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Li S, Luo S, Yin X, Zhao X, Wang X, Gao S, Xu S, Lu J, Zhou J. Screening of ent-copalyl diphosphate synthase and metabolic engineering to achieve de novo biosynthesis of ent-copalol in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Synth Syst Biotechnol 2024; 9:784-792. [PMID: 39021361 PMCID: PMC11253141 DOI: 10.1016/j.synbio.2024.06.005] [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: 04/05/2024] [Revised: 06/14/2024] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024] Open
Abstract
The diterpene ent-copalol is an important precursor to the synthesis of andrographolide and is found only in green chiretta (Andrographis paniculata). De novo biosynthesis of ent-copalol has not been reported, because the catalytic activity of ent-copalyl diphosphate synthase (CPS) is very low in microorganisms. In order to achieve the biosynthesis of ent-copalol, Saccharomyces cerevisiae was selected as the chassis strain, because its endogenous mevalonate pathway and dephosphorylases could provide natural promotion for the synthesis of ent-copalol. The strain capable of synthesizing diterpene geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate was constructed by strengthening the mevalonate pathway genes and weakening the competing pathway. Five full-length ApCPSs were screened by transcriptome sequencing of A. paniculata and ApCPS2 had the best activity and produced ent-CPP exclusively. The peak area of ent-copalol was increased after the ApCPS2 saturation mutation and its configuration was determined by NMR and ESI-MS detection. By appropriately optimizing acetyl-CoA supply and fusion-expressing key enzymes, 35.6 mg/L ent-copalol was generated. In this study, de novo biosynthesis and identification of ent-copalol were achieved and the highest titer ever reported. It provides a platform strain for the further pathway analysis of andrographolide and derivatives and provides a reference for the synthesis of other pharmaceutical intermediates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan Li
- Engineering Research Center of Ministry of Education on Food Synthetic Biotechnology, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214122, China
- School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214122, China
| | - Shuangshuang Luo
- Engineering Research Center of Ministry of Education on Food Synthetic Biotechnology, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214122, China
- School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214122, China
| | - Xinran Yin
- Engineering Research Center of Ministry of Education on Food Synthetic Biotechnology, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214122, China
- School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214122, China
| | - Xingying Zhao
- Engineering Research Center of Ministry of Education on Food Synthetic Biotechnology, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214122, China
- School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214122, China
| | - Xuyang Wang
- Engineering Research Center of Ministry of Education on Food Synthetic Biotechnology, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214122, China
- School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214122, China
| | - Song Gao
- Engineering Research Center of Ministry of Education on Food Synthetic Biotechnology, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214122, China
- School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214122, China
| | - Sha Xu
- Engineering Research Center of Ministry of Education on Food Synthetic Biotechnology, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214122, China
- School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214122, China
| | - Jian Lu
- Engineering Research Center of Ministry of Education on Food Synthetic Biotechnology, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214122, China
- School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214122, China
| | - Jingwen Zhou
- Engineering Research Center of Ministry of Education on Food Synthetic Biotechnology, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214122, China
- School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214122, China
- Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Rd, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214122, China
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2
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Liu Y, Esposto D, Mahdi LK, Porzel A, Stark P, Hussain H, Scherr-Henning A, Isfort S, Bathe U, Acosta IF, Zuccaro A, Balcke GU, Tissier A. Hordedane diterpenoid phytoalexins restrict Fusarium graminearum infection but enhance Bipolaris sorokiniana colonization of barley roots. MOLECULAR PLANT 2024; 17:1307-1327. [PMID: 39001606 DOI: 10.1016/j.molp.2024.07.006] [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: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 06/14/2024] [Accepted: 07/10/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024]
Abstract
Plant immunity is a multilayered process that includes recognition of patterns or effectors from pathogens to elicit defense responses. These include the induction of a cocktail of defense metabolites that typically restrict pathogen virulence. Here, we investigate the interaction between barley roots and the fungal pathogens Bipolaris sorokiniana (Bs) and Fusarium graminearum (Fg) at the metabolite level. We identify hordedanes, a previously undescribed set of labdane-related diterpenoids with antimicrobial properties, as critical players in these interactions. Infection of barley roots by Bs and Fg elicits hordedane synthesis from a 600-kb gene cluster. Heterologous reconstruction of the biosynthesis pathway in yeast and Nicotiana benthamiana produced several hordedanes, including one of the most functionally decorated products 19-β-hydroxy-hordetrienoic acid (19-OH-HTA). Barley mutants in the diterpene synthase genes of this cluster are unable to produce hordedanes but, unexpectedly, show reduced Bs colonization. By contrast, colonization by Fusarium graminearum, another fungal pathogen of barley and wheat, is 4-fold higher in the mutants completely lacking hordedanes. Accordingly, 19-OH-HTA enhances both germination and growth of Bs, whereas it inhibits other pathogenic fungi, including Fg. Analysis of microscopy and transcriptomics data suggest that hordedanes delay the necrotrophic phase of Bs. Taken together, these results show that adapted pathogens such as Bs can subvert plant metabolic defenses to facilitate root colonization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaming Liu
- Department of Cell and Metabolic Biology, Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Halle, Germany
| | - Dario Esposto
- Department of Cell and Metabolic Biology, Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Halle, Germany
| | - Lisa K Mahdi
- Institute for Plant Sciences, Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences (CEPLAS), Cologne Biocenter, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Andrea Porzel
- Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Halle, Germany
| | - Pauline Stark
- Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Halle, Germany
| | - Hidayat Hussain
- Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Halle, Germany
| | - Anja Scherr-Henning
- Department of Cell and Metabolic Biology, Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Halle, Germany
| | - Simon Isfort
- Department of Cell and Metabolic Biology, Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Halle, Germany
| | - Ulschan Bathe
- Department of Cell and Metabolic Biology, Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Halle, Germany
| | - Iván F Acosta
- Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, Cologne, Germany
| | - Alga Zuccaro
- Institute for Plant Sciences, Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences (CEPLAS), Cologne Biocenter, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Gerd U Balcke
- Department of Cell and Metabolic Biology, Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Halle, Germany
| | - Alain Tissier
- Department of Cell and Metabolic Biology, Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Halle, Germany.
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3
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Oshikawa S, Naoe A, Moriya T, Hasegawa Y, Nakasato M, Ogawa Y, Wakabayashi H, Itoh A, Takeda-Kimura Y, Miyazaki S, Kawaide H, Toyomasu T. Gibberellin-biosynthetic ent-kaurene synthases in higher plants do not require their non-catalytic domains for the catalysis. Biochem J 2024; 481:779-791. [PMID: 38829839 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20240162] [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: 04/08/2024] [Revised: 05/31/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
ent-Kaurene is a biosynthetic intermediate diterpene of phytohormone gibberellins, and is biosynthesized from geranylgeranyl diphosphate via ent-copalyl diphosphate (ent-CDP). The successive cyclization is catalyzed by two distinct diterpene synthases, ent-CDP synthase (ent-CPS) and ent-kaurene synthase (KS). Homologs of these diterpene synthase genes have been reported to be involved in the biosynthesis of specialized-metabolic diterpenoids for defense in several plant species, including rice (Oryza sativa). These diterpene synthases consist of three domains, αβγ domains. Active sites of ent-CPS exist at the interface of β and γ domain, while those of KS are located within the α domain. We herein carried out domain-deletion experiments using several KSs and KS like enzymes (KSLs) to obtain insights into the roles of domains other than active-site domains. As previously reported in taxadiene synthase, deletion of γ or βγ domains drastically decreased activities of specialized-metabolic OsKSL5, OsKSL8, OsKSL7 and OsKSL10 in O. sativa. However, unexpectedly, only α domains of several gibberellin-biosynthetic KSs, including OsKS1 in O. sativa, AtKS in Arabidopsis thaliana, TaKS in wheat (Triticum aestivum) and BdKS1 in Brachypodium distachyon, retained their original functions. Additionally, the specialized-metabolic OsKSL4, which is closely related to OsKS1, also functioned without its βγ domains. Domain-swapping experiments showed that replacing βγ domains in OsKSL7 with those from other KS/KSLs retained the OsKSL7 activity. Moreover, deletion of βγ domains of bifunctional PpCPS/KS in moss (Physcomitrella patens) drastically impaired its KS-related activity. Thus, we demonstrate that monofunctional gibberellin-biosynthetic KSs are the unique diterpene synthases that retain their functions without βγ domains.
