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Wu TJ, Lin CC, Ma LT, Yang CK, Ho CL, Wang SY, Chu FH. Functional identification of specialized diterpene synthases from Chamaecyparis obtusa and C. obtusa var. formosana to illustrate the putative evolution of diterpene synthases in Cupressaceae. PLANT SCIENCE : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2024; 344:112080. [PMID: 38582272 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2024.112080] [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: 01/09/2024] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024]
Abstract
Chamaecyparis obtusa and C. obtusa var. formosana of the Cupressaceae family are well known for their fragrance and excellent physical properties. To investigate the biosynthesis of unique diterpenoid compounds, diterpene synthase genes for specialized metabolite synthesis were cloned from C. obtusa and C. obtusa var. formosana. Using an Escherichia coli co-expression system, eight diterpene synthases (diTPSs) were characterized. CoCPS and CovfCPS are class II monofunctional (+)-copalyl diphosphate synthases [(+)-CPSs]. Class I monofunctional CoLS and CovfLS convert (+)-copalyl diphosphate [(+)-CPP] to levopimaradiene, CoBRS, CovfBRS1, and CovfBRS3 convert (+)-CPP to (-)-beyerene, and CovfSDS converts (+)-CPP to (-)-sandaracopimaradiene. These enzymes are all monofunctional diterpene syntheses in Cupressaceae family of gymnosperm, and differ from those in Pinaceae. The discovery of the enzyme responsible for the biosynthesis of tetracyclic diterpene (-)-beyerene was characterized for the first time. Diterpene synthases with different catalytic functions exist in closely related species within the Cupressaceae family, indicating that this group of monofunctional diterpene synthases is particularly prone to the evolution of new functions and development of species-specific specialized diterpenoid constituents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsai-Jung Wu
- School of Forestry and Resource Conservation, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chi-Chun Lin
- School of Forestry and Resource Conservation, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Li-Ting Ma
- Academy of Circular Economy, National Chung-Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Kai Yang
- Department of Forestry, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chen-Lung Ho
- Taiwan Forestry Research Institute, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Sheng-Yang Wang
- Department of Forestry, National Chung-Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Fang-Hua Chu
- School of Forestry and Resource Conservation, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
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2
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Yue G, Liu B. Recent Developments in the Syntheses of C-20-Oxygenated ent-Kaurane Diterpenoids. Chempluschem 2024; 89:e202300676. [PMID: 38414152 DOI: 10.1002/cplu.202300676] [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: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
Ent-kaurane diterpenes are a large group of natural products, with more than 1,000 compounds since their discovery. Due to their excellent biological activities and complex polycyclic structures, these compounds have attracted organic synthesis chemists around the world to be devoted to achieve their total synthesis. At present, the isolated C-20-oxygenated ent-kaurane diterpenes are the most abundant of these natural products, reaching more than 350 in number. However, only total syntheses of 3,20-epoxy, 7,20-epoxy and 19,20-lactone ent-kaurane diterpenes have been reported. In this review, we elaborate the synthesis of these three types of C-20 oxygenated ent-kaurane natural products, discuss these synthetic strategies in detail, and provide good guidance and reference for the synthesis of other C-20 oxygenated compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guizhou Yue
- College of Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, 46 Xinkang Rd., Ya'an, Sichuan, 625014, China
| | - Bo Liu
- College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, 29 Wangjiang Rd., Chengdu, Sichuan, 610064, China
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3
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Luo P, Huang JH, Lv JM, Wang GQ, Hu D, Gao H. Biosynthesis of fungal terpenoids. Nat Prod Rep 2024; 41:748-783. [PMID: 38265076 DOI: 10.1039/d3np00052d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2024]
Abstract
Covering: up to August 2023Terpenoids, which are widely distributed in animals, plants, and microorganisms, are a large group of natural products with diverse structures and various biological activities. They have made great contributions to human health as therapeutic agents, such as the anti-cancer drug paclitaxel and anti-malarial agent artemisinin. Accordingly, the biosynthesis of this important class of natural products has been extensively studied, which generally involves two major steps: hydrocarbon skeleton construction by terpenoid cyclases and skeleton modification by tailoring enzymes. Additionally, fungi (Ascomycota and Basidiomycota) serve as an important source for the discovery of terpenoids. With the rapid development of sequencing technology and bioinformatics approaches, genome mining has emerged as one of the most effective strategies to discover novel terpenoids from fungi. To date, numerous terpenoid cyclases, including typical class I and class II terpenoid cyclases as well as emerging UbiA-type terpenoid cyclases, have been identified, together with a variety of tailoring enzymes, including cytochrome P450 enzymes, flavin-dependent monooxygenases, and acyltransferases. In this review, our aim is to comprehensively present all fungal terpenoid cyclases identified up to August 2023, with a focus on newly discovered terpenoid cyclases, especially the emerging UbiA-type terpenoid cyclases, and their related tailoring enzymes from 2015 to August 2023.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pan Luo
- Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine & Natural Products, College of Pharmacy, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of TCM and New Drugs Research, International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development of Chinese Ministry of Education of China, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.
