate School of Engineering Tottori University 4-101 Koyama-cho Minami Tottori 680-8552 Japan
- Center for Research on Green Sustainable Chemistry Tottori University 4-101 Koyama-cho Minami Tottori 680-8552 Japan
| | - Tomohisa Kuzuyama
- Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences The University of Tokyo 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku Tokyo 113-8657 Japan
- Collaborative Research Institute for Innovative Microbiology (CRIIM) The University of Tokyo 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku Tokyo 113-8657 Japan
| | - Shingo Nagano
- Graduate School of Engineering Tottori University 4-101 Koyama-cho Minami Tottori 680-8552 Japan
- Center for Research on Green Sustainable Chemistry Tottori University 4-101 Koyama-cho Minami Tottori 680-8552 Japan
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7
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Nagata R, Suemune H, Kobayashi M, Shinada T, Shin‐ya K, Nishiyama M, Hino T, Sato Y, Kuzuyama T, Nagano S. Structural Basis for the Prenylation Reaction of Carbazole‐Containing Natural Products Catalyzed by Squalene Synthase‐Like Enzymes. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202117430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ryuhei Nagata
- Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences The University of Tokyo 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku Tokyo 113-8657 Japan
| | - Hironori Suemune
- Graduate School of Engineering Tottori University 4-101 Koyama-cho Minami Tottori 680-8552 Japan
| | - Masaya Kobayashi
- Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences The University of Tokyo 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku Tokyo 113-8657 Japan
| | - Tetsuro Shinada
- Graduate School of Science Osaka City University Sugimoto, Sumiyoshi-ku Osaka 558-8585 Japan
| | - Kazuo Shin‐ya
- National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology 2-4-7 Aomi, Koto-ku Tokyo 135-0064 Japan
| | - Makoto Nishiyama
- Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences The University of Tokyo 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku Tokyo 113-8657 Japan
- Collaborative Research Institute for Innovative Microbiology (CRIIM) The University of Tokyo 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku Tokyo 113-8657 Japan
| | - Tomoya Hino
- Graduate School of Engineering Tottori University 4-101 Koyama-cho Minami Tottori 680-8552 Japan
- Center for Research on Green Sustainable Chemistry Tottori University 4-101 Koyama-cho Minami Tottori 680-8552 Japan
| | - Yusuke Sato
- Graduate School of Engineering Tottori University 4-101 Koyama-cho Minami Tottori 680-8552 Japan
- Center for Research on Green Sustainable Chemistry Tottori University 4-101 Koyama-cho Minami Tottori 680-8552 Japan
| | - Tomohisa Kuzuyama
- Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences The University of Tokyo 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku Tokyo 113-8657 Japan
- Collaborative Research Institute for Innovative Microbiology (CRIIM) The University of Tokyo 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku Tokyo 113-8657 Japan
| | - Shingo Nagano
- Graduate School of Engineering Tottori University 4-101 Koyama-cho Minami Tottori 680-8552 Japan
- Center for Research on Green Sustainable Chemistry Tottori University 4-101 Koyama-cho Minami Tottori 680-8552 Japan
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Optimized biosynthesis of santalenes and santalols in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2021; 105:8795-8804. [PMID: 34738171 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-021-11661-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Revised: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Santalenes and santalols from Santalum album are the main components of the valuable spice sandalwood essential oil, which also has excellent pharmacological activities such as antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor. Firstly, we constructed biosynthesis pathways of santalenes by synthetic biology strategy. The assembled biosynthetic cassettes were integrated into the multiple copy loci of δ gene in S. cerevisiae BY4742 with assistance of pDi-CRISPR, and 94.6 mg/L santalenes was obtained by shake flask fermentation of engineered yeast. Secondly, a selected optimized P450-CPR redox system was integrated into the chromosome of the santalenes-producing strain with a single copy, and 24.6 mg/L santalols were obtained. Finally, the yields of santalenes and santalols were increased to 164.7 and 68.8 mg/L, respectively, by downregulating ERG9 gene. This is the first report on the de novo synthesis of santalols by P450-CPR chimera in S. cerevisiae. Meanwhile, the optimized chimeric CYP736A167opt-46tATR1opt exhibits higher activity to oxidize santalenes into santalols. It would provide a feasible solution for the optimal biosynthesis of santalols. KEY POINTS: • First-time de novo synthesis of santalols by P450-CPR chimera in S. cerevisiae. • Truncated 46tATR1 has higher activity than that of CPR2. • Yields of santalenes and santalols were increased by downregulating ERG9 gene.
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Pospiech M, Owens SE, Miller DJ, Austin-Muttitt K, Mullins JGL, Cronin JG, Allemann RK, Sheldon IM. Bisphosphonate inhibitors of squalene synthase protect cells against cholesterol-dependent cytolysins. FASEB J 2021; 35:e21640. [PMID: 33991130 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202100164r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Revised: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Certain species of pathogenic bacteria damage tissues by secreting cholesterol-dependent cytolysins, which form pores in the plasma membranes of animal cells. However, reducing cholesterol protects cells against these cytolysins. As the first committed step of cholesterol biosynthesis is catalyzed by squalene synthase, we explored whether inhibiting this enzyme protected cells against cholesterol-dependent cytolysins. We first synthesized 22 different nitrogen-containing bisphosphonate molecules that were designed to inhibit squalene synthase. Squalene synthase inhibition was quantified using a cell-free enzyme assay, and validated by computer modeling of bisphosphonate molecules binding to squalene synthase. The bisphosphonates were then screened for their ability to protect HeLa cells against the damage caused by the cholesterol-dependent cytolysin, pyolysin. The most effective bisphosphonate reduced pyolysin-induced leakage of lactate dehydrogenase into cell supernatants by >80%, and reduced pyolysin-induced cytolysis from >75% to <25%. In addition, this bisphosphonate reduced pyolysin-induced leakage of potassium from cells, limited changes in the cytoskeleton, prevented mitogen-activated protein kinases cell stress responses, and reduced cellular cholesterol. The bisphosphonate also protected cells against another cholesterol-dependent cytolysin, streptolysin O, and protected lung epithelial cells and primary dermal fibroblasts against cytolysis. Our findings imply that treatment with bisphosphonates that inhibit squalene synthase might help protect tissues against pathogenic bacteria that secrete cholesterol-dependent cytolysins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mateusz Pospiech
- Swansea University Medical School, Swansea University, Swansea, UK
| | - Siân E Owens
- Swansea University Medical School, Swansea University, Swansea, UK
| | | | | | | | - James G Cronin
- Swansea University Medical School, Swansea University, Swansea, UK
| | | | - I Martin Sheldon
- Swansea University Medical School, Swansea University, Swansea, UK
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Hage-Hülsmann J, Klaus O, Linke K, Troost K, Gora L, Hilgers F, Wirtz A, Santiago-Schübel B, Loeschcke A, Jaeger KE, Drepper T. Production of C20, C30 and C40 terpenes in the engineered phototrophic bacterium Rhodobacter capsulatus. J Biotechnol 2021; 338:20-30. [PMID: 34237394 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2021.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2020] [Revised: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Terpenes constitute one of the largest groups of secondary metabolites that are used, for example, as food-additives, fragrances or pharmaceuticals. Due to the formation of an intracytoplasmic membrane system and an efficient intrinsic tetraterpene pathway, the phototrophic α-proteobacterium Rhodobacter capsulatus offers favorable properties for the production of hydrophobic terpenes. However, research efforts have largely focused on sesquiterpene production. Recently, we have developed modular tools allowing to engineer the biosynthesis of terpene precursors. These tools were now applied to boost the biosynthesis of the diterpene casbene, the triterpene squalene and the tetraterpene β-carotene in R. capsulatus SB1003. Selected enzymes of the intrinsic isoprenoid pathway and the heterologous mevalonate (MVA) pathway were co-expressed together with the respective terpene synthases in various combinations. Remarkably, co-expression of genes ispA, idi and dxs enhanced the synthesis of casbene and β-carotene. In contrast, co-expression of precursor biosynthetic genes with the squalene synthase from Arabidopsis thaliana reduced squalene titers. Therefore, we further employed four alternative pro- and eukaryotic squalene synthases. Here, the synthase from Methylococcus capsulatus enabled highest product levels of 90 mg/L squalene upon co-expression with ispA. In summary, we demonstrate the applicability of R. capsulatus for the heterologous production of diverse terpene classes and provide relevant insights for further development of such platforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Hage-Hülsmann
- Institute of Molecular Enzyme Technology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany; Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences (CEPLAS), Germany.
| | - Oliver Klaus
- Institute of Molecular Enzyme Technology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany.
| | - Karl Linke
- Institute of Molecular Enzyme Technology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany.
| | - Katrin Troost
- Institute of Molecular Enzyme Technology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany.
| | - Lukas Gora
- Institute of Molecular Enzyme Technology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany.
| | - Fabienne Hilgers
- Institute of Molecular Enzyme Technology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany; Bioeconomy Science Center (BioSC), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany.
| | - Astrid Wirtz
- Institute of Bio- and Geosciences IBG-1, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany.
| | - Beatrix Santiago-Schübel
- Central Division of Analytical Chemistry ZEA-3: Analytik/Biospec, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany.
| | - Anita Loeschcke
- Institute of Molecular Enzyme Technology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany; Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences (CEPLAS), Germany; Bioeconomy Science Center (BioSC), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany.
| | - Karl-Erich Jaeger
- Institute of Molecular Enzyme Technology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany; Institute of Bio- and Geosciences IBG-1, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany; Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences (CEPLAS), Germany; Bioeconomy Science Center (BioSC), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany.
| | - Thomas Drepper
- Institute of Molecular Enzyme Technology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany; Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences (CEPLAS), Germany; Bioeconomy Science Center (BioSC), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany.
