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Yin X, Hu H, Shen X, Li X, Pei J, Xu J. Ginseng Omics for Ginsenoside Biosynthesis. Curr Pharm Biotechnol 2021; 22:570-578. [PMID: 32767915 DOI: 10.2174/1389201021666200807113723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2020] [Revised: 03/09/2020] [Accepted: 06/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Ginseng, also known as the king of herbs, has been regarded as an important traditional medicine for several millennia. Ginsenosides, a group of triterpenoid saponins, have been characterized as bioactive compounds of ginseng. The complexity of ginsenosides hindered ginseng research and development both in cultivation and clinical research. Therefore, deciphering the ginsenoside biosynthesis pathway has been a focus of interest for researchers worldwide. The new emergence of biological research tools consisting of omics and bioinformatic tools or computational biology tools are the research trend in the new century. Ginseng is one of the main subjects analyzed using these new quantification tools, including tools of genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics. Here, we review the current progress of ginseng omics research and provide results for the ginsenoside biosynthesis pathway. Organization and expression of the entire pathway, including the upstream MVA pathway, the cyclization of ginsenoside precursors, and the glycosylation process, are illustrated. Regulatory gene families such as transcriptional factors and transporters are also discussed in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianmei Yin
- Pharmacy College, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Key Laboratory of Distinctive Chinese Medicine Resources in Southwest China, Chengdu 611137, China
| | - Haoyu Hu
- Key Laboratory of Beijing for Identification and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Medicine, Institution of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Xiaofeng Shen
- Key Laboratory of Beijing for Identification and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Medicine, Institution of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Xiangyan Li
- Changchun University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Changchun 13000, China
| | - Jin Pei
- Pharmacy College, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Key Laboratory of Distinctive Chinese Medicine Resources in Southwest China, Chengdu 611137, China
| | - Jiang Xu
- Key Laboratory of Beijing for Identification and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Medicine, Institution of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
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Xu J, Chu Y, Liao B, Xiao S, Yin Q, Bai R, Su H, Dong L, Li X, Qian J, Zhang J, Zhang Y, Zhang X, Wu M, Zhang J, Li G, Zhang L, Chang Z, Zhang Y, Jia Z, Liu Z, Afreh D, Nahurira R, Zhang L, Cheng R, Zhu Y, Zhu G, Rao W, Zhou C, Qiao L, Huang Z, Cheng YC, Chen S. Panax ginseng genome examination for ginsenoside biosynthesis. Gigascience 2018; 6:1-15. [PMID: 29048480 PMCID: PMC5710592 DOI: 10.1093/gigascience/gix093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2017] [Accepted: 09/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Ginseng, which contains ginsenosides as bioactive compounds, has been regarded as an important traditional medicine for several millennia. However, the genetic background of ginseng remains poorly understood, partly because of the plant's large and complex genome composition. We report the entire genome sequence of Panax ginseng using next-generation sequencing. The 3.5-Gb nucleotide sequence contains more than 60% repeats and encodes 42 006 predicted genes. Twenty-two transcriptome datasets and mass spectrometry images of ginseng roots were adopted to precisely quantify the functional genes. Thirty-one genes were identified to be involved in the mevalonic acid pathway. Eight of these genes were annotated as 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductases, which displayed diverse structures and expression characteristics. A total of 225 UDP-glycosyltransferases (UGTs) were identified, and these UGTs accounted for one of the largest gene families of ginseng. Tandem repeats contributed to the duplication and divergence of UGTs. Molecular modeling of UGTs in the 71st, 74th, and 94th families revealed a regiospecific conserved motif located at the N-terminus. Molecular docking predicted that this motif captures ginsenoside precursors. The ginseng genome represents a valuable resource for understanding and improving the breeding, cultivation, and synthesis biology of this key herb.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiang Xu
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Yang Chu
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Baosheng Liao
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Shuiming Xiao
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Qinggang Yin
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Rui Bai
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - He Su
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China.,Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Linlin Dong
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Xiwen Li
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Jun Qian
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Jingjing Zhang
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Yujun Zhang
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Xiaoyan Zhang
