Improved beta-thujaplicin production in Cupressus lusitanica suspension cultures by fungal elicitor and methyl jasmonate

One hundred years of benzotropone chemistry

This review focuses on the chemistry of benzo-annulated tropones and tropolones reported since the beginning of the 20th century, which are currently used as tools by the synthetic and biological communities.

The regulatory mechanism of fungal elicitor-induced secondary metabolite biosynthesis in medical plants

A wide range of external stress stimuli trigger plant cells to undergo complex network of reactions that ultimately lead to the synthesis and accumulation of secondary metabolites. Accumulation of such metabolites often occurs in plants subjected to stresses including various elicitors or signal molecules. Throughout evolution, endophytic fungi, an important constituent in the environment of medicinal plants, have known to form long-term stable and mutually beneficial symbiosis with medicinal plants. The endophytic fungal elicitor can rapidly and specifically induce the expression of specific genes in medicinal plants which can result in the activation of a series of specific secondary metabolic pathways resulting in the significant accumulation of active ingredients. Here we summarize the progress made on the mechanisms of fungal elicitor including elicitor signal recognition, signal transduction, gene expression and activation of the key enzymes and its application. This review provides guidance on studies which may be conducted to promote the efficient synthesis and accumulation of active ingredients by the endogenous fungal elicitor in medicinal plant cells, and provides new ideas and methods of studying the regulation of secondary metabolism in medicinal plants.

Novel α-substituted tropolones promote potent and selective caspase-dependent leukemia cell apoptosis

Tropolones, such as β-thujaplicin, are small lead-like natural products that possess a variety of biological activities. While the β-substituted natural products and their synthetic analogs are potent inhibitors of human cancer cell growth, less is known about their α-substituted counterparts. Recently, we synthesized a series of α-substituted tropolones including 2-hydroxy-7-(naphthalen-2-yl)cyclohepta-2,4,6-trien-1-one (α-naphthyl tropolone). Here, we evaluate the antiproliferative mechanisms of α-naphthyl tropolone and the related α-benzodioxinyl analog. The α-substituted tropolones inhibit growth of lymphocytic leukemia cells, but not healthy blood cells, with nanomolar potency. Treatment of leukemia cell lines with the tropolone dose-dependently induces apoptosis as judged by staining with annexin V and propidium iodide and Western blot analysis of cleaved caspase 3 and 7. Moreover, pre-treatment of cells with the caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK inhibited the apoptotic effects of the tropolone in two lymphocytic lines. Caspase inhibition also blocked elevated histone acetylation caused by the tropolone, indicating that its effects on histone acetylation are potentiated by caspases. In contrast, α-naphthyl tropolone upregulated p53 expression and phosphorylation of Akt and mTOR in a manner that was not rescued by caspase inhibition. The effects of tropolone were blocked by co-incubation with high levels of free extracellular iron but not by pre-loading with iron. Additionally, dose and time dependent reduction in ex vivo viability of cells from leukemia patients was observed. Taken together, we demonstrate that α-substituted tropolones upregulate DNA damage repair pathways leading to caspase-dependent apoptosis in malignant lymphocytes.

Molecular and functional characterization of the HbSRPP promoter in response to hormones and abiotic stresses

Small rubber particle protein (SRPP) is a major component of Hevea brasiliensis latex, and obviously participates in the biosynthesis of natural rubber. However, little information is available about regulation of SRPP gene expression. In this study, the promoter region of HbSRPP was isolated and characterized. Its sequence included regulatory elements predicted to be responsive to hormones and other environmental cues. Promoter deletion analysis revealed that 219 nucleotides (nt) upstream of the transcription start site were sufficient for expression. The region from -1,055 to -219 nt positively regulated expression induced by methyl jasmonate (MeJA), abscisic acid (ABA), and wounding; the region from -734 to -528 nt positively regulated expression induced by gibberellic acid (GA); the region from -734 to -219 nt positively regulated expression induced by heat; the region from -1,055 to -4 negatively regulated expression induced by cold; the region from -219 to -4 nt was associated with negative regulation of expression induced by ABA and wounding; the region from -528 to -4 nt negatively regulated expression induced by GA. These results suggest the activity of the HbSRPP promoter is regulated by MeJA, ABA, GA, cold, heat, and wounding.

