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Abstract
Covering: up to July 2023Terpene cyclases (TCs) catalyze some of the most complicated reactions in nature and are responsible for creating the skeletons of more than 95 000 terpenoid natural products. The canonical TCs are divided into two classes according to their structures, functions, and mechanisms. The class II TCs mediate acid-base-initiated cyclization reactions of isoprenoid diphosphates, terpenes without diphosphates (e.g., squalene or oxidosqualene), and prenyl moieties on meroterpenes. The past twenty years witnessed the emergence of many class II TCs, their reactions and their roles in biosynthesis. Class II TCs often act as one of the first steps in the biosynthesis of biologically active natural products including the gibberellin family of phytohormones and fungal meroterpenoids. Due to their mechanisms and biocatalytic potential, TCs elicit fervent attention in the biosynthetic and organic communities and provide great enthusiasm for enzyme engineering to construct novel and bioactive molecules. To engineer and expand the structural diversities of terpenoids, it is imperative to fully understand how these enzymes generate, precisely control, and quench the reactive carbocation intermediates. In this review, we summarize class II TCs from nature, including sesquiterpene, diterpene, triterpene, and meroterpenoid cyclases as well as noncanonical class II TCs and inspect their sequences, structures, mechanisms, and structure-guided engineering studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingming Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China.
| | - Jeffrey D Rudolf
- Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611-7011, USA.
| | - Liao-Bin Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China.
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2
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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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3
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Structure-guided product determination of the bacterial type II diterpene synthase Tpn2. Commun Chem 2022; 5:146. [PMID: 36698006 PMCID: PMC9814783 DOI: 10.1038/s42004-022-00765-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
A grand challenge in terpene synthase (TS) enzymology is the ability to predict function from protein sequence. Given the limited number of characterized bacterial TSs and significant sequence diversities between them and their eukaryotic counterparts, this is currently impossible. To contribute towards understanding the sequence-structure-function relationships of type II bacterial TSs, we determined the structure of the terpentedienyl diphosphate synthase Tpn2 from Kitasatospora sp. CB02891 by X-ray crystallography and made structure-guided mutants to probe its mechanism. Substitution of a glycine into a basic residue changed the product preference from the clerodane skeleton to a syn-labdane skeleton, resulting in the first syn-labdane identified from a bacterial TS. Understanding how a single residue can dictate the cyclization pattern in Tpn2, along with detailed bioinformatics analysis of bacterial type II TSs, sets the stage for the investigation of the functional scope of bacterial type II TSs and the discovery of novel bacterial terpenoids.
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Lemke C, Roach K, Ortega T, Tantillo DJ, Siegel JB, Peters RJ. Investigation of Acid–Base Catalysis in Halimadienyl Diphosphate Synthase Involved in Mycobacterium tuberculosis Virulence. ACS BIO & MED CHEM AU 2022; 2:490-498. [PMID: 36281298 PMCID: PMC9585517 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomedchemau.2c00023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
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The devastating human
pathogenMycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb)
is able to parasitize phagosomal compartments within alveolar
macrophage cells due, in part, to the activity of its cell-surface
lipids. Prominent among these is 1-tuberculosinyl-adenosine (1-TbAd),
a derivative of the diterpenoid tuberculosinyl (halima-5,13-dienyl)
diphosphate produced by the class II diterpene cyclase encoded by
Rv3377c, termed here MtHPS. Given the demonstrated ability of 1-TbAd
to act as a virulence factor for Mtb and the necessity for Rv3377c
for its production, there is significant interest in MtHPS activity.
Class II diterpene cyclases catalyze a general acid–base-mediated
carbocation cascade reaction initiated by protonation of the terminal
alkene in the general diterpenoid precursor (E,E,E)-geranylgeranyl diphosphate and terminated by deprotonation of the
final cyclized (and sometimes also rearranged) intermediate. Here,
structure-guided mutagenesis was applied to characterize the various
residues contributing to activation of the enzymatic acid, as well
as identify the enzymatic base in MtHPS. Particularly given the ability
of conservative substitution for the enzymatic base (Y479F) to generate
an alternative product (labda-7,13-dienyl diphosphate) via deprotonation
of an earlier unrearranged intermediate, further mutational analysis
was carried out to introduce potential alternative catalytic bases.