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11
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Liang Z, Zhi H, Fang Z, Zhang P. Genetic engineering of yeast, filamentous fungi and bacteria for terpene production and applications in food industry. Food Res Int 2021; 147:110487. [PMID: 34399483 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2021.110487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Revised: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 05/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Terpenes are a major class of natural aromatic compounds in grapes and wines to offer the characteristic flavor and aroma, serving as important quality traits of wine products. Saccharomyces cerevisiae represents an excellent cell factory platform for large-scale bio-based terpene production. This review describes the biosynthetic pathways of terpenes in different organisms. The metabolic engineering of S. cerevisiae for promoting terpene biosynthesis and the alternative microbial engineering platforms including filamentous fungi and Escherichia coli are also elaborated. Additionally, the potential applications of the terpene products from engineered microorganisms in food and beverage industries are also discussed. This review provides comprehensive information for an innovative supply way of terpene via microbial cell factory, which could facilitate the development and application of this technique at the industrial scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zijian Liang
- School of Agriculture and Food, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Hang Zhi
- School of Agriculture and Food, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Zhongxiang Fang
- School of Agriculture and Food, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Pangzhen Zhang
- School of Agriculture and Food, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia.
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12
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Meng Y, Shao X, Wang Y, Li Y, Zheng X, Wei G, Kim S, Wang C. Extension of cell membrane boosting squalene production in the engineered
Escherichia coli. Biotechnol Bioeng 2020; 117:3499-3507. [DOI: 10.1002/bit.27511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2020] [Revised: 07/10/2020] [Accepted: 07/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yunhe Meng
- School of Biology and Basic Medical Sciences Soochow University Suzhou China
| | - Xixi Shao
- School of Biology and Basic Medical Sciences Soochow University Suzhou China
| | - Yan Wang
- School of Biology and Basic Medical Sciences Soochow University Suzhou China
| | - Yumei Li
- School of Biology and Basic Medical Sciences Soochow University Suzhou China
| | - Xiaojian Zheng
- School of Biology and Basic Medical Sciences Soochow University Suzhou China
| | - Gongyuan Wei
- School of Biology and Basic Medical Sciences Soochow University Suzhou China
| | - Seon‐Won Kim
- Division of Applied Life Science (BK21 Plus) PMBBRC, Gyeongsang National University Jinju Republic of Korea
| | - Chonglong Wang
- School of Biology and Basic Medical Sciences Soochow University Suzhou China
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13
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Park J, Yu BJ, Choi JI, Woo HM. Heterologous Production of Squalene from Glucose in Engineered Corynebacterium glutamicum Using Multiplex CRISPR Interference and High-Throughput Fermentation. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2019; 67:308-319. [PMID: 30558416 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.8b05818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The sustainable production of squalene has driven the development of microbial cell factories due to the limitation of low-yielding bioprocesses from plants and illegal harvesting shark liver. We report the metabolic engineering of Corynebacterium glutamicum to produce squalene from glucose. Combinatorial metabolic engineering strategies for precursor rebalancing, redox balancing, and blocking the competing pathway for the isopentenyl diphosphate availabilities were applied by repressing the target genes using the CRISPR interference. The best engineered strain using high-throughput fermentation produced squalene from glucose at 5.4 ± 0.3 mg/g dry cell weight (DCW) and 105.3 ± 3.0 mg/L, which was a 5.2-fold increase over the parental strain. In addition, flask cultivation of C. glutamicum overexpressing the dxs and idi genes with squalene synthase gene and repressing the idsA gene resulted in production of squalene at 5.8 ± 0.4 mg/g DCW and 82.8 ± 6.2 mg/L, which was a 3.4-fold increase over the parental strain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaehyun Park
- Department of Food Science and Biotechnology , Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU) , 2066 Seobu-ro , Jangan-gu, Suwon 16419 , Republic of Korea
| | - Byung Jo Yu
- Intelligent Sustainable Materials R&D Group, Research Institute of Sustainable Manufacturing System , Korea Institute of Industrial Technology , 89 Yangdaegiro-gil , Ipjang-myeon, Seobuk-gu, Cheonan 31056 , Republic of Korea
| | - Jong-Il Choi
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioengineering , Chonnam National University , 77 Yongbong-ro , Buk-gu, Gwangju 61186 , Republic of Korea
| | - Han Min Woo
- Department of Food Science and Biotechnology , Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU) , 2066 Seobu-ro , Jangan-gu, Suwon 16419 , Republic of Korea
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14
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Hage-Hülsmann J, Metzger S, Wewer V, Buechel F, Troost K, Thies S, Loeschcke A, Jaeger KE, Drepper T. Biosynthesis of cycloartenol by expression of plant and bacterial oxidosqualene cyclases in engineered Rhodobacter capsulatus. J Biotechnol 2019; 306S:100014. [PMID: 34112372 DOI: 10.1016/j.btecx.2020.100014] [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] [Received: 08/15/2019] [Revised: 01/14/2020] [Accepted: 01/29/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Cyclic triterpenes are a large group of secondary metabolites produced by plants, fungi and bacteria. They have diverse biological functions, and offer potential health benefits for humans. Although various terpenes from the mono-, sesqui- and diterpene classes are easy to produce in engineered bacteria, heterologous synthesis of cyclic triterpenes is more challenging. We have recently shown that the triterpene cycloartenol can be produced in Rhodobacter capsulatus SB1003 but initial titers were low with 0.34mgL-1. To assess, if this phototrophic α-proteobacterium can be engineered for enhanced triterpene production, we followed two alternative strategies by comparing the performance of the R. capsulatus SB1003 wildtype strain with two recombinant strains carrying either a mevalonate pathway implemented from Paracoccus zeaxanthinifaciens or a deletion in the intrinsic carotenoid biosynthesis gene crtE. These strains are thus engineered for an enhanced isoprenoid biosynthesis or a suppressed precursor conversion by the competing carotenoid pathway. Moreover, three different cycloartenol synthase (CAS) genes from Arabidopsis thaliana or the myxobacterial strains Stigmatella aurantiaca Sga15 and DW4/3-1 were tested for heterologous cycloartenol synthesis. We found that the heterologous expression of mevalonate pathway enzymes had little impact on cycloartenol levels irrespective of the chosen CAS. In contrast, the use of the newly constructed carotenoid-deficient crtE deletion strain showed threefold increased cycloartenol product titers. We conclude that R. capsulatus is a promising alternative host for the functional expression of triterpene biosynthetic enzymes from plants and microbes. Apparently, product titers can also be improved by suppression of competing precursor consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Hage-Hülsmann
- Institute of Molecular Enzyme Technology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, D-52425, Germany; Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences (CEPLAS) Düsseldorf, D-40225, Germany.
| | - Sabine Metzger
- Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences (CEPLAS) Düsseldorf, D-40225, Germany; MS Platform, Department of Biology, University of Cologne, Cologne, D-50674, Germany.
| | - Vera Wewer
- Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences (CEPLAS) Düsseldorf, D-40225, Germany; MS Platform, Department of Biology, University of Cologne, Cologne, D-50674, Germany.
| | - Felix Buechel
- Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences (CEPLAS) Düsseldorf, D-40225, Germany; MS Platform, Department of Biology, University of Cologne, Cologne, D-50674, Germany.
| | - Katrin Troost
- Institute of Molecular Enzyme Technology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, D-52425, Germany; Bioeconomy Science Center (BioSC), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, D-52425, Germany.
| | - Stephan Thies
- Institute of Molecular Enzyme Technology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, D-52425, Germany; Bioeconomy Science Center (BioSC), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, D-52425, Germany.
| | - Anita Loeschcke
- Institute of Molecular Enzyme Technology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, D-52425, Germany; Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences (CEPLAS) Düsseldorf, D-40225, Germany; Bioeconomy Science Center (BioSC), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, D-52425, Germany.
| | - Karl-Erich Jaeger
- Institute of Molecular Enzyme Technology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, D-52425, Germany; Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences (CEPLAS) Düsseldorf, D-40225, Germany; Bioeconomy Science Center (BioSC), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, D-52425, Germany; Institute of Bio- and Geosciences IBG-1, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, D-52425, Germany. k.-
| | - Thomas Drepper
- Institute of Molecular Enzyme Technology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, D-52425, Germany; Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences (CEPLAS) Düsseldorf, D-40225, Germany.