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Affiliation(s)
- So Oshikawa
- Faculty of Agriculture, Yamagata University, Tsuruoka, Yamagata 997-8555, Japan
| | - Ayaka Naoe
- Faculty of Agriculture, Yamagata University, Tsuruoka, Yamagata 997-8555, Japan
| | - Tomoka Moriya
- Faculty of Agriculture, Yamagata University, Tsuruoka, Yamagata 997-8555, Japan
| | - Yuto Hasegawa
- Faculty of Agriculture, Yamagata University, Tsuruoka, Yamagata 997-8555, Japan
| | - Momoko Nakasato
- Faculty of Agriculture, Yamagata University, Tsuruoka, Yamagata 997-8555, Japan
| | - Yuga Ogawa
- Faculty of Agriculture, Yamagata University, Tsuruoka, Yamagata 997-8555, Japan
| | - Hiroki Wakabayashi
- Faculty of Agriculture, Yamagata University, Tsuruoka, Yamagata 997-8555, Japan
| | - Akira Itoh
- Faculty of Agriculture, Yamagata University, Tsuruoka, Yamagata 997-8555, Japan
| | - Yuri Takeda-Kimura
- Faculty of Agriculture, Yamagata University, Tsuruoka, Yamagata 997-8555, Japan
| | - Sho Miyazaki
- Institute of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Fuchu, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Kawaide
- Institute of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Fuchu, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan
| | - Tomonobu Toyomasu
- Faculty of Agriculture, Yamagata University, Tsuruoka, Yamagata 997-8555, Japan
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4
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Teng Y, Wang Y, Zhang Y, Xie Q, Zeng Q, Cai M, Chen T. Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Analysis of ent-kaurene synthase-like Gene Family Associated with Abiotic Stress in Rice. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:5513. [PMID: 38791550 PMCID: PMC11121893 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25105513] [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: 04/17/2024] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Rice (Oryza sativa) is one of the most important crops for humans. The homologs of ent-kaurene synthase (KS) in rice, which are responsible for the biosynthesis of gibberellins and various phytoalexins, are identified by their distinct biochemical functions. However, the KS-Like (KSL) family's potential functions related to hormone and abiotic stress in rice remain uncertain. Here, we identified the KSL family of 19 species by domain analysis and grouped 97 KSL family proteins into three categories. Collinearity analysis of KSLs among Poaceae indicated that the KSL gene may independently evolve and OsKSL1 and OsKSL4 likely play a significant role in the evolutionary process. Tissue expression analysis showed that two-thirds of OsKSLs were expressed in various tissues, whereas OsKSL3 and OsKSL5 were specifically expressed in the root and OsKSL4 in the leaf. Based on the fact that OsKSL2 participates in the biosynthesis of gibberellins and promoter analysis, we detected the gene expression profiles of OsKSLs under hormone treatments (GA, PAC, and ABA) and abiotic stresses (darkness and submergence). The qRT-PCR results demonstrated that OsKSL1, OsKSL3, and OsKSL4 responded to all of the treatments, meaning that these three genes can be candidate genes for abiotic stress. Our results provide new insights into the function of the KSL family in rice growth and resistance to abiotic stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yantong Teng
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
- College of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010021, China
| | - Yingwei Wang
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Genetic Improvement and Quality Control of Medicinal Plants, College of Life and Environmental Science, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China
| | - Yutong Zhang
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Genetic Improvement and Quality Control of Medicinal Plants, College of Life and Environmental Science, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China
| | - Qinyu Xie
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Genetic Improvement and Quality Control of Medicinal Plants, College of Life and Environmental Science, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China
| | - Qinzong Zeng
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Genetic Improvement and Quality Control of Medicinal Plants, College of Life and Environmental Science, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China
| | - Maohong Cai
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Genetic Improvement and Quality Control of Medicinal Plants, College of Life and Environmental Science, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China
| | - Tao Chen
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Genetic Improvement and Quality Control of Medicinal Plants, College of Life and Environmental Science, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China
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5
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Shimada T, Minato S, Hasegawa Y, Miyamoto K, Minato Y, Shenton MR, Okada K, Kawaide H, Toyomasu T. Characterization of diterpene synthase genes in Brachypodium distachyon, a monocotyledonous model plant, provides evolutionary insight into their multiple homologs in cereals. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem 2023; 88:8-15. [PMID: 37833097 DOI: 10.1093/bbb/zbad146] [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: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023]
Abstract
Gibberellins are diterpenoid phytohormones that regulate plant growth, and are biosynthesized from a diterpene intermediate, ent-kaurene, which is produced from geranylgeranyl diphosphate via ent-copalyl diphosphate (ent-CDP). The successive 2 cyclization reactions are catalyzed by 2 distinct diterpene synthases, ent-CDP synthase (ent-CPS) and ent-kaurene synthase (KS). Various diterpene synthase genes involved in specialized metabolism were likely created through duplication and neofunctionalization of gibberellin-biosynthetic ent-CPS and KS genes in crops. Brachypodium distachyon is a monocotyledonous species that is a model plant in grasses. We herein found 1 ent-CPS gene homolog BdCPS and 4 tandemly arrayed KS-like genes BdKS1, KSL2, KSL3, and KSL4 in the B. distachyon genome, a simpler collection of paralogs than in crops. Phylogenetic and biochemical analyses showed that BdCPS and BdKS1 are responsible for gibberellin biosynthesis. BdKSL2 and BdKSL3 are suggested to be involved in specialized diterpenoid metabolism. Moreover, we restored KS activity of BdKSL2 through amino acid substitution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takeru Shimada
- Faculty of Agriculture, Yamagata University, Tsuruoka, Yamagata, Japan
| | - Shiho Minato
- Faculty of Agriculture, Yamagata University, Tsuruoka, Yamagata, Japan
| | - Yuto Hasegawa
- Faculty of Agriculture, Yamagata University, Tsuruoka, Yamagata, Japan
| | - Koji Miyamoto
- Department of Biosciences, Teikyo University, Utsunomiya, Tochigi, Japan
| | - Yasumasa Minato
- Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Fuchu, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Matthew R Shenton
- Breeding Materials Development Unit, Institute of Crop Science, NARO, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Kazunori Okada
- Biotechnology Research Center, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Kawaide
- Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Fuchu, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tomonobu Toyomasu
- Faculty of Agriculture, Yamagata University, Tsuruoka, Yamagata, Japan
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6
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Wang Z, Nelson DR, Zhang J, Wan X, Peters RJ. Plant (di)terpenoid evolution: from pigments to hormones and beyond. Nat Prod Rep 2023; 40:452-469. [PMID: 36472136 PMCID: PMC9945934 DOI: 10.1039/d2np00054g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Covering: up to 2014-2022.Diterpenoid biosynthesis in plants builds on the necessary production of (E,E,E)-geranylgeranyl diphosphate (GGPP) for photosynthetic pigment production, with diterpenoid biosynthesis arising very early in land plant evolution, enabling stockpiling of the extensive arsenal of (di)terpenoid natural products currently observed in this kingdom. This review will build upon that previously published in the Annual Review of Plant Biology, with a stronger focus on enzyme structure-function relationships, as well as additional insights into the evolution of (di)terpenoid metabolism since generated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhibiao Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China.,Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50014, USA.
| | - David R Nelson
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Biochemistry, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | - Juan Zhang
- Zhongzhi International Institute of Agricultural Biosciences, Shunde Innovation School, Research Center of Biology and Agriculture, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100024, China.
| | - Xiangyuan Wan
- Zhongzhi International Institute of Agricultural Biosciences, Shunde Innovation School, Research Center of Biology and Agriculture, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100024, China.
| | - Reuben J Peters
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50014, USA.
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Polturak G, Dippe M, Stephenson MJ, Chandra Misra R, Owen C, Ramirez-Gonzalez RH, Haidoulis JF, Schoonbeek HJ, Chartrain L, Borrill P, Nelson DR, Brown JK, Nicholson P, Uauy C, Osbourn A. Pathogen-induced biosynthetic pathways encode defense-related molecules in bread wheat. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2123299119. [PMID: 35412884 PMCID: PMC9169793 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2123299119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Wheat is a widely grown food crop that suffers major yield losses due to attack by pests and pathogens. A better understanding of biotic stress responses in wheat is thus of major importance. The recently assembled bread wheat genome coupled with extensive transcriptomic resources provides unprecedented new opportunities to investigate responses to pathogen challenge. Here, we analyze gene coexpression networks to identify modules showing consistent induction in response to pathogen exposure. Within the top pathogen-induced modules, we identify multiple clusters of physically adjacent genes that correspond to six pathogen-induced biosynthetic pathways that share a common regulatory network. Functional analysis reveals that these pathways, all of which are encoded by biosynthetic gene clusters, produce various different classes of compounds—namely, flavonoids, diterpenes, and triterpenes, including the defense-related compound ellarinacin. Through comparative genomics, we also identify associations with the known rice phytoalexins momilactones, as well as with a defense-related gene cluster in the grass model plant Brachypodium distachyon. Our results significantly advance the understanding of chemical defenses in wheat and open up avenues for enhancing disease resistance in this agriculturally important crop. They also exemplify the power of transcriptional networks to discover the biosynthesis of chemical defenses in plants with large, complex genomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guy Polturak
- Department of Biochemistry and Metabolism, John Innes Centre, Norwich NR4 7UH, United Kingdom
| | - Martin Dippe
- Department of Biochemistry and Metabolism, John Innes Centre, Norwich NR4 7UH, United Kingdom
| | - Michael J. Stephenson
- Department of Biochemistry and Metabolism, John Innes Centre, Norwich NR4 7UH, United Kingdom
| | - Rajesh Chandra Misra
- Department of Biochemistry and Metabolism, John Innes Centre, Norwich NR4 7UH, United Kingdom
| | - Charlotte Owen
- Department of Biochemistry and Metabolism, John Innes Centre, Norwich NR4 7UH, United Kingdom
| | | | - John F. Haidoulis
- Department of Crop Genetics, John Innes Centre, Norwich NR4 7UH, United Kingdom
| | - Henk-Jan Schoonbeek
- Department of Crop Genetics, John Innes Centre, Norwich NR4 7UH, United Kingdom
| | - Laetitia Chartrain
- Department of Crop Genetics, John Innes Centre, Norwich NR4 7UH, United Kingdom
| | - Philippa Borrill
- Department of Biochemistry and Metabolism, John Innes Centre, Norwich NR4 7UH, United Kingdom
| | - David R. Nelson
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Biochemistry, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163
| | - James K.M. Brown
- Department of Crop Genetics, John Innes Centre, Norwich NR4 7UH, United Kingdom
| | - Paul Nicholson
- Department of Crop Genetics, John Innes Centre, Norwich NR4 7UH, United Kingdom
| | - Cristobal Uauy
- Department of Crop Genetics, John Innes Centre, Norwich NR4 7UH, United Kingdom
| | - Anne Osbourn
- Department of Biochemistry and Metabolism, John Innes Centre, Norwich NR4 7UH, United Kingdom
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8
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Lv Y, Tian T, Wang YJ, Huang JP, Huang SX. Advances in chemistry and bioactivity of the genus Erythroxylum. NATURAL PRODUCTS AND BIOPROSPECTING 2022; 12:15. [PMID: 35426005 PMCID: PMC9010490 DOI: 10.1007/s13659-022-00338-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Erythroxylum P. Browne is the largest and most representative genus of Erythroxylaceae family. It contains approximately 230 species that are mainly distributed in tropical and subtropical regions. Some species in this genus, such as E. monogynum and E. coca, have been used as folk medicines in India or South America for a long history. It is well known that Erythroxylum plants are rich in tropane alkaloids, and the representative member cocaine shows remarkable activity in human central nervous system. However, many other types of active compounds have also been found in Erythroxylum along with the broadening and deepening of phytochemical research. To date, a total of 383 compounds from Erythroxylum have been reported, among which only 186 tropane alkaloids have been reviewed in 2010. In this review, we summarized all remained 197 compounds characterized from 53 Erythroxylum species from 1960 to 2021, which include diterpenes, triterpenes, alkaloids, flavonoids, and other derivates, providing a comprehensive overview of phytoconstituents profile of Erythroxylum plants. In addition, the biological activities of representative phytochemicals and crude extracts were also highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yulian Lv
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Tian Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yong-Jiang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, 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, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Innovative Institute of Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Sheng-Xiong Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China.