The results were combined with mechanistic molecular modeling to elucidate
how these mutations affect the catalytic activity of this important
enzyme. This not only provided detailed structure–function
insight into MtHPS but also further emphasized the inert nature of
the active site of MtHPS and class II diterpene cyclases more generally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cody Lemke
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, United States
| | - Kristin Roach
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, United States
| | - Teresa Ortega
- Department of Chemistry, University of California-Davis, Davis, California 95616, United States
| | - Dean J. Tantillo
- Department of Chemistry, University of California-Davis, Davis, California 95616, United States
| | - Justin B. Siegel
- Department of Chemistry, University of California-Davis, Davis, California 95616, United States
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of California-Davis, Davis, California 95616, United States
- Genome Center, University of California-Davis, Davis, California 95616, United States
| | - Reuben J. Peters
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, United States
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Chen R, Bu Y, Ren J, Pelot KA, Hu X, Diao Y, Chen W, Zerbe P, Zhang L. Discovery and modulation of diterpenoid metabolism improves glandular trichome formation, artemisinin production and stress resilience in Artemisia annua. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2021; 230:2387-2403. [PMID: 33740256 DOI: 10.1111/nph.17351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2020] [Accepted: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Plants synthesize diverse diterpenoids with numerous functions in organ development and stress resistance. However, the role of diterpenoids in glandular trichome (GT) development and GT-localized biosynthesis in plants remains unknown. Here, the identification of 10 diterpene synthases (diTPSs) revealed the diversity of diterpenoid biosynthesis in Artemisia annua. Protein-protein interactions (PPIs) between AaKSL1 and AaCPS2 in the plastids highlighted their potential functions in modulating metabolic flux to gibberellins (GAs) or ent-isopimara-7,15-diene-derived metabolites (IDMs) through metabolic engineering. A phenotypic analysis of transgenic plants suggested a complex repertoire of diterpenoids in Artemisia annua with important roles in GT formation, artemisinin accumulation and stress resilience. Metabolic engineering of diterpenoids simultaneously increased the artemisinin yield and stress resistance. Transcriptome and metabolic profiling suggested that bioactive GA4 /GA1 promote GT formation. Collectively, these results expand our knowledge of diterpenoids and show the potential of diterpenoids to simultaneously improve both the GT-localized metabolite yield and stress resistance, in planta.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruibing Chen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, School of Pharmacy, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Yuejuan Bu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, School of Pharmacy, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Junze Ren
- Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, School of Pharmacy, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Kyle A Pelot
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Xiangyang Hu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Bio-Energy Crops, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, China
| | - Yong Diao
- School of Medicine, Huaqiao University, Quanzhou, 362021, China
| | - Wansheng Chen
- Department of Pharmacy, Changzheng Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200003, China
- Research and Development Center of Chinese Medicine Resources and Biotechnology, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Philipp Zerbe
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Lei Zhang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, School of Pharmacy, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
- Biomedical Innovation R&D Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, China
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Ma LT, Wang CH, Hon CY, Lee YR, Chu FH. Discovery and characterization of diterpene synthases in Chamaecyparis formosensis Matsum. which participated in an unprecedented diterpenoid biosynthesis route in conifer. PLANT SCIENCE : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2021; 304:110790. [PMID: 33568294 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2020.110790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2020] [Revised: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 12/06/2020] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Chamaecyparis formosensis Matsum. is an endemic and precious coniferous species of Taiwan, and is known for a high abundance of specialized metabolites, which contributes to the excellent timber durability. Several terpenoids were identified and isolated from C. formosensis wood and needles, and exhibit anti-fungal and anti-bacterial bioactivities, which may participate in plant defense against pathogens. In various identified compounds, not only cadinene and ferruginol, were identified in C. formosensis extracts but also unique diterpenoids, which include pisferal, totarol, and derivates of isoabienol. To understand the biosynthesis of these specific diterpenoids, we conducted a series of functional characterization of the C. formosensis diterpene synthases (CfdiTPSs), which participate in skeleton formation and differentiation of diterpenes. In this study, we identified eight diTPSs from C. formosensis transcriptome, and they all contain either class I or class II motif, which indicates they are all monofunctional enzymes. These candidates consist of three class II diTPSs and five class I diTPSs, and after conducting in vivo and in vitro assays, class II diTPS CfCPS1 was characterized as a (+)-copalyl diphosphate synthase ((+)-CPS), and class I diTPSs CfKSL1 could further convert (+)-copalyl diphosphate ((+)-CPP) to levopimaradiene. Meanwhile, CfKSL1 also accepted labda-13-en-8-ol diphosphate (LPP) as substrate and formed monoyl oxide. Another class I diTPS, CfKSL4, exhibits a strong enzymatic ability of isoabienol synthase, which is firstly reported in conifer. This finding provides potential participants in the biosynthesis of unique diterpenoids, and with this knowledge, we can further expand our understanding of diterpenoid metabolism in Cupressaceae and their potential role in plant defense.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Ting Ma
- School of Forestry and Resource Conservation, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan
| | - Chang-Hsin Wang
- School of Forestry and Resource Conservation, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan
| | - Chong-Yao Hon
- School of Forestry and Resource Conservation, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Ru Lee
- School of Forestry and Resource Conservation, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan
| | - Fang-Hua Chu
- School of Forestry and Resource Conservation, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan.