Application of hinokitiol potassium salt for wood preservative

The decay of wood and other cellulosic materials by fungi cause significant economic loss. The widely used chromated copper arsenate was prohibited for the environmental impact and safety of arsenic and chromium. It was found that natural product hinokitiol (HK) had fungicidal and insecticidal activities, and its toxicity was bearable for the environment. We described the practical synthesis of HK-K salt. According to the GB/T18261-2000 and LY/T1283-1998, wood preservative performance of HK-K salt was tested. The results showed that the best inhibitory concentration of HK-K salt was 50 mg/L, for which the prevention effectiveness on mold is better, the killed value is between 0 and 1, and the corrosion-resistant for wood-rotting fungi is grade A.

Bacterial bioeffectors modify bioactive profile and increase isoflavone content in soybean sprouts (Glycine max var Osumi)

The effect of two bacterial strains to enhance bioactive contents (total phenolic compounds, total flavonoid compounds and isoflavones) and antioxidant activity on 3-day-old soybean sprouts were investigated. To identify bacterial determinants responsible for these effects, viable and UV-treated strains were delivered to wounded seeds at different concentration. Multivariate analysis performed with all the evaluated parameters indicated the different effectiveness of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia N5.18 and Pseudomonas fluorescens N21.4 based on different structural and metabolic determinants for each. N21.4 increased total phenolics and isoflavones from the genistein family, while N5.18 triggered biosynthesis of daidzein and genistein families coupled to a decrease in total phenolics, suggesting different molecular targets in the phenilpropanoid pathway. Only extracts from N5.18 treated seeds showed an improved antioxidant activity according to the β-carotene bleaching prevention method. In summary, bioeffectors from both bacterial strains are effective tools to improve soybean sprouts quality; structural elicitors from N5.18 also enhanced antioxidant activity, being the best alternative for further development of a biotechnological procedure.

Pseudomonas fluorescens N21.4 metabolites enhance secondary metabolism isoflavones in soybean (Glycine max) calli cultures

Phytopharmaceuticals are plant secondary metabolites that are strongly inducible and especially sensitive to biotic changes. Plant cell cultures are a good alternative to obtain secondary metabolites, in case effective stimulation can be achieved. In this study, metabolic elicitors from two rhizobacteria able to enhance isoflavone content in soybean seedlings were tested on three different soybean calli cell lines. Results show that metabolic elicitors from Chryseobacterium balustinum Aur9 were not effective. However, there are at least two different metabolic elicitors from Pseudomonas fluorescens N21.4, one under 10 kDa and another over 10 kDa, that trigger isoflavone metabolism in the three cell lines with different isoflavone content. Elicitors from N21.4 achieved total isoflavone increases up to 29.7% (0.205 mg/g), 64.5% (0.487 mg/g), and 23.4% (0.726 mg/g) in the low-, intermediate-, and high-yield lines, respectively. Therefore, these elicitors have a great potential to enhance isoflavone production in cell cultures for development of functional ingredients.

Molecular cloning and characterization of the promoter of SmGGPPs and its expression pattern in Salvia miltiorrhiza

Geranylgeranyl diphosphate (GGPP) synthase is an important branch point enzyme in terpenoid biosynthesis. It regulates the formation of diterpenoid, such as tanshinones. We cloned a gene for GGPP synthase SmGGPPs involved in diterpenoid biosynthesis from Salvia miltiorrhiza. At 2,767 bp long, this gene comprises an intron and two exons that encode a polypeptide of 364 amino acid residues. Then the 5' flanking sequence of SmGGPPs was characterized by bioinformatics method. Deletion analysis of the promoter of SmGGPPs using tobacco plant displayed that the promoter was induced by heat and cold. To further search these cis-elements involved in induction regulation in the 5' flanking sequence of SmGGPPs, many putative cis-elements were predicted with the PlantCARE and PLACE databases. A group of putative cis-acting elements are involved in induction regulation, including G-Box, WRKY, MYC and ATCT motifs. Real-time PCR analysis revealed that SmGGPPs is mainly expressed in the leaves and can also be induced by various factors, such as NaCl, wounding, high temperature, darkness, pathogen, methyl jasmonate, abscisic acid, salicylic acid, and gibberellins. This study provides useful information for further study of SmGGPPs and its regulator effect on the biosynthetic process of tanshinones so that researchers can improve the tanshinone contents in S. miltiorrhiza.