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15
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Jiang Z, Kempinski C, Kumar S, Kinison S, Linscott K, Nybo E, Janze S, Wood C, Chappell J. Agronomic and chemical performance of field-grown tobacco engineered for triterpene and methylated triterpene metabolism. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL 2018; 16:1110-1124. [PMID: 29069530 PMCID: PMC5978867 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.12855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2017] [Accepted: 10/08/2017] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Squalene is a linear intermediate to nearly all classes of triterpenes and sterols and is itself highly valued for its use in wide range of industrial applications. Another unique linear triterpene is botryococcene and its methylated derivatives generated by the alga Botryococcus braunii race B, which are progenitors to fossil fuel deposits. Production of these linear triterpenes was previously engineered into transgenic tobacco by introducing the key steps of triterpene metabolism into the particular subcellular compartments. In this study, the agronomic characteristics (height, biomass accumulation, leaf area), the photosynthetic capacity (photosynthesis rate, conductance, internal CO2 levels) and triterpene content of select lines grown under field conditions were evaluated for three consecutive growing seasons. We observed that transgenic lines targeting enzymes to the chloroplasts accumulated 50-150 times more squalene than the lines targeting the enzymes to the cytoplasm, without compromising growth or photosynthesis. We also found that the transgenic lines directing botryococcene metabolism to the chloroplast accumulated 10- to 33-fold greater levels than the lines where the same enzymes were targeted to in the cytoplasm. However, growth of these high botryococcene accumulators was highly compromised, yet their photosynthesis rates remained unaffected. In addition, in the transgenic lines targeting a triterpene methyltransferase (TMT) to the chloroplasts of high squalene accumulators, 55%-65% of total squalene was methylated, whereas in the lines expressing a TMT in the cytoplasm, only 6%-13% of squalene was methylated. The growth of these methylated triterpene-accumulating lines was more compromised than that of nonmethylated squalene lines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zuodong Jiang
- Plant Biology ProgramUniversity of KentuckyLexingtonKYUSA
- Department of Pharmaceutical SciencesUniversity of KentuckyLexingtonKYUSA
| | - Chase Kempinski
- Plant Biology ProgramUniversity of KentuckyLexingtonKYUSA
- Department of Pharmaceutical SciencesUniversity of KentuckyLexingtonKYUSA
| | - Santosh Kumar
- Plant Biology ProgramUniversity of KentuckyLexingtonKYUSA
- Department of Pharmaceutical SciencesUniversity of KentuckyLexingtonKYUSA
| | - Scott Kinison
- Department of Pharmaceutical SciencesUniversity of KentuckyLexingtonKYUSA
| | - Kristin Linscott
- Molecular and Cellular BiochemistryUniversity of KentuckyLexingtonKYUSA
| | - Eric Nybo
- Department of Pharmaceutical SciencesUniversity of KentuckyLexingtonKYUSA
| | - Sarah Janze
- Department of StatisticsUniversity of KentuckyLexingtonKYUSA
| | - Connie Wood
- Department of StatisticsUniversity of KentuckyLexingtonKYUSA
| | - Joe Chappell
- Plant Biology ProgramUniversity of KentuckyLexingtonKYUSA
- Department of Pharmaceutical SciencesUniversity of KentuckyLexingtonKYUSA
- Molecular and Cellular BiochemistryUniversity of KentuckyLexingtonKYUSA
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16
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Guionet A, Hosseini B, Akiyama H, Hosano H. Medium's conductivity and stage of growth as crucial parameters for efficient hydrocarbon extraction by electric field from colonial micro-algae. Bioelectrochemistry 2018; 123:88-93. [PMID: 29729644 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioelechem.2018.04.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2017] [Revised: 04/24/2018] [Accepted: 04/24/2018] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
The green algae Botryococcus braunii produces a high amount of extracellular hydrocarbon, making it a promising algae in the field of bio-fuels production. As it mainly produces squalene like hydrocarbons, cosmetic industries are also interested in its milking. Pulsed electric fields (PEF) are an innovative method allowing oil extraction from micro-algae. In common algae accumulating hydrocarbon inside cytoplasm (Chlorella vulgaris, Nannochloropsis sp., etc), electric fields can destroy cell membranes, allowing the release of hydrocarbon. However, for B.braunii, hydrocarbons adhere to the cell wall outside of cells as a matrix. In a previous article we reported that electric fields can unstick cells from a matrix, allowing hydrocarbon harvesting. In this work, we deeper investigated this phenomenon of cell hatching by following 2 parameters: the conductivity of the medium and the cultivation duration of the culture. Cell hatching is accurately evaluated by both microscopic and macroscopic observations. For high conductivity and a short time of cultivation, almost no effect is observed even after up to 1000 PEF pulses are submitted to the cells. While lower conductivity and a longer cultivation period allow strong cell hatching after 200 PEF pulses are applied to the cells. We identify 2 new crucial parameters, able to turn the method from inefficient to very efficient. It might help companies to save energy and money in case of mass production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexis Guionet
- Bioelectrics Department, Institute of Pulsed Power Science, Kumamoto University, 2-39-1 Kurokami, Kumamoto 860-8555, Japan.
| | - Bahareh Hosseini
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Kumamoto University, Japan.
| | - Hidenori Akiyama
- Bioelectrics Department, Institute of Pulsed Power Science, Kumamoto University, 2-39-1 Kurokami, Kumamoto 860-8555, Japan; Graduate School of Science and Technology, Kumamoto University, Japan.
| | - Hamid Hosano
- Bioelectrics Department, Institute of Pulsed Power Science, Kumamoto University, 2-39-1 Kurokami, Kumamoto 860-8555, Japan; Graduate School of Science and Technology, Kumamoto University, Japan.
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17
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Choi SY, Sim SJ, Choi JI, Woo HM. Identification of small droplets of photosynthetic squalene in engineered Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942 using TEM and selective fluorescent Nile red analysis. Lett Appl Microbiol 2018. [PMID: 29527705 DOI: 10.1111/lam.12874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
To identify microbial squalene that has been widely used in various industrial applications, intracellular formation of photosynthetic squalene was investigated using the previously engineered Synechococcus elongatusPCC 7942 strain. Unlike the proposed localization of squalene in the membrane bilayer, small droplets were identified in the cytoplasm of S. elongatusPCC 7942 as squalene using transmission electron microscopy analysis. Determination of the diameters of the squalene droplets with manual examination of 1016 droplets in different squalene-producing strains indicated larger squalene droplets in larger cells. Based on the observation of a sole droplet of squalene in a cyanobacterium, fluorescent Nile red was used for the selective staining of squalene. The fluorescent intensities were correlated with squalene contents determined using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Photosynthetic squalene was identified as a small droplet in S. elongatusPCC 7942, and this noninvasive quantitative method could be useful to promote high-throughput strain development for squalene production. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY Engineering of Cyanobacteria has focused on sustainable production of squalene by converting CO2 . Before improving the photosynthetic squalene production, we characterized formation of squalene, showing small droplets in the cytoplasm instead of single granule. Based on the finding and the analysis, this study has provided valuable evidences how further metabolic engineering strategies should apply to enhance the production yield.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Y Choi
- Department of Food Science and Biotechnology, Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), Jangan-gu, Suwon, Korea.,Institute of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), Jangan-gu, Suwon, Korea
| | - S J Sim
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Korea University, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, Korea
| | - J-I Choi
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Chonnam National University, Buk-gu, Gwangju, Korea
| | - H M Woo
- Department of Food Science and Biotechnology, Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), Jangan-gu, Suwon, Korea
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18
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Choi SY, Wang JY, Kwak HS, Lee SM, Um Y, Kim Y, Sim SJ, Choi JI, Woo HM. Improvement of Squalene Production from CO 2 in Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942 by Metabolic Engineering and Scalable Production in a Photobioreactor. ACS Synth Biol 2017; 6:1289-1295. [PMID: 28365988 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.7b00083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The push-and-pull strategy for metabolic engineering was successfully demonstrated in Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942, a model photosynthetic bacterium, to produce squalene from CO2. Squalene synthase (SQS) was fused to either a key enzyme (farnesyl diphosphate synthase) of the methylerythritol phosphate pathway or the β-subunit of phycocyanin (CpcB1). Engineered cyanobacteria with expression of a fusion CpcB1-SQS protein showed a squalene production level (7.16 ± 0.05 mg/L/OD730) that was increased by 1.8-fold compared to that of the control strain expressing SQS alone. To increase squalene production further, the gene dosage for CpcB1·SQS protein expression was increased and the fusion protein was expressed under a strong promoter, yielding 11.98 ± 0.49 mg/L/OD730 of squalene, representing a 3.1-fold increase compared to the control. Subsequently, the best squalene producer was cultivated in a scalable photobioreactor (6 L) with light optimization, which produced 7.08 ± 0.5 mg/L/OD730 squalene (equivalent to 79.2 mg per g dry cell weight). Further optimization for photobioprocessing and strain development will promote the construction of a solar-to-chemical platform.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sun Young Choi
- Clean
Energy Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Hwarangro 14-gil 5, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin-Young Wang
- Clean
Energy Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Hwarangro 14-gil 5, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea
| | | | - Sun-Mi Lee
- Clean
Energy Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Hwarangro 14-gil 5, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Youngsoon Um
- Clean
Energy Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Hwarangro 14-gil 5, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Yunje Kim
- Clean
Energy Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Hwarangro 14-gil 5, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea
| | | | - Jong-il Choi
- Department
of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Chonnam National University, 77 Yongbong-ro, Buk-gu, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea
| | - Han Min Woo
- Department
of Food Science and Biotechnology, Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), 2066
Seobu-ro, Jangan-gu, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
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19
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Sandoval-Calderón M, Guan Z, Sohlenkamp C. Knowns and unknowns of membrane lipid synthesis in streptomycetes. Biochimie 2017; 141:21-29. [PMID: 28522365 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2017.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2017] [Accepted: 05/12/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Bacteria belonging to the genus Streptomyces are among the most prolific producers of antibiotics. Research on cellular membrane biosynthesis and turnover is lagging behind in Streptomyces compared to related organisms like Mycobacterium tuberculosis. While natural products discovery in Streptomyces is evidently a priority in order to discover new antibiotics to combat the increase in antibiotic resistant pathogens, a better understanding of this cellular compartment should provide insights into the interplay between core and secondary metabolism. However, some of the pathways for membrane lipid biosynthesis are still incomplete. In addition, while it has become clear that remodelling of the membrane is necessary for coping with environmental stress and for morphological differentiation, the detailed mechanisms of these adaptations remain elusive. Here, we aim to provide a summary of what is known about the polar lipid composition in Streptomyces, the biosynthetic pathways of polar lipids, and to highlight current gaps in understanding function, dynamics and biosynthesis of these essential molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ziqiang Guan
- Department of Biochemistry, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Christian Sohlenkamp
- Centro de Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Mexico.
