1
|
Votta C, Wang JY, Cavallini N, Savorani F, Capparotto A, Liew KX, Giovannetti M, Lanfranco L, Al-Babili S, Fiorilli V. Integration of rice apocarotenoid profile and expression pattern of Carotenoid Cleavage Dioxygenases reveals a positive effect of β-ionone on mycorrhization. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY : PPB 2024; 207:108366. [PMID: 38244387 DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2024.108366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
Carotenoids are susceptible to degrading processes initiated by oxidative cleavage reactions mediated by Carotenoid Cleavage Dioxygenases that break their backbone, leading to products called apocarotenoids. These carotenoid-derived metabolites include the phytohormones abscisic acid and strigolactones, and different signaling molecules and growth regulators, which are utilized by plants to coordinate many aspects of their life. Several apocarotenoids have been recruited for the communication between plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and as regulators of the establishment of AM symbiosis. However, our knowledge on their biosynthetic pathways and the regulation of their pattern during AM symbiosis is still limited. In this study, we generated a qualitative and quantitative profile of apocarotenoids in roots and shoots of rice plants exposed to high/low phosphate concentrations, and upon AM symbiosis in a time course experiment covering different stages of growth and AM development. To get deeper insights in the biology of apocarotenoids during this plant-fungal symbiosis, we complemented the metabolic profiles by determining the expression pattern of CCD genes, taking advantage of chemometric tools. This analysis revealed the specific profiles of CCD genes and apocarotenoids across different stages of AM symbiosis and phosphate supply conditions, identifying novel reliable markers at both local and systemic levels and indicating a promoting role of β-ionone in AM symbiosis establishment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Votta
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Torino, Viale Mattioli 25, Torino, 10125, Italy
| | - Jian You Wang
- The BioActives Lab, Center for Desert Agriculture, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nicola Cavallini
- Department of Applied Science and Technology (DISAT), Polytechnic of Turin, Corso Duca Degli Abruzzi 24, 10129, Torino, Italy
| | - Francesco Savorani
- Department of Applied Science and Technology (DISAT), Polytechnic of Turin, Corso Duca Degli Abruzzi 24, 10129, Torino, Italy
| | - Arianna Capparotto
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via Ugo Bassi 58/b, 35131, Padova, Italy
| | - Kit Xi Liew
- The BioActives Lab, Center for Desert Agriculture, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Marco Giovannetti
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Torino, Viale Mattioli 25, Torino, 10125, Italy; Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via Ugo Bassi 58/b, 35131, Padova, Italy
| | - Luisa Lanfranco
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Torino, Viale Mattioli 25, Torino, 10125, Italy
| | - Salim Al-Babili
- The BioActives Lab, Center for Desert Agriculture, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia; The Plant Science Program, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Valentina Fiorilli
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Torino, Viale Mattioli 25, Torino, 10125, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Zheng X, Mi J, Balakrishna A, Liew KX, Ablazov A, Sougrat R, Al‐Babili S. Gardenia carotenoid cleavage dioxygenase 4a is an efficient tool for biotechnological production of crocins in green and non-green plant tissues. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL 2022; 20:2202-2216. [PMID: 35997958 PMCID: PMC9616529 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.13901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Revised: 07/03/2022] [Accepted: 07/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Crocins are beneficial antioxidants and potential chemotherapeutics that give raise, together with picrocrocin, to the colour and taste of saffron, the most expensive spice, respectively. Crocins are formed from crocetin dialdehyde that is produced in Crocus sativus from zeaxanthin by the carotenoid cleavage dioxygenase 2L (CsCCD2L), while GjCCD4a from Gardenia jasminoides, another major source of crocins, converted different carotenoids, including zeaxanthin, into crocetin dialdehyde in bacterio. To establish a biotechnological platform for sustainable production of crocins, we investigated the enzymatic activity of GjCCD4a, in comparison with CsCCD2L, in citrus callus engineered by Agrobacterium-mediated supertransformation of multi genes and in transiently transformed Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. We demonstrate that co-expression of GjCCD4a with phytoene synthase and β-carotene hydroxylase genes is an optimal combination for heterologous