Involvement of lipoxygenase in elicitor-stimulated sanguinarine accumulation in Papaver somniferum suspension cultures

The involvement of lipoxygenase (LOX, EC 1.13.11.12) in elicitor-induced opium poppy defense response was investigated. Papaver somniferum L. suspension cultures were treated with abiotic elicitor methyl jasmonate (MJ), fungal elicitor (Botrytis cinerea homogenate) and phenidone (specific inhibitor of LOX) to determine the involvement of this enzyme in production of sanguinarine, the major secondary metabolite of opium poppy cultures. P. somniferum suspension cultures responded to elicitor treatment with strong and transient increase of LOX activity followed by sanguinarine accumulation. LOX activity increased in elicited cultures, reaching 9.8 times of the initial value at 10 h after MJ application and 2.9 times after B. cinerea application. Sanguinarine accumulated to maximal levels of 169.5 ± 12.5 μg g⁻¹ dry cell weight in MJ-elicited cultures and 288.0 ± 10.0 μg g⁻¹ dry cell weight in B. cinerea-elicited cultures. The treatment of cells with phenidone before elicitor addition, significantly reduced sanguinarine production. The relative molecular weight of P. somniferum LOX (83 kDa) was estimated by using immunobloting and its pH optimum was shown to be pH 6.5.

Characterization and expression profiling of tyrosine aminotransferase gene from Salvia miltiorrhiza (Dan-shen) in rosmarinic acid biosynthesis pathway

A novel tyrosine aminotransferase gene (designated as SmTAT) involved in rosmarinic acid biosynthesis pathway is cloned from Salvia miltiorrhiza Bung. The full-length cDNA of SmTAT is 1,603 bp long with an open reading frame (ORF) of 1,233 bp encoding a polypeptide of 411 amino acid residues. The deduced amino acid sequence of the SmTAT gene shared high homology with other known TATs. Analysis of SmTAT genomic DNA reveals that it contains 6 exons, 5 introns. The analysis of SmTAT promoter region and terminator region was also presented. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR analysis reveals that the constitutive expression of SmTAT in stem is much higher than that in root, leaf. Further expression analysis reveals that the signaling components of defense/stress pathways, such as methyl jasmonate (MeJA), abscisic acid (ABA), salicylic acid (SA) and ultraviolet-B radiation (UV-B), up-regulate the SmTAT transcript levels over the control. This study provides useful information for further studying this gene and its function in rosmarinic acid biosynthetic pathway in S. miltiorrhiza, the roots of which so-called ''Danshen'' possess many pharmaceutical properties for human health.

Integration of Plasma Membrane and Nuclear Signaling in Elicitor Regulation of Plant Secondary Metabolism

The plant kingdom represents a valuable source of natural products of commercial interest. These compounds, named secondary metabolites, are not essential for the survival of plants, but confer them some advantages that allow adaptation to changes in their environment. Nevertheless, yields of secondary metabolites are low for commercial purposes, so it has become important to design strategies for increasing their production. Plants manage to adapt to physical changes in their environment, defending themselves against pathogen attack or herbivore wounding. Such aggressive stimuli, also known as elicitors, initiate signaling metabolic cascades that induce accumulation of certain secondary metabolites. Progress has been recently achieved in the understanding of signaling events originating from elicitation and related transcriptional regulation. These advances will allow maneuvering expression of key enzymes implicated in biosynthetic pathways of secondary metabolites, thereby enhancing their accumulation.