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9
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Liang J, Merrill AT, Laconsay CJ, Hou A, Pu Q, Dickschat JS, Tantillo DJ, Wang Q, Peters RJ. Deceptive Complexity in Formation of Cleistantha-8,12-diene. Org Lett 2022; 24:2646-2649. [PMID: 35385666 PMCID: PMC9040526 DOI: 10.1021/acs.orglett.2c00680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
A barley diterpene synthase (HvKSL4) was found to produce (14S)-cleistantha-8,12-diene (1). Formation of the nearly planar cyclohexa-1,4-diene configuration leaves the ring poised for aromatization, but necessitates a deceptively complicated series of rearrangements steered through a complex energetic landscape, as elucidated here through quantum chemical calculations and labeling studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, College of Agronomy, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan 611130, China.,Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, United States
| | - Amy T Merrill
- Department of Chemistry, University of California─Davis, Davis, California 95616, United States
| | - Croix J Laconsay
- Department of Chemistry, University of California─Davis, Davis, California 95616, United States
| | - Anwei Hou
- Kekulé-Institut für Organische Chemie und Biochemie, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms Universität Bonn, 53121 Bonn, Germany
| | - Qingyu Pu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, College of Agronomy, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan 611130, China
| | - Jeroen S Dickschat
- Kekulé-Institut für Organische Chemie und Biochemie, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms Universität Bonn, 53121 Bonn, Germany
| | - Dean J Tantillo
- Department of Chemistry, University of California─Davis, Davis, California 95616, United States
| | - Qiang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Exploration and Utilization in Southwest China, College of Agronomy, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan 611130, China
| | - Reuben J Peters
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, United States
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10
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Muchlinski A, Jia M, Tiedge K, Fell JS, Pelot KA, Chew L, Davisson D, Chen Y, Siegel J, Lovell JT, Zerbe P. Cytochrome P450-catalyzed biosynthesis of furanoditerpenoids in the bioenergy crop switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.). THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2021; 108:1053-1068. [PMID: 34514645 PMCID: PMC9292899 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.15492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Revised: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Specialized diterpenoid metabolites are important mediators of plant-environment interactions in monocot crops. To understand metabolite functions in plant environmental adaptation that ultimately can enable crop improvement strategies, a deeper knowledge of the underlying species-specific biosynthetic pathways is required. Here, we report the genomics-enabled discovery of five cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (CYP71Z25-CYP71Z29) that form previously unknown furanoditerpenoids in the monocot bioenergy crop Panicum virgatum (switchgrass). Combinatorial pathway reconstruction showed that CYP71Z25-CYP71Z29 catalyze furan ring addition directly to primary diterpene alcohol intermediates derived from distinct class II diterpene synthase products. Transcriptional co-expression patterns and the presence of select diterpenoids in switchgrass roots support the occurrence of P450-derived furanoditerpenoids in planta. Integrating molecular dynamics, structural analysis and targeted mutagenesis identified active site determinants that contribute to the distinct catalytic specificities underlying the broad substrate promiscuity of CYP71Z25-CYP71Z29 for native and non-native diterpenoids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Muchlinski
- Department of Plant BiologyUniversity of California – DavisDavisCalifornia95616USA
- Present address:
Firmenich Inc.4767 Nexus Center Dr.San DiegoCalifornia9212USA
| | - Meirong Jia
- Department of Plant BiologyUniversity of California – DavisDavisCalifornia95616USA
- Present address:
State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines & NHC Key Laboratory of Biosynthesis of Natural ProductsInstitute of Materia MedicaChinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical CollegeBeijing100050China
| | - Kira Tiedge
- Department of Plant BiologyUniversity of California – DavisDavisCalifornia95616USA
| | - Jason S. Fell
- Genome CenterUniversity of California – DavisDavisCalifornia95616USA
| | - Kyle A. Pelot
- Department of Plant BiologyUniversity of California – DavisDavisCalifornia95616USA
| | - Lisl Chew
- Department of Plant BiologyUniversity of California – DavisDavisCalifornia95616USA
| | - Danielle Davisson
- Department of Plant BiologyUniversity of California – DavisDavisCalifornia95616USA
| | - Yuxuan Chen
- Department of Plant BiologyUniversity of California – DavisDavisCalifornia95616USA
| | - Justin Siegel
- Genome CenterUniversity of California – DavisDavisCalifornia95616USA
- Department of ChemistryUniversity of California – DavisDavisCalifornia95616USA
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular MedicineUniversity of California – DavisDavisCalifornia95616USA
| | - John T. Lovell
- Genome Sequencing CenterHudson Alpha Institute for BiotechnologyHuntsvilleAlabama35806USA
| | - Philipp Zerbe
- Department of Plant BiologyUniversity of California – DavisDavisCalifornia95616USA
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11
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Hedden P. The Current Status of Research on Gibberellin Biosynthesis. PLANT & CELL PHYSIOLOGY 2020; 61:1832-1849. [PMID: 32652020 PMCID: PMC7758035 DOI: 10.1093/pcp/pcaa092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 137] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2020] [Accepted: 06/21/2020] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Gibberellins are produced by all vascular plants and several fungal and bacterial species that associate with plants as pathogens or symbionts. In the 60 years since the first experiments on the biosynthesis of gibberellic acid in the fungus Fusarium fujikuroi, research on gibberellin biosynthesis has advanced to provide detailed information on the pathways, biosynthetic enzymes and their genes in all three kingdoms, in which the production of the hormones evolved independently. Gibberellins function as hormones in plants, affecting growth and differentiation in organs in which their concentration is very tightly regulated. Current research in plants is focused particularly on the regulation of gibberellin biosynthesis and inactivation by developmental and environmental cues, and there is now considerable information on the molecular mechanisms involved in these processes. There have also been recent advances in understanding gibberellin transport and distribution and their relevance to plant development. This review describes our current understanding of gibberellin metabolism and its regulation, highlighting the more recent advances in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Hedden
- Laboratory of Growth Regulators, Palack� University & Institute of Experimental Botany of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Šlechtitelů 27, 78371 Olomouc, Czech Republic
- Rothamsted Research, West Common, Harpenden, Hertfordshire AL5 2JQ, UK
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12
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Yoshida H, Takehara S, Mori M, Ordonio RL, Matsuoka M. Evolution of GA Metabolic Enzymes in Land Plants. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 61:1919-1934. [DOI: 10.1093/pcp/pcaa126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2020] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Gibberellins (GAs) play key roles in various developmental processes in land plants. We studied the evolutionary trends of GA metabolic enzymes through a comprehensive homology search and phylogenetic analyses from bryophytes to angiosperms. Our analyses suggest that, in the process of evolution, plants were able to acquire GA metabolic enzymes in a stepwise manner and that the enzymes had rapidly diversified in angiosperms. As a good example of their rapid diversification, we focused on the GA-deactivating enzyme, GA 2-oxidase (GA2ox). Although the establishment of a GA system first occurred in lycophytes, its inactivation system mediated by GA2oxs was established at a much later time: the rise of gymnosperms and the rise of angiosperms through C19-GA2ox and C20-GA2ox development, respectively, as supported by the results of our direct examination of their enzymatic activities in vitro. Based on these comprehensive studies of GA metabolic enzymes, we discuss here that angiosperms rapidly developed a sophisticated system to delicately control the level of active GAs by increasing their copy numbers for their survival under different challenging environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hideki Yoshida
- Bioscience and Biotechnology Center, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi, 464-8601 Japan
- Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-0006 Japan
- Tsukuba-Plant Innovation Research Center, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-0006 Japan
| | - Sayaka Takehara
- Bioscience and Biotechnology Center, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi, 464-8601 Japan
| | - Masaki Mori
- Bioscience and Biotechnology Center, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi, 464-8601 Japan
| | - Reynante Lacsamana Ordonio
- Plant Breeding and Biotechnology Division, Philippine Rice Research Institute, Science City of Munoz, Maligaya 3119, The Philippines
| | - Makoto Matsuoka
- Bioscience and Biotechnology Center, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi, 464-8601 Japan
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13
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Evolution of Labdane-Related Diterpene Synthases in Cereals. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 61:1850-1859. [DOI: 10.1093/pcp/pcaa106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 08/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Gibberellins (GAs) are labdane-related diterpenoid phytohormones that regulate various aspects of higher plant growth. A biosynthetic intermediate of GAs is ent-kaurene, a tetra-cyclic diterpene that is produced through successive cyclization of geranylgeranyl diphosphate catalyzed by the two distinct monofunctional diterpene synthases—ent-copalyl diphosphate synthase (ent-CPS) and ent-kaurene synthase (KS). Various homologous genes of the two diterpene synthases have been identified in cereals, including rice (Oryza sativa), wheat (Triticum aestivum) and maize (Zea mays), and are believed to have been derived from GA biosynthetic ent-CPS and KS genes through duplication and neofunctionalization. They play roles in specialized metabolism, giving rise to diverse labdane-related diterpenoids for defense because a variety of diterpene synthases generate diverse carbon-skeleton structures. This review mainly describes the diterpene synthase homologs that have been identified and characterized in rice, wheat and maize and shows the evolutionary history of various homologs in rice inferred by comparative genomics studies using wild rice species, such as Oryza rufipogon and Oryza brachyantha. In addition, we introduce labdane-related diterpene synthases in bryophytes and gymnosperms to illuminate the macroscopic evolutionary history of diterpene synthases in the plant kingdom—bifunctional enzymes possessing both CPS and KS activities are present in bryophytes; gymnosperms possess monofunctional CPS and KS responsible for GA biosynthesis and also possess bifunctional diterpene synthases facilitating specialized metabolism for defense.
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14
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Karunanithi PS, Berrios DI, Wang S, Davis J, Shen T, Fiehn O, Maloof JN, Zerbe P. The foxtail millet (Setaria italica) terpene synthase gene family. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2020; 103:781-800. [PMID: 32282967 PMCID: PMC7497057 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.14771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2020] [Revised: 03/15/2020] [Accepted: 03/24/2020] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Terpenoid metabolism plays vital roles in stress defense and the environmental adaptation of monocot crops. Here, we describe the identification of the terpene synthase (TPS) gene family of the panicoid food and bioenergy model crop foxtail millet (Setaria italica). The diploid S. italica genome contains 32 TPS genes, 17 of which were biochemically characterized in this study. Unlike other thus far investigated grasses, S. italica contains TPSs producing all three ent-, (+)- and syn-copalyl pyrophosphate stereoisomers that naturally occur as central building blocks in the biosynthesis of distinct monocot diterpenoids. Conversion of these intermediates by the promiscuous TPS SiTPS8 yielded different diterpenoid scaffolds. Additionally, a cytochrome P450 monooxygenase (CYP99A17), which genomically clustered with SiTPS8, catalyzes the C19 hydroxylation of SiTPS8 products to generate the corresponding diterpene alcohols. The presence of syntenic orthologs to about 19% of the S. italica TPSs in related grasses supports a common ancestry of selected pathway branches. Among the identified enzyme products, abietadien-19-ol, syn-pimara-7,15-dien-19-ol and germacrene-d-4-ol were detectable in planta, and gene expression analysis of the biosynthetic TPSs showed distinct and, albeit moderately, inducible expression patterns in response to biotic and abiotic stress. In vitro growth-inhibiting activity of abietadien-19-ol and syn-pimara-7,15-dien-19-ol against Fusarium verticillioides and Fusarium subglutinans may indicate pathogen defensive functions, whereas the low antifungal efficacy of tested sesquiterpenoids supports other bioactivities. Together, these findings expand the known chemical space of monocot terpenoid metabolism to enable further investigations of terpenoid-mediated stress resilience in these agriculturally important species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prema S. Karunanithi
- Department of Plant BiologyUniversity of California–DavisOne Shields AvenueDavis95616CAUSA
| | - David I. Berrios
- Department of Plant BiologyUniversity of California–DavisOne Shields AvenueDavis95616CAUSA
| | - Sadira Wang
- Department of Plant BiologyUniversity of California–DavisOne Shields AvenueDavis95616CAUSA
| | - John Davis
- Department of Plant BiologyUniversity of California–DavisOne Shields AvenueDavis95616CAUSA
| | - Tong Shen
- West Coast Metabolomics CenterUniversity of California–DavisOne Shields AvenueDavis95616CAUSA
| | - Oliver Fiehn
- West Coast Metabolomics CenterUniversity of California–DavisOne Shields AvenueDavis95616CAUSA
| | - Julin N. Maloof
- Department of Plant BiologyUniversity of California–DavisOne Shields AvenueDavis95616CAUSA
| | - Philipp Zerbe
- Department of Plant BiologyUniversity of California–DavisOne Shields AvenueDavis95616CAUSA
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15
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Francesconi S, Balestra GM. The modulation of stomatal conductance and photosynthetic parameters is involved in Fusarium head blight resistance in wheat. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0235482. [PMID: 32603342 PMCID: PMC7326183 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0235482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2020] [Accepted: 06/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Fusarium head blight (FHB) is one of the most devastating fungal diseases affecting grain crops and Fusarium graminearum is the most aggressive causal species. Several evidences shown that stomatal closure is involved in the first line of defence against plant pathogens. However, there is very little evidence to show that photosynthetic parameters change in inoculated plants. The aim of the present study was to study the role of stomatal regulation in wheat after F. graminearum inoculation and explore its possible involvement in FHB resistance. RT-qPCR revealed that genes involved in stomatal regulation are induced in the resistant Sumai3 cultivar but not in the susceptible Rebelde cultivar. Seven genes involved in the positive regulation of stomatal closure were up-regulated in Sumai3, but it is most likely, that two genes, TaBG and TaCYP450, involved in the negative regulation of stomatal closure, were strongly induced, suggesting that FHB response is linked to cross-talk between the genes promoting and inhibiting stomatal closure. Increasing temperature of spikes in the wheat genotypes and a decrease in photosynthetic efficiency in Rebelde but not in Sumai3, were observed, confirming the hypothesis that photosynthetic parameters are related to FHB resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Francesconi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Forestali (DAFNE), Università degli Studi della Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Giorgio Mariano Balestra
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Forestali (DAFNE), Università degli Studi della Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
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16
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Murphy KM, Zerbe P. Specialized diterpenoid metabolism in monocot crops: Biosynthesis and chemical diversity. PHYTOCHEMISTRY 2020; 172:112289. [PMID: 32036187 DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2020.112289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2019] [Revised: 01/24/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2020] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Among the myriad specialized metabolites that plants employ to mediate interactions with their environment, diterpenoids form a chemically diverse group with vital biological functions. A few broadly abundant diterpenoids serve as core pathway intermediates in plant general metabolism. The majority of plant diterpenoids, however, function in specialized metabolism as often species-specific chemical defenses against herbivores and microbial diseases, in below-ground allelopathic interactions, as well as abiotic stress responses. Dynamic networks of anti-microbial diterpenoids were first demonstrated in rice (Oryza sativa) over four decades ago, and more recently, unique diterpenoid blends with demonstrated antibiotic bioactivities were also discovered in maize (Zea mays). Enabled by advances in -omics and biochemical approaches, species-specific diterpenoid-diversifying enzymes have been identified in these and other Poaceous species, including wheat (Triticum aestivum) and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), and are discussed in this article with an emphasis on the critical diterpene synthase and cytochrome P450 monooxygenase families and their products. The continued investigation of the biosynthesis, diversity, and function of terpenoid-mediated crop defenses provides foundational knowledge to enable the development of strategies for improving crop resistance traits in the face of impeding pest, pathogen, and climate pressures impacting global agricultural production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine M Murphy
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California-Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Philipp Zerbe
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California-Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
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17
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Jia M, Mishra SK, Tufts S, Jernigan RL, Peters RJ. Combinatorial biosynthesis and the basis for substrate promiscuity in class I diterpene synthases. Metab Eng 2019; 55:44-58. [PMID: 31220664 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymben.2019.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2019] [Revised: 06/04/2019] [Accepted: 06/14/2019] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Terpene synthases are capable of mediating complex reactions, but fundamentally simply catalyze lysis of allylic diphosphate esters with subsequent deprotonation. Even with the initially generated tertiary carbocation this offers a variety of product outcomes, and deprotonation further can be preceded by the addition of water. This is particularly evident with labdane-related diterpenes (LRDs) where such lysis follows bicyclization catalyzed by class II diterpene cyclases (DTCs) that generates preceding structural variation. Previous investigation revealed that two diterpene synthases (DTSs), one bacterial and the other plant-derived, exhibit extreme substrate promiscuity, but yet still typically produce exo-ene or tertiary alcohol LRD derivatives, respectively (i.e., demonstrating high catalytic specificity), enabling rational combinatorial biosynthesis. Here two DTSs that produce either cis or trans endo-ene LRD derivatives, also plant and bacterial (respectively), were examined for their potential analogous utility. Only the bacterial trans-endo-ene forming DTS was found to exhibit significant substrate promiscuity (with moderate catalytic specificity). This further led to investigation of the basis for substrate promiscuity, which was found to be more closely correlated with phylogenetic origin than reaction complexity. Specifically, bacterial DTSs exhibited significantly more substrate promiscuity than those from plants, presumably reflecting their distinct evolutionary context. In particular, plants typically have heavily elaborated LRD metabolism, in contrast to the rarity of such natural products in bacteria, and the lack of potential substrates presumably alleviates selective pressure against such promiscuity. Regardless of such speculation, this work provides novel biosynthetic access to almost 19 LRDs, demonstrating the power of the combinatorial approach taken here.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meirong Jia
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA
| | - Sambit K Mishra
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA
| | - Samuel Tufts
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA
| | - Robert L Jernigan
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA
| | - Reuben J Peters
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA.