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20
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Choi SY, Lee HJ, Choi J, Kim J, Sim SJ, Um Y, Kim Y, Lee TS, Keasling JD, Woo HM. Photosynthetic conversion of CO2 to farnesyl diphosphate-derived phytochemicals (amorpha-4,11-diene and squalene) by engineered cyanobacteria. BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS 2016; 9:202. [PMID: 27688805 PMCID: PMC5034544 DOI: 10.1186/s13068-016-0617-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2016] [Accepted: 09/16/2016] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Metabolic engineering of cyanobacteria has enabled photosynthetic conversion of CO2 to value-added chemicals as bio-solar cell factories. However, the production levels of isoprenoids in engineered cyanobacteria were quite low, compared to other microbial hosts. Therefore, modular optimization of multiple gene expressions for metabolic engineering of cyanobacteria is required for the production of farnesyl diphosphate-derived isoprenoids from CO2. RESULTS Here, we engineered Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942 with modular metabolic pathways consisting of the methylerythritol phosphate pathway enzymes and the amorphadiene synthase for production of amorpha-4,11-diene, resulting in significantly increased levels (23-fold) of amorpha-4,11-diene (19.8 mg/L) in the best strain relative to a parental strain. Replacing amorphadiene synthase with squalene synthase led to the synthesis of a high amount of squalene (4.98 mg/L/OD730). Overexpression of farnesyl diphosphate synthase is the most critical factor for the significant production, whereas overexpression of 1-deoxy-d-xylulose 5-phosphate reductase is detrimental to the cell growth and the production. Additionally, the cyanobacterial growth inhibition was alleviated by expressing a terpene synthase in S. elongatus PCC 7942 strain with the optimized MEP pathway only (SeHL33). CONCLUSIONS This is the first demonstration of photosynthetic production of amorpha-4,11-diene from CO2 in cyanobacteria and production of squalene in S. elongatus PCC 7942. Our optimized modular OverMEP strain (SeHL33) with either co-expression of ADS or SQS demonstrated the highest production levels of amorpha-4,11-diene and squalene, which could expand the list of farnesyl diphosphate-derived isoprenoids from CO2 as bio-solar cell factories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sun Young Choi
- Clean Energy Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Hwarangro 14-gil 5, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 02792 Republic of Korea
- Green School (Graduate School of Energy and Environment), Korea University, 145 Anam-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 02841 Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun Jeong Lee
- Clean Energy Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Hwarangro 14-gil 5, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 02792 Republic of Korea
| | - Jaeyeon Choi
- Clean Energy Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Hwarangro 14-gil 5, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 02792 Republic of Korea
| | - Jiye Kim
- Clean Energy Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Hwarangro 14-gil 5, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 02792 Republic of Korea
- Department of Chemistry, Korea University, 145 Anam-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 02841 Republic of Korea
| | - Sang Jun Sim
- Green School (Graduate School of Energy and Environment), Korea University, 145 Anam-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 02841 Republic of Korea
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Korea University, 145 Anam-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 02841 Republic of Korea
| | - Youngsoon Um
- Clean Energy Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Hwarangro 14-gil 5, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 02792 Republic of Korea
| | - Yunje Kim
- Clean Energy Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Hwarangro 14-gil 5, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 02792 Republic of Korea
| | - Taek Soon Lee
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, 5885 Hollis Street, Emeryville, CA 94608 USA
- Biological Systems & Engineering Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA
| | - Jay D. Keasling
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, 5885 Hollis Street, Emeryville, CA 94608 USA
- Biological Systems & Engineering Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720 USA
| | - Han Min Woo
- Department of Food Science and Biotechnology, Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), 2066 Seobu-ro, Jangan-gu, Suwon, 16419 Republic of Korea
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21
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Rong Q, Jiang D, Chen Y, Shen Y, Yuan Q, Lin H, Zha L, Zhang Y, Huang L. Molecular Cloning and Functional Analysis of Squalene Synthase 2(SQS2) in Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2016; 7:1274. [PMID: 27605932 PMCID: PMC4996051 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2016.01274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2016] [Accepted: 08/10/2016] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, which is also known as a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, is widely studied for its ability to accumulate the diterpene quinone Tanshinones. In addition to producing a variety of diterpene quinone, S. miltiorrhiza Bunge also accumulates sterol, brassinosteroid and triterpenoids. During their biosynthesis, squalene synthase (SQS, EC 2.5.1.21) converts two molecules of the hydrophilic substrate farnesyl diphosphate (FPP) into a hydrophobic product, squalene. In the present study, cloning and characterization of S. miltiorrhiza Bunge squalene synthase 2 (SmSQS2, Genbank Accession Number: KM408605) cDNA was investigated subsequently followed by its recombinant expression and preliminary enzyme activity. The full-length cDNA of SmSQS2 was 1 597 bp in length, with an open reading frame of 1 245 bp encoding 414 amino acids. The deduced amino acid sequence of SmSQS2 shared high similarity with those of SQSs from other plants. To obtain soluble recombinant enzymes, the truncated SmSQS2 in which 28 amino acids were deleted from the carboxy terminus was expressed as GST-Tag fusion protein in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) and confirmed by SDS-PAGE and Western Blot analysis, and the resultant bacterial crude extract was incubated with FPP and NADPH. Gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer analysis showed that squalene was detected in the in vitro reaction mixture. The gene expression level was analyzed through Quantitative real-time PCR, and was found to be higher in roots as compared to the leaves, and was up-regulated upon YE+ Ag(+) treatment. These results could serve as an important to understand the function of the SQS family. In addition, the identification of SmSQS2 is important for further studies of terpenoid and sterol biosynthesis in S. miltiorrhiza Bunge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qixian Rong
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical SciencesBeijing, China
| | - Dan Jiang
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical SciencesBeijing, China
- School of Chinese Pharmacy, Beijing University of Chinese MedicineBeijing, China
| | - Yijun Chen
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical SciencesBeijing, China
- Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese MedicineNanchang, China
| | - Ye Shen
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical SciencesBeijing, China
| | - Qingjun Yuan
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical SciencesBeijing, China
| | - Huixin Lin
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical SciencesBeijing, China
| | - Liangping Zha
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical SciencesBeijing, China
| | - Yan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical SciencesBeijing, China
| | - Luqi Huang
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical SciencesBeijing, China
- *Correspondence: Luqi Huang,
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22
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Jiang Y, Chen H, Chen X, Köllner TG, Jia Q, Wymore TW, Wang F, Chen F. Volatile squalene from a nonseed plant Selaginella moellendorffii: Emission and biosynthesis. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY : PPB 2015. [PMID: 26209752 DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2015.07.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
The triterpene squalene is a key metabolic intermediate for sterols, hopanoids and various other triterpenoids. The biosynthesis of squalene is catalyzed by squalene synthase (SQS), which converts two molecules of farnesyl diphosphate to squalene. In this study, a lycophyte Selaginella moellendorffii was found to emit squalene as a volatile compound under a number of conditions that mimic biotic stresses. Searching the genome sequence of S. moellendorffii led to the identification of a putative squalene synthase gene. It was designated as SmSQS. SmSQS is homologous to known squalene synthases from other plants and animals at both the amino acid level and structural level. Recombinant SmSQS expressed in Escherichia coli catalyzed the formation of squalene using farnesyl diphosphate as substrate. The expression of SmSQS was significantly induced by the same set of stress factors that induced the emission of volatile squalene from S. moellendorffii plants. Taken together, these results support that SmSQS is responsible for the biosynthesis of volatile squalene and volatile squalene may have a role in the defense of S. moellendorffii plants against biotic stresses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifan Jiang
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee, 252 Ellington Plant Science Bldg, 2431 Joe Johnson Drive, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA; College of Horticulture, Northwest Agricultural and Forestry University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China; College of Art, Changzhou University, Jiangsu, China
| | - Hao Chen
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee, 252 Ellington Plant Science Bldg, 2431 Joe Johnson Drive, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA
| | - Xinlu Chen
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee, 252 Ellington Plant Science Bldg, 2431 Joe Johnson Drive, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA
| | - Tobias G Köllner
- Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Hans-Knoell-Strasse 8, D-07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Qidong Jia
- Graduate School of Genome Science and Technology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA
| | - Troy W Wymore
- Department of Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular Biology and UT/ORNL Center for Molecular Biophysics, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA
| | - Fei Wang
- College of Horticulture, Northwest Agricultural and Forestry University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Feng Chen
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee, 252 Ellington Plant Science Bldg, 2431 Joe Johnson Drive, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA; Graduate School of Genome Science and Technology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA.
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23
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Directed optimization of a newly identified squalene synthase from Mortierella alpine based on sequence truncation and site-directed mutagenesis. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015; 42:1341-52. [DOI: 10.1007/s10295-015-1668-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2015] [Accepted: 07/28/2015] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Terpenoids, a class of isoprenoids usually isolated from plants, are always used as commercial flavor and anticancer drugs. As a key precursor for triterpenes and sterols, biosynthesis of squalene (SQ) can be catalyzed by squalene synthase (SQS) from two farnesyl diphosphate molecules. In this work, the key SQS gene involved in sterols synthesis by Mortierella alpine, an industrial strain often used to produce unsaturated fatty acid such as γ-linolenic acid and arachidonic acid, was identified and characterized. Bioinformatic analysis indicated that MaSQS contained 416 amino acid residues involved in four highly conserved regions. Phylogenetic analysis revealed the closest relationship of MaSQS with Ganoderma lucidum and Aspergillus, which also belonged to the member of the fungus. Subsequently, the recombinant protein was expressed in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) and detected by SDS-PAGE. To improve the expression and solubility of protein, 17 or 27 amino acids in the C-terminal were deleted. In vitro activity investigation based on gas chromatography–mass spectrometry revealed that both the truncated enzymes could functionally catalyze the reaction from FPP to SQ and the enzymatic activity was optimal at 37 °C, pH 7.2. Moreover, based on the site-directed mutagenesis, the mutant enzyme mMaSQSΔC17 (E186K) displayed a 3.4-fold improvement in catalytic efficiency (k cat/K m) compared to the control. It was the first report of characterization and modification of SQS from M. alpine, which facilitated the investigation of isoprenoid biosynthesis in the fungus. The engineered mMaSQSΔC17 (E186K) can be a potential candidate of the terpenes and steroids synthesis employed for synthetic biology.