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Ma LT, Lee YR, Tsao NW, Wang SY, Zerbe P, Chu FH. Biochemical characterization of diterpene synthases of Taiwania cryptomerioides expands the known functional space of specialized diterpene metabolism in gymnosperms. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2019; 100:1254-1272. [PMID: 31448467 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.14513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2019] [Revised: 08/13/2019] [Accepted: 08/19/2019] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Taiwania cryptomerioides is a monotypic gymnosperm species, valued for the high decay resistance of its wood. This durability has been attributed to the abundance of terpenoids, especially the major diterpenoid metabolite ferruginol, with antifungal and antitermite activity. Specialized diterpenoid metabolism in gymnosperms primarily recruits bifunctional class-I/II diterpene synthases (diTPSs), whereas monofunctional class-II and class-I enzymes operate in angiosperms. In this study, we identified a previously unrecognized group of monofunctional diTPSs in T. cryptomerioides, which suggests a distinct evolutionary divergence of the diTPS family in this species. Specifically, five monofunctional diTPS functions not previously observed in gymnosperms were characterized, including monofunctional class-II enzymes forming labda-13-en-8-ol diphosphate (LPP, TcCPS2) and (+)-copalyl diphosphate (CPP, TcCPS4), and three class-I diTPSs producing biformene (TcKSL1), levopimaradiene (TcKSL3) and phyllocladanol (TcKSL5), respectively. Methyl jasmonate (MeJA) elicited the accumulation of levopimaradiene and the corresponding biosynthetic diTPS genes, TcCPS4 and TcKSL3, is consistent with a possible role in plant defense. Furthermore, TcCPS4 and TcKSL3 are likely to contribute to abietatriene biosynthesis via levopimaradiene as an intermediate in ferruginol biosynthesis in Taiwania. In conclusion, this study provides deeper insight into the functional landscape and molecular evolution of specialized diterpenoid metabolism in gymnosperms as a basis to better understand the role of these metabolites in tree chemical defense.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Ting Ma
- School of Forestry and Resource Conservation, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Ru Lee
- School of Forestry and Resource Conservation, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan
| | - Nai-Wen Tsao
- Department of Forestry, National Chung-Hsing University, Taichung, 402, Taiwan
| | - Sheng-Yang Wang
- Department of Forestry, National Chung-Hsing University, Taichung, 402, Taiwan
| | - Philipp Zerbe
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Fang-Hua Chu
- School of Forestry and Resource Conservation, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan
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Quilez Del Moral JF, Domingo V, Pérez Á, Martínez Andrade KA, Enríquez L, Jaraiz M, López-Pérez JL, Barrero AF. Mimicking Halimane Synthases: Monitoring a Cascade of Cyclizations and Rearrangements from Epoxypolyprenes. J Org Chem 2019; 84:13764-13779. [PMID: 31559826 DOI: 10.1021/acs.joc.9b01996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
We have developed and rationalized a biomimetic transformation mimicking halimane synthases based on a Lewis acid-catalyzed cascade of cyclizations and rearrangements of epoxypolyprenes. Two rings, three stereogenic centers, and a new double bond were generated in a single chemical operation. Based on this cascade transformation, we achieved a unified strategy toward the stereoselective total syntheses of halimene-type terpenoids and analogues as a proof-of-concept study. This method has been applied to the rapid synthesis of diterpene isotuberculosinol, a virulence factor of Mycobacterium tuberculosis as a representative example.