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18
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A Wheat β-Patchoulene Synthase Confers Resistance Against Herbivory in Transgenic Arabidopsis. Genes (Basel) 2019; 10:genes10060441. [PMID: 31185680 PMCID: PMC6628343 DOI: 10.3390/genes10060441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2019] [Revised: 05/27/2019] [Accepted: 06/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Terpenoids play important roles in plant defense. Although some terpene synthases have been characterized, terpenoids and their biosynthesis in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) still remain largely unknown. Here, we describe the identification of a terpene synthase gene in wheat. It encodes a sesquiterpene synthase that catalyzes β-patchoulene formation with E,E-farnesyl diphosphate (FPP) as the substrate, thus named as TaPS. TaPS exhibits inducible expression in wheat in response to various elicitations. Particularly, alamethicin treatment strongly induces TaPS gene expression and β-patchoulene accumulation in wheat. Overexpression of TaPS in Arabidopsis successfully produces β-patchoulene, verifying the biochemical function of TaPS in planta. Furthermore, these transgenic Arabidopsis plants exhibit resistance against herbivory by repelling beet armyworm larvae feeding, thereby indicating anti-herbivory activity of β-patchoulene. The catalytic mechanism of TaPS is also explored by homology modeling and site-directed mutagenesis. Two key amino acids are identified to act in protonation and stability of intermediates and product formation. Taken together, one wheat sesquiterpene synthase is identified as β-patchoulene synthase. TaPS exhibits inducible gene expression and the sesquiterpene β-patchoulene is involved in repelling insect infestation.
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19
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Karunanithi PS, Zerbe P. Terpene Synthases as Metabolic Gatekeepers in the Evolution of Plant Terpenoid Chemical Diversity. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2019; 10:1166. [PMID: 31632418 PMCID: PMC6779861 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2019.01166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 133] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2019] [Accepted: 08/26/2019] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Terpenoids comprise tens of thousands of small molecule natural products that are widely distributed across all domains of life. Plants produce by far the largest array of terpenoids with various roles in development and chemical ecology. Driven by selective pressure to adapt to their specific ecological niche, individual species form only a fraction of the myriad plant terpenoids, typically representing unique metabolite blends. Terpene synthase (TPS) enzymes are the gatekeepers in generating terpenoid diversity by catalyzing complex carbocation-driven cyclization, rearrangement, and elimination reactions that enable the transformation of a few acyclic prenyl diphosphate substrates into a vast chemical library of hydrocarbon and, for a few enzymes, oxygenated terpene scaffolds. The seven currently defined clades (a-h) forming the plant TPS family evolved from ancestral triterpene synthase- and prenyl transferase-type enzymes through repeated events of gene duplication and subsequent loss, gain, or fusion of protein domains and further functional diversification. Lineage-specific expansion of these TPS clades led to variable family sizes that may range from a single TPS gene to families of more than 100 members that may further function as part of modular metabolic networks to maximize the number of possible products. Accompanying gene family expansion, the TPS family shows a profound functional plasticity, where minor active site alterations can dramatically impact product outcome, thus enabling the emergence of new functions with minimal investment in evolving new enzymes. This article reviews current knowledge on the functional diversity and molecular evolution of the plant TPS family that underlies the chemical diversity of bioactive terpenoids across the plant kingdom.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prema S Karunanithi
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Philipp Zerbe
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, United States
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20
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Pelot KA, Chen R, Hagelthorn DM, Young CA, Addison JB, Muchlinski A, Tholl D, Zerbe P. Functional Diversity of Diterpene Synthases in the Biofuel Crop Switchgrass. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2018; 178:54-71. [PMID: 30008447 PMCID: PMC6130043 DOI: 10.1104/pp.18.00590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2018] [Accepted: 07/05/2018] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Diterpenoids constitute a diverse class of metabolites with critical functions in plant development, defense, and ecological adaptation. Major monocot crops, such as maize (Zea mays) and rice (Oryza sativa), deploy diverse blends of specialized diterpenoids as core components of biotic and abiotic stress resilience. Here, we describe the genome-wide identification and functional characterization of stress-related diterpene synthases (diTPSs) in the dedicated bioenergy crop switchgrass (Panicum virgatum). Mining of the allotetraploid switchgrass genome identified an expansive diTPS family of 31 members, and biochemical analysis of 11 diTPSs revealed a modular metabolic network producing a diverse array of diterpenoid metabolites. In addition to ent-copalyl diphosphate (CPP) and ent-kaurene synthases predictably involved in gibberellin biosynthesis, we identified syn-CPP and ent-labda-13-en-8-ol diphosphate (LPP) synthases as well as two diTPSs forming (+)-labda-8,13E-dienyl diphosphate (8,13-CPP) and ent-neo-cis-trans-clerodienyl diphosphate (CT-CLPP) scaffolds not observed previously in plants. Structure-guided mutagenesis of the (+)-8,13-CPP and ent-neo-CT-CLPP synthases revealed residue substitutions in the active sites that altered product outcome, representing potential neofunctionalization events that occurred during diversification of the switchgrass diTPS family. The conversion of ent-CPP, ent-LPP, syn-CPP, and ent-neo-CT-CLPP by promiscuous diTPSs further yielded distinct labdane-type diterpene olefins and alcohols. Of these metabolites, the formation of 9β-hydroxy-syn-pimar-15-ene and the expression of the corresponding genes were induced in roots and leaves in response to oxidative stress and ultraviolet irradiation, indicating their possible roles in abiotic stress adaptation. Together, these findings expand the known chemical space of diterpenoid metabolism in monocot crops toward systematically investigating and ultimately improving stress resilience traits in crop species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle A Pelot
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California, Davis, California 95616
| | - Ruibing Chen
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California, Davis, California 95616
- Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, 200433 Shanghai, China
| | - David M Hagelthorn
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California, Davis, California 95616
| | - Cari A Young
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California, Davis, California 95616
| | - J Bennett Addison
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, San Diego State University, San Diego, California 92182
| | - Andrew Muchlinski
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061
| | - Dorothea Tholl
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061
| | - Philipp Zerbe
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California, Davis, California 95616
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21
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Mafu S, Ding Y, Murphy KM, Yaacoobi O, Addison JB, Wang Q, Shen Z, Briggs SP, Bohlmann J, Castro-Falcon G, Hughes CC, Betsiashvili M, Huffaker A, Schmelz EA, Zerbe P. Discovery, Biosynthesis and Stress-Related Accumulation of Dolabradiene-Derived Defenses in Maize. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2018; 176:2677-2690. [PMID: 29475898 PMCID: PMC5884620 DOI: 10.1104/pp.17.01351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2017] [Accepted: 02/16/2018] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Terpenoids are a major component of maize (Zea mays) chemical defenses that mediate responses to herbivores, pathogens, and other environmental challenges. Here, we describe the biosynthesis and elicited production of a class of maize diterpenoids, named dolabralexins. Dolabralexin biosynthesis involves the sequential activity of two diterpene synthases, ENT-COPALYL DIPHOSPHATE SYNTHASE (ZmAN2) and KAURENE SYNTHASE-LIKE4 (ZmKSL4). Together, ZmAN2 and ZmKSL4 form the diterpene hydrocarbon dolabradiene. In addition, we biochemically characterized a cytochrome P450 monooxygenase, ZmCYP71Z16, which catalyzes the oxygenation of dolabradiene to yield the epoxides 15,16-epoxydolabrene (epoxydolabrene) and 3β-hydroxy-15,16-epoxydolabrene (epoxydolabranol). The absence of dolabradiene and epoxydolabranol in Zman2 mutants under elicited conditions confirmed the in vivo biosynthetic requirement of ZmAN2. Combined mass spectrometry and NMR experiments demonstrated that much of the epoxydolabranol is further converted into 3β,15,16-trihydroxydolabrene (trihydroxydolabrene). Metabolite profiling of field-grown maize root tissues indicated that dolabralexin biosynthesis is widespread across common maize cultivars, with trihydroxydolabrene as the predominant diterpenoid. Oxidative stress induced dolabralexin accumulation and transcript expression of ZmAN2 and ZmKSL4 in root tissues, and metabolite and transcript accumulation were up-regulated in response to elicitation with the fungal pathogens Fusarium verticillioides and Fusarium graminearum Consistently, epoxydolabranol significantly inhibited the growth of both pathogens in vitro at 10 µg mL-1, while trihydroxydolabrene-mediated inhibition was specific to Fverticillioides These findings suggest that dolabralexins have defense-related roles in maize stress interactions and expand the known chemical space of diterpenoid defenses as genetic targets for understanding and ultimately improving maize resilience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sibongile Mafu
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California, Davis, California
| | - Yezhang Ding
- Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, La Jolla, California
| | - Katherine M Murphy
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California, Davis, California
| | - Omar Yaacoobi
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California, Davis, California
| | - J Bennett Addison
- Department of Chemistry, San Diego State University, San Diego, California
| | - Qiang Wang
- College of Agronomy and Institute of Ecological Agriculture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Zhouxin Shen
- Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, La Jolla, California
| | - Steven P Briggs
- Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, La Jolla, California
| | - Jörg Bohlmann
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 1Z4
| | - Gabriel Castro-Falcon
- Center for Marine Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, La Jolla, California
| | - Chambers C Hughes
- Center for Marine Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, La Jolla, California
| | - Mariam Betsiashvili
- Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, La Jolla, California
| | - Alisa Huffaker
- Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, La Jolla, California
| | - Eric A Schmelz
- Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, La Jolla, California
| | - Philipp Zerbe
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California, Davis, California
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22
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Murphy KM, Ma LT, Ding Y, Schmelz EA, Zerbe P. Functional Characterization of Two Class II Diterpene Synthases Indicates Additional Specialized Diterpenoid Pathways in Maize ( Zea mays). FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2018; 9:1542. [PMID: 30405674 PMCID: PMC6206430 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2018.01542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2018] [Accepted: 10/02/2018] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