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24
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Pandreka A, Dandekar DS, Haldar S, Uttara V, Vijayshree SG, Mulani FA, Aarthy T, Thulasiram HV. Triterpenoid profiling and functional characterization of the initial genes involved in isoprenoid biosynthesis in neem (Azadirachta indica). BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2015; 15:214. [PMID: 26335498 PMCID: PMC4559364 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-015-0593-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2015] [Accepted: 08/13/2015] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neem tree (Azadirachta indica) is one of the richest sources of skeletally diverse triterpenoids and they are well-known for their broad-spectrum pharmacological and insecticidal properties. However, the abundance of Neem triterpenoids varies among the tissues. Here, we delineate quantitative profiling of fifteen major triterpenoids across various tissues including developmental stages of kernel and pericarp, flower, leaf, stem and bark using UPLC-ESI(+)-HRMS based profiling. Transcriptome analysis was used to identify the initial genes involved in isoprenoid biosynthesis. Based on transcriptome analysis, two short-chain prenyltransferases and squalene synthase (AiSQS) were cloned and functionally characterized. RESULTS Quantitative profiling revealed differential abundance of both total and individual triterpenoid content across various tissues. RNA from tissues with high triterpenoid content (fruit, flower and leaf) were pooled to generate 79.08 million paired-end reads using Illumina GA ΙΙ platform. 41,140 transcripts were generated by d e novo assembly. Transcriptome annotation led to the identification of the putative genes involved in isoprenoid biosynthesis. Two short-chain prenyltransferases, geranyl diphosphate synthase (AiGDS) and farnesyl diphosphate synthase (AiFDS) and squalene synthase (AiSQS) were cloned and functionally characterized using transcriptome data. RT-PCR studies indicated five-fold and ten-fold higher relative expression level of AiSQS in fruits as compared to leaves and flowers, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Triterpenoid profiling indicated that there is tissue specific variation in their abundance. The mature seed kernel and initial stages of pericarp were found to contain the highest amount of limonoids. Furthermore, a wide diversity of triterpenoids, especially C-seco triterpenoids were observed in kernel as compared to the other tissues. Pericarp, flower and leaf contained mainly ring-intact triterpenoids. The initial genes such as AiGDS, AiFDS and AiSQS involved in the isoprenoids biosynthesis have been functionally characterized. The expression levels of AiFDS and AiSQS were found to be in correlation with the total triterpenoid content in individual tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Avinash Pandreka
- Chemical Biology Unit, Division of Organic Chemistry, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune, 411008, India.
- CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, Mall Road, New Delhi, 110007, India.
| | - Devdutta S Dandekar
- Chemical Biology Unit, Division of Organic Chemistry, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune, 411008, India.
| | - Saikat Haldar
- Chemical Biology Unit, Division of Organic Chemistry, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune, 411008, India.
| | - Vairagkar Uttara
- Chemical Biology Unit, Division of Organic Chemistry, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune, 411008, India.
| | - Shinde G Vijayshree
- Chemical Biology Unit, Division of Organic Chemistry, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune, 411008, India.
| | - Fayaj A Mulani
- Chemical Biology Unit, Division of Organic Chemistry, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune, 411008, India.
| | - Thiagarayaselvam Aarthy
- Chemical Biology Unit, Division of Organic Chemistry, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune, 411008, India.
| | - Hirekodathakallu V Thulasiram
- Chemical Biology Unit, Division of Organic Chemistry, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune, 411008, India.
- CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, Mall Road, New Delhi, 110007, India.
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25
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Zhuang X, Chappell J. Building terpene production platforms in yeast. Biotechnol Bioeng 2015; 112:1854-64. [DOI: 10.1002/bit.25588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2015] [Accepted: 03/04/2015] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Xun Zhuang
- Departments of Plant & Soil Science and Pharmaceutical Sciences; University of Kentucky; Lexington Kentucky
| | - Joe Chappell
- Departments of Plant & Soil Science and Pharmaceutical Sciences; University of Kentucky; Lexington Kentucky
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26
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Production of squalene by squalene synthases and their truncated mutants in Escherichia coli. J Biosci Bioeng 2015; 119:165-71. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiosc.2014.07.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2014] [Revised: 07/31/2014] [Accepted: 07/31/2014] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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27
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Pan JJ, Solbiati JO, Ramamoorthy G, Hillerich B, Seidel RD, Cronan JE, Almo SC, Poulter CD. Biosynthesis of Squalene from Farnesyl Diphosphate in Bacteria: Three Steps Catalyzed by Three Enzymes. ACS CENTRAL SCIENCE 2015; 1:77-82. [PMID: 26258173 PMCID: PMC4527182 DOI: 10.1021/acscentsci.5b00115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Squalene (SQ) is an intermediate in the biosynthesis of sterols in eukaryotes and a few bacteria and of hopanoids in bacteria where they promote membrane stability and the formation of lipid rafts in their hosts. The genes for hopanoid biosynthesis are typically located on clusters that consist of four highly conserved genes-hpnC, hpnD, hpnE, and hpnF-for conversion of farnesyl diphosphate (FPP) to hopene or related pentacyclic metabolites. While hpnF is known to encode a squalene cyclase, the functions for hpnC, hpnD, and hpnE are not rigorously established. The hpnC, hpnD, and hpnE genes from Zymomonas mobilis and Rhodopseudomonas palustris were cloned into Escherichia coli, a bacterium that does not contain genes homologous to hpnC, hpnD, and hpnE, and their functions were established in vitro and in vivo. HpnD catalyzes formation of presqualene diphosphate (PSPP) from two molecules of FPP; HpnC converts PSPP to hydroxysqualene (HSQ); and HpnE, a member of the amine oxidoreductase family, reduces HSQ to SQ. Collectively the reactions catalyzed by these three enzymes constitute a new pathway for biosynthesis of SQ in bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian-Jung Pan
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States
| | - Jose O. Solbiati
- Institute
for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois
at Urbana−Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | | | - Brandan
S. Hillerich
- Department
of Biochemistry, Albert Einstein College
of Medicine, Bronx, New York 10461, United
States
| | - Ronald D. Seidel
- Department
of Biochemistry, Albert Einstein College
of Medicine, Bronx, New York 10461, United
States
| | - John E. Cronan
- Department
of Microbiology, University of Illinois
at Urbana−Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Steven C. Almo
- Department
of Biochemistry, Albert Einstein College
of Medicine, Bronx, New York 10461, United
States
| | - C. Dale Poulter
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States
- E-mail:
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28
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Yang T, Gao L, Hu H, Stoopen G, Wang C, Jongsma MA. Chrysanthemyl diphosphate synthase operates in planta as a bifunctional enzyme with chrysanthemol synthase activity. J Biol Chem 2014; 289:36325-35. [PMID: 25378387 PMCID: PMC4276892 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m114.623348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2014] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Chrysanthemyl diphosphate synthase (CDS) is the first pathway-specific enzyme in the biosynthesis of pyrethrins, the most widely used plant-derived pesticide. CDS catalyzes c1'-2-3 cyclopropanation reactions of two molecules of dimethylallyl diphosphate (DMAPP) to yield chrysanthemyl diphosphate (CPP). Three proteins are known to catalyze this cyclopropanation reaction of terpene precursors. Two of them, phytoene and squalene synthase, are bifunctional enzymes with both prenyltransferase and terpene synthase activity. CDS, the other member, has been reported to perform only the prenyltransferase step. Here we show that the NDXXD catalytic motif of CDS, under the lower substrate conditions prevalent in plants, also catalyzes the next step, converting CPP into chrysanthemol by hydrolyzing the diphosphate moiety. The enzymatic hydrolysis reaction followed conventional Michaelis-Menten kinetics, with a Km value for CPP of 196 μm. For the chrysanthemol synthase activity, DMAPP competed with CPP as substrate. The DMAPP concentration required for half-maximal activity to produce chrysanthemol was ∼100 μm, and significant substrate inhibition was observed at elevated DMAPP concentrations. The N-terminal peptide of CDS was identified as a plastid-targeting peptide. Transgenic tobacco plants overexpressing CDS emitted chrysanthemol at a rate of 0.12-0.16 μg h(-1) g(-1) fresh weight. We propose that CDS should be renamed a chrysanthemol synthase utilizing DMAPP as substrate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Yang
- From Business Unit PRI-Bioscience, Wageningen UR, P.O. Box 16, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands, the Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen UR, P.O. Box 8031, 6700 EH Wageningen, The Netherlands, the Laboratory of Plant Physiology, Wageningen UR, P.O. Box 658, 6700 AR Wageningen, The Netherlands, and
| | - Liping Gao
- From Business Unit PRI-Bioscience, Wageningen UR, P.O. Box 16, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Hao Hu
- the Key Laboratory for Biology of Horticultural Plants, Ministry of Education, College of Horticulture and Forestry Sciences, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Geert Stoopen
- From Business Unit PRI-Bioscience, Wageningen UR, P.O. Box 16, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Caiyun Wang
- the Key Laboratory for Biology of Horticultural Plants, Ministry of Education, College of Horticulture and Forestry Sciences, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Maarten A Jongsma
- From Business Unit PRI-Bioscience, Wageningen UR, P.O. Box 16, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands,
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29
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Ohtake K, Saito N, Shibuya S, Kobayashi W, Amano R, Hirai T, Sasaki S, Nakano C, Hoshino T. Biochemical characterization of the water-soluble squalene synthase fromMethylococcus capsulatusand the functional analyses of its two DXXD(E)D motifs and the highly conserved aromatic amino acid residues. FEBS J 2014; 281:5479-97. [DOI: 10.1111/febs.13090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2014] [Revised: 09/12/2014] [Accepted: 09/30/2014] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kana Ohtake