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Mingli Wu
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Jie Zhang
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Guozheng Li
- National Data Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Institute of Basic Research in Clinical Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Zhenzhan Chang
- Department of Biophysics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Yuebin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Reaction Dynamics, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China
| | - Zhengwei Jia
- Waters Corporation Shanghai Science & Technology Co Ltd, Shanghai 201206, China
| | - Zhixiang Liu
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Daniel Afreh
- Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Key Laboratory of Crop Physiology and Ecology, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Ruth Nahurira
- Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Key Laboratory of Crop Physiology and Ecology, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Lianjuan Zhang
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Ruiyang Cheng
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Yingjie Zhu
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Guangwei Zhu
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Wei Rao
- Waters Corporation Shanghai Science & Technology Co Ltd, Shanghai 201206, China
| | - Chao Zhou
- Waters Corporation Shanghai Science & Technology Co Ltd, Shanghai 201206, China
| | - Lirui Qiao
- Waters Corporation Shanghai Science & Technology Co Ltd, Shanghai 201206, China
| | - Zhihai Huang
- Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Yung-Chi Cheng
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Shilin Chen
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
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Fujii S, Uto T, Nomura S, Shoyama Y. Preparation of Anti-Glycyrrhetinic Acid Monoclonal Antibody for Application in an Indirect Competitive Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay. ANAL LETT 2018. [DOI: 10.1080/00032719.2017.1370598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Shunsuke Fujii
- Department of Health and Nutrition, Faculty of Health Management, Nagasaki International University, Sasebo, Japan
| | - Takuhiro Uto
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagasaki International University, Sasebo, Japan
| | - Shuichi Nomura
- Department of Health and Nutrition, Faculty of Health Management, Nagasaki International University, Sasebo, Japan
| | - Yukihiro Shoyama
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagasaki International University, Sasebo, Japan
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Qiu WR, Sun BQ, Tang H, Huang J, Lin H. Identify and analysis crotonylation sites in histone by using support vector machines. Artif Intell Med 2017; 83:75-81. [DOI: 10.1016/j.artmed.2017.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2016] [Revised: 01/25/2017] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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Kim YJ, Zhang D, Yang DC. Biosynthesis and biotechnological production of ginsenosides. Biotechnol Adv 2015; 33:717-35. [PMID: 25747290 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2015.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 205] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2014] [Revised: 02/28/2015] [Accepted: 03/01/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Medicinal plants are essential for improving human health, and around 75% of the population in developing countries relies mainly on herb-based medicines for health care. As the king of herb plants, ginseng has been used for nearly 5,000 years in the oriental and recently in western medicines. Among the compounds studied in ginseng plants, ginsenosides have been shown to have multiple medical effects such as anti-oxidative, anti-aging, anti-cancer, adaptogenic and other health-improving activities. Ginsenosides belong to a group of triterpene saponins (also called ginseng saponins) that are found almost exclusively in Panax species and accumulated especially in the plant roots. In this review, we update the conserved and diversified pathway/enzyme biosynthesizing ginsenosides which have been presented. Particularly, we highlight recent milestone works on functional characterization of key genes dedicated to the production of ginsenosides, and their application in engineering plants and yeast cells for large-scale production of ginsenosides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Jin Kim
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University-University of Adelaide Joint Centre for Agriculture and Health, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China; Department of Oriental Medicinal Biotechnology and Graduate School of Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Kyung Hee University, Youngin, 446-701, South Korea
| | - Dabing Zhang
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University-University of Adelaide Joint Centre for Agriculture and Health, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China; School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, University of Adelaide, Waite Campus, Urrbrae, South Australia 5064, Australia.
| | - Deok-Chun Yang
- Department of Oriental Medicinal Biotechnology and Graduate School of Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Kyung Hee University, Youngin, 446-701, South Korea.