production of crocetin, crocins and picrocrocin in citrus callus. By profiling apocarotenoids and using in vitro assays, we show that GjCCD4a cleaved β-carotene, in planta, and produced crocetin dialdehyde via C30 β-apocarotenoid intermediate. GjCCD4a also cleaved C27 β-apocarotenoids, providing a new route for C17 -dialdehyde biosynthesis. Callus lines overexpressing GjCCD4a contained higher number of plastoglobuli in chromoplast-like plastids and increased contents in phytoene, C17:0 fatty acid (FA), and C18:1 cis-9 and C22:0 FA esters. GjCCD4a showed a wider substrate specificity and higher efficiency in Nicotiana leaves, leading to the accumulation of up to 1.6 mg/g dry weight crocins. In summary, we established a system for investigating CCD enzymatic activity in planta and an efficient biotechnological platform for crocins production in green and non-green crop tissues/organs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiongjie Zheng
- The BioActives Lab, Center for Desert Agriculture (CDA), Biological and Environment Science and Engineering (BESE)King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)ThuwalSaudi Arabia
| | - Jianing Mi
- The BioActives Lab, Center for Desert Agriculture (CDA), Biological and Environment Science and Engineering (BESE)King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)ThuwalSaudi Arabia
| | - Aparna Balakrishna
- The BioActives Lab, Center for Desert Agriculture (CDA), Biological and Environment Science and Engineering (BESE)King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)ThuwalSaudi Arabia
| | - Kit Xi Liew
- The BioActives Lab, Center for Desert Agriculture (CDA), Biological and Environment Science and Engineering (BESE)King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)ThuwalSaudi Arabia
| | - Abdugaffor Ablazov
- The BioActives Lab, Center for Desert Agriculture (CDA), Biological and Environment Science and Engineering (BESE)King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)ThuwalSaudi Arabia
| | - Rachid Sougrat
- Advanced Nanofabrication Imaging and Characterization CenterKing Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)ThuwalSaudi Arabia
| | - Salim Al‐Babili
- The BioActives Lab, Center for Desert Agriculture (CDA), Biological and Environment Science and Engineering (BESE)King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)ThuwalSaudi Arabia
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Mi J, Liew KX, Al-Babili S. Ultrahigh-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Analysis of Carotenoid-Derived Hormones and Apocarotenoids in Plants. Curr Protoc 2022; 2:e375. [PMID: 35201678 DOI: 10.1002/cpz1.375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Carotenoid oxidative cleavage products, apocarotenoids (APOs), are a class of important plant secondary metabolites, which include phytohormones abscisic acid (ABA) and strigolactones (SLs), and growth regulators and signaling molecules such as β-cyclocitral, zaxinone, anchorene, β-apo-11-carotenoids, and retinal. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of these bioactive compounds is crucial for understanding their metabolism and may also enable discovering further regulatory APOs. The state-of-the-art mass spectrometry (MS) technology has advanced the detection of plant APOs; however, it is still challenging to perform an accurate analysis of the low-level phytohormones ABA and SL and the structurally diverse APOs from complex plant matrices. Here, we describe ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-MS (UHPLC-MS) methods to determine carotenoid-derived hormones and APOs from plants by integrating ultrasound-assisted extraction and solid-phase extraction. These assays enable an accurate quantification of carotenoid-derived hormones and APOs from plant tissues by using an UHPLC hybrid quadrupole-Orbitrap mass spectrometer. © 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol 1: UHPLC-MS analysis of APOs from rice roots Support Protocol: Preparation of dried plant root powder Basic Protocol 2: UHPLC-MS analysis of SLs from rice roots Basic Protocol 3: UHPLC-MS analysis of ABA from rice roots.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jianing Mi
- The BioActives Lab, Center for Desert Agriculture, Division of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Kit Xi Liew
- The BioActives Lab, Center for Desert Agriculture, Division of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Salim Al-Babili
- The BioActives Lab, Center for Desert Agriculture, Division of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Mi J, Moreno JC, Alagoz Y, Liew KX, Balakrishna A, Zheng X, Al-Babili S. Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of plant apocarotenoids. Methods Enzymol 2022; 670:285-309. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2021.10.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
|
5
|