- Department of Applied Biological Chemistry; Faculty of Agriculture and Graduate School of Science and Technology; Niigata University; Japan
| | - Naoki Saito
- Department of Applied Biological Chemistry; Faculty of Agriculture and Graduate School of Science and Technology; Niigata University; Japan
| | - Satoshi Shibuya
- Department of Applied Biological Chemistry; Faculty of Agriculture and Graduate School of Science and Technology; Niigata University; Japan
| | - Wakako Kobayashi
- Department of Applied Biological Chemistry; Faculty of Agriculture and Graduate School of Science and Technology; Niigata University; Japan
| | - Ryosuke Amano
- Department of Applied Biological Chemistry; Faculty of Agriculture and Graduate School of Science and Technology; Niigata University; Japan
| | - Takumi Hirai
- Department of Applied Biological Chemistry; Faculty of Agriculture and Graduate School of Science and Technology; Niigata University; Japan
| | - Shinji Sasaki
- Department of Applied Biological Chemistry; Faculty of Agriculture and Graduate School of Science and Technology; Niigata University; Japan
| | - Chiaki Nakano
- Department of Applied Biological Chemistry; Faculty of Agriculture and Graduate School of Science and Technology; Niigata University; Japan
| | - Tsutomu Hoshino
- Department of Applied Biological Chemistry; Faculty of Agriculture and Graduate School of Science and Technology; Niigata University; Japan
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30
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Sørensen DM, Holen HW, Holemans T, Vangheluwe P, Palmgren MG. Towards defining the substrate of orphan P5A-ATPases. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2014; 1850:524-35. [PMID: 24836520 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2014.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2014] [Revised: 05/05/2014] [Accepted: 05/06/2014] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND P-type ATPases are ubiquitous ion and lipid pumps found in cellular membranes. P5A-ATPases constitute a poorly characterized subfamily of P-type ATPases present in all eukaryotic organisms but for which a transported substrate remains to be identified. SCOPE OF REVIEW This review aims to discuss the available evidence which could lead to identification of possible substrates of P5A-ATPases. MAJOR CONCLUSIONS The complex phenotypes resulting from the loss of P5A-ATPases in model organisms can be explained by a role of the P5A-ATPase in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), where loss of function leads to broad and unspecific phenotypes related to the impairment of basic ER functions such as protein folding and processing. Genetic interactions in Saccharomyces cerevisiae point to a role of the endogenous P5A-ATPase Spf1p in separation of charges in the ER, in sterol metabolism, and in insertion of tail-anchored proteins in the ER membrane. A role for P5A-ATPases in vesicle formation would explain why sterol transport and distribution are affected in knock out cells, which in turn has a negative impact on the spontaneous insertion of tail-anchored proteins. It would also explain why secretory proteins destined for the Golgi and the cell wall have difficulties in reaching their final destination. Cations and phospholipids could both be transported substrates of P5A-ATPases and as each carry charges, transport of either might explain why a charge difference arises across the ER membrane. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE Identification of the substrate of P5A-ATPases would throw light on an important general process in the ER that is still not fully understood. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Structural biochemistry and biophysics of membrane proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danny Mollerup Sørensen
- Centre for Membrane Pumps in Cells and Disease-PUMPkin, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, DK-1871 Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Henrik Waldal Holen
- Centre for Membrane Pumps in Cells and Disease-PUMPkin, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, DK-1871 Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Tine Holemans
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, ON1 Campus Gasthuisberg, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Herestraat 49, Box 802, B3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Peter Vangheluwe
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, ON1 Campus Gasthuisberg, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Herestraat 49, Box 802, B3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Michael G Palmgren
- Centre for Membrane Pumps in Cells and Disease-PUMPkin, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, DK-1871 Frederiksberg C, Denmark.
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31
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Liu CI, Jeng WY, Chang WJ, Shih MF, Ko TP, Wang AHJ. Structural insights into the catalytic mechanism of human squalene synthase. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014; 70:231-41. [PMID: 24531458 DOI: 10.1107/s1399004713026230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2013] [Accepted: 09/23/2013] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Squalene synthase (SQS) is a divalent metal-ion-dependent enzyme that catalyzes the two-step reductive `head-to-head' condensation of two molecules of farnesyl pyrophosphate to form squalene using presqualene diphosphate (PSPP) as an intermediate. In this paper, the structures of human SQS and its mutants in complex with several substrate analogues and intermediates coordinated with Mg2+ or Mn2+ are presented, which stepwise delineate the biosynthetic pathway. Extensive study of the SQS active site has identified several critical residues that are involved in binding reduced nicotinamide dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH). Based on mutagenesis data and a locally closed (JK loop-in) structure observed in the hSQS-(F288L)-PSPP complex, an NADPH-binding model is proposed for SQS. The results identified four major steps (substrate binding, condensation, intermediate formation and translocation) of the ordered sequential mechanisms involved in the `1'-1' isoprenoid biosynthetic pathway. These new findings clarify previous hypotheses based on site-directed mutagenesis and biochemical analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chia-I Liu
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Yih Jeng
- University Center for Bioscience and Biotechnology, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70101, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Jung Chang
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
| | - Min-Fang Shih
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
| | - Tzu-Ping Ko
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
| | - Andrew H-J Wang
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
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32
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Cloning, expression and characterization of squalene synthase from Inonotus obliquus. Genes Genomics 2013. [DOI: 10.1007/s13258-013-0113-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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33
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Engineered heterologous FPP synthases-mediated Z,E-FPP synthesis in E. coli. Metab Eng 2013; 18:53-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ymben.2013.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2012] [Revised: 01/21/2013] [Accepted: 04/01/2013] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
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34
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Shuiqin W, Zuodong J, Chase K, Eric Nybo S, Husodo S, Williams R, Chappell J. Engineering triterpene metabolism in tobacco. PLANTA 2012; 236:867-77. [PMID: 22729821 PMCID: PMC3810399 DOI: 10.1007/s00425-012-1680-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2012] [Accepted: 05/29/2012] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Terpenes comprise a distinct class of natural products that serve a diverse range of physiological functions, provide for interactions between plants and their environment and represent a resource for many kinds of practical applications. To better appreciate the importance of terpenes to overall growth and development, and to create a production capacity for specific terpenes of industrial interest, we have pioneered the development of strategies for diverting carbon flow from the native terpene biosynthetic pathways operating in the cytosol and plastid compartments of tobacco for the generation of specific classes of terpenes. In the current work, we demonstrate how difficult it is to divert the 5-carbon intermediates DMAPP and IPP from the mevalonate pathway operating in the cytoplasm for triterpene biosynthesis, yet diversion of the same intermediates from the methylerythritol phosphate pathway operating in the plastid compartment leads to the accumulation of very high levels of the triterpene squalene. This was assessed by the co-expression of an avian farnesyl diphosphate synthase and yeast squalene synthase genes targeting metabolism in the cytoplasm or chloroplast. We also evaluated the possibility of directing this metabolism to the secretory trichomes of tobacco by comparing the effects of trichome-specific gene promoters to strong, constitutive viral promoters. Surprisingly, when transgene expression was directed to trichomes, high-level squalene accumulation was observed, but overall plant growth and physiology were reduced up to 80 % of the non-transgenic controls. Our results support the notion that the biosynthesis of a desired terpene can be dramatically improved by directing that metabolism to a non-native cellular compartment, thus avoiding regulatory mechanisms that might attenuate carbon flux within an engineered pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wu Shuiqin
- Plant Biology Program, Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546-0312, USA
| | - Jiang Zuodong
- Plant Biology Program, Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546-0312, USA
| | - Kempinski Chase
- Plant Biology Program, Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546-0312, USA
| | - S. Eric Nybo
- Plant Biology Program, Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546-0312, USA
| | - Satrio Husodo
- Plant Biology Program, Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546-0312, USA
| | - Robert Williams
- Plant Biology Program, Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546-0312, USA
| | - Joe Chappell
- Plant Biology Program, Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546-0312, USA
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35
