Non enzymic formation of nerolidol from farnesyl pyrophosphate in the presence of bivalent cations

Exploring the Influence of Domain Architecture on the Catalytic Function of Diterpene Synthases

Terpenoid synthases catalyze isoprenoid cyclization reactions underlying the generation of more than 80,000 natural products. Such dramatic chemodiversity belies the fact that these enzymes generally consist of only three domain folds designated as α, β, and γ. Catalysis by class I terpenoid synthases occurs exclusively in the α domain, which is found with α, αα, αβ, and αβγ domain architectures. Here, we explore the influence of domain architecture on catalysis by taxadiene synthase from Taxus brevifolia (TbTS, αβγ), fusicoccadiene synthase from Phomopsis amygdali (PaFS, (αα)₆), and ophiobolin F synthase from Aspergillus clavatus (AcOS, αα). We show that the cyclization fidelity and catalytic efficiency of the α domain of TbTS are severely compromised by deletion of the βγ domains; however, retention of the β domain preserves significant cyclization fidelity. In PaFS, we previously demonstrated that one α domain similarly influences catalysis by the other α domain [ Chen , M. , Chou , W. K. W. , Toyomasu , T. , Cane , D. E. , and Christianson , D. W. ( 2016 ) ACS Chem. Biol. 11 , 889 - 899 ]. Here, we show that the hexameric quaternary structure of PaFS enables cluster channeling. We also show that the α domains of PaFS and AcOS can be swapped so as to make functional chimeric αα synthases. Notably, both cyclization fidelity and catalytic efficiency are altered in all chimeric synthases. Twelve newly formed and uncharacterized C₂₀ diterpene products and three C₂₅ sesterterpene products are generated by these chimeras. Thus, engineered αβγ and αα terpenoid cyclases promise to generate chemodiversity in the greater family of terpenoid natural products.

Incubation of 2-methylisoborneol synthase with the intermediate analog 2-methylneryl diphosphate

Incubation of synthetic 2-methylneryl diphosphate (2-MeNPP, 10) with 2-methylisoborneol synthase (MIBS) gave a mixture of products that differed significantly from that derived from the natural substrate (E)-2-methylgeranyl diphosphate (3, 2-MeGPP). The proportion of (-)-2-methylisoborneol (1) decreased from 89 to 17% while that of 2-methylenebornane (4) increased from 10 to 26%, with the relative yields of the isomeric homo-monoterpenes 2-methyl-2-bornene (5) and 1-methylcamphene (6) remaining essentially unchanged (<1% each), as determined by chiral GC-MS analysis. The majority of the product mixture resulting from the MIBS-catalyzed cyclization of 2-MeNPP (10) consisted of the anomalous monocyclic homo-monoterpenes (±)-2-methylllimonene (15, 39%) and 2-methyl-α-terpineol (13, 10%), as well as the acylic derivatives 2-methylnerol (11, 7%) and 2-methyllinalool (14, <1%). The steady-state kinetic parameters of the MIBS-catalyzed reaction, determined using [1-³H]-2-methylneryl diphosphate (2-MeNPP), were k_cat 0.0046±0.0003 s^-1, K_m 18±6 μm and k_cat/K_m 2.55 × 10² M^-1 s^-1. In comparison, the natural substrate 2-MeGPP had a k_cat 0.105±0.007 s^-1, K_m 95±49 μm and k_cat/K_m 1.11 × 10³ M^-1 s^-1. Taken together with earlier X-ray crystallographic studies of MIBS, as well as previous investigations of the mechanistically related plant monoterpene cyclase, bornyl diphosphate synthase, these results provide important insights into the binding and cyclization of both native substrates and intermediates and their analogs.

Probing the Role of Active Site Water in the Sesquiterpene Cyclization Reaction Catalyzed by Aristolochene Synthase

Aristolochene synthase (ATAS) is a high-fidelity terpenoid cyclase that converts farnesyl diphosphate exclusively into the bicyclic hydrocarbon aristolochene. Previously determined crystal structures of ATAS complexes revealed trapped active site water molecules that could potentially interact with catalytic intermediates: water "w" hydrogen bonds with S303 and N299, water molecules "w1" and "w2" hydrogen bond with Q151, and a fourth water molecule coordinates to the Mg(2+)C ion. There is no obvious role for water in the ATAS mechanism because the enzyme exclusively generates a hydrocarbon product. Thus, these water molecules are tightly controlled so that they cannot react with carbocation intermediates. Steady-state kinetics and product distribution analyses of eight ATAS mutants designed to perturb interactions with active site water molecules (S303A, S303H, S303D, N299A, N299L, N299A/S303A, Q151H, and Q151E) indicate relatively modest effects on catalysis but significant effects on sesquiterpene product distributions. X-ray crystal structures of S303A, N299A, N299A/S303A, and Q151H mutants reveal minimal perturbation of active site solvent structure. Seven of the eight mutants generate farnesol and nerolidol, possibly resulting from addition of the Mg(2+)C-bound water molecule to the initially formed farnesyl cation, but no products are generated that would suggest enhanced reactivity of other active site water molecules. However, intermediate germacrene A tends to accumulate in these mutants. Thus, apart from the possible reactivity of Mg(2+)C-bound water, active site water molecules in ATAS are not directly involved in the chemistry of catalysis but instead contribute to the template that governs the conformation of the flexible substrate and carbocation intermediates.

Unexpected reactivity of 2-fluorolinalyl diphosphate in the active site of crystalline 2-methylisoborneol synthase

The crystal structure of 2-methylisoborneol synthase (MIBS) from Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2) has been determined in its unliganded state and in complex with two Mg(2+) ions and 2-fluoroneryl diphosphate at 1.85 and 2.00 Å resolution, respectively. Under normal circumstances, MIBS catalyzes the cyclization of the naturally occurring, noncanonical 11-carbon isoprenoid substrate, 2-methylgeranyl diphosphate, which first undergoes an ionization-isomerization-ionization sequence through the tertiary diphosphate intermediate 2-methyllinalyl diphosphate to enable subsequent cyclization chemistry. MIBS does not exhibit catalytic activity with 2-fluorogeranyl diphosphate, and we recently reported the crystal structure of MIBS complexed with this unreactive substrate analogue [ Köksal, M., Chou, W. K. W., Cane, D. E., Christianson, D. W. (2012) Biochemistry 51 , 3011-3020 ]. However, cocrystallization of MIBS with the fluorinated analogue of the tertiary allylic diphosphate intermediate, 2-fluorolinalyl diphosphate, reveals unexpected reactivity for the intermediate analogue and yields the crystal structure of the complex with the primary allylic diphosphate, 2-fluoroneryl diphosphate. Comparison with the structure of the unliganded enzyme reveals that the crystalline enzyme active site remains partially open, presumably due to the binding of only two Mg(2+) ions. Assays in solution indicate that MIBS catalyzes the generation of (1R)-(+)-camphor from the substrate 2-fluorolinalyl diphosphate, suggesting that both 2-fluorolinalyl diphosphate and 2-methyllinalyl diphosphate follow the identical cyclization mechanism leading to 2-substituted isoborneol products; however, the initially generated 2-fluoroisoborneol cyclization product is unstable and undergoes elimination of hydrogen fluoride to yield (1R)-(+)-camphor.

Functional expression of an orchid fragrance gene in Lactococcus lactis

Vanda Mimi Palmer (VMP), an orchid hybrid of Vanda tesselata and Vanda Tan Chay Yan is a highly scented tropical orchid which blooms all year round. Previous studies revealed that VMP produces a variety of isoprenoid volatiles during daylight. Isoprenoids are well known to contribute significantly to the scent of most fragrant plants. They are a large group of secondary metabolites which may possess valuable characteristics such as flavor, fragrance and toxicity and are produced via two pathways, the mevalonate (MVA) pathway or/and the 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol-4-phosphate (MEP) pathway. In this study, a sesquiterpene synthase gene denoted VMPSTS, previously isolated from a floral cDNA library of VMP was cloned and expressed in Lactococcus lactis to characterize the functionality of the protein. L. lactis, a food grade bacterium which utilizes the mevalonate pathway for isoprenoid production was found to be a suitable host for the characterization of plant terpene synthases. Through recombinant expression of VMPSTS, it was revealed that VMPSTS produced multiple sesquiterpenes and germacrene D dominates its profile.

Overproduction of geranylgeraniol by metabolically engineered Saccharomyces cerevisiae

(E, E, E)-Geranylgeraniol (GGOH) is a valuable starting material for perfumes and pharmaceutical products. In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, GGOH is synthesized from the end products of the mevalonate pathway through the sequential reactions of farnesyl diphosphate synthetase (encoded by the ERG20 gene), geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase (the BTS1 gene), and some endogenous phosphatases. We demonstrated that overexpression of the diacylglycerol diphosphate phosphatase (DPP1) gene could promote GGOH production. We also found that overexpression of a BTS1-DPP1 fusion gene was more efficient for producing GGOH than coexpression of these genes separately. Overexpression of the hydroxymethylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMG1) gene, which encodes the major rate-limiting enzyme of the mevalonate pathway, resulted in overproduction of squalene (191.9 mg liter(-1)) rather than GGOH (0.2 mg liter(-1)) in test tube cultures. Coexpression of the BTS1-DPP1 fusion gene along with the HMG1 gene partially redirected the metabolic flux from squalene to GGOH. Additional expression of a BTS1-ERG20 fusion gene resulted in an almost complete shift of the flux to GGOH production (228.8 mg liter(-1) GGOH and 6.5 mg liter(-1) squalene). Finally, we constructed a diploid prototrophic strain coexpressing the HMG1, BTS1-DPP1, and BTS1-ERG20 genes from multicopy integration vectors. This strain attained 3.31 g liter(-1) GGOH production in a 10-liter jar fermentor with gradual feeding of a mixed glucose and ethanol solution. The use of bifunctional fusion genes such as the BTS1-DPP1 and ERG20-BTS1 genes that code sequential enzymes in the metabolic pathway was an effective method for metabolic engineering.

Cyclization of farnesyl pyrophosphate to the sesquiterpene olefins humulene and caryophyllene by an enzyme system from sage (Salvia officinalis)

A soluble enzyme preparation obtained from sage (Salvia officinalis) leaves was shown to catalyze the divalent metal-ion dependent cyclization of trans, trans-farnesyl pyrophosphate to the macrocyclic sesquiterpene olefins humulene and caryophyllene. The identities of the biosynthetic products were confirmed by radiochromatographic analysis and by preparation of crystalline derivatives, and the specificity of labeling in the cyclization reaction was established by chemical degradation of the olefins derived enzymatically from [1-3H2]farnesyl pyrophosphate. These results constitute the first report on the cyclization of farnesyl pyrophosphate to humulene and caryophyllene, two of the most common sesquiterpenes in nature, and the first description of a soluble sesquiterpene cyclase to be isolated from leaves of a higher plant.