Zheng X, Yang Y, Al-Babili S. Exploring the Diversity and Regulation of Apocarotenoid Metabolic Pathways in Plants. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:787049. [PMID: 34956282 PMCID: PMC8702529 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.787049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
In plants, carotenoids are subjected to enzyme-catalyzed oxidative cleavage reactions as well as to non-enzymatic degradation processes, which produce various carbonyl products called apocarotenoids. These conversions control carotenoid content in different tissues and give rise to apocarotenoid hormones and signaling molecules, which play important roles in plant growth and development, response to environmental stimuli, and in interactions with surrounding organisms. In addition, carotenoid cleavage gives rise to apocarotenoid pigments and volatiles that contribute to the color and flavor of many flowers and several fruits. Some apocarotenoid pigments, such as crocins and bixin, are widely utilized as colorants and additives in food and cosmetic industry and also have health-promoting properties. Considering the importance of this class of metabolites, investigation of apocarotenoid diversity and regulation has increasingly attracted the attention of plant biologists. Here, we provide an update on the plant apocarotenoid biosynthetic pathway, especially highlighting the diversity of the enzyme carotenoid cleavage dioxygenase 4 (CCD4) from different plant species with respect to substrate specificity and regioselectivity, which contribute to the formation of diverse apocarotenoid volatiles and pigments. In addition, we summarize the regulation of apocarotenoid metabolic pathway at transcriptional, post-translational, and epigenetic levels. Finally, we describe inter- and intraspecies variation in apocarotenoid production observed in many important horticulture crops and depict recent progress in elucidating the genetic basis of the natural variation in the composition and amount of apocarotenoids. We propose that the illustration of biochemical, genetic, and evolutionary background of apocarotenoid diversity would not only accelerate the discovery of unknown biosynthetic and regulatory genes of bioactive apocarotenoids but also enable the identification of genetic variation of causal genes for marker-assisted improvement of aroma and color of fruits and vegetables and CRISPR-based next-generation metabolic engineering of high-value apocarotenoids.
Collapse
|
6
|
Li X, Sun J, Chen Z, Jiang J, Jackson A. Characterization of carotenoids and phenolics during fruit ripening of Chinese raspberry ( Rubus chingii Hu). RSC Adv 2021; 11:10804-10813. [PMID: 35423599 PMCID: PMC8695867 DOI: 10.1039/d0ra10373j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2020] [Accepted: 01/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Chinese raspberry (Rubus chingii Hu) is a fruit valued for it's health benefits, which is indigenous to China. It is a great source of antioxidants. However, the fruit phytochemicals are poorly understood. Phenolics and carotenoids attract much attention for their antioxidant capability, and they dramatically change during fruit ripening, leading to the difference in color, flavor and medicinal components. In this study, we investigated the change of carotenoids, phenolics and antioxidant activity using spectrophotometry during four different ripening phases i.e. mature green (MG), green yellow (GY), yellow orange (YO) and red (RE). The major components of carotenoids, anthocyanins, ellagitannins and flavonols were identified and quantified by LC-MS/MS. As a result, five carotenoids (mainly β-Citraurin and its esters), six anthocyanins (mainly anthocyanins covalently linked to another flavonoid unit), methyl (S)-flavogallonate and rourinoside were first identified in Rubus. In contrast to other known raspberries, R. chingii had a continuous decrease in total phenolics during fruit ripening, which was due to a continuous decrease in flavonoids (including anthocyanin). Total anthocyanin and flavonoid respectively declined from 19.5 to 6.9 mg/100 g FW, and 646.2 to 128.5 mg/100 g FW during fruit maturation and coloration. Accordingly, the components of anthocyanins, ellagitannins and flavonols also declined, thus resulting in a decrease in antioxidant activity (from 41.2 to 10.1 TEAC/100 g FW in ABTS and from 35.3 to 7.7 mmol TEAC/100 g FW in FRAP). In contrast, total carotenoid increased from 184.2 to 305.4 mg/100 g FW. Accordingly, the components of carotenoids also increased, with the exception of lutein. Additionally, kaempferol and quercetin were the main flavonoid aglycones, which were linked to a variety of glycosides. These kaempferol- and quercetin-glycosides mainly accumulated in epidermal hair and placentae. Notably, carotenoids (i.e. β-citraurin esters), instead of anthocyanins, gradually accumulated during fruit ripening, imparting the reddish color to ripe fruit.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaobai Li
- Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences Hangzhou 310021 China
| | - Jian Sun
- Zhejiang Research Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine Co., Ltd. Hangzhou 310023 China
| | - Zhen Chen
- College of Life Sciences, Taizhou University Taizhou 318000 China
| | - Jingyong Jiang
- Taizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences Linhai 317000 China
| | | |
Collapse
|
7
|
Zheng X, Mi J, Deng X, Al-Babili S. LC-MS-Based Profiling Provides New Insights into Apocarotenoid Biosynthesis and Modifications in Citrus Fruits. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2021; 69:1842-1851. [PMID: 33543938 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.0c06893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Apocarotenoids contribute to fruit color and aroma, which are critical quality and marketability attributes. Previously, we reported that the red peels of citrus fruits, which are characterized by higher expression levels of a carotenoid cleavage dioxygenase 4b (CitCCD4b) gene, accumulate higher levels of β-citraurin and β-citraurinene than yellow peels. Here, we identified and quantified 12 apocarotenoids, either volatile or nonvolatile, in citrus peel using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Our results show that red peels contain also dramatically higher amounts of β-apo-8'-carotenal, crocetin dialdehyde known from saffron, β-citraurol, β-cyclocitral, and 3-OH-β-cyclocitral and up to about 17-fold higher levels of 3-OH-β-cyclocitral glucoside (picrocrocin isomer). The content of these apocarotenoids was also significantly increased in different CitCCD4b-overexpressing transgenic callus lines, compared with corresponding controls. Transient expression of CitCCD4b in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves resulted in a striking increase in the 3-OH-β-cyclocitral level and the accumulation of picrocrocin. Thus, our work reinforces the specific function of CitCCD4b in producing C10 apocarotenoid volatiles and C30 pigments in citrus peel and uncovers its involvement in the biosynthesis of picrocrocin, C20 dialdehyde, and C30 alcohol apocarotenoids, suggesting the potential of this enzyme in metabolic engineering of apocarotenoids and their derivatives.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiongjie Zheng
- Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering, Center for Desert Agriculture, the BioActives Lab, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Jianing Mi
- Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering, Center for Desert Agriculture, the BioActives Lab, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Xiuxin Deng
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology (Ministry of Education), Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Salim Al-Babili
- Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering, Center for Desert Agriculture, the BioActives Lab, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Zheng X, Giuliano G, Al-Babili S. Carotenoid biofortification in crop plants: citius, altius, fortius. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Biol Lipids 2020; 1865:158664. [PMID: 32068105 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbalip.2020.158664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2019] [Revised: 02/06/2020] [Accepted: 02/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Carotenoids are indispensable for human health, required as precursors of vitamin A and efficient antioxidants. However, these plant pigments that play a vital role in photosynthesis are represented at insufficient levels in edible parts of several crops, which creates a need for increasing their content or optimizing their composition through biofortification. In particular, vitamin A deficiency, a severe health problem affecting the lives of millions in developing countries, has triggered the development of a series of high-provitamin A crops, including Golden Rice as the best-known example. Further carotenoid-biofortified crops have been generated by using genetic engineering approaches or through classical breeding. In this review, we depict carotenoid metabolism in plants and provide an update on the development of carotenoid-biofortified plants and their potential to meet needs and expectations. Furthermore, we discuss the possibility of using natural variation for carotenoid biofortification and the potential of gene editing tools. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Carotenoids recent advances in cell and molecular biology edited by Johannes von Lintig and Loredana Quadro.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiongjie Zheng
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering, Center for Desert Agriculture, the BioActives Lab, Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Giovanni Giuliano
- Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), Casaccia Research Center, Via Anguillarese 301, Roma 00123, Italy
| | - Salim Al-Babili
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering, Center for Desert Agriculture, the BioActives Lab, Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia.
| |
Collapse
|