Signal transduction and metabolic flux of β-thujaplicin and monoterpene biosynthesis in elicited Cupressus lusitanica cell cultures

beta-Thujaplicin is an antimicrobial tropolone derived from geranyl pyrophosphate(GPP) and monoterpene intermediate. Yeast elicitor-treated Cupressus lusitanica cell cultures accumulate high levels of beta-thujaplicin at early stages and other monoterpenes at later stages post-elicitation. The different regulation of beta-thujaplicin and monoterpene biosynthesis and signal transduction directing metabolic flux to beta-thujaplicin firstly and then shifting metabolic flow from beta-thujaplicin to other monoterpene biosynthesis were investigated. The earlier rapid induction of beta-thujaplicin accumulation and a later stimulation of monoterpene biosynthesis by yeast elicitor are in well agreement with elicitor-induced changes in activity of three monoterpene biosynthetic enzymes including isopentenyl pyrophosphate isomerase, GPP synthase, and monoterpene synthase. Yeast elicitor induces an earlier and stronger beta-thujaplicin production and monoterpene biosynthetic enzyme activity than methyl jasmonate (MeJA) does. Profiling all monoterpenes produced by C. lusitanica cell cultures under different conditions reveals that beta-thujaplicin biosynthesis parallels with other monoterpenes and competes for common precursor pools. Yet beta-thujaplicin is produced pre-dominantly at early stage of elicitation whereas other monoterpenes are mainly accumulated at late stage while beta-thujaplicin is metabolized. It is suggested that yeast elicitor-treated C. lusitanica cells preferentially accumulate beta-thujaplicin as a primary defense and other monoterpenes as a secondary defense. Inhibitor treatments suggest that immediate production of beta-thujaplicin post-elicitation largely depends on pre-existing enzymes and translation of pre-existing transcripts as well as recruitment of precursor pools from both the cytosol and plastids. The later beta-thujaplicin and other monoterpene accumulation strictly depends on active transcription and translation. Induction of beta-thujaplicin production and activation of monoterpene biosynthetic enzymes by elicitor involves similar signaling pathways, which may activate early beta-thujaplicin production and later monoterpene biosynthesis and induce a metabolic flux shift from beta-thujaplicin to monoterpene accumulation.

Elicitor signal transduction leading to production of plant secondary metabolites

Plant secondary metabolites are unique sources for pharmaceuticals, food additives, flavors, and other industrial materials. Accumulation of such metabolites often occurs in plants subjected to stresses including various elicitors or signal molecules. Understanding signal transduction paths underlying elicitor-induced production of secondary metabolites is important for optimizing their commercial production. This paper summarizes progress made on several aspects of elicitor signal transduction leading to production of plant secondary metabolites, including: elicitor signal perception by various receptors of plants; avirulence determinants and corresponding plant R proteins; heterotrimeric and small GTP binding proteins; ion fluxes, especially Ca2+ influx, and Ca2+ signaling; medium alkalinization and cytoplasmic acidification; oxidative burst and reactive oxygen species; inositol trisphosphates and cyclic nucleotides (cAMP and cGMP); salicylic acid and nitric oxide; jasmonate, ethylene, and abscisic acid signaling; oxylipin signals such as allene oxide synthase-dependent jasmonate and hydroperoxide lyase-dependent C12 and C6 volatiles; as well as other lipid messengers such as lysophosphatidylcholine, phosphatidic acid, and diacylglycerol. All these signal components are employed directly or indirectly by elicitors for induction of plant secondary metabolite accumulation. Cross-talk between different signaling pathways is very common in plant defense response, thus the cross-talk amongst these signaling pathways, such as elicitor and jasmonate, jasmonate and ethylene, and each of these with reactive oxygen species, is discussed separately. This review also highlights the integration of multiple signaling pathways into or by transcription factors, as well as the linkage of the above signal components in elicitor signaling network through protein phosphorylation and dephosphorylation. Some perspectives on elicitor signal transduction and plant secondary metabolism at the transcriptome and metabolome levels are also presented.