As a major staple food, maize (Zea mays) is critical to food security. Shifting environmental pressures increasingly hamper crop defense capacities, causing expanded harvest loss. Specialized labdane-type diterpenoids are key components of maize chemical defense and ecological adaptation. Labdane diterpenoid biosynthesis most commonly requires the pairwise activity of class II and class I diterpene synthases (diTPSs) that convert the central precursor geranylgeranyl diphosphate into distinct diterpenoid scaffolds. Two maize class II diTPSs, ANTHER EAR 1 and 2 (ZmAN1/2), have been previously identified as catalytically redundant ent-copalyl diphosphate (CPP) synthases. ZmAN1 is essential for gibberellin phytohormone biosynthesis, whereas ZmAN2 is stress-inducible and governs the formation of defensive kauralexin and dolabralexin diterpenoids. Here, we report the biochemical characterization of the two remaining class II diTPSs present in the maize genome, COPALYL DIPHOSPHATE SYNTHASE 3 (ZmCPS3) and COPALYL DIPHOSPHATE SYNTHASE 4 (ZmCPS4). Functional analysis via microbial co-expression assays identified ZmCPS3 as a (+)-CPP synthase, with functionally conserved orthologs occurring in wheat (Triticum aestivum) and numerous dicot species. ZmCPS4 formed the unusual prenyl diphosphate, 8,13-CPP (labda-8,13-dien-15-yl diphosphate), as verified by mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance. As a minor product, ZmCPS4 also produced labda-13-en-8-ol diphosphate (LPP). Root gene expression profiles did not indicate an inducible role of ZmCPS3 in maize stress responses. By contrast, ZmCPS4 showed a pattern of inducible gene expression in roots exposed to oxidative stress, supporting a possible role in abiotic stress responses. Identification of the catalytic activities of ZmCPS3 and ZmCPS4 clarifies the first committed reactions controlling the diversity of defensive diterpenoids in maize, and suggests the existence of additional yet undiscovered diterpenoid pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine M. Murphy
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Li-Ting Ma
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
- School of Forestry and Resource Conservation, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yezhang Ding
- Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Eric A. Schmelz
- Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Philipp Zerbe
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
- *Correspondence: Philipp Zerbe,
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23
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Kumar S, Kempinski C, Zhuang X, Norris A, Mafu S, Zi J, Bell SA, Nybo SE, Kinison SE, Jiang Z, Goklany S, Linscott KB, Chen X, Jia Q, Brown SD, Bowman JL, Babbitt PC, Peters RJ, Chen F, Chappell J. Molecular Diversity of Terpene Synthases in the Liverwort Marchantia polymorpha. THE PLANT CELL 2016; 28:2632-2650. [PMID: 27650333 PMCID: PMC5134972 DOI: 10.1105/tpc.16.00062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2016] [Revised: 08/09/2016] [Accepted: 09/19/2016] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Marchantia polymorpha is a basal terrestrial land plant, which like most liverworts accumulates structurally diverse terpenes believed to serve in deterring disease and herbivory. Previous studies have suggested that the mevalonate and methylerythritol phosphate pathways, present in evolutionarily diverged plants, are also operative in liverworts. However, the genes and enzymes responsible for the chemical diversity of terpenes have yet to be described. In this study, we resorted to a HMMER search tool to identify 17 putative terpene synthase genes from M. polymorpha transcriptomes. Functional characterization identified four diterpene synthase genes phylogenetically related to those found in diverged plants and nine rather unusual monoterpene and sesquiterpene synthase-like genes. The presence of separate monofunctional diterpene synthases for ent-copalyl diphosphate and ent-kaurene biosynthesis is similar to orthologs found in vascular plants, pushing the date of the underlying gene duplication and neofunctionalization of the ancestral diterpene synthase gene family to >400 million years ago. By contrast, the mono- and sesquiterpene synthases represent a distinct class of enzymes, not related to previously described plant terpene synthases and only distantly so to microbial-type terpene synthases. The absence of a Mg2+ binding, aspartate-rich, DDXXD motif places these enzymes in a noncanonical family of terpene synthases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santosh Kumar
- Plant Biology Program and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536-0082
| | - Chase Kempinski
- Plant Biology Program and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536-0082
| | - Xun Zhuang
- Plant Biology Program and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536-0082
| | - Ayla Norris
- Gradaute School of Genome Science and Technology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996-0840
| | - Sibongile Mafu
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011
| | - Jiachen Zi
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011
| | - Stephen A Bell
- Plant Biology Program and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536-0082
| | - Stephen Eric Nybo
- Plant Biology Program and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536-0082
| | - Scott E Kinison
- Plant Biology Program and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536-0082
| | - Zuodong Jiang
- Plant Biology Program and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536-0082
| | - Sheba Goklany
- Plant Biology Program and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536-0082
| | - Kristin B Linscott
- Plant Biology Program and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536-0082
| | - Xinlu Chen
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996-4561
| | - Qidong Jia
- Gradaute School of Genome Science and Technology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996-0840
| | - Shoshana D Brown
- Departments of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California, San Francisco, California 94158-2330
| | - John L Bowman
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Patricia C Babbitt
- Departments of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California, San Francisco, California 94158-2330
| | - Reuben J Peters
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011
| | - Feng Chen
- Gradaute School of Genome Science and Technology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996-0840
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996-4561
| | - Joe Chappell
- Plant Biology Program and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536-0082
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24
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Arendt P, Pollier J, Callewaert N, Goossens A. Synthetic biology for production of natural and new-to-nature terpenoids in photosynthetic organisms. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2016; 87:16-37. [PMID: 26867713 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.13138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2015] [Revised: 01/26/2016] [Accepted: 02/02/2016] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
With tens of thousands of characterized members, terpenoids constitute the largest class of natural compounds that are synthesized by all living organisms. Several terpenoids play primary roles in the maintenance of cell membrane fluidity, as pigments or as phytohormones, but most of them function as specialized metabolites that are involved in plant resistance to herbivores or plant-environment interactions. Terpenoids are an essential component of human nutrition, and many are economically important pharmaceuticals, aromatics and potential next-generation biofuels. Because of the often low abundance in their natural source, as well as the demand for novel terpenoid structures with new or improved bioactivities, terpenoid biosynthesis has become a prime target for metabolic engineering and synthetic biology projects. In this review we focus on the creation of new-to-nature or tailor-made plant-derived terpenoids in photosynthetic organisms, in particular by means of combinatorial biosynthesis and the activation of silent metabolism. We reflect on the characteristics of different potential photosynthetic host organisms and recent advances in synthetic biology and discuss their utility for the (heterologous) production of (novel) terpenoids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Arendt
- Department of Plant Systems Biology, VIB, B-9052, Gent, Belgium
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, B-9052, Gent, Belgium
- Laboratory for Protein Biochemistry and Biomolecular Engineering, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Ghent University, B-9000, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Medical Biotechnology Center, B-9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jacob Pollier
- Department of Plant Systems Biology, VIB, B-9052, Gent, Belgium
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, B-9052, Gent, Belgium
| | - Nico Callewaert
- Laboratory for Protein Biochemistry and Biomolecular Engineering, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Ghent University, B-9000, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Medical Biotechnology Center, B-9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Alain Goossens
- Department of Plant Systems Biology, VIB, B-9052, Gent, Belgium
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, B-9052, Gent, Belgium
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25
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Jia M, Potter KC, Peters RJ. Extreme promiscuity of a bacterial and a plant diterpene synthase enables combinatorial biosynthesis. Metab Eng 2016; 37:24-34. [PMID: 27060773 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymben.2016.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2016] [Revised: 03/25/2016] [Accepted: 04/06/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Diterpenes are widely distributed across many biological kingdoms, where they serve a diverse range of physiological functions, and some have significant industrial utility. Their biosynthesis involves class I diterpene synthases (DTSs), whose activity can be preceded by that of class II diterpene cyclases (DTCs). Here, a modular metabolic engineering system was used to examine the promiscuity of DTSs. Strikingly, both a bacterial and plant DTS were found to exhibit extreme promiscuity, reacting with all available precursors with orthogonal activity, producing an olefin or hydroxyl group, respectively. Such DTS promiscuity enables combinatorial biosynthesis, with remarkably high yields for these unoptimized non-native enzymatic combinations (up to 15mg/L). Indeed, it was possible to readily characterize the 13 unknown products. Notably, 16 of the observed diterpenes were previously inaccessible, and these results provide biosynthetic routes that are further expected to enable assembly of more extended pathways to produce additionally elaborated 'non-natural' diterpenoids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meirong Jia
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Kevin C Potter
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Reuben J Peters
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA.
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26
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Fu J, Ren F, Lu X, Mao H, Xu M, Degenhardt J, Peters RJ, Wang Q. A Tandem Array of ent-Kaurene Synthases in Maize with Roles in Gibberellin and More Specialized Metabolism. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2016; 170:742-51. [PMID: 26620527 PMCID: PMC4734586 DOI: 10.1104/pp.15.01727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2015] [Accepted: 11/25/2015] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
While most commonly associated with its role in gibberellin phytohormone biosynthesis, ent-kaurene also serves as an intermediate in more specialized diterpenoid metabolism, as exemplified by the more than 800 known derived natural products. Among these are the maize kauralexins. However, no ent-kaurene synthases (KSs) have been identified from maize. The maize gibberellin-deficient dwarf-5 (d5) mutant has been associated with a loss of KS activity. The relevant genetic lesion has been previously mapped, and was found here to correlate with the location of the KS-like gene ZmKSL3. Intriguingly, this forms part of a tandem array with two other terpene synthases (TPSs). Although one of these, ZmTPS1, has been previously reported to encode a sesquiterpene synthase, and both ZmTPS1 and that encoded by the third gene, ZmKSL5, have lost the N-terminal γ-domain prototypically associated with KS(L)s, all three genes fall within the KS(L) or TPS-e subfamily. Here it is reported that all three genes encode enzymes that are targeted to the plastid in planta, where diterpenoid biosynthesis is initiated, and which all readily catalyze the production of ent-kaurene. Consistent with the closer phylogenetic relationship of ZmKSL3 with previously identified KSs from cereals, only transcription of this gene is affected in d5 plants. On the other hand, the expression of all three of these genes is inducible, suggesting a role in more specialized metabolism, such as that of the kauralexins. Thus, these results clarify not only gibberellin phytohormone, but also diterpenoid phytoalexin biosynthesis in this important cereal crop plant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingye Fu
- Institute of Ecological Agriculture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China 611130 (J.F., F.R., H.M., Q.W.);Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011 (X.L., M.X., R.J.P.); andInstitute of Pharmacy, Martin-Luther-University, Halle-Wittenberg, D-06120 Halle/Saale, Germany (J.D.)
| | - Fei Ren
- Institute of Ecological Agriculture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China 611130 (J.F., F.R., H.M., Q.W.);Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011 (X.L., M.X., R.J.P.); andInstitute of Pharmacy, Martin-Luther-University, Halle-Wittenberg, D-06120 Halle/Saale, Germany (J.D.)