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Gupta N, Sharma P, Santosh Kumar RJ, Vishwakarma RK, Khan BM. Functional characterization and differential expression studies of squalene synthase from Withania somnifera. Mol Biol Rep 2012; 39:8803-12. [PMID: 22718506 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-012-1743-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2011] [Accepted: 06/07/2012] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Squalene synthase (SQS: EC 2.5.1.21) is a potential branch point regulatory enzyme and represents the first committed step to diverge the carbon flux from the main isoprenoid pathway towards sterol biosynthesis. In the present study, cloning and characterization of Withania somnifera squalene synthase (WsSQS) cDNA was investigated subsequently followed by its heterologous expression and preliminary enzyme activity. Two different types of WsSQS cDNA clones (WsSQS1and WsSQS2) were identified that contained an open reading frames of 1,236 and 1,242 bp encoding polypeptides of 412 and 414 amino acids respectively. Both WsSQS isoforms share 99 % similarity and identity with each other. WsSQS deduced amino acids sequences, when compared with SQS of other plant species, showed maximum similarity and identity with Capsicum annuum followed by Solanum tuberosum and Nicotiana tabacum. To obtain soluble recombinant enzymes, 24 hydrophobic amino acids were deleted from the carboxy terminus and expressed as 6X His-Tag fusion protein in Escherichia coli. Approximately 43 kDa recombinant protein was purified using Ni-NTA affinity chromatography and checked on SDS-PAGE. Preliminary activity of the purified enzymes was determined and the products were analyzed by gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GC-MS). Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis showed that WsSQS expresses more in young leaves than mature leaves, stem and root.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neha Gupta
- Plant Tissue Culture Division, National Chemical Laboratory, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune 411008, Maharashtra, India
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Olofsson L, Engström A, Lundgren A, Brodelius PE. Relative expression of genes of terpene metabolism in different tissues of Artemisia annua L. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2011; 11:45. [PMID: 21388533 PMCID: PMC3063820 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2229-11-45] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2010] [Accepted: 03/09/2011] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recently, Artemisia annua L. (annual or sweet wormwood) has received increasing attention due to the fact that the plant produces the sesquiterpenoid endoperoxide artemisinin, which today is widely used for treatment of malaria. The plant produces relatively small amounts of artemisinin and a worldwide shortage of the drug has led to intense research in order to increase the yield of artemisinin. In order to improve our understanding of terpene metabolism in the plant and to evaluate the competition for precursors, which may influence the yield of artemisinin, we have used qPCR to estimate the expression of 14 genes of terpene metabolism in different tissues. RESULTS The four genes of the artemisinin biosynthetic pathway (amorpha-4,11-diene synthase, amorphadiene-12-hydroxylase, artemisinic aldehyde ∆11(13) reductase and aldehyde dehydrogenase 1) showed remarkably higher expression (between ~40- to ~500-fold) in flower buds and young leaves compared to other tissues (old leaves, stems, roots, hairy root cultures). Further, dihydroartemisinic aldehyde reductase showed a very high expression only in hairy root cultures. Germacrene A and caryophyllene synthase were mostly expressed in young leaves and flower buds while epi-cedrol synthase was highly expressed in old leaves. 3-Hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl coenzyme A reductase exhibited lower expression in old leaves compared to other tissues. Farnesyldiphosphate synthase, squalene synthase, and 1-deoxy-D-xylulose-5-phosphate reductoisomerase showed only modest variation in expression in the different tissues, while expression of 1-deoxy-D-xylulose-5-phosphate synthase was 7-8-fold higher in flower buds and young leaves compared to old leaves. CONCLUSIONS Four genes of artemisinin biosynthesis were highly expressed in flower buds and young leaves (tissues showing a high density of glandular trichomes). The expression of dihydroartemisinic aldehyde reductase has been suggested to have a negative effect on artemisinin production through reduction of dihydroartemisinic aldehyde to dihydroartemisinic alcohol. However, our results show that this enzyme is expressed only at low levels in tissues producing artemisinin and consequently its effect on artemisinin production may be limited. Finally, squalene synthase but not other sesquiterpene synthases appears to be a significant competitor for farnesyl diphosphate in artemisinin-producing tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda Olofsson
- School of Natural Sciences, Linnaeus University, SE-39182 Kalmar, Sweden
| | - Alexander Engström
- School of Natural Sciences, Linnaeus University, SE-39182 Kalmar, Sweden
| | - Anneli Lundgren
- School of Natural Sciences, Linnaeus University, SE-39182 Kalmar, Sweden
| | - Peter E Brodelius
- School of Natural Sciences, Linnaeus University, SE-39182 Kalmar, Sweden
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Koohang A, Bailey JL, Coates RM, Erickson HK, Owen D, Poulter CD. Enantioselective inhibition of squalene synthase by aziridine analogues of presqualene diphosphate. J Org Chem 2010; 75:4769-77. [PMID: 20545375 DOI: 10.1021/jo100718z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Squalene synthase catalyzes the conversion of two molecules of (E,E)-farnesyl diphosphate to squalene via the cyclopropylcarbinyl intermediate, presqualene diphosphate (PSPP). Since this novel reaction constitutes the first committed step in sterol biosynthesis, there has been considerable interest and research on the stereochemistry and mechanism of the process and in the design of selective inhibitors of the enzyme. This paper reports the synthesis and characterization of five racemic and two enantiopure aziridine analogues of PSPP and the evaluation of their potencies as inhibitors of recombinant yeast squalene synthase. The key aziridine-2-methanol intermediates (6-OH, 7-OH, and 8-OH) were obtained by N-alkylations or by an N-acylation-reduction sequence of (+/-)-, (2R,3S)-, and (2S,3R)-2,3-aziridinofarnesol (9-OH) protected as tert-butyldimethylsilyl ethers. S(N)2 displacements of the corresponding methanesulfonates with pyrophosphate and methanediphosphonate anions afforded aziridine 2-methyl diphosphates and methanediphosphonates bearing N-undecyl, N-bishomogeranyl, and N-(alpha-methylene)bishomogeranyl substituents as mimics for the 2,6,10-trimethylundeca-2,5,9-trienyl side chain of PSPP. The 2R,3S diphosphate enantiomer bearing the N-bishomogeranyl substituent corresponding in absolute stereochemistry to PSPP proved to be the most potent inhibitor (IC(50) 1.17 +/- 0.08 muM in the presence of inorganic pyrophosphate), a value 4-fold less than that of its 2S,3R stereoisomer. The other aziridine analogues bearing the N-(alpha-methylene)bishomogeranyl and N-undecyl substituents, and the related methanediphosphonates, exhibited lower affinities for recombinant squalene synthase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Koohang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois, 600 South Mathews Avenue, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
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Cloning and characterization of squalene synthase gene from Fusarium fujikuroi (Saw.) Wr. J Ind Microbiol Biotechnol 2010; 37:1171-82. [DOI: 10.1007/s10295-010-0764-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2010] [Accepted: 06/07/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Poulter CD. Bioorganic chemistry. A natural reunion of the physical and life sciences. J Org Chem 2009; 74:2631-45. [PMID: 19323569 DOI: 10.1021/jo900183c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Organic substances were conceived as those found in living organisms. Although the definition was soon broadened to include all carbon-containing compounds, naturally occurring molecules have always held a special fascination for organic chemists. From these beginnings, molecules from nature were indespensible tools as generations of organic chemists developed new techniques for determining structures, analyzed the mechanisms of reactions, explored the effects conformation and stereochemistry on reactions, and found challenging new targets to synthesize. Only recently have organic chemists harnessed the powerful techniques of organic chemistry to study the functions of organic molecules in their biological hosts, the enzymes that synthesize molecules and the complex processes that occur in a cell. In this Perspective, I present a personal account of my entree into bioorganic chemistry as a physical organic chemist and subsequent work to understand the chemical mechanisms of enzyme-catalyzed reactions, to develop techniques to identify and assign hydrogen bonds in tRNAs through NMR studies with isotopically labeled molecules, and to study how structure determines function in biosynthetic enzymes with proteins obtained by genetic engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Dale Poulter
- Department of Chemistry, University of Utah, 315 South 1400 East RM 2020, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, USA.
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Cloning, solubilization, and characterization of squalene synthase from Thermosynechococcus elongatus BP-1. J Bacteriol 2008; 190:3808-16. [PMID: 18375558 DOI: 10.1128/jb.01939-07] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Squalene synthase (SQS) is a bifunctional enzyme that catalyzes the condensation of two molecules of farnesyl diphosphate (FPP) to give presqualene diphosphate (PSPP) and the subsequent rearrangement of PSPP to squalene. These reactions constitute the first pathway-specific steps in hopane biosynthesis in Bacteria and sterol biosynthesis in Eukarya. The genes encoding SQS were isolated from the hopane-producing bacteria Thermosynechococcus elongatus BP-1, Bradyrhizobium japonicum, and Zymomonas mobilis and cloned into an Escherichia coli expression system. The expressed proteins with a His(6) tag were found exclusively in inclusion bodies when no additives were used in the buffer. After extensive optimization, soluble recombinant T. elongatus BP-1 SQS was obtained when cells were disrupted and purified in buffers containing glycerol. The recombinant B. japonicum and Z. mobilis SQSs could not be solubilized under any of the expression and purification conditions used. Purified T. elongatus His(6)-SQS gave a single band at 42 kDa by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and molecular ion at m/z 41886 by electrospray mass spectrometry. Incubation with FPP and NADPH gave squalene as the sole product. Incubation of the enzyme with [(14)C]FPP in the absence of NADPH gave PSPP. The enzyme requires Mg(2+) for activity, has an optimum pH of 7.6, and is strongly stimulated by detergent. Under optimal conditions, the K(m) of FPP is 0.97 +/- 0.10 microM and the k(cat) is 1.74 +/- 0.04 s(-1). Zaragozic acid A, a potent inhibitor of mammalian, fungal, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae SQSs, also inhibited recombinant T. elongatus BP-1 SQS, with a 50% inhibitory concentration of 95.5 +/- 13.6 nM.