| | - Jia-Hua Huang
- Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine & Natural Products, College of Pharmacy, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of TCM and New Drugs Research, International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development of Chinese Ministry of Education of China, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.
| | - Jian-Ming Lv
- Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine & Natural Products, College of Pharmacy, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of TCM and New Drugs Research, International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development of Chinese Ministry of Education of China, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.
| | - Gao-Qian Wang
- Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine & Natural Products, College of Pharmacy, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of TCM and New Drugs Research, International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development of Chinese Ministry of Education of China, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.
| | - Dan Hu
- Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine & Natural Products, College of Pharmacy, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of TCM and New Drugs Research, International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development of Chinese Ministry of Education of China, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.
| | - Hao Gao
- Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine & Natural Products, College of Pharmacy, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of TCM and New Drugs Research, International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development of Chinese Ministry of Education of China, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.
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Garg A, Srivastava P, Verma PC, Ghosh S. ApCPS2 contributes to medicinal diterpenoid biosynthesis and defense against insect herbivore in Andrographis paniculata. PLANT SCIENCE : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2024; 342:112046. [PMID: 38395069 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2024.112046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2023] [Revised: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
Kalmegh (Andrographis paniculata) spatiotemporally produces medicinally-important ent-labdane-related diterpenoids (ent-LRDs); andrographolide (AD), 14-deoxy-11,12-didehydroandrographolide (DDAD), neoandrographolide (NAD). ApCPS1 and ApCPS2, the ent-copalyl pyrophosphate (ent-CPP)-producing class II diterpene synthases (diTPSs) were identified, but their contributions to ent-CPP precursor supply for ent-LRD biosynthesis were not well understood. Here, we characterized ApCPS4, an additional ent-CPP-forming diTPS. Further, we elucidated in planta function of the ent-CPP-producing diTPSs (ApCPS1,2,4) by integrating transcript-metabolite co-profiles, biochemical analysis and gene functional characterization. ApCPS1,2,4 localized to the plastids, where diterpenoid biosynthesis occurs in plants, but ApCPS1,2,4 transcript expression patterns and ent-LRD contents revealed a strong correlation of ApCPS2 expression and ent-LRD accumulation in kalmegh. ApCPS1,2,4 upstream sequences differentially activated β-glucuronidase (GUS) in Arabidopsis and transiently-transformed kalmegh. Similar to higher expression of ApCPS1 in kalmegh stem, ApCPS1 upstream sequence activated GUS in stem/hypocotyl of Arabidopsis and kalmegh. However, ApCPS2,4 upstream sequences weakly activated GUS expression in Arabidopsis, which was not well correlated with ApCPS2,4 transcript expression in kalmegh tissues. Whereas, ApCPS2,4 upstream sequences could activate GUS expression at a considerable level in kalmegh leaf and roots/calyx, respectively, suggesting the involvement of transcriptional regulator(s) of ApCPS2,4 that might participate in kalmegh-specific diterpenoid pathway. Interestingly, ApCPS2-silenced kalmegh showed a drastic reduction in AD, DDAD and NAD contents and compromised defense against insect herbivore Spodoptera litura. However, ent-LRD contents and herbivore defense in ApCPS1 or ApCPS4-silenced plants remained largely unaltered. Overall, these results suggested an important role of ApCPS2 in producing ent-CPP for medicinal ent-LRD biosynthesis and defense against insect herbivore.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anchal Garg
- Plant Biotechnology Division, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR-CIMAP), Lucknow 226015, India
| | - Payal Srivastava
- Plant Biotechnology Division, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR-CIMAP), Lucknow 226015, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Praveen Chandra Verma
- Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Division, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-National Botanical Research Institute (CSIR-NBRI), Lucknow 226001, India
| | - Sumit Ghosh
- Plant Biotechnology Division, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR-CIMAP), Lucknow 226015, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India.