| | - Xuan Lu
- Institute of Ecological Agriculture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China 611130 (J.F., F.R., H.M., Q.W.);Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011 (X.L., M.X., R.J.P.); andInstitute of Pharmacy, Martin-Luther-University, Halle-Wittenberg, D-06120 Halle/Saale, Germany (J.D.)
| | - Hongjie Mao
- Institute of Ecological Agriculture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China 611130 (J.F., F.R., H.M., Q.W.);Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011 (X.L., M.X., R.J.P.); andInstitute of Pharmacy, Martin-Luther-University, Halle-Wittenberg, D-06120 Halle/Saale, Germany (J.D.)
| | - Meimei Xu
- Institute of Ecological Agriculture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China 611130 (J.F., F.R., H.M., Q.W.);Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011 (X.L., M.X., R.J.P.); andInstitute of Pharmacy, Martin-Luther-University, Halle-Wittenberg, D-06120 Halle/Saale, Germany (J.D.)
| | - Jörg Degenhardt
- Institute of Ecological Agriculture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China 611130 (J.F., F.R., H.M., Q.W.);Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011 (X.L., M.X., R.J.P.); andInstitute of Pharmacy, Martin-Luther-University, Halle-Wittenberg, D-06120 Halle/Saale, Germany (J.D.)
| | - Reuben J Peters
- Institute of Ecological Agriculture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China 611130 (J.F., F.R., H.M., Q.W.);Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011 (X.L., M.X., R.J.P.); andInstitute of Pharmacy, Martin-Luther-University, Halle-Wittenberg, D-06120 Halle/Saale, Germany (J.D.)
| | - Qiang Wang
- Institute of Ecological Agriculture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China 611130 (J.F., F.R., H.M., Q.W.);Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011 (X.L., M.X., R.J.P.); andInstitute of Pharmacy, Martin-Luther-University, Halle-Wittenberg, D-06120 Halle/Saale, Germany (J.D.)
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27
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Functional characterization of ent-copalyl diphosphate synthase from Andrographis paniculata with putative involvement in andrographolides biosynthesis. Biotechnol Lett 2015; 38:131-7. [DOI: 10.1007/s10529-015-1961-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2015] [Accepted: 09/09/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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28
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Zerbe P, Bohlmann J. Enzymes for synthetic biology of ambroxide-related diterpenoid fragrance compounds. ADVANCES IN BIOCHEMICAL ENGINEERING/BIOTECHNOLOGY 2015; 148:427-47. [PMID: 25846965 DOI: 10.1007/10_2015_308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Abstract
Ambrox and related ambroxides are highly priced in the fragrance industry, and valued for their delicate odor and fixative properties. Historically, ambrox was obtained from ambergris, a waxy excretion produced by sperm whales, now an endangered species. Synthetic ambroxides have replaced ambergris in perfume manufacture. Plant labdane diterpenoids can serve as starting material for ambroxide synthesis. Among these, the diterpene alcohol sclareol is the major industrial precursor obtained from cultivated clary sage (Salvia sclarea). In plants, a large family of diterpene synthase (diTPS) enzymes controls key reactions in diterpenoid biosynthesis. Advanced metabolite profiling and high-throughput sequencing of fragrant and medicinal plants have accelerated discovery of novel diTPS functions, providing a resource for combinatorial synthetic biology and metabolic engineering approaches. This chapter highlights recent progress on the discovery, characterization, and engineering of plant diTPSs with potential uses in ambroxide production. It features biosynthesis of sclareol, cis-abienol, and diterpene resin acids, as sources of genes and enzymes for diterpenoid bioproducts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Zerbe
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, 301-2185 East Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada,
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29
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Zerbe P, Rodriguez SM, Mafu S, Chiang A, Sandhu HK, O'Neil-Johnson M, Starks CM, Bohlmann J. Exploring diterpene metabolism in non-model species: transcriptome-enabled discovery and functional characterization of labda-7,13E-dienyl diphosphate synthase from Grindelia robusta. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2015; 83:783-93. [PMID: 26119826 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.12925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2015] [Revised: 06/16/2015] [Accepted: 06/19/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Grindelia robusta or gumweed, is a medicinal herb of the sunflower family that forms a diverse suite of diterpenoid natural products. Its major constituents, grindelic acid and related grindelane diterpenoids accumulate in a resinous exudate covering the plants' surfaces, most prominently the unopened composite flower. Recent studies demonstrated potential pharmaceutical applications for grindelic acid and its synthetic derivatives. Mining of the previously published transcriptome of G. robusta flower tissue identified two additional diterpene synthases (diTPSs). We report the in vitro and in vivo functional characterization of an ent-kaurene synthase of general metabolism (GrTPS4) and a class II diTPS (GrTPS2) of specialized metabolism that converts geranylgeranyl diphosphate (GGPP) into labda-7,13E-dienyl diphosphate as verified by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis. Tissue-specific transcript abundance of GrTPS2 in leaves and flowers accompanied by the presence of an endocyclic 7,13 double bond in labda-7,13E-dienyl diphosphate suggest that GrTPS2 catalyzes the first committed reaction in the biosynthesis of grindelic acid and related grindelane metabolites. With the formation of labda-7,13E-dienyl diphosphate, GrTPS2 adds an additional function to the portfolio of monofunctional class II diTPSs, which catalytically most closely resembles the bifunctional labda-7,13E-dien-15-ol synthase of the lycopod Selaginella moellendorffii. Together with a recently identified functional diTPS pair of G. robusta producing manoyl oxide, GrTPS2 lays the biosynthetic foundation of the diverse array of labdane-related diterpenoids in the genus Grindelia. Knowledge of these natural diterpenoid metabolic pathways paves the way for developing biotechnology approaches toward producing grindelic acid and related bioproducts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Zerbe
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California-Davis, 1 Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, 2185 East Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Selina M Rodriguez
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California-Davis, 1 Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Sibongile Mafu
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California-Davis, 1 Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Angela Chiang
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, 2185 East Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Harpreet K Sandhu
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, 2185 East Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Mark O'Neil-Johnson
- Sequoia Sciences, 1912 Innerbelt Business Center Drive, Saint Louis, MO, 63114, USA
| | - Courtney M Starks
- Sequoia Sciences, 1912 Innerbelt Business Center Drive, Saint Louis, MO, 63114, USA
| | - Jörg Bohlmann
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, 2185 East Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
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30
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Sherman DH, Tsukamoto S, Williams RM. ORGANIC SYNTHESIS. Comment on "Asymmetric syntheses of sceptrin and massadine and evidence for biosynthetic enantiodivergence". Science 2015; 349:149. [PMID: 26160938 DOI: 10.1126/science.aaa9349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2015] [Accepted: 05/05/2015] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Ma et al. (Reports, 10 October 2014, p. 219) report asymmetric syntheses of sceptrin and massadine and, through a stereochemical reassignment, claim to "uncover enantiodivergence as a new biosynthetic paradigm for natural products." We challenge and clarify this claim with relevant examples from the literature of this well-known phenomenon of enantiodivergent congener biosynthesis within the same producing organism.
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Affiliation(s)
- David H Sherman
- Life Sciences Institute and Departments of Medicinal Chemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, and Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Sachiko Tsukamoto
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kumamoto University, 5-1 Oe-honmachi, Kumamoto 862-0973, Japan
| | - Robert M Williams
- Department of Chemistry, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA. The University of Colorado Cancer Center, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.
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Plant diterpene synthases: exploring modularity and metabolic diversity for bioengineering. Trends Biotechnol 2015; 33:419-28. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2015.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2015] [Revised: 04/15/2015] [Accepted: 04/16/2015] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Pearce S, Huttly AK, Prosser IM, Li YD, Vaughan SP, Gallova B, Patil A, Coghill JA, Dubcovsky J, Hedden P, Phillips AL. Heterologous expression and transcript analysis of gibberellin biosynthetic genes of grasses reveals novel functionality in the GA3ox family. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2015; 15:130. [PMID: 26044828 PMCID: PMC4455330 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-015-0520-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2015] [Accepted: 05/01/2015] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The gibberellin (GA) pathway plays a central role in the regulation of plant development, with the 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenases (2-ODDs: GA20ox, GA3ox, GA2ox) that catalyse the later steps in the biosynthetic pathway of particularly importance in regulating bioactive GA levels. Although GA has important impacts on crop yield and quality, our understanding of the regulation of GA biosynthesis during wheat and barley development remains limited. In this study we identified or assembled genes encoding the GA 2-ODDs of wheat, barley and Brachypodium distachyon and characterised the wheat genes by heterologous expression and transcript analysis. RESULTS The wheat, barley and Brachypodium genomes each contain orthologous copies of the GA20ox, GA3ox and GA2ox genes identified in rice, with the exception of OsGA3ox1 and OsGA2ox5 which are absent in these species. Some additional paralogs of 2-ODD genes were identified: notably, a novel gene in the wheat B genome related to GA3ox2 was shown to encode a GA 1-oxidase, named as TaGA1ox-B1. This enzyme is likely to be responsible for the abundant 1β-hydroxylated GAs present in developing wheat grains. We also identified a related gene in barley, located in a syntenic position to TaGA1ox-B1, that encodes a GA 3,18-dihydroxylase which similarly accounts for the accumulation of unusual GAs in barley grains. Transcript analysis showed that some paralogs of the different classes of 2-ODD were expressed mainly in a single tissue or at specific developmental stages. In particular, TaGA20ox3, TaGA1ox1, TaGA3ox3 and TaGA2ox7 were predominantly expressed in developing grain. More detailed analysis of grain-specific gene expression showed that while the transcripts of biosynthetic genes were most abundant in the endosperm, genes encoding inactivation and signalling components were more highly expressed in the seed coat and pericarp. CONCLUSIONS The comprehensive expression and functional characterisation of the multigene families encoding the 2-ODD enzymes of the GA pathway in wheat and barley will provide the basis for a better understanding of GA-regulated development in these species. This analysis revealed the existence of a novel, endosperm-specific GA 1-oxidase in wheat and a related GA 3,18-dihydroxylase enzyme in barley that may play important roles during grain expansion and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen Pearce
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
| | - Alison K Huttly
- Department of Plant Biology and Crop Science, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, AL5 2JQ, UK.
| | - Ian M Prosser
- Department of Plant Biology and Crop Science, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, AL5 2JQ, UK.
| | - Yi-dan Li
- Department of Plant Biology and Crop Science, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, AL5 2JQ, UK.
- Biotechnology Research Centre, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, 130033, China.
| | - Simon P Vaughan
- Department of Plant Biology and Crop Science, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, AL5 2JQ, UK.
| | - Barbora Gallova
- Department of Plant Biology and Crop Science, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, AL5 2JQ, UK.
| | - Archana Patil
- Department of Plant Biology and Crop Science, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, AL5 2JQ, UK.
| | - Jane A Coghill
- University of Bristol Transcriptomics Facility, School of Biological Sciences, Bristol, BS8 1UG, UK.
| | - Jorge Dubcovsky
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, 20815, USA.
| | - Peter Hedden
- Department of Plant Biology and Crop Science, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, AL5 2JQ, UK.
| | - Andrew L Phillips
- Department of Plant Biology and Crop Science, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, AL5 2JQ, UK.
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Tezuka D, Ito A, Mitsuhashi W, Toyomasu T, Imai R. The rice ent-KAURENE SYNTHASE LIKE 2 encodes a functional ent-beyerene synthase. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2015; 460:766-71. [PMID: 25824047 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2015.03.104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2015] [Accepted: 03/19/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
The rice genome contains a family of kaurene synthase-like (OsKSL) genes that are responsible for the biosynthesis of various diterpenoids, including gibberellins and phytoalexins. While many OsKSL genes have been functionally characterized, the functionality of OsKSL2 is still unclear and it has been proposed to be a pseudogene. Here, we found that OsKSL2 is drastically induced in roots by methyl jasmonate treatment and we successfully isolated a full-length cDNA for OsKSL2. Sequence analysis of the OsKSL2 cDNA revealed that the open reading frame of OsKSL2 is mispredicted in the two major rice genome databases, IRGSP-RAP and MSU-RGAP. In vitro conversion assay indicated that recombinant OsKSL2 catalyzes the cyclization of ent-CDP into ent-beyerene as a major and ent-kaurene as a minor product. ent-Beyerene is an antimicrobial compound and OsKSL2 is induced by methyl jasmonate; these data suggest that OsKSL2 is a functional ent-beyerene synthase that is involved in defense mechanisms in rice roots.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daisuke Tezuka
- Hokkaido Agricultural Research Center, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), Toyohira-ku, Sapporo 062-8555, Japan; Graduate School of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-8589, Japan
| | - Akira Ito
- Faculty of Agriculture, Yamagata University, Yamagata 997-8555, Japan
| | - Wataru Mitsuhashi
- Faculty of Agriculture, Yamagata University, Yamagata 997-8555, Japan
| | - Tomonobu Toyomasu
- Faculty of Agriculture, Yamagata University, Yamagata 997-8555, Japan
| | - Ryozo Imai
- Hokkaido Agricultural Research Center, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), Toyohira-ku, Sapporo 062-8555, Japan; Graduate School of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-8589, Japan.
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Kitaoka N, Lu X, Yang B, Peters RJ. The application of synthetic biology to elucidation of plant mono-, sesqui-, and diterpenoid metabolism. MOLECULAR PLANT 2015; 8:6-16. [PMID: 25578268 PMCID: PMC5120878 DOI: 10.1016/j.molp.2014.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2014] [Accepted: 09/17/2014] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Plants synthesize a huge variety of terpenoid natural products, including photosynthetic pigments, signaling molecules, and defensive substances. These are often produced as complex mixtures, presumably shaped by selective pressure over evolutionary timescales, some of which have been found to have pharmaceutical and other industrial uses. Elucidation of the relevant biosynthetic pathways can provide increased access (e.g., via molecular breeding or metabolic engineering) and enable reverse genetic approaches toward understanding the physiological role of these natural products in plants as well. While such information can be obtained via a variety of approaches, this review describes the emerging use of synthetic biology to recombinantly reconstitute plant terpenoid biosynthetic pathways in heterologous host organisms as a functional discovery tool, with a particular focus on incorporation of the historically problematic cytochrome P450 mono-oxygenases. Also falling under the synthetic biology rubric and discussed here is the nascent application of genome-editing tools to probe physiological function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naoki Kitaoka
- Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Xuan Lu
- Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Bing Yang
- Department of Genetics, Developmental & Cell Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Reuben J Peters
- Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA.
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Zerbe P, Chiang A, Dullat H, O'Neil-Johnson M, Starks C, Hamberger B, Bohlmann J. Diterpene synthases of the biosynthetic system of medicinally active diterpenoids in Marrubium vulgare. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2014; 79:914-27. [PMID: 24990389 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.12589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2014] [Revised: 05/27/2014] [Accepted: 06/10/2014] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Marrubium vulgare (Lamiaceae) is a medicinal plant whose major bioactive compounds, marrubiin and other labdane-related furanoid diterpenoids, have potential applications as anti-diabetics, analgesics or vasorelaxants. Metabolite and transcriptome profiling of M. vulgare leaves identified five different candidate diterpene synthases (diTPSs) of the TPS-c and TPS-e/f clades. We describe the in vitro and in vivo functional characterization of the M. vulgare diTPS family. In addition to MvEKS ent-kaurene synthase of general metabolism, we identified three diTPSs of specialized metabolism: MvCPS3 (+)-copalyl diphosphate synthase, and the functional diTPS pair MvCPS1 and MvELS. In a sequential reaction, MvCPS1 and MvELS produce a unique oxygenated diterpene scaffold 9,13-epoxy-labd-14-ene en route to marrubiin and an array of related compounds. In contrast with previously known diTPSs that introduce a hydroxyl group at carbon C-8 of the labdane backbone, the MvCPS1-catalyzed reaction proceeds via oxygenation of an intermediate carbocation at C-9, yielding the bicyclic peregrinol diphosphate. MvELS belongs to a subgroup of the diTPS TPS-e/f clade with unusual βα-domain architecture. MvELS is active in vitro and in vivo with three different prenyl diphosphate substrates forming the marrubiin precursor 9,13-epoxy-labd-14-ene, as identified by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis, manoyl oxide and miltiradiene. MvELS fills a central position in the biosynthetic system that forms the foundation for the diverse repertoire of Marrubium diterpenoids. Co-expression of MvCPS1 and MvELS in engineered E. coli and Nicotiana benthamiana offers opportunities for producing precursors for an array of biologically active diterpenoids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Zerbe
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, 301-2185 East Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
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36
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Molecular evolution of the substrate specificity of ent-kaurene synthases to adapt to gibberellin biosynthesis in land plants. Biochem J 2014; 462:539-46. [DOI: 10.1042/bj20140134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
We analysed the function of monofunctional diterpene cyclases in Selaginella moellendorffii. Investigation of the substrate specificity of ent-kaurene synthases of non-flowering and flowering plants suggests that monofunctional diterpene cyclases involved in ent-kaurene biosynthesis may have co-evolved with gibberellin biosynthesis.
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37
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Schmelz EA, Huffaker A, Sims JW, Christensen SA, Lu X, Okada K, Peters RJ. Biosynthesis, elicitation and roles of monocot terpenoid phytoalexins. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2014; 79:659-78. [PMID: 24450747 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.12436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 158] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2013] [Revised: 12/22/2013] [Accepted: 01/10/2014] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
A long-standing goal in plant research is to optimize the protective function of biochemical agents that impede pest and pathogen attack. Nearly 40 years ago, pathogen-inducible diterpenoid production was described in rice, and these compounds were shown to function as antimicrobial phytoalexins. Using rice and maize as examples, we discuss recent advances in the discovery, biosynthesis, elicitation and functional characterization of monocot terpenoid phytoalexins. The recent expansion of known terpenoid phytoalexins now includes not only the labdane-related diterpenoid superfamily but also casbane-type diterpenoids and β-macrocarpene-derived sequiterpenoids. Biochemical approaches have been used to pair pathway precursors and end products with cognate biosynthetic genes. The number of predicted terpenoid phytoalexins is expanding through advances in cereal genome annotation and terpene synthase characterization that likewise enable discoveries outside the Poaceae. At the cellular level, conclusive evidence now exists for multiple plant receptors of fungal-derived chitin elicitors, phosphorylation of membrane-associated signaling complexes, activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase, involvement of phytohormone signals, and the existence of transcription factors that mediate the expression of phytoalexin biosynthetic genes and subsequent accumulation of pathway end products. Elicited production of terpenoid phytoalexins exhibit additional biological functions, including root exudate-mediated allelopathy and insect antifeedant activity. Such findings have encouraged consideration of additional interactions that blur traditionally discrete phytoalexin classifications. The establishment of mutant collections and increasing ease of genetic transformation assists critical examination of further biological roles. Future research directions include examination of terpenoid phytoalexin precursors and end products as potential signals mediating plant physiological processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric A Schmelz
- Center for Medical, Agricultural, and Veterinary Entomology, US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Chemistry Research Unit, Gainesville, FL, 32608, USA
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Jackson AJ, Hershey DM, Chesnut T, Xu M, Peters RJ. Biochemical characterization of the castor bean ent-kaurene synthase(-like) family supports quantum chemical view of diterpene cyclization. PHYTOCHEMISTRY 2014; 103:13-21. [PMID: 24810014 PMCID: PMC4062354 DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2014.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2014] [Revised: 04/04/2014] [Accepted: 04/10/2014] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
It has become apparent that plants have extensively diversified their arsenal of labdane-related diterpenoids (LRDs), in part via gene duplication and neo-functionalization of the ancestral ent-kaurene synthase (KS) required for gibberellin metabolism. For example, castor bean (Ricinus communis) was previously shown to produce an interesting set of biosynthetically related diterpenes, specifically ent-sandracopimaradiene, ent-beyerene, and ent-trachylobane, in addition to ent-kaurene, using four separate diterpene synthases, albeit these remain unidentified. Notably, despite mechanistic similarity of the underlying reaction to that catalyzed by KSs, ent-beyerene and ent-trachylobane synthases have not yet been identified. Given our interest in LRD biosynthesis, and the recent availability of the castor bean genome sequence, a synthetic biology approach was applied to biochemically characterize the four KS(-like) enzymes [KS(L)s] found in Ricinus communis [i.e., the RcKS(L)s]. In particular, using bacteria engineered to produce the relevant ent-copalyl diphosphate precursor and synthetic genes based on the predicted RcKS(L)s, although this ultimately required correction of a "splicing" error in one of the predicted genes, highlighting the dependence of such a synthetic biology approach on accurate gene sequences. Nevertheless, it is possible to assign each of the four RcKS(L)s to one of the previously observed diterpene synthase activities, providing access to functionally enzymes. Intriguingly, the product distribution of the RcKS(L)s seems to support the distinct diterpene synthase reaction mechanism proposed by quantum chemical calculations, rather than the classically proposed pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alana J Jackson
- Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - David M Hershey
- Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Taylor Chesnut
- Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Meimei Xu
- Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Reuben J Peters
- Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA.
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Brückner K, Božić D, Manzano D, Papaefthimiou D, Pateraki I, Scheler U, Ferrer A, de Vos RCH, Kanellis AK, Tissier A. Characterization of two genes for the biosynthesis of abietane-type diterpenes in rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) glandular trichomes. PHYTOCHEMISTRY 2014; 101:52-64. [PMID: 24569175 DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2014.01.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2013] [Revised: 01/15/2014] [Accepted: 01/31/2014] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) produces the phenolic diterpenes carnosic acid and carnosol, which, in addition to their general antioxidant activities, have recently been suggested as potential ingredients for the prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Little is known about the biosynthesis of these diterpenes. Here we show that the biosynthesis of phenolic diterpenes in rosemary predominantly takes place in the glandular trichomes of young leaves, and used this feature to identify the first committed steps. Thus, a copalyl diphosphate synthase (RoCPS1) and two kaurene synthase-like (RoKSL1 and RoKSL2) encoding genes were identified and characterized. Expression in yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and Nicotiana benthamiana demonstrate that RoCPS1 converts geranylgeranyl diphosphate (GGDP) to copalyl diphosphate (CDP) of normal stereochemistry and that both RoKSL1 and RoKSL2 use normal CDP to produce an abietane diterpene. Comparison to the already characterized diterpene synthase from Salvia miltiorrhiza (SmKSL) demonstrates that the product of RoKSL1 and RoKSL2 is miltiradiene. Expression analysis supports a major contributing role for RoKSL2. Like SmKSL and the sclareol synthase from Salvia sclarea, RoKSL1/2 are diterpene synthases of the TPS-e group which have lost the internal gamma-domain. Furthermore, phylogenetic analysis indicates that RoKSL1 and RoKSL2 belong to a distinct group of KSL enzymes involved in specialized metabolism which most likely emerged before the dicot-monocot split.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen Brückner
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Department of Cell and Metabolic Biology, Weinberg 3, 06120 Halle-Saale, Germany
| | - Dragana Božić
- Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - David Manzano
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CSIC-IRTA-UAB-UB), Bellaterra-Cerdanyola del Vallés, 08193 Barcelona, Spain; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Dimitra Papaefthimiou
- Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Irini Pateraki
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CSIC-IRTA-UAB-UB), Bellaterra-Cerdanyola del Vallés, 08193 Barcelona, Spain; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ulschan Scheler
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Department of Cell and Metabolic Biology, Weinberg 3, 06120 Halle-Saale, Germany
| | - Albert Ferrer
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CSIC-IRTA-UAB-UB), Bellaterra-Cerdanyola del Vallés, 08193 Barcelona, Spain; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ric C H de Vos
- Plant Research International, Wageningen University and Research Centre, The Netherlands; Netherlands Metabolomics Centre, The Netherlands
| | - Angelos K Kanellis
- Group of Biotechnology of Pharmaceutical Plants, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Alain Tissier
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Department of Cell and Metabolic Biology, Weinberg 3, 06120 Halle-Saale, Germany.
