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Cyanogenesis in the Sorghum Genus: From Genotype to Phenotype. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13010140. [PMID: 35052482 PMCID: PMC8775130 DOI: 10.3390/genes13010140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Domestication has resulted in a loss of genetic diversity in our major food crops, leading to susceptibility to biotic and abiotic stresses linked with climate change. Crop wild relatives (CWR) may provide a source of novel genes potentially important for re-gaining climate resilience. Sorghum bicolor is an important cereal crop with wild relatives that are endemic to Australia. Sorghum bicolor is cyanogenic, but the cyanogenic status of wild Sorghum species is not well known. In this study, leaves of wild species endemic in Australia are screened for the presence of the cyanogenic glucoside dhurrin. The direct measurement of dhurrin content and the potential for dhurrin-derived HCN release (HCNp) showed that all the tested Australian wild species were essentially phenotypically acyanogenic. The unexpected low dhurrin content may reflect the variable and generally nutrient-poor environments in which they are growing in nature. Genome sequencing of six CWR and PCR amplification of the CYP79A1 gene from additional species showed that a high conservation of key amino acids is required for correct protein function and dhurrin synthesis, pointing to the transcriptional regulation of the cyanogenic phenotype in wild sorghum as previously shown in elite sorghum.
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Zhou A, Zhou K, Li Y. Rational design strategies for functional reconstitution of plant cytochrome P450s in microbial systems. CURRENT OPINION IN PLANT BIOLOGY 2021; 60:102005. [PMID: 33647811 PMCID: PMC8435529 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbi.2021.102005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2020] [Revised: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/17/2021] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Plant natural products (NPs) are of pharmaceutical and agricultural significance, yet the low abundance is largely impeding the broad investigation and utilization. Microbial bioproduction is a promising alternative sourcing to plant NPs. Cytochrome P450s (CYPs) play an essential role in plant secondary metabolism, and functional reconstitution of plant CYPs in the microbial system is one of the major challenges in establishing efficient microbial plant NP bioproduction. In this review, we briefly summarized the recent progress in rational engineering strategies for enhanced activity of plant CYPs in Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, two commonly used microbial hosts. We believe that in-depth foundational investigations on the native microenvironment of plant CYPs are necessary to adapt the microbial systems for more efficient functional reconstitution of plant CYPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anqi Zhou
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Kang Zhou
- Disruptive & Sustainable Technologies for Agricultural Precision, Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology, Singapore; Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
| | - Yanran Li
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA.
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Thodberg S, Sørensen M, Bellucci M, Crocoll C, Bendtsen AK, Nelson DR, Motawia MS, Møller BL, Neilson EHJ. A flavin-dependent monooxygenase catalyzes the initial step in cyanogenic glycoside synthesis in ferns. Commun Biol 2020; 3:507. [PMID: 32917937 PMCID: PMC7486406 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-020-01224-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2020] [Accepted: 08/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Cyanogenic glycosides form part of a binary plant defense system that, upon catabolism, detonates a toxic hydrogen cyanide bomb. In seed plants, the initial step of cyanogenic glycoside biosynthesis-the conversion of an amino acid to the corresponding aldoxime-is catalyzed by a cytochrome P450 from the CYP79 family. An evolutionary conundrum arises, as no CYP79s have been identified in ferns, despite cyanogenic glycoside occurrence in several fern species. Here, we report that a flavin-dependent monooxygenase (fern oxime synthase; FOS1), catalyzes the first step of cyanogenic glycoside biosynthesis in two fern species (Phlebodium aureum and Pteridium aquilinum), demonstrating convergent evolution of biosynthesis across the plant kingdom. The FOS1 sequence from the two species is near identical (98%), despite diversifying 140 MYA. Recombinant FOS1 was isolated as a catalytic active dimer, and in planta, catalyzes formation of an N-hydroxylated primary amino acid; a class of metabolite not previously observed in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Thodberg
- Plant Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871, Frederiksberg C, Copenhagen, Denmark
- VILLUM Center for Plant Plasticity, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871, Frederiksberg C, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Mette Sørensen
- Plant Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871, Frederiksberg C, Copenhagen, Denmark
- VILLUM Center for Plant Plasticity, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871, Frederiksberg C, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Matteo Bellucci
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research, Protein Production and Characterization Platform, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3, 2200, Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | - Christoph Crocoll
- Section for Plant Molecular Biology, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871, Frederiksberg C, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Amalie Kofoed Bendtsen
- Plant Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871, Frederiksberg C, Copenhagen, Denmark
- VILLUM Center for Plant Plasticity, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871, Frederiksberg C, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - David Ralph Nelson
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Biochemistry, University of Tennessee, 858 Madison Ave. Suite G01, Memphis, TN, 38163, USA
| | - Mohammed Saddik Motawia
- Plant Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871, Frederiksberg C, Copenhagen, Denmark
- VILLUM Center for Plant Plasticity, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871, Frederiksberg C, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Center for Synthetic Biology, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871, Frederiksberg C, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Birger Lindberg Møller
- Plant Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871, Frederiksberg C, Copenhagen, Denmark
- VILLUM Center for Plant Plasticity, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871, Frederiksberg C, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Center for Synthetic Biology, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871, Frederiksberg C, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Elizabeth Heather Jakobsen Neilson
- Plant Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871, Frederiksberg C, Copenhagen, Denmark.
- VILLUM Center for Plant Plasticity, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871, Frederiksberg C, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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Sørensen M, Neilson EHJ, Møller BL. Oximes: Unrecognized Chameleons in General and Specialized Plant Metabolism. MOLECULAR PLANT 2018; 11:95-117. [PMID: 29275165 DOI: 10.1016/j.molp.2017.12.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2017] [Revised: 12/11/2017] [Accepted: 12/14/2017] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Oximes (R1R2C=NOH) are nitrogen-containing chemical constituents that are formed in species representing all kingdoms of life. In plants, oximes are positioned at important metabolic bifurcation points between general and specialized metabolism. The majority of plant oximes are amino acid-derived metabolites formed by the action of a cytochrome P450 from the CYP79 family. Auxin, cyanogenic glucosides, glucosinolates, and a number of other bioactive specialized metabolites including volatiles are produced from oximes. Oximes with the E configuration have high biological activity compared with Z-oximes. Oximes or their derivatives have been demonstrated or proposed to play roles in growth regulation, plant defense, pollinator attraction, and plant communication with the surrounding environment. In addition, oxime-derived products may serve as quenchers of reactive oxygen species and storage compounds for reduced nitrogen that may be released on demand by the activation of endogenous turnover pathways. As highly bioactive molecules, chemically synthesized oximes have found versatile uses in many sectors of society, especially in the agro- and medical sectors. This review provides an update on the structural diversity, occurrence, and biosynthesis of oximes in plants and discusses their role as key players in plant general and specialized metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mette Sørensen
- Plant Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, Frederiksberg C, Copenhagen, Denmark; VILLUM Center for Plant Plasticity, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, Frederiksberg C, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Elizabeth H J Neilson
- Plant Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, Frederiksberg C, Copenhagen, Denmark; VILLUM Center for Plant Plasticity, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, Frederiksberg C, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Birger Lindberg Møller
- Plant Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, Frederiksberg C, Copenhagen, Denmark; VILLUM Center for Plant Plasticity, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, Frederiksberg C, Copenhagen, Denmark; Center for Synthetic Biology, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, Frederiksberg C, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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