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Affiliation(s)
- José F Quilez Del Moral
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Institute of Biotechnology , University of Granada , 18071 Granada , Spain
| | - Victoriano Domingo
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Institute of Biotechnology , University of Granada , 18071 Granada , Spain
| | - Álvaro Pérez
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Institute of Biotechnology , University of Granada , 18071 Granada , Spain
| | - Kevin A Martínez Andrade
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Institute of Biotechnology , University of Granada , 18071 Granada , Spain
| | - Lourdes Enríquez
- Department of Electronics , University of Valladolid , 47011 Valladolid , Spain
| | - Martín Jaraiz
- Department of Electronics , University of Valladolid , 47011 Valladolid , Spain
| | - José Luis López-Pérez
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, IBSAL-CIETUS , University of Salamanca , 37007 Salamanca , Spain.,Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine , University of Panama , 3366 Panama , Republic of Panama
| | - Alejandro F Barrero
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Institute of Biotechnology , University of Granada , 18071 Granada , Spain
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Conserved bases for the initial cyclase in gibberellin biosynthesis: from bacteria to plants. Biochem J 2019; 476:2607-2621. [PMID: 31484677 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20190479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2019] [Revised: 09/02/2019] [Accepted: 09/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
All land plants contain at least one class II diterpene cyclase (DTC), which utilize an acid-base catalytic mechanism, for the requisite production of ent-copalyl diphosphate (ent-CPP) in gibberellin A (GA) phytohormone biosynthesis. These ent-CPP synthases (CPSs) are hypothesized to be derived from ancient bacterial origins and, in turn, to have given rise to the frequently observed additional DTCs utilized in more specialized plant metabolism. However, such gene duplication and neo-functionalization has occurred repeatedly, reducing the utility of phylogenetic analyses. Support for evolutionary scenarios can be found in more specific conservation of key enzymatic features. While DTCs generally utilize a DxDD motif as the catalytic acid, the identity of the catalytic base seems to vary depending, at least in part, on product outcome. The CPS from Arabidopsis thaliana has been found to utilize a histidine-asparagine dyad to ligate a water molecule that serves as the catalytic base, with alanine substitution leading to the production of 8β-hydroxy-ent-CPP. Here this dyad and effect of Ala substitution is shown to be specifically conserved in plant CPSs involved in GA biosynthesis, providing insight into plant DTC evolution and assisting functional assignment. Even more strikingly, while GA biosynthesis arose independently in plant-associated bacteria and fungi, the catalytic base dyad also is specifically found in the relevant bacterial, but not fungal, CPSs. This suggests functional conservation of CPSs from bacteria to plants, presumably reflecting an early role for derived diterpenoids in both plant development and plant-microbe interactions, eventually leading to GA, and a speculative evolutionary scenario is presented.
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Johnson SR, Bhat WW, Bibik J, Turmo A, Hamberger B, Evolutionary Mint Genomics Consortium, Hamberger B. A database-driven approach identifies additional diterpene synthase activities in the mint family (Lamiaceae). J Biol Chem 2019; 294:1349-1362. [PMID: 30498089 PMCID: PMC6349103 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra118.006025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2018] [Revised: 11/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Members of the mint family (Lamiaceae) accumulate a wide variety of industrially and medicinally relevant diterpenes. We recently sequenced leaf transcriptomes from 48 phylogenetically diverse Lamiaceae species. Here, we summarize the available chemotaxonomic and enzyme activity data for diterpene synthases (diTPSs) in the Lamiaceae and leverage the new transcriptomes to explore the diTPS sequence and functional space. Candidate genes were selected with an intent to evenly sample the sequence homology space and to focus on species in which diTPS transcripts were found, yet from which no diterpene structures have been previously reported. We functionally characterized nine class II diTPSs and 10 class I diTPSs from 11 distinct plant species and found five class II activities, including two novel activities, as well as a spectrum of class I activities. Among the class II diTPSs, we identified a neo-cleroda-4(18),13E-dienyl diphosphate synthase from Ajuga reptans, catalyzing the likely first step in the biosynthesis of a variety of insect-antifeedant compounds. Among the class I diTPSs was a palustradiene synthase from Origanum majorana, leading to the discovery of specialized diterpenes in that species. Our results provide insights into the diversification of diterpene biosynthesis in the mint family and establish a comprehensive foundation for continued investigation of diterpene biosynthesis in the Lamiaceae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean R Johnson
- Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, East Lansing, Michigan 48824
| | - Wajid Waheed Bhat
- Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, East Lansing, Michigan 48824; Pharmacology and Toxicology, East Lansing, Michigan 48824
| | - Jacob Bibik
- Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, East Lansing, Michigan 48824
| | - Aiko Turmo
- Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, East Lansing, Michigan 48824
| | - Britta Hamberger
- Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, East Lansing, Michigan 48824
| | | | - Björn Hamberger
- Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, East Lansing, Michigan 48824.
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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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12
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Pelot KA, Hagelthorn DM, Hong YJ, Tantillo DJ, Zerbe P. Diterpene Synthase‐Catalyzed Biosynthesis of Distinct Clerodane Stereoisomers. Chembiochem 2018; 20:111-117. [DOI: 10.1002/cbic.201800580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kyle A. Pelot
- Department of Plant Biology University of California Davis One Shields Avenue Davis CA 95616 USA
| | - David M. Hagelthorn
- Department of Plant Biology University of California Davis One Shields Avenue Davis CA 95616 USA
| | - Young J. Hong
- Department of Chemistry University of California Davis One Shields Avenue Davis CA 95616 USA
| | - Dean J. Tantillo
- Department of Chemistry 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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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: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [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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