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Chen Y, Huang JP, Wang YJ, Tu ML, Li J, Xu B, Peng G, Yang J, Huang SX. Identification and characterization of camptothecin tailoring enzymes in Nothapodytes tomentosa. JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY 2024; 66:1158-1169. [PMID: 38517054 DOI: 10.1111/jipb.13649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
Camptothecin is a complex monoterpenoid indole alkaloid with remarkable antitumor activity. Given that two C-10 modified camptothecin derivatives, topotecan and irinotecan, have been approved as potent anticancer agents, there is a critical need for methods to access other aromatic ring-functionalized congeners (e.g., C-9, C-10, etc.). However, contemporary methods for chemical oxidation are generally harsh and low-yielding when applied to the camptothecin scaffold, thereby limiting the development of modified derivatives. Reported herein, we have identified four tailoring enzymes responsible for C-9 modifications of camptothecin from Nothapodytes tomentosa, via metabolomic and transcriptomic analysis. These consist of a cytochrome P450 (NtCPT9H) which catalyzes the regioselective oxidation of camptothecin to 9-hydroxycamptothecin, as well as two methyltransferases (NtOMT1/2, converting 9-hydroxycamptothecin to 9-methoxycamptothecin), and a uridine diphosphate-glycosyltransferase (NtUGT5, decorating 9-hydroxycamptothecin to 9-β-D-glucosyloxycamptothecin). Importantly, the critical residues that contribute to the specific catalytic activity of NtCPT9H have been elucidated through molecular docking and mutagenesis experiments. This work provides a genetic basis for producing camptothecin derivatives through metabolic engineering. This will hasten the discovery of novel C-9 modified camptothecin derivatives, with profound implications for pharmaceutical manufacture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yin Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China and Yunnan Key Laboratory of Natural Medicinal Chemistry, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Jian-Ping Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China and Yunnan Key Laboratory of Natural Medicinal Chemistry, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China
| | - Yong-Jiang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China and Yunnan Key Laboratory of Natural Medicinal Chemistry, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China
| | - Meng-Ling Tu
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
- Key Laboratory for Economic Plants and Biotechnology, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China
| | - Junheng Li
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China and Yunnan Key Laboratory of Natural Medicinal Chemistry, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China
| | - Bingyan Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China and Yunnan Key Laboratory of Natural Medicinal Chemistry, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Guoqing Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China and Yunnan Key Laboratory of Natural Medicinal Chemistry, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China
| | - Jing Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China and Yunnan Key Laboratory of Natural Medicinal Chemistry, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China
| | - Sheng-Xiong Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China and Yunnan Key Laboratory of Natural Medicinal Chemistry, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China
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Darshetkar AM, Godbole RC, Pable AA, Singh S, Nadaf AB, Barvkar VT. Chloroplast genome sequence of Nothapodytes nimmoniana (Icacinaceae), a vulnerable reservoir of camptothecin from Western Ghats. Gene 2023; 883:147674. [PMID: 37516285 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2023.147674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/31/2023]
Abstract
Nothapodytes nimmoniana belongs to family Icacinaceae and is a major source of compound Camptothecin. The global demand for Camptothecin has caused large-scale exploitation of N. nimmoniana from its wild habitat in Western Ghats of India, thereby making it vulnerable. The species is known to exhibit genetic diversity among the populations in Western Ghats. In this study, we report plastome sequence of N. nimmoniana, first for the genus. For the study, the species was collected from Western Ghats of Maharashtra. The plastome of N. nimmoniana was 150,726 bp in length and exhibited typical quadripartite structure with 83,771 bp LSC, 18,513 bp SSC and 24,221 IR region. The plastome was characterized by presence of 124 unique genes, 87 protein coding genes, 29 tRNA genes and four rRNA genes. Further, the plastome was compared with the available basal lamiid plastomes for gene order and composition. N. nimmoniana plastome exhibited SSC region in an inverted configuration. Phylogenomic study placed N. nimmoniana sister to Mappia mexicana. The SSR markers identified in this study, might help to distinguish genetically diverse populations, prioritizing the populations which need immediate conservation effects as well as for checking adulteration.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rucha C Godbole
- Department of Botany, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune 411007, India.
| | - Anupama A Pable
- Department of Microbiology, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune 411007, India.
| | - Sudhir Singh
- Nuclear Agriculture & Biotechnology Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai 400085, India; Homi Bhabha National Institute, Anushaktinagar, Mumbai 400094, India.
| | | | - Vitthal T Barvkar
- Department of Botany, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune 411007, India.