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Zhao Y, Liang Y, Luo G, Li Y, Han X, Wen M. Sequence-Structure Analysis Unlocking the Potential Functional Application of the Local 3D Motifs of Plant-Derived Diterpene Synthases. Biomolecules 2024; 14:120. [PMID: 38254720 PMCID: PMC10813164 DOI: 10.3390/biom14010120] [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: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 12/31/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Plant-derived diterpene synthases (PdiTPSs) play a critical role in the formation of structurally and functionally diverse diterpenoids. However, the specificity or functional-related features of PdiTPSs are not well understood. For a more profound insight, we collected, constructed, and curated 199 functionally characterized PdiTPSs and their corresponding 3D structures. The complex correlations among their sequences, domains, structures, and corresponding products were comprehensively analyzed. Ultimately, our focus narrowed to the geometric arrangement of local structures. We found that local structural alignment can rapidly localize product-specific residues that have been validated by mutagenesis experiments. Based on the 3D motifs derived from the residues around the substrate, we successfully searched diterpene synthases (diTPSs) from the predicted terpene synthases and newly characterized PdiTPSs, suggesting that the identified 3D motifs can serve as distinctive signatures in diTPSs (I and II class). Local structural analysis revealed the PdiTPSs with more conserved amino acid residues show features unique to class I and class II, whereas those with fewer conserved amino acid residues typically exhibit product diversity and specificity. These results provide an attractive method for discovering novel or functionally equivalent enzymes and probing the product specificity in cases where enzyme characterization is limited.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yalan Zhao
- National Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China; (Y.Z.); (Y.L.); (G.L.); (X.H.)
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Diversity in Southwest China, Ministry of Education, Yunnan Institute of Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China
| | - Yupeng Liang
- National Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China; (Y.Z.); (Y.L.); (G.L.); (X.H.)
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Diversity in Southwest China, Ministry of Education, Yunnan Institute of Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China
| | - Gan Luo
- National Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China; (Y.Z.); (Y.L.); (G.L.); (X.H.)
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Diversity in Southwest China, Ministry of Education, Yunnan Institute of Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China
| | - Yi Li
- College of Mathematics and Computer Science, Dali University, Dali 671003, China
| | - Xiulin Han
- National Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China; (Y.Z.); (Y.L.); (G.L.); (X.H.)
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Diversity in Southwest China, Ministry of Education, Yunnan Institute of Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China
| | - Mengliang Wen
- National Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China; (Y.Z.); (Y.L.); (G.L.); (X.H.)
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Diversity in Southwest China, Ministry of Education, Yunnan Institute of Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China
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6
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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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7
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Whitehead J, Leferink NGH, Johannissen LO, Hay S, Scrutton NS. Decoding Catalysis by Terpene Synthases. ACS Catal 2023; 13:12774-12802. [PMID: 37822860 PMCID: PMC10563020 DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.3c03047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
The review by Christianson, published in 2017 on the twentieth anniversary of the emergence of the field, summarizes the foundational discoveries and key advances in terpene synthase/cyclase (TS) biocatalysis (Christianson, D. W. Chem Rev2017, 117 (17), 11570-11648. DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.7b00287). Here, we review the TS literature published since then, bringing the field up to date and looking forward to what could be the near future of TS rational design. Many revealing discoveries have been made in recent years, building on the knowledge and fundamental principles uncovered during those initial two decades of study. We use these to explore TS reaction chemistry and see how a combined experimental and computational approach helps to decipher the complexities of TS catalysis. Revealed are a suite of catalytic motifs which control product outcome in TSs, some obvious, some more subtle. We examine each in detail, using the most recent papers and insights to illustrate how exactly this fascinating class of enzymes takes a single acyclic substrate and turns it into the many thousands of complex terpenoids found in Nature. We then explore some of the recent strategies for TS engineering, including machine learning and other data-driven approaches. From this, rational and predictive engineering of TSs, "designer terpene synthases", will begin to emerge as a realistic goal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua
N. Whitehead
- Manchester
Institute of Biotechnology, Department of Chemistry, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M1 7DN, United Kingdom
| | - Nicole G. H. Leferink
- Future
Biomanufacturing Research Hub (FBRH), Manchester Institute of Biotechnology,
Department of Chemistry, The University
of Manchester, Manchester, M1 7DN, United
Kingdom
| | - Linus O. Johannissen
- Manchester
Institute of Biotechnology, Department of Chemistry, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M1 7DN, United Kingdom
| | - Sam Hay
- Manchester
Institute of Biotechnology, Department of Chemistry, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M1 7DN, United Kingdom
| | - Nigel S. Scrutton
- Manchester
Institute of Biotechnology, Department of Chemistry, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M1 7DN, United Kingdom
- Future
Biomanufacturing Research Hub (FBRH), Manchester Institute of Biotechnology,
Department of Chemistry, The University
of Manchester, Manchester, M1 7DN, United
Kingdom
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Wang J, Mao Y, Ma Y, Yang J, Jin B, Lin H, Tang J, Zeng W, Zhao Y, Gao W, Peters RJ, Guo J, Cui G, Huang L. Diterpene synthases from Leonurus japonicus elucidate epoxy-bridge formation of spiro-labdane diterpenoids. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 189:99-111. [PMID: 35157086 PMCID: PMC9070827 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiac056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Spiro-9,13-epoxy-labdane diterpenoids are commonly found in Leonurus species, particularly in Leonurus japonicus Houtt., which is a medicinal herb of long-standing use in Asia and in which such spiro-heterocycles are present in at least 38 diterpenoids. Here, through generation of a transcriptome and functional characterization of six diterpene synthases (diTPSs) from L. japonicus, including three class II diTPSs (LjTPS1, LjTPS3, and LjTPS4) and three class I diTPSs (LjTPS5, LjTPS6, and LjTPS7), formation of the spiro-9,13-epoxy-labdane backbone was elucidated, along with identification of the relevant diTPSs for production of other labdane-related diterpenes. Similar to what has been found with diTPSs from other plant species, while LjTPS3 specifically produces the carbon-9 (C9) hydroxylated bicycle peregrinol diphosphate (PPP), the subsequently acting LjTPS6 yields a mixture of four products, largely labda-13(16),14-dien-9-ol, but with substantial amounts of viteagnusin D and the C13-S/R epimers of 9,13-epoxy-labda-14-ene. Notably, structure-function analysis identified a critical residue in LjTPS6 (I420) in which single site mutations enable specific production of the 13S epimer. Indeed, extensive mutagenesis demonstrated that LjTPS6:I420G reacts with PPP to both specifically and efficiently produce 9,13S-epoxy-labda-14-ene, providing a specialized synthase for further investigation of derived diterpenoid biosynthesis. The results reported here provide a strong foundation for future studies of the intriguing spiro-9,13-epoxy-labdane diterpenoid metabolism found in L. japonicus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Yaping Mao
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Ying Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Jian Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Baolong Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Huixin Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Jinfu Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Wen Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Yujun Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Wei Gao
- Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 10038, China
| | - Reuben J Peters
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA
| | - Juan Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Guanghong Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Luqi Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
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9
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Mechanistic analysis for the origin of diverse diterpenes in Tripterygium wilfordii. Acta Pharm Sin B 2022; 12:2923-2933. [PMID: 35755287 PMCID: PMC9214345 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2022.02.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Revised: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 02/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Tripterygium wilfordii is a valuable medicinal plant rich in biologically active diterpenoids, but there are few studies on the origins of these diterpenoids in its secondary metabolism. Here, we identified three regions containing tandemly duplicated diterpene synthase genes on chromosomes (Chr) 17 and 21 of T. wilfordii and obtained 11 diterpene synthases with different functions. We further revealed that these diterpene synthases underwent duplication and rearrangement at approximately 2.3–23.7 million years ago (MYA) by whole-genome triplication (WGT), transposon mediation, and tandem duplication, followed by functional divergence. We first demonstrated that four key amino acids in the sequences of TwCPS3, TwCPS5, and TwCPS6 were altered during evolution, leading to their functional divergence and the formation of diterpene secondary metabolites. Then, we demonstrated that the functional divergence of three TwKSLs was driven by mutations in two key amino acids. Finally, we discovered the mechanisms of evolution and pseudogenization of miltiradiene synthases in T. wilfordii and elucidated that the new function in TwMS1/2 from the terpene synthase (TPS)-b subfamily was caused by progressive changes in multiple amino acids after the WGT event. Our results provide key evidence for the formation of diverse diterpenoids during the evolution of secondary metabolites in T. wilfordii.
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10
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Brown R, Jia M, Peters RJ. A pair of threonines mark ent-kaurene synthases for phytohormone biosynthesis. PHYTOCHEMISTRY 2021; 184:112672. [PMID: 33524857 PMCID: PMC7990685 DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2021.112672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2020] [Revised: 01/06/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
All land plants (embryophytes) must contain an ent-kaurene synthase (KS), as the ability to produce this olefin from ent-copalyl diphosphate (ent-CPP) is required for phytohormone biosynthesis. These KSs have frequently given rise to other class I diterpene synthases that catalyze distinct reactions for more specialized plant metabolism. Indeed, the prevalence of such gene duplication and neofunctionalization has obscured phylogenetic assignment of function. Here a pair of threonines is found to be conserved in all land plant KS involved in phytohormone biosynthesis, and their role in enzyme function investigated. Surprisingly, these threonines are not required, nor even particularly important for efficient production of ent-kaurene from ent-CPP. In addition, these threonines do not seem to affect protein structure or stability. Moreover, the absence of codon bias and positioning within an intron do not support a role in transcription or translation either. Despite their lack of apparent function, this pair of threonines are nevertheless completely conserved in all embryophyte KS from phytohormone biosynthesis. Thus, regardless of exact role, this serves as a diagnostic mark for such KS, enabling more confident distinction of these critical enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reid Brown
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, United States
| | - Meirong Jia
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, United States
| | - Reuben J Peters
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, United States.
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11
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Schriever K, Saenz-Mendez P, Rudraraju RS, Hendrikse NM, Hudson EP, Biundo A, Schnell R, Syrén PO. Engineering of Ancestors as a Tool to Elucidate Structure, Mechanism, and Specificity of Extant Terpene Cyclase. J Am Chem Soc 2021; 143:3794-3807. [PMID: 33496585 PMCID: PMC8023661 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.0c10214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Structural information is crucial for understanding catalytic mechanisms and to guide enzyme engineering efforts of biocatalysts, such as terpene cyclases. However, low sequence similarity can impede homology modeling, and inherent protein instability presents challenges for structural studies. We hypothesized that X-ray crystallography of engineered thermostable ancestral enzymes can enable access to reliable homology models of extant biocatalysts. We have applied this concept in concert with molecular modeling and enzymatic assays to understand the structure activity relationship of spiroviolene synthase, a class I terpene cyclase, aiming to engineer its specificity. Engineering a surface patch in the reconstructed ancestor afforded a template structure for generation of a high-confidence homology model of the extant enzyme. On the basis of structural considerations, we designed and crystallized ancestral variants with single residue exchanges that exhibited tailored substrate specificity and preserved thermostability. We show how the two single amino acid alterations identified in the ancestral scaffold can be transferred to the extant enzyme, conferring a specificity switch that impacts the extant enzyme's specificity for formation of the diterpene spiroviolene over formation of sesquiterpenes hedycaryol and farnesol by up to 25-fold. This study emphasizes the value of ancestral sequence reconstruction combined with enzyme engineering as a versatile tool in chemical biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Schriever
- School
of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, Science
for Life Laboratory, KTH Royal Institute
of Technology, 114 28 Stockholm, Sweden
- School
of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, Department
of Fibre and Polymer Technology, KTH Royal
Institute of Technology, 114 28 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Patricia Saenz-Mendez
- School
of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, Science
for Life Laboratory, KTH Royal Institute
of Technology, 114 28 Stockholm, Sweden
- School
of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, Department
of Fibre and Polymer Technology, KTH Royal
Institute of Technology, 114 28 Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Natalie M. Hendrikse
- School
of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, Science
for Life Laboratory, KTH Royal Institute
of Technology, 114 28 Stockholm, Sweden
- School
of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, Department
of Fibre and Polymer Technology, KTH Royal
Institute of Technology, 114 28 Stockholm, Sweden
- Swedish
Orphan Biovitrum AB, 112
76 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Elton P. Hudson
- School
of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, Science
for Life Laboratory, KTH Royal Institute
of Technology, 114 28 Stockholm, Sweden
- School
of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, Department
of Protein Science, KTH Royal Institute
of Technology, 114 28 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Antonino Biundo
- School
of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, Science
for Life Laboratory, KTH Royal Institute
of Technology, 114 28 Stockholm, Sweden
- School
of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, Department
of Fibre and Polymer Technology, KTH Royal
Institute of Technology, 114 28 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Robert Schnell
- Department
of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, 17 165 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Per-Olof Syrén
- School
of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, Science
for Life Laboratory, KTH Royal Institute
of Technology, 114 28 Stockholm, Sweden
- School
of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, Department
of Fibre and Polymer Technology, KTH Royal
Institute of Technology, 114 28 Stockholm, Sweden
- Wallenberg
Wood Science Center, Teknikringen 56−58, 100 44 Stockholm, Sweden
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12
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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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13
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Tan H, Chen X, Liang N, Chen R, Chen J, Hu C, Li Q, Li Q, Pei W, Xiao W, Yuan Y, Chen W, Zhang L. Transcriptome analysis reveals novel enzymes for apo-carotenoid biosynthesis in saffron and allows construction of a pathway for crocetin synthesis in yeast. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2019; 70:4819-4834. [PMID: 31056664 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erz211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2019] [Accepted: 04/30/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Crocus sativus is generally considered the source of saffron spice which is rich in apo-carotenoid compounds such as crocins, crocetin, picrocrocin, and safranal, which possess effective pharmacological activities. However, little is known about the exact genes involved in apo-carotenoid biosynthesis in saffron and the potential mechanism of specific accumulation in the stigma. In this study, we integrated stigmas at different developmental stages to perform in-depth transcriptome and dynamic metabolomic analyses to discover the potential key catalytic steps involved in apo-carotenoid biosynthesis in saffron. A total of 61 202 unigenes were obtained, and 28 regulators and 32 putative carotenogenic genes were captured after the co-expression network analysis. Moreover, 15 candidate genes were predicted to be closely related to safranal and crocin production, in which one aldehyde dehydrogenase (CsALDH3) was validated to oxidize crocetin dialdehyde into crocetin and a crocetin-producing yeast strain was created. In addition, a new branch pathway that catalyses the conversion of geranyl-geranyl pyrophosphate to copalol and ent-kaurene by the class II diterpene synthase CsCPS1 and three class I diterpene synthases CsEKL1/2/3 were investigated for the first time. Such gene to apo-carotenoid landscapes illuminate the synthetic charactersistics and regulators of apo-carotenoid biosynthesis, laying the foundation for a deep understanding of the biosynthesis mechanism and metabolic engineering of apo-carotenoids in plants or microbes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hexin Tan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xianghui Chen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Nan Liang
- Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
- SynBio Research Platform, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Ruibing Chen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Junfeng Chen
- Department of Pharmacy, Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Chaoyang Hu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qi Li
- Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qing Li
- Department of Pharmacy, Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Weizhong Pei
- Shanghai Traditional Chinese Medicine Co., Ltd, Shanghai, China
| | - Wenhai Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
- SynBio Research Platform, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Yingjin Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
- SynBio Research Platform, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Wansheng Chen
- Department of Pharmacy, Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A & F University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
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14
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Centeno-Leija S, Tapia-Cabrera S, Guzmán-Trampe S, Esquivel B, Esturau-Escofet N, Tierrafría VH, Rodríguez-Sanoja R, Zárate-Romero A, Stojanoff V, Rudiño-Piñera E, Sánchez S, Serrano-Posada H. The structure of (E)-biformene synthase provides insights into the biosynthesis of bacterial bicyclic labdane-related diterpenoids. J Struct Biol 2019; 207:29-39. [PMID: 30981884 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsb.2019.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2018] [Revised: 04/08/2019] [Accepted: 04/10/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
The labdane-related diterpenoids (LRDs) are a large group of natural products with a broad range of biological activities. They are synthesized through two consecutive reactions catalyzed by class II and I diterpene synthases (DTSs). The structural complexity of LRDs mainly depends on the catalytic activity of class I DTSs, which catalyze the formation of bicyclic to pentacyclic LRDs, using as a substrate the catalytic product of class II DTSs. To date, the structural and mechanistic details for the biosynthesis of bicyclic LRDs skeletons catalyzed by class I DTSs remain unclear. This work presents the first X-ray crystal structure of an (E)-biformene synthase, LrdC, from the soil bacterium Streptomyces sp. strain K155. LrdC was identified as a part of an LRD cluster of five genes and was found to be a class I DTS that catalyzes the Mg2+-dependent synthesis of bicyclic LRD (E)-biformene by the dephosphorylation and rearrangement of normal copalyl pyrophosphate (CPP). Structural analysis of LrdC coupled with docking studies suggests that Phe189 prevents cyclization beyond the bicyclic LRD product through a strong stabilization of the allylic carbocation intermediate, while Tyr317 functions as a general base catalyst to deprotonate the CPP substrate. Structural comparisons of LrdC with homology models of bacterial bicyclic LRD-forming enzymes (CldD, RmnD and SclSS), as well as with the crystallographic structure of bacterial tetracyclic LRD ent-kaurene synthase (BjKS), provide further structural insights into the biosynthesis of bacterial LRD natural products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Centeno-Leija
- Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología, Laboratorio de Agrobiotecnología, Tecnoparque CLQ, Universidad de Colima, Carretera Los Limones-Loma de Juárez, 28629 Colima, Colima, Mexico.
| | - Silvana Tapia-Cabrera
- Departamento de Biología Molecular y Biotecnología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, 04510 Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Silvia Guzmán-Trampe
- Departamento de Biología Molecular y Biotecnología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, 04510 Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Baldomero Esquivel
- Instituto de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, 04510 Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Nuria Esturau-Escofet
- Instituto de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, 04510 Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Víctor H Tierrafría
- Programa de Genómica Computacional, Centro de Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Avenida Universidad 2001, 62210 Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Romina Rodríguez-Sanoja
- Departamento de Biología Molecular y Biotecnología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, 04510 Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Andrés Zárate-Romero
- Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología, Departamento de Bionanotecnología, Centro de Nanociencias y Nanotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Km. 107 Carretera Tijuana-Ensenada, 22800 Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico
| | - Vivian Stojanoff
- NSLS, Brookhaven National Laboratory, 75 Brookhaven Avenue, Building 725D, Upton, NY 11973-5000, USA
| | - Enrique Rudiño-Piñera
- Departamento de Medicina Molecular y Bioprocesos, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Avenida Universidad 2001, 62210 Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Sergio Sánchez
- Departamento de Biología Molecular y Biotecnología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, 04510 Ciudad de México, Mexico.
| | - Hugo Serrano-Posada
- Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología, Laboratorio de Agrobiotecnología, Tecnoparque CLQ, Universidad de Colima, Carretera Los Limones-Loma de Juárez, 28629 Colima, Colima, Mexico.
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15
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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: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [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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16
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Jin B, Guo J, Tang J, Tong Y, Ma Y, Chen T, Wang Y, Shen Y, Zhao Y, Lai C, Cui G, Huang L. An alternative splicing alters the product outcome of a class I terpene synthase in Isodon rubescens. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2019; 512:310-313. [PMID: 30890335 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2019.03.057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2019] [Accepted: 03/10/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
The labdane-related diterpenoids are an important superfamily of natural products. Their structural diversity mainly depends on diterpene synthases, which generate the hydrocarbon skeletal structures. Isodon rubescens contains an expanded family of class I terpene synthases with different functions. Here we report a novel class I terpene synthase cDNA (IrKSL3a) with loss of 18 nucleotides compared with the reported cDNA sequence (IrKSL3). Inspection of IrKSL3 genomic sequence indicated that IrKSL3a and IrKSL3 transcripts may be generated by an alternative splicing event that utilizes different 3' splice site. In vitro assays showed that IrKSL3a produced isopimaradiene and miltiradiene, while IrKSL3 only produced miltiradiene. Protein sequence alignment found the six residues encoded by the alternative exon was unique to IrKSL3, which are 17 residues away from the conserved DDXXD motif. A deletion mutant of IrKSL3 showed that maintaining two residues within the six-amino acid is sufficient for miltiradiene production, while the other mutants lost nearly all enzymatic function. Our results illustrated how product outcomes can be changed by alternative splicing, and further gave an interesting example for studying the loop conformation in tuning product outcome in class I terpene synthase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baolong Jin
- College of Pharmacy, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, 430065, China; State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China.
| | - Juan Guo
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China.
| | - Jinfu Tang
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China.
| | - Yuru Tong
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China.
| | - Ying Ma
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China.
| | - Tong Chen
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China.
| | - Yanan Wang
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China.
| | - Ye Shen
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China.
| | - Yujun Zhao
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China.
| | - Changjiangsheng Lai
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China.
| | - Guanghong Cui
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China.
| | - Luqi Huang
- College of Pharmacy, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, 430065, China; State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China.
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17
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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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18
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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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19
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Hirte M, Meese N, Mertz M, Fuchs M, Brück TB. Insights Into the Bifunctional Aphidicolan-16-ß-ol Synthase Through Rapid Biomolecular Modeling Approaches. Front Chem 2018; 6:101. [PMID: 29692986 PMCID: PMC5902962 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2018.00101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2018] [Accepted: 03/20/2018] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Diterpene synthases catalyze complex, multi-step C-C coupling reactions thereby converting the universal, aliphatic precursor geranylgeranyl diphosphate into diverse olefinic macrocylces that form the basis for the structural diversity of the diterpene natural product family. Since catalytically relevant crystal structures of diterpene synthases are scarce, homology based biomolecular modeling techniques offer an alternative route to study the enzyme's reaction mechanism. However, precise identification of catalytically relevant amino acids is challenging since these models require careful preparation and refinement techniques prior to substrate docking studies. Targeted amino acid substitutions in this protein class can initiate premature quenching of the carbocation centered reaction cascade. The structural characterization of those alternative cyclization products allows for elucidation of the cyclization reaction cascade and provides a new source for complex macrocyclic synthons. In this study, new insights into structure and function of the fungal, bifunctional Aphidicolan-16-ß-ol synthase were achieved using a simplified biomolecular modeling strategy. The applied refinement methodologies could rapidly generate a reliable protein-ligand complex, which provides for an accurate in silico identification of catalytically relevant amino acids. Guided by our modeling data, ACS mutations lead to the identification of the catalytically relevant ACS amino acid network I626, T657, Y658, A786, F789, and Y923. Moreover, the ACS amino acid substitutions Y658L and D661A resulted in a premature termination of the cyclization reaction cascade en-route from syn-copalyl diphosphate to Aphidicolan-16-ß-ol. Both ACS mutants generated the diterpene macrocycle syn-copalol and a minor, non-hydroxylated labdane related diterpene, respectively. Our biomolecular modeling and mutational studies suggest that the ACS substrate cyclization occurs in a spatially restricted location of the enzyme's active site and that the geranylgeranyl diphosphate derived pyrophosphate moiety remains in the ACS active site thereby directing the cyclization process. Our cumulative data confirm that amino acids constituting the G-loop of diterpene synthases are involved in the open to the closed, catalytically active enzyme conformation. This study demonstrates that a simple and rapid biomolecular modeling procedure can predict catalytically relevant amino acids. The approach reduces computational and experimental screening efforts for diterpene synthase structure-function analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Max Hirte
- Werner Siemens Chair of Synthetic Biotechnology, Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Nicolas Meese
- Werner Siemens Chair of Synthetic Biotechnology, Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Michael Mertz
- Werner Siemens Chair of Synthetic Biotechnology, Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Monika Fuchs
- Werner Siemens Chair of Synthetic Biotechnology, Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Thomas B Brück
- Werner Siemens Chair of Synthetic Biotechnology, Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
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20
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Jia M, O’Brien TE, Zhang Y, Siegel JB, Tantillo DJ, Peters RJ. Changing Face: A Key Residue for the Addition of Water by Sclareol Synthase. ACS Catal 2018; 8:3133-3137. [PMID: 29713562 DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.8b00121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Sclareol synthase from Salvia sclarea (SsSS) naturally acts on 8α-hydroxy-copalyl diphosphate (1), stereoselectively adding water to produce (13R)-sclareol (2a), and similarly yields hydroxylated products with manifold other such bicyclic diterpene precursors. Here a key residue for this addition of water was identified. Strikingly, substitution with glutamine switches stereochemical outcome with 1, leading to selective production of (13S)-sclareol (2b). Moreover, changes to the stereospecificity of water addition with the structurally closely-related substrate copalyl diphosphate (4) could be accomplished with alternative substitutions. Thus, this approach is expected to provide biosynthetic access to both epimers of 13-hydroxylated derivatives of manifold labdane-related diterpenes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meirong Jia
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, United States
| | - Terrence E. O’Brien
- Department of Chemistry, University of California−Davis, Davis, California 95616, United States
| | - Yue Zhang
- 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
| | - Dean J. Tantillo
- Department of Chemistry, University of California−Davis, Davis, California 95616, United States
| | - Reuben J. Peters
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, United States
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21
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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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22
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Pelot KA, Hagelthorn LM, Addison JB, Zerbe P. Biosynthesis of the oxygenated diterpene nezukol in the medicinal plant Isodon rubescens is catalyzed by a pair of diterpene synthases. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0176507. [PMID: 28445526 PMCID: PMC5405970 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0176507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2017] [Accepted: 04/11/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Plants produce an immense diversity of natural products (i.e. secondary or specialized metabolites) that offer a rich source of known and potentially new pharmaceuticals and other desirable bioproducts. The Traditional Chinese Medicinal plant Isodon rubescens (Lamiaceae) contains an array of bioactive labdane-related diterpenoid natural products. Of these, the ent-kauranoid oridonin is the most prominent specialized metabolite that has been extensively studied for its potent antimicrobial and anticancer efficacy. Mining of a previously established transcriptome of I. rubescens leaf tissue identified seven diterpene synthase (diTPSs) candidates. Here we report the functional characterization of four I. rubescens diTPSs. IrTPS5 and IrTPS3 were identified as an ent-copalyl diphosphate (CPP) synthase and a (+)-CPP synthase, respectively. Distinct transcript abundance of IrTPS5 and the predicted ent-CPP synthase IrTPS1 suggested a role of IrTPS5 in specialized ent-kaurene metabolism possibly en route to oridonin. Nicotiana benthamiana co-expression assays demonstrated that IrTPS4 functions sequentially with IrTPS3 to form miltiradiene. In addition, IrTPS2 converted the IrTPS3 product (+)-CPP into the hydroxylated tricyclic diterpene nezukