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Yao M, Wang H, Wang Z, Song C, Sa X, Du W, Ye M, Qiao X. Construct Phenylethanoid Glycosides Harnessing Biosynthetic Networks, Protein Engineering and One-Pot Multienzyme Cascades. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202402546. [PMID: 38616162 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202402546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2024] [Revised: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
Phenylethanoid glycosides (PhGs) exhibit a multitude of structural variations linked to diverse pharmacological activities. Assembling various PhGs via multienzyme cascades represents a concise strategy over traditional synthetic methods. However, the challenge lies in identifying a comprehensive set of catalytic enzymes. This study explores biosynthetic PhG reconstruction from natural precursors, aiming to replicate and amplify their structural diversity. We discovered 12 catalytic enzymes, including four novel 6'-OH glycosyltransferases and three new polyphenol oxidases, revealing the intricate network in PhG biosynthesis. Subsequently, the crystal structure of CmGT3 (2.62 Å) was obtained, guiding the identification of conserved residue 144# as a critical determinant for sugar donor specificity. Engineering this residue in PhG glycosyltransferases (FsGT61, CmGT3, and FsGT6) altered their sugar donor recognition. Finally, a one-pot multienzyme cascade was established, where the combined action of glycosyltransferases and acyltransferases boosted conversion rates by up to 12.6-fold. This cascade facilitated the reconstruction of 26 PhGs with conversion rates ranging from 5-100 %, and 20 additional PhGs detectable by mass spectrometry. PhGs with extra glycosyl and hydroxyl modules demonstrated notable liver cell protection. This work not only provides catalytic tools for PhG biosynthesis, but also serves as a proof-of-concept for cell-free enzymatic construction of diverse natural products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingju Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, 38 Xueyuan Road, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Haotian Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, 38 Xueyuan Road, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Zilong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, 38 Xueyuan Road, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Chenglin Song
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, 38 Xueyuan Road, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Xiaolin Sa
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, 38 Xueyuan Road, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Wei Du
- Agilent Technologies, 3 Wangjing North Road, Beijing, 100102, China
| | - Min Ye
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, 38 Xueyuan Road, Beijing, 100191, China
- Peking University-Yunnan Baiyao International Medical Research Center, 38 Xueyuan Road, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Xue Qiao
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, 38 Xueyuan Road, Beijing, 100191, China
- Peking University-Yunnan Baiyao International Medical Research Center, 38 Xueyuan Road, Beijing, 100191, China
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Gharabli H, Welner DH. The sugar donor specificity of plant family 1 glycosyltransferases. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2024; 12:1396268. [PMID: 38756413 PMCID: PMC11096472 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2024.1396268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Plant family 1 glycosyltransferases (UGTs) represent a formidable tool to produce valuable natural and novel glycosides. Their regio- and stereo-specific one-step glycosylation mechanism along with their inherent wide acceptor scope are desirable traits in biotechnology. However, their donor scope and specificity are not well understood. Since different sugars have different properties in vivo and in vitro, the ability to easily glycodiversify target acceptors is desired, and this depends on our improved understanding of the donor binding site. In the aim to unlock the full potential of UGTs, studies have attempted to elucidate the structure-function relationship governing their donor specificity. These efforts have revealed a complex phenomenon, and general principles valid for multiple enzymes are elusive. Here, we review the studies of UGT donor specificity, and attempt to group the information into key concepts which can help shape future research. We zoom in on the family-defining PSPG motif, on two loop residues reported to interact with the C6 position of the sugar, and on the role of active site arginines in donor specificity. We continue to discuss attempts to alter and expand the donor specificity by enzyme engineering, and finally discuss future research directions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ditte Hededam Welner
- The Novo Nordisk Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
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Zhao Y, He Y, Han L, Zhang L, Xia Y, Yin F, Wang X, Zhao D, Xu S, Qiao F, Xiao Y, Kong L. Two types of coumarins-specific enzymes complete the last missing steps in pyran- and furanocoumarins biosynthesis. Acta Pharm Sin B 2024; 14:869-880. [PMID: 38322336 PMCID: PMC10840424 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2023.10.016] [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: 08/11/2023] [Revised: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Pyran- and furanocoumarins are key representatives of tetrahydropyrans and tetrahydrofurans, respectively, exhibiting diverse physiological and medical bioactivities. However, the biosynthetic mechanisms for their core structures remain poorly understood. Here we combined multiomics analyses of biosynthetic enzymes in Peucedanum praeruptorum and in vitro functional verification and identified two types of key enzymes critical for pyran and furan ring biosynthesis in plants. These included three distinct P. praeruptorum prenyltransferases (PpPT1-3) responsible for the prenylation of the simple coumarin skeleton 7 into linear or angular precursors, and two novel CYP450 cyclases (PpDC and PpOC) crucial for the cyclization of the linear/angular precursors into either tetrahydropyran or tetrahydrofuran scaffolds. Biochemical analyses of cyclases indicated that acid/base-assisted epoxide ring opening contributed to the enzyme-catalyzed tetrahydropyran and tetrahydrofuran ring refactoring. The possible acid/base-assisted catalytic mechanisms of the identified cyclases were theoretically investigated and assessed using site-specific mutagenesis. We identified two possible acidic amino acids Glu303 in PpDC and Asp301 in PpOC as vital in the catalytic process. This study provides new enzymatic tools in the epoxide formation/epoxide-opening mediated cascade reaction and exemplifies how plants become chemically diverse in terms of enzyme function and catalytic process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yucheng Zhao
- Department of Resources Science of Traditional Chinese Medicines, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Yuedong He
- College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China
| | - Liangliang Han
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product Research and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Department of Natural Medicinal Chemistry, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Libo Zhang
- Department of Resources Science of Traditional Chinese Medicines, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Yuanzheng Xia
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product Research and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Department of Natural Medicinal Chemistry, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Fucheng Yin
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product Research and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Department of Natural Medicinal Chemistry, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Xiaobing Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product Research and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Department of Natural Medicinal Chemistry, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Deqing Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Resources and Germplasm Enhancement in Southern China, Ministry of Agriculture, Tropical Crops Genetic Resources Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Haikou 517317, China
| | - Sheng Xu
- Institute of Botany, Jiangsu Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China
| | - Fei Qiao
- Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Resources and Germplasm Enhancement in Southern China, Ministry of Agriculture, Tropical Crops Genetic Resources Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Haikou 517317, China
| | - Yibei Xiao
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Lingyi Kong
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Product Research and State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Department of Natural Medicinal Chemistry, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
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Zou J, Li H, Wang Z, Ye M. Functional characterization of two efficient glycosyltransferases catalysing the formation of rutin from Sophora japonica L. Org Biomol Chem 2023; 21:7913-7916. [PMID: 37752877 DOI: 10.1039/d3ob01281f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/28/2023]
Abstract
Two efficient and selective glycosyltransferases were identified from Sophora japonica L. Sj3GT could regio-selectively catalyse 3-O-glucosylation of quercetin to produce isoquercitrin, and Sj6''RhaT could further catalyse its 6''-O-rhamnosylation to generate rutin. It is particularly noteworthy that Sj6''RhaT shows high sugar donor selectivity towards UDP-rhamnose.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianlin Zou
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, 38 Xueyuan Road, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Hongye Li
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, 38 Xueyuan Road, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Zilong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, 38 Xueyuan Road, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Min Ye
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, 38 Xueyuan Road, Beijing 100191, China
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