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Moses T, Papadopoulou KK, Osbourn A. Metabolic and functional diversity of saponins, biosynthetic intermediates and semi-synthetic derivatives. Crit Rev Biochem Mol Biol 2014; 49:439-62. [PMID: 25286183 PMCID: PMC4266039 DOI: 10.3109/10409238.2014.953628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 239] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2014] [Revised: 08/01/2014] [Accepted: 08/07/2014] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Saponins are widely distributed plant natural products with vast structural and functional diversity. They are typically composed of a hydrophobic aglycone, which is extensively decorated with functional groups prior to the addition of hydrophilic sugar moieties, to result in surface-active amphipathic compounds. The saponins are broadly classified as triterpenoids, steroids or steroidal glycoalkaloids, based on the aglycone structure from which they are derived. The saponins and their biosynthetic intermediates display a variety of biological activities of interest to the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food sectors. Although their relevance in industrial applications has long been recognized, their role in plants is underexplored. Recent research on modulating native pathway flux in saponin biosynthesis has demonstrated the roles of saponins and their biosynthetic intermediates in plant growth and development. Here, we review the literature on the effects of these molecules on plant physiology, which collectively implicate them in plant primary processes. The industrial uses and potential of saponins are discussed with respect to structure and activity, highlighting the undoubted value of these molecules as therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tessa Moses
- Department of Metabolic Biology, John Innes CentreColney Lane, NorwichUK
| | | | - Anne Osbourn
- Department of Metabolic Biology, John Innes CentreColney Lane, NorwichUK
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Screening of Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. ex DC. containing high concentrations of glycyrrhizin by Eastern blotting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using anti-glycyrrhizin monoclonal antibody for selective breeding of licorice. J Nat Med 2014; 68:717-22. [DOI: 10.1007/s11418-014-0847-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2014] [Accepted: 05/06/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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Kim YJ, Lee OR, Oh JY, Jang MG, Yang DC. Functional analysis of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme a reductase encoding genes in triterpene saponin-producing ginseng. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2014; 165:373-87. [PMID: 24569845 PMCID: PMC4012596 DOI: 10.1104/pp.113.222596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2013] [Accepted: 02/21/2014] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Ginsenosides are glycosylated triterpenes that are considered to be important pharmaceutically active components of the ginseng (Panax ginseng 'Meyer') plant, which is known as an adaptogenic herb. However, the regulatory mechanism underlying the biosynthesis of triterpene saponin through the mevalonate pathway in ginseng remains unclear. In this study, we characterized the role of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGR) concerning ginsenoside biosynthesis. Through analysis of full-length complementary DNA, two forms of ginseng HMGR (PgHMGR1 and PgHMGR2) were identified as showing high sequence identity. The steady-state mRNA expression patterns of PgHMGR1 and PgHMGR2 are relatively low in seed, leaf, stem, and flower, but stronger in the petiole of seedling and root. The transcripts of PgHMGR1 were relatively constant in 3- and 6-year-old ginseng roots. However, PgHMGR2 was increased five times in the 6-year-old ginseng roots compared with the 3-year-old ginseng roots, which indicates that HMGRs have constant and specific roles in the accumulation of ginsenosides in roots. Competitive inhibition of HMGR by mevinolin caused a significant reduction of total ginsenoside in ginseng adventitious roots. Moreover, continuous dark exposure for 2 to 3 d increased the total ginsenosides content in 3-year-old ginseng after the dark-induced activity of PgHMGR1. These results suggest that PgHMGR1 is associated with the dark-dependent promotion of ginsenoside biosynthesis. We also observed that the PgHMGR1 can complement Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) hmgr1-1 and that the overexpression of PgHMGR1 enhanced the production of sterols and triterpenes in Arabidopsis and ginseng. Overall, this finding suggests that ginseng HMGRs play a regulatory role in triterpene ginsenoside biosynthesis.
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9
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Liu ZQ. Chemical Insights into Ginseng as a Resource for Natural Antioxidants. Chem Rev 2012; 112:3329-55. [DOI: 10.1021/cr100174k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Zai-Qun Liu
- Department of Organic Chemistry, College
of Chemistry, Jilin University, Changchun
130021, China
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Application of Monoclonal Antibodies against Bioactive Natural Products: Eastern Blotting and Preparation of Knockout Extract. Int J Anal Chem 2012; 2012:260425. [PMID: 22518137 PMCID: PMC3296308 DOI: 10.1155/2012/260425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2011] [Accepted: 10/18/2011] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) tof mass spectrometry was used for the confirmation of hapten number in synthesized antigen. As application of MAb, the MAbs against ginsenosides and glycyrrhizin have been prepared resulting in the development of two new techniques that we named the eastern blotting method and the knockout extract preparation. In eastern blotting technique, glycosides like ginsenosides and glycyrrhizin separated by silica gel TLC were blotted to PVDF membrane that was treated with a NaIO4 solution followed by BSA resulted in glycoside-BSA conjugate on a PVDF membrane. The blotted spots were stained by MAb. Double staining of eastern blotting for ginsenosides using antiginsenoside Rb1 and Rg1 MAbs promoted complete identification of ginsenosides in Panax species. The immunoaffinity concentration of glycyrrhizin was determined by immunoaffinity column conjugated with antiglycyrrhizin MAb resulting in the glycyrrhizin-knockout extract, which was determined by the synergic effect with glycyrrhizin on NO production using the cell line.
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Monoclonal Antibodies against Small Molecule Natural Products and Their Applications, Eastern Blotting and Knockout Extract. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2011. [PMCID: PMC4058671 DOI: 10.3390/ph4070950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
To determine the hapten number in hapten-carrier protein conjugate matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) tof mass spectrometry was applied. Highly specific anti-ginsenoside Rb1 and Rg1 monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) were prepared. Ginsenosides were developed on thin layer chromatography (TLC) plates which were covered by a polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) membrane resulting in blotting. The membrane was treated with NaIO4 solution to release the aldehyde group on the sugar moiety of the ginsenosides. By treatment of the membrane with a protein solution the ginsenoside-protein conjugation as a Schiff-base occurred, which can function to fix it to the PVDF membrane. A part of the ginsenoside aglycone was reacted with anti-ginsenoside Rb1 MAb, secondary MAb conjugated with enzyme and finally a substrate was added, resulting in a specific and highly sensitive staining that we named Eastern blotting. Furthermore, it makes one-step isolation of ginsenoside Rb1 possible using an immuno-affinity column conjugated with anti-ginsenoside Rb1 MAb. Furthermore, immunoaffinity concentration was carried out allowing high sensitivity analysis of lower concentrations of ginsenoside Rb1 so that several unknown bands could be structurally determined.
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Sawai S, Saito K. Triterpenoid biosynthesis and engineering in plants. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2011; 2:25. [PMID: 22639586 PMCID: PMC3355669 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2011.00025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 143] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2011] [Accepted: 06/16/2011] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Triterpenoid saponins are a diverse group of natural products in plants and are considered defensive compounds against pathogenic microbes and herbivores. Because of their various beneficial properties for humans, saponins are used in wide-ranging applications in addition to medicinally. Saponin biosynthesis involves three key enzymes: oxidosqualene cyclases, which construct the basic triterpenoid skeletons; cytochrome P450 monooxygenases, which mediate oxidations; and uridine diphosphate-dependent glycosyltransferases, which catalyze glycosylations. The discovery of genes committed to saponin biosynthesis is important for the stable supply and biotechnological application of these compounds. Here, we review the identified genes involved in triterpenoid biosynthesis, summarize the recent advances in the biotechnological production of useful plant terpenoids, and discuss the bioengineering of plant triterpenoids.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kazuki Saito
- Plant Science Center, RIKENYokohama, Japan
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chiba UniversityChiba, Japan
- *Correspondence: Kazuki Saito, RIKEN Plant Science Center, Suehiro-cho 1-7-22, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan. e-mail:
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13
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Thomas S, Thirumalapura N, Crossley EC, Ismail N, Walker DH. Antigenic protein modifications in Ehrlichia. Parasite Immunol 2009; 31:296-303. [PMID: 19493209 PMCID: PMC2731653 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-3024.2009.01099.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
To develop effective vaccination strategies againstEhrlichia, we have previously reported developing an animal model of cross-protection in which C57BL/6 mice primed withE. muris were resistant to lethal infection withIxodes ovatus ehrlichia (IOE). Polyclonal antibody produced in mice after priming withE. muris and later injected with IOE-detected antigenic proteins inE. muris and IOE cell lysates. Cross-reaction of antigenic proteins was observed when we probed both theE. muris and IOE cell lysates with IOE andE. muris-specific polyclonal antibody. Analysis of the total proteins ofE. muris and IOE by two dimensional electrophoresis showed that bothE. muris and IOE have the same antigenic proteins. Finally, studies on post-translational protein modifications using a novel technique, Eastern blotting, showed thatE. muris proteins are more lipoylated and glycosylated than those of IOE.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Thomas
- Department of Pathology, Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
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14
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Zhang Q, Ye M. Chemical analysis of the Chinese herbal medicine Gan-Cao (licorice). J Chromatogr A 2008; 1216:1954-69. [PMID: 18703197 DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2008.07.072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 373] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2008] [Revised: 06/28/2008] [Accepted: 07/03/2008] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Gan-Cao, or licorice, is a popular Chinese herbal medicine derived from the dried roots and rhizomes of Glycyrrhiza uralensis, G. glabra, and G. inflata. The main bioactive constituents of licorice are triterpene saponins and various types of flavonoids. The contents of these compounds may vary in different licorice batches and thus affect the therapeutic effects. In order to ensure its efficacy and safety, sensitive and accurate methods for the qualitative and quantitative analyses of saponins and flavonoids are of significance for the comprehensive quality control of licorice. This review describes the progress in chemical analysis of licorice and its preparations since 2000. Newly established methods are summarized, including spectroscopy, thin-layer chromatography, gas chromatography, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS), capillary electrophoresis, high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC), electrochemistry, and immunoassay. The sensitivity, selectivity and powerful separation capability of HPLC and CE allows the simultaneous detection of multiple compounds in licorice. LC/MS provides characteristic fragmentations for the rapid structural identification of licorice saponins and flavonoids. The combination of HPLC and LC/MS is currently the most powerful technique for the quality control of licorice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingying Zhang
- Department of Natural Medicines, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, No. 38 Xueyuan Road, Beijing 100191, China
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