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Hu B, Zhao X, Wang E, Zhou J, Li J, Chen J, Du G. Efficient heterologous expression of cytochrome P450 enzymes in microorganisms for the biosynthesis of natural products. Crit Rev Biotechnol 2023; 43:227-241. [PMID: 35129020 DOI: 10.1080/07388551.2022.2029344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Natural products, a chemically and structurally diverse class of molecules, possess a wide spectrum of biological activities, have been used therapeutically for millennia, and have provided many lead compounds for the development of synthetic drugs. Cytochrome P450 enzymes (P450s, CYP) are widespread in nature and are involved in the biosynthesis of many natural products. P450s are heme-containing enzymes that use molecular oxygen and the hydride donor NAD(P)H (coupled via enzymic redox partners) to catalyze the insertion of oxygen into C-H bonds in a regio- and stereo-selective manner, effecting hydroxylation and several other reactions. With the rapid development of systems biology, numerous novel P450s have been identified for the biosynthesis of natural products, but there are still several challenges to the efficient heterologous expression of active P450s. This review covers recent developments in P450 research and development, including the properties and functions of P450s, discovery and mining of novel P450s, modification and screening of P450 mutants, improved heterologous expression of P450s in microbial hosts, efficient whole-cell transformation with P450s, and current applications of P450s for the biosynthesis of natural products. This resource provides a solid foundation for the application of highly active and stable P450s in microbial cell factories to biosynthesize natural products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baodong Hu
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China.,Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xinrui Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China.,Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
| | - Endao Wang
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jingwen Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China.,Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jianghua Li
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China.,Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jian Chen
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China.,Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
| | - Guocheng Du
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China.,Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China.,Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
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Functional characterization of secologanin synthase-like homologous genes suggests their involvement in the biosynthesis of diverse metabolites in the secoiridoid biosynthetic pathway of Camptotheca acuminata Decne. Int J Biol Macromol 2022; 222:2594-2602. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.10.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
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Miller JC, Schuler MA. Single mutations toggle the substrate selectivity of multifunctional Camptotheca secologanic acid synthases (CYP72As). J Biol Chem 2022; 298:102237. [PMID: 35809640 PMCID: PMC9424959 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102237] [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: 01/24/2022] [Revised: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Terpene indole alkaloids (TIAs) are plant-derived specialized metabolites with widespread use in medicine. Species-specific pathways derive various TIAs from common intermediates, strictosidine or strictosidinic acid, produced by coupling tryptamine with secologanin or secologanic acid. The penultimate reaction in this pathway is catalyzed by either secologanin synthase (SLS) or secologanic acid synthase (SLAS) according to whether plants produce secologanin from loganin or secologanic acid from loganic acid. Previous work has identified SLSs and SLASs from different species, but the determinants of selectivity remain unclear. Here, combining molecular modeling, ancestral sequence reconstruction, and biochemical methodologies, we identified key residues that toggle SLS and SLAS selectivity in two CYP72A (cytochrome P450) subfamily enzymes from Camptotheca acuminata. We found that the positions of foremost importance are in substrate recognition sequence 1 (SRS1), where mutations to either of two adjacent histidine residues switched selectivity; His131Phe selects for and increases secologanin production whereas His132Asp selects for secologanic acid production. Furthermore, a change in SRS3 in the predicted substrate entry channel (Arg/Lys270Thr) and another in SRS4 at the start of the I-helix (Ser324Glu) decreased enzyme activity toward either substrate. We propose that the Camptotheca SLASs have maintained the broadened activities found in a common asterid ancestor, even as the Camptotheca lineage lost its ability to produce loganin while the campanulid and lamiid lineages specialized to produce secologanin by acquiring mutations in SRS1. The identification here of the residues essential for the broad substrate scope of SLASs presents opportunities for more tailored heterologous production of TIAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin C Miller
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA 61801
| | - Mary A Schuler
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA 61801; Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA 61801; Department of Plant Biology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA 61801.
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Delineating biosynthesis of Huperzine A, A plant-derived medicine for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Biotechnol Adv 2022; 60:108026. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2022.108026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Revised: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Mora-Vásquez S, Wells-Abascal GG, Espinosa-Leal C, Cardineau GA, García-Lara S. Application of metabolic engineering to enhance the content of alkaloids in medicinal plants. Metab Eng Commun 2022; 14:e00194. [PMID: 35242556 PMCID: PMC8881666 DOI: 10.1016/j.mec.2022.e00194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Revised: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 02/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Plants are a rich source of bioactive compounds, many of which have been exploited for cosmetic, nutritional, and medicinal purposes. Through the characterization of metabolic pathways, as well as the mechanisms responsible for the accumulation of secondary metabolites, researchers have been able to increase the production of bioactive compounds in different plant species for research and commercial applications. The intent of the current review is to describe the metabolic engineering methods that have been used to transform in vitro or field-grown medicinal plants over the last decade and to identify the most effective approaches to increase the production of alkaloids. The articles summarized were categorized into six groups: endogenous enzyme overexpression, foreign enzyme overexpression, transcription factor overexpression, gene silencing, genome editing, and co-overexpression. We conclude that, because of the complex and multi-step nature of biosynthetic pathways, the approach that has been most commonly used to increase the biosynthesis of alkaloids, and the most effective in terms of fold increase, is the co-overexpression of two or more rate-limiting enzymes followed by the manipulation of regulatory genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soledad Mora-Vásquez
- Tecnológico de Monterrey, Escuela de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Ave. Eugenio Garza Sada 2501, 64849, Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico
| | | | - Claudia Espinosa-Leal
- Tecnológico de Monterrey, Escuela de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Ave. Eugenio Garza Sada 2501, 64849, Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico
| | - Guy A. Cardineau
- Arizona State University, Beus Center for Law and Society, Mail Code 9520, 111 E. Taylor Street, Phoenix, AZ, 85004-4467, USA
| | - Silverio García-Lara
- Tecnológico de Monterrey, Escuela de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Ave. Eugenio Garza Sada 2501, 64849, Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico
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Lichman BR. The scaffold-forming steps of plant alkaloid biosynthesis. Nat Prod Rep 2020; 38:103-129. [PMID: 32745157 DOI: 10.1039/d0np00031k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Alkaloids from plants are characterised by structural diversity and bioactivity, and maintain a privileged position in both modern and traditional medicines. In recent years, there have been significant advances in elucidating the biosynthetic origins of plant alkaloids. In this review, I will describe the progress made in determining the metabolic origins of the so-called true alkaloids, specialised metabolites derived from amino acids containing a nitrogen heterocycle. By identifying key biosynthetic steps that feature in the majority of pathways, I highlight the key roles played by modifications to primary metabolism, iminium reactivity and spontaneous reactions in the molecular and evolutionary origins of these pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin R Lichman
- Centre for Novel Agricultural Products, Department of Biology, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK.
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