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Sealey-Cardona M, Cammerer S, Jones S, Ruiz-Pérez LM, Brun R, Gilbert IH, Urbina JA, González-Pacanowska D. Kinetic characterization of squalene synthase from Trypanosoma cruzi: selective inhibition by quinuclidine derivatives. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2007; 51:2123-9. [PMID: 17371809 PMCID: PMC1891404 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01454-06] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The biosynthesis of sterols is a major route for the development of antitrypanosomals. Squalene synthase (SQS) catalyzes the first step committed to the biosynthesis of sterols within the isoprenoid pathway, and several inhibitors of the enzyme have selective antitrypanosomal activity both in vivo and in vitro. The enzyme from Trypanosoma cruzi is a 404-amino-acid protein with a clearly identifiable membrane-spanning region. In an effort to generate soluble recombinant enzyme, we have expressed in Escherichia coli several truncated versions of T. cruzi SQS with a His tag attached to the amino terminus. Deletions of both the amino- and carboxyl-terminal regions generated active and soluble forms of the enzyme. The highest levels of soluble protein were achieved when 24 and 36 amino acids were eliminated from the amino and carboxyl regions, respectively, yielding a protein of 41.67 kDa. The Michaelis-Menten constants of the purified enzyme for farnesyl diphosphate and NAD (NADPH) were 5.25 and 23.34 microM, respectively, whereas the V(max) was 1,428.56 nmol min(-1)mg(-1). Several quinuclidine derivatives with antiprotozoal activity in vitro were found to be selective inhibitors of recombinant T. cruzi SQS in comparative assays with the human enzyme, with 50% inhibitory concentration values in the nanomolar range. These data suggest that selective inhibition of T. cruzi SQS may be an efficient strategy for the development of new antitrypanosomal agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Sealey-Cardona
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina "López-Neyra," Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Avda. del Conocimiento s/n, Parque Tecnológico de Ciencias de la Salud, 18100-Armilla, Granada, Spain
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Abstract
Isoprenoids represent the oldest class of known low molecular-mass natural products synthesized by plants. Their biogenesis in plastids, mitochondria and the endoplasmic reticulum-cytosol proceed invariably from the C5 building blocks, isopentenyl diphosphate and/or dimethylallyl diphosphate according to complex and reiterated mechanisms. Compounds derived from the pathway exhibit a diverse spectrum of biological functions. This review centers on advances obtained in the field based on combined use of biochemical, molecular biology and genetic approaches. The function and evolutionary implications of this metabolism are discussed in relation with seminal informations gathered from distantly but related organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florence Bouvier
- Institut de Biologie Moléculaire des Plantes du CNRS (UPR2357) et Université Louis Pasteur, 12 rue du Général Zimmer, 67084 Strasbourg Cedex, France
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Okada S, Devarenne TP, Murakami M, Abe H, Chappell J. Characterization of botryococcene synthase enzyme activity, a squalene synthase-like activity from the green microalga Botryococcus braunii, Race B. Arch Biochem Biophys 2004; 422:110-8. [PMID: 14725863 DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2003.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The extracellular matrix of the alga Botryococcus braunii, Race B, consists mainly of botryococcenes, which have potential as a hydrocarbon fuel. Botryococcenes are structurally similar to squalene raising the possibility of a common enzyme for the biosynthesis of both. While B. braunii squalene synthase (SS) enzyme activity has been documented, botryococcene synthase (BS) enzyme activity has not been. In the current study, an assay for BS activity has been developed and used to show that many of the assay conditions for BS enzyme activity are similar to those of SS. However, SS enzyme activity is stimulated by Tween 80 while BS enzyme activity is inhibited. Moreover, BS enzyme activity was correlated with the accumulation of botryococcenes during a B. braunii culture growth cycle, which was distinctly different from the profile of SS enzyme activity. While the current results indicate a conservation of enzymological features amongst the BS and SS enzymes, raising the possibility of one enzyme capable of catalyzing both activities, they are also consistent with these two activities arising from separate and distinct enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shigeru Okada
- Laboratory of Marine Biochemistry, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
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Wessjohann LA, Brandt W, Thiemann T. Biosynthesis and metabolism of cyclopropane rings in natural compounds. Chem Rev 2003; 103:1625-48. [PMID: 12683792 DOI: 10.1021/cr0100188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 477] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ludger A Wessjohann
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Weinberg 3, D-06120 Halle, Germany.
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Pichler H, Gaigg B, Hrastnik C, Achleitner G, Kohlwein SD, Zellnig G, Perktold A, Daum G. A subfraction of the yeast endoplasmic reticulum associates with the plasma membrane and has a high capacity to synthesize lipids. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF BIOCHEMISTRY 2001; 268:2351-61. [PMID: 11298754 DOI: 10.1046/j.1432-1327.2001.02116.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 218] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Large parts of the endoplasmic reticulum of the yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, are located close to intracellular organelles, i.e. mitochondria and the plasma membrane, as shown by fluorescence and electron microscopy. Here we report the isolation and characterization of the subfraction of the endoplasmic reticulum that is closely associated with the plasma membrane. This plasma membrane associated membrane (PAM) is characterized by its high capacity to synthesize phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylinositol. As such, PAM is reminiscent of MAM, a mitochondria associated membrane fraction of the yeast [Gaigg, B., Simbeni, R., Hrastnik, C., Paltauf, F. & Daum, G. (1995) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1234, 214-220], although the specific activity of phosphatidylserine synthase and phosphatidylinositol synthase in PAM exceeds several-fold the activity in MAM and also in the bulk endoplasmic reticulum. In addition, several enzymes involved in ergosterol biosynthesis, namely squalene synthase (Erg9p), squalene epoxidase (Erg1p) and steroldelta24-methyltransferase (Erg6p), are highly enriched in PAM. A possible role of PAM in the supply of lipids to the plasma membrane is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Pichler
- Institut für Biochemie, Technische Universität, and SFB Biomembrane Research Center, Graz, Austria
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Okada S, Devarenne TP, Chappell J. Molecular characterization of squalene synthase from the green microalga Botryococcus braunii, race B. Arch Biochem Biophys 2000; 373:307-17. [PMID: 10620354 DOI: 10.1006/abbi.1999.1568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The green microalga Botryococcus braunii produces large amounts of liquid hydrocarbons and is classified into three races, depending on the type of the hydrocarbon produced. The B race produces two types of triterpenoid hydrocarbons, squalene and botryococcene, both of which are putative condensation products of farnesyl diphosphate. In an attempt to better understand the regulation involved in the production of squalene and botryococcene, we have isolated and characterized a squalene synthase (SS) gene from the B race of B. braunii. A 366-bp cDNA fragment was initially obtained from the B race utilizing a reverse transcription/polymerase chain reaction and degenerate primers based on conserved amino acid sequences found in all SS enzymes. Using this putative SS fragment as a probe, a 2632-bp cDNA clone was isolated from a cDNA library. This cDNA contained an open reading frame coding for a protein with 461 amino acids and a predicted molecular mass of 52.5 kDa. Comparison of the Botryococcus SS (BSS) with SS from different organisms showed 52% identity with Nicotiana tabacum, 51% with Arabidopsis thaliana, 48% with Zea mays, 40% with rat, 39% with yeast, and 26% with Zymomonas mobilis. Expression of full-length and carboxy-terminus truncated BSS cDNA in Escherichia coli resulted in significant levels of bacterial SS enzyme activity but no botryococcene synthase activity. RNA blot hybridization analysis of algal cultures during a culture cycle indicated that BSS gene expression is preferential during rapid growth. Given that the DNA blot analysis indicated only a single copy of the SS gene in the algal genome, these results suggest either that there exists coordinate expression of separate synthase genes for squalene and botryococcene biosynthesis or that there might be unique physiological conditions controlling the SS vs botryococcene synthase activity of a single peptide species.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Okada
- Agronomy Department, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, 40546-0091, USA
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Koohang A, Coates RM, Owen D, Poulter CD. Synthesis and Evaluation of Aziridine Analogues of Presqualene Diphosphate as Squalene Synthase Inhibitors. J Org Chem 1999; 64:6-7. [PMID: 11674074 DOI: 10.1021/jo981833z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ali Koohang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112
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Thompson JF, Danley DE, Mazzalupo S, Milos PM, Lira ME, Harwood HJ. Truncation of human squalene synthase yields active, crystallizable protein. Arch Biochem Biophys 1998; 350:283-90. [PMID: 9473303 DOI: 10.1006/abbi.1997.0502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Squalene synthase catalyzes the first committed step in cholesterol biosynthesis and thus is important as a potential target for therapeutic intervention. In order to determine the important functional domains of the protein, the amino and carboxyl terminal regions thought to be involved in membrane association of the enzyme were removed genetically. The 30 N-terminal amino acids were deleted with no apparent effect on activity. Additional deletion of 81 or 97 amino acids from the C-terminus completely ablated activity. However, a protein with a C-terminal deletion of 47 amino acids retained full activity. The latter enzyme was readily overexpressed in Escherichia coli and purified to homogeneity. The pure, doubly truncated enzyme exhibited a specific activity similar to that reported for the protease-solubilized rat liver enzyme, had a KM for farnesyl diphosphate similar to that observed for native enzyme, and was inhibited by anionic compounds to the same degree as native enzyme. Using the vapor diffusion method, the protein was crystallized as an enzyme-inhibitor complex, yielding orthorhombic crystals which diffracted to 2.2 A.
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Affiliation(s)
- J F Thompson
- Central Research Division, Pfizer Inc., Groton, Connecticut 06340, USA.
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Devarenne TP, Shin DH, Back K, Yin S, Chappell J. Molecular characterization of tobacco squalene synthase and regulation in response to fungal elicitor. Arch Biochem Biophys 1998; 349:205-15. [PMID: 9448707 DOI: 10.1006/abbi.1997.0463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
The enzyme squalene synthase (SS) represents the first commitment of carbon from the general isoprenoid pathway toward sterol biosynthesis and is a potential point for regulation of sterol biosynthesis. The isolation and characterization of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) squalene synthase (TSS) cDNA and genomic DNA clones, as well as determination of the steady state level of TSS mRNA in response to elicitor treatment, were investigated. cDNA clones for TSS were isolated from poly (A)+ RNA using a reverse transcription/polymerase chain reaction (RT/PCR) method. A 1233-bp cDNA clone was generated that contained an open reading frame of 411 amino acids giving a predicted molecular mass of 46.9 kDa. Comparison of the TSS deduced amino acid sequence with currently described SS from different species showed the highest identify with Nicotiana benthamiana (97%), followed by Glycyrrhiza glabra (81%), Arabidopsis thaliana (74%), rat (40%), and yeast (37%). Expression of a soluble form of the TSS enzyme with enzymatic activity in Escherichia coli was achieved by truncating 24 hydrophobic amino acids at the carboxy terminus. Characterization of genomic TSS (gTSS) revealed a gene of 7.086 kb with a complex organization of small exons and large introns not typical of plant genes. Southern blot hybridization indicated only two copies of the SS gene in the tobacco genome. Treatment of tobacco cell suspension cultures with a fungal elicitor dramatically reduced TSS enzymatic activity, lowering it to zero within 24 h. Analysis of TSS mRNA levels, by RNA blot hybridization and primer extension assays, in elicitor-treated cells indicated that the transcript level remained largely unchanged over this 24-h period. These results suggest that the suppression of TSS enzyme activity in elicitor-treated cells may result from a posttranscriptional modification of TSS.
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Affiliation(s)
- T P Devarenne
- Agronomy Department, University of Kentucky, Lexington 40546-0091, USA
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