Enhancement of ginsenoside biosynthesis in high-density cultivation of Panax notoginseng cells by various strategies of methyl jasmonate elicitation

A single addition of 200 microM methyl jasmonate (MJA) to high-density cell cultures of Panax notoginseng enhanced ginsenoside production in both shake-flask (250 ml) and airlift bioreactor (ALR; 1 l working volume). Repeated elicitation with two additions of 200 microM MJA during cultivation further induced the ginsenoside biosynthesis in both cultivation vessels. The content of ginsenosides Rg1, Re, Rb1 and Rd in the ALR was increased from, respectively, 0.18+/-0.01, 0.21+/-0.01, 0.21+/-0.02 and 0 mg per100 mg dry cell weight (DW) in untreated cell cultures (control) to 0.32+/-0.02, 0.36+/-0.02, 0.72+/-0.06 and 0.08+/-0.01 mg per100 mg DW with a single addition of MJA and further increased to 0.43+/-0.02, 0.46+/-0.03, 1.09+/-0.07 and 0.14+/-0.02 mg per100 mg DW with two additions of MJA. Interestingly, the activity of the Rb1 biosynthetic enzyme (UDPG-ginsenoside Rd glucosyltransferase), was also increased with a single elicitation by MJA and increased again by a repeated elicitation, which coincided well with the trend in the increase in Rb(1) content. In order to further improve the cell density and ginsenoside production, a strategy of MJA repeated elicitation combined with sucrose feeding was adopted. The final cell density and total ginsenoside content in the ALR reached 27.3+/-1.5 g/l and 2.02+/-0.06 mg per100 mg DW; and the maximum production of ginsenoside Rg1, Re, Rb1 and Rd was 111.8+/-4.7, 117.2+/-4.6, 290.2+/-5.1 and 32.7+/-8.1 mg/l, respectively. The strategies demonstrated and the information obtained in this work are useful for the efficient large-scale production of bioactive ginsenosides by plant cell cultures.

A novel synthetic fluoro-containing jasmonate derivative acts as a chemical inducing signal for plant secondary metabolism

A novel fluoro-containing jasmonate derivative was chemically synthesized and evaluated as a potential elicitor with respect to the induction of plant defense responses and the biosynthesis of plant secondary metabolites. A bioactive taxuyunnanine C (Tc)-producing cell line of Taxus chinensis was taken as a model plant cell system. The presence of novel synthesized pentafluoropropyl jasmonate (PFPJA) induced two early and important events in plant defense responses, including an oxidative burst and activation of L-phenylalanine ammonia lyase. In addition, PFPJA was found to significantly increase Tc accumulation, without any inhibition of cell growth. Moreover, Tc accumulation was increased more in the presence of PFPJA compared with methyl jasmonate (MJA) and previously reported trifluoroethyl jasmonate (TFEJA). For example, addition of 100 muM PFPJA on day 7 led to a high Tc content (38.2 +/- 0.3 mg/g) at day 21, while the Tc content was 29.3 +/- 0.3 mg/g and 34.9 +/- 0.9 mg/g with the addition of 100 microM MJA and TFEJA, respectively. Quantitative structure-activity analysis of fluoro-containing jasmonates suggests that the increase in the fluoro-groups introduced into the carboxyl side-chain of MJA resulted in a higher stimulatory activity for Tc biosynthesis, which corresponds well with the markedly increased lipophilicity after fluorine introduction. These results indicate that newly synthesized fluoro-containing PFPJA can act as a powerful chemical inducing signal for secondary metabolism in plant cell cultures.

Stimulation of asiaticoside accumulation in the whole plant cultures of Centella asiatica (L.) urban by elicitors

The effects of a number of different elicitors on asiaticoside production in whole plant cultures of Centella asiatica were studied, including yeast extract, CdCl(2), CuCl(2) and methyl jasmonate (MJ). Only MJ and yeast extract stimulated asiaticoside production--1.53 and 1.41-fold, respectively. Maximum asiaticoside production was achieved following treatment with 0.1 mM MJ (116.8 mg/l). The highest asiaticoside production (342.72 mg/l) was obtained after 36 days of elicitation in cultures treated with 0.1 mM MJ and 0.025 mg/l 1-phenyl-3-(1,2,3-thidiazol-5-yl)urea (TDZ). Interestingly, MJ not only stimulated the production of asiaticoside but also had an important role in the senescence of C. asiatica. Although asiaticoside content did not change when TDZ was added to medium containing an elicitor, TDZ did increase shoot growth of C. asiatica. We discuss the interactive roles of MJ and TDZ in secondary metabolic production and biomass in whole plants of C. asiatica.

Involvement of cAMP signaling in elicitor-induced phytoalexin accumulation in Cupressus lusitanica cell cultures

•  An increasing body of evidence on plant electrophysiology, biochemistry, and molecular biology shows that cAMP exists in higher plants and plays a role in several physiological processes by affecting potassium (K⁺ ) or calcium (Ca²⁺ ) fluxes. Our study here reports that cAMP is involved in elicitor-induced accumulation of a phytoalexin, β-thujaplicin, in Cupressus lusitanica cell cultures. •  Treatment of C. lusitanica cultured cells with cAMP or its analogues stimulated β-thujaplicin accumulation. Cholera toxin and forskolin, activators of adenylyl cyclase, also stimulated β-thujaplicin accumulation. Enzyme immunoassay showed that after elicitor treatment, cAMP level in the elicited cells quickly increased to about three- to five-fold over the control. Cholera toxin and forskolin also stimulated cAMP accumulation in the absence of elicitor. •  However, K⁺ and Ca²⁺ channel blockers inhibited the β-thujaplicin accumulation induced by cAMP analogues, suggesting that the cAMP-stimulated β-thujaplicin accumulation may involve Ca²⁺ and K⁺ fluxes. Several ionophores mimicked cAMP induction of β-thujaplicin accumulation. •  Cross-talk between cAMP treatment and the ethylene signaling pathway was also observed to work in the cell cultures via Ca²⁺ signaling. The study also indicates an involvement of protein kinase cascades in cAMP signaling processes, leading to both phytoalexin and ethylene production.

Peroxidases are involved in biosynthesis and biodegradation of β-thujaplicin in fungal elicitor-treated Cupressus lusitanica cell cultures

•   Here, collaboration between peroxidases and H₂ O₂ in biosynthesis and biodegredation of β-thujaplicin in elicited Cupressus lusitanica was investigated. •   The accumulation of a phytoalexin, β-thujaplicin, in C. lusitanica cell cultures can be stimulated by a yeast elicitor. A transient low peak was followed by a high level lasting for 2 d, and then a decrease, while peroxidases were activated to a high level just when amounts of β-thujaplicin decreased. In vitro tests revealed that horseradish peroxidase can transform c. 80% of β-thujaplicin in the presence of H₂ O₂ , and the culture medium was also able to transform β-thujaplicin. •   A transient production of H₂ O₂ occured in the cell cultures immediately after elicitation, following a increase in NAD(P)H-oxidase activity. This H₂ O₂ production may mediate the elicitor-induced accumulation of β-thujaplicin, because inhibiting H₂ O₂ production or removing H₂ O₂ from the cell cultures suppressed elicitor-induced β-thujaplicin accumulation, while exogenously applied H₂ O₂ or H₂ O₂ generation system can stimulate β-thujaplicin accumulation. •   Both NAD(P)H oxidase inhibitors and peroxidase inhibitors partially inhibited NAD(P)H-dependent O₂ ^- and H₂ O₂ production. In-gel assay of peroxidase and superoxide anion synthase activity demonstrated that peroxidase isoforms have NAD(P)H-dependent superoxide anion synthase activity. These results suggest that peroxidases can act as superoxide anion synthases to contribute to genecation of H₂ O₂ that promotes β-thujaplicin production in elicited C. lusitanica cell cultures.

Production of beta-thujaplicin in Cupressus lusitanica suspension cultures fed with organic acids and monoterpenes

Effects of some organic acids and monoterpenes on production of beta-thujaplicin were studied in Cupressus lusitanica suspension cultures. The fungal elicitor-induced biosynthesis of beta-thujaplicin was promoted by the feedings of malate, pyruvate, fumarate, succinate, and acetate. These results suggest some relationships between acetate/pyruvate metabolism and beta-thujaplicin biosynthesis, or between tricarboxylic acid cycle and beta-thujaplicin biosynthesis. Feedings of C. lusitanica suspension cultures with some monoterpenes inhibited elicitor-triggered beta-thujaplicin biosynthesis, but 2-carene and terpinyl acetate feedings significantly improved the beta-thujaplicin production of C. lusitanica suspension cultures. These results indicate a possible involvement of terpinyl acetate and 2-carene in beta-thujaplicin biosynthesis, as well as potential uses of these monoterpenes in large-scale beta-thujaplicin production.