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Zi J, Mafu S, Peters RJ. To gibberellins and beyond! Surveying the evolution of (di)terpenoid metabolism. ANNUAL REVIEW OF PLANT BIOLOGY 2014; 65:259-86. [PMID: 24471837 PMCID: PMC4118669 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-arplant-050213-035705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 187] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
The diterpenoids are classically defined by their composition--four isoprenyl units (20 carbons)--and are generally derived from [E,E,E]-geranylgeranyl diphosphate (GGPP). Such metabolism seems to be ancient and has been extensively diversified, with ∼12,000 diterpenoid natural products known. Particularly notable are the gibberellin phytohormones, whose requisite biosynthesis has provided a genetic reservoir that gave rise to not only a large superfamily of ∼7,000 diterpenoids but also, to some degree, all plant terpenoid natural products. This review focuses on the diterpenoids, particularly the defining biosynthetic characteristics of the major superfamilies defined by the cyclization and/or rearrangement of GGPP catalyzed by diterpene synthases/cyclases, although it also includes some discussion of the important subsequent elaboration in the few cases where sufficient molecular genetic information is available. It additionally addresses the array of biological activity providing the selective pressures that drive the observed gene family expansion and diversification, along with biosynthetic gene clustering.
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Picking sides: distinct roles for CYP76M6 and CYP76M8 in rice oryzalexin biosynthesis. Biochem J 2013; 454:209-16. [PMID: 23795884 DOI: 10.1042/bj20130574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2013] [Revised: 06/24/2013] [Accepted: 06/25/2013] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Natural products biosynthesis often requires the action of multiple CYPs (cytochromes P450), whose ability to introduce oxygen, increasing solubility, is critical for imparting biological activity. In previous investigations of rice diterpenoid biosynthesis, we characterized CYPs that catalyse alternative hydroxylation of ent-sandaracopimaradiene, the precursor to the rice oryzalexin antibiotic phytoalexins. In particular, CYP76M5, CYP76M6 and CYP76M8 were all shown to carry out C-7β hydroxylation, whereas CYP701A8 catalyses C-3α hydroxylation, with oxy groups found at both positions in oryzalexins A-D, suggesting that these may act consecutively in oryzalexin biosynthesis. In the present paper, we report that, although CYP701A8 only poorly reacts with 7β-hydroxy-ent-sandaracopimaradiene, CYP76M6 and CYP76M8 readily react with 3α-hydroxy-ent-sandaracopimaradiene. Notably, their activity yields distinct products, resulting from hydroxylation at C-9β by CYP76M6 or C-7β by CYP76M8, on different sides of the core tricyclic ring structure. Thus CYP76M6 and CYP76M8 have distinct non-redundant roles in orzyalexin biosynthesis. Moreover, the resulting 3α,7β- and 3α,9β-diols correspond to oryzalexins D and E respectively. Accordingly, the results of the present study complete the functional identification of the biosynthetic pathway underlying the production of these bioactive phytoalexins. In addition, the altered regiochemistry catalysed by CYP76M6 following C-3α hydroxylation has some implications for its active-site configuration, offering further molecular insight.
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Matsuba Y, Nguyen TT, Wiegert K, Falara V, Gonzales-Vigil E, Leong B, Schäfer P, Kudrna D, Wing RA, Bolger AM, Usadel B, Tissier A, Fernie AR, Barry CS, Pichersky E. Evolution of a complex locus for terpene biosynthesis in solanum. THE PLANT CELL 2013; 25:2022-36. [PMID: 23757397 PMCID: PMC3723610 DOI: 10.1105/tpc.113.111013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2013] [Revised: 04/30/2013] [Accepted: 05/17/2013] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Functional gene clusters, containing two or more genes encoding different enzymes for the same pathway, are sometimes observed in plant genomes, most often when the genes specify the synthesis of specialized defensive metabolites. Here, we show that a cluster of genes in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum; Solanaceae) contains genes for terpene synthases (TPSs) that specify the synthesis of monoterpenes and diterpenes from cis-prenyl diphosphates, substrates that are synthesized by enzymes encoded by cis-prenyl transferase (CPT) genes also located within the same cluster. The monoterpene synthase genes in the cluster likely evolved from a diterpene synthase gene in the cluster by duplication and divergence. In the orthologous cluster in Solanum habrochaites, a new sesquiterpene synthase gene was created by a duplication event of a monoterpene synthase followed by a localized gene conversion event directed by a diterpene synthase gene. The TPS genes in the Solanum cluster encoding cis-prenyl diphosphate-utilizing enzymes are closely related to a tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum; Solanaceae) diterpene synthase encoding Z-abienol synthase (Nt-ABS). Nt-ABS uses the substrate copal-8-ol diphosphate, which is made from the all-trans geranylgeranyl diphosphate by copal-8-ol diphosphate synthase (Nt-CPS2). The Solanum gene cluster also contains an ortholog of Nt-CPS2, but it appears to encode a nonfunctional protein. Thus, the Solanum functional gene cluster evolved by duplication and divergence of TPS genes, together with alterations in substrate specificity to utilize cis-prenyl diphosphates and through the acquisition of CPT genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuki Matsuba
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
| | - Thuong T.H. Nguyen
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
| | - Krystle Wiegert
- Department of Horticulture, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824
| | - Vasiliki Falara
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
| | | | - Bryan Leong
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
| | - Petra Schäfer
- Leibniz-Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Department of Cell and Metabolic Biology, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - David Kudrna
- Arizona Genomics Institute, School of Plant Sciences, BIO5 Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721
| | - Rod A. Wing
- Arizona Genomics Institute, School of Plant Sciences, BIO5 Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721
| | - Anthony M. Bolger
- Max-Planck-Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, 14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany
- Institut für Biologie 1, Botanik, Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen University, 52062 Aachen, Germany
| | - Björn Usadel
- Max-Planck-Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, 14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany
- Institut für Biologie 1, Botanik, Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen University, 52062 Aachen, Germany
| | - Alain Tissier
- Leibniz-Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Department of Cell and Metabolic Biology, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Alisdair R. Fernie
- Max-Planck-Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, 14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| | - Cornelius S. Barry
- Department of Horticulture, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824
| | - Eran Pichersky
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
- Address correspondence to
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Zerbe P, Hamberger B, Yuen MM, Chiang A, Sandhu HK, Madilao LL, Nguyen A, Hamberger B, Bach SS, Bohlmann J. Gene discovery of modular diterpene metabolism in nonmodel systems. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2013; 162:1073-91. [PMID: 23613273 PMCID: PMC3668041 DOI: 10.1104/pp.113.218347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2013] [Accepted: 04/21/2013] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Plants produce over 10,000 different diterpenes of specialized (secondary) metabolism, and fewer diterpenes of general (primary) metabolism. Specialized diterpenes may have functions in ecological interactions of plants with other organisms and also benefit humanity as pharmaceuticals, fragrances, resins, and other industrial bioproducts. Examples of high-value diterpenes are taxol and forskolin pharmaceuticals or ambroxide fragrances. Yields and purity of diterpenes obtained from natural sources or by chemical synthesis are often insufficient for large-volume or high-end applications. Improvement of agricultural or biotechnological diterpene production requires knowledge of biosynthetic genes and enzymes. However, specialized diterpene pathways are extremely diverse across the plant kingdom, and most specialized diterpenes are taxonomically restricted to a few plant species, genera, or families. Consequently, there is no single reference system to guide gene discovery and rapid annotation of specialized diterpene pathways. Functional diversification of genes and plasticity of enzyme functions of these pathways further complicate correct annotation. To address this challenge, we used a set of 10 different plant species to develop a general strategy for diterpene gene discovery in nonmodel systems. The approach combines metabolite-guided transcriptome resources, custom diterpene synthase (diTPS) and cytochrome P450 reference gene databases, phylogenies, and, as shown for select diTPSs, single and coupled enzyme assays using microbial and plant expression systems. In the 10 species, we identified 46 new diTPS candidates and over 400 putatively terpenoid-related P450s in a resource of nearly 1 million predicted transcripts of diterpene-accumulating tissues. Phylogenetic patterns of lineage-specific blooms of genes guided functional characterization.
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Wu Y, Zhou K, Toyomasu T, Sugawara C, Oku M, Abe S, Usui M, Mitsuhashi W, Chono M, Chandler PM, Peters RJ. Functional characterization of wheat copalyl diphosphate synthases sheds light on the early evolution of labdane-related diterpenoid metabolism in the cereals. PHYTOCHEMISTRY 2012; 84:40-6. [PMID: 23009878 PMCID: PMC3483432 DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2012.08.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2011] [Revised: 07/30/2012] [Accepted: 08/29/2012] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Two of the most agriculturally important cereal crop plants are wheat (Triticum aestivum) and rice (Oryza sativa). Rice has been shown to produce a number of diterpenoid natural products as phytoalexins and/or allelochemicals--specifically, labdane-related diterpenoids, whose biosynthesis proceeds via formation of an eponymous labdadienyl/copalyl diphosphate (CPP) intermediate (e.g., the ent-CPP of gibberellin phytohormone biosynthesis). Similar to rice, wheat encodes a number of CPP synthases (CPS), and the three CPS characterized to date (TaCPS1-3) all have been suggested to produce ent-CPP. However, several of the downstream diterpene synthases will only react with CPP intermediate of normal or syn, but not ent, stereochemistry, as described in the accompanying report. Investigation of additional CPS did not resolve this issue, as the only other functional synthase (TaCPS4) also produced ent-CPP. Chiral product characterization of all the TaCPS then established that TaCPS2 uniquely produces normal, rather than ent-, CPP, thus, providing a suitable substrate source for the downstream diterpene synthases. Notably, TaCPS2 is most homologous to the similarly stereochemically differentiated syn-CPP synthase from rice (OsCPS4), while the non-inducible TaCPS3 and TaCPS4 cluster with the rice OsCPS1 required for gibberellin phytohormone biosynthesis, as well as with a barley (Hordeum vulgare) CPS (HvCPS1) that also is characterized here as similarly producing ent-CPP. These results suggest that diversification of labdane-related diterpenoid metabolism beyond the ancestral gibberellins occurred early in cereal evolution, and included the type of stereochemical variation demonstrated here.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yisheng Wu
- Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, U.S.A
| | - Ke Zhou
- Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, U.S.A
| | - Tomonobu Toyomasu
- Department of Bioresource Engineering, Yamagata University, Tsuruoka, Yamagata, 997-8555, Japan
| | - Chizu Sugawara
- Department of Bioresource Engineering, Yamagata University, Tsuruoka, Yamagata, 997-8555, Japan
| | - Madoka Oku
- Department of Bioresource Engineering, Yamagata University, Tsuruoka, Yamagata, 997-8555, Japan
| | - Shiho Abe
- Department of Bioresource Engineering, Yamagata University, Tsuruoka, Yamagata, 997-8555, Japan
| | - Masami Usui
- Department of Bioresource Engineering, Yamagata University, Tsuruoka, Yamagata, 997-8555, Japan
| | - Wataru Mitsuhashi
- Department of Bioresource Engineering, Yamagata University, Tsuruoka, Yamagata, 997-8555, Japan
| | - Makiko Chono
- NARO Institute of Crop Science, Kannondai, Tsukuba, 305-8518, Japan
| | | | - Reuben J. Peters
- Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, U.S.A
- Corresponding author: Tel.: 1-515-294-8580, Fax: 1-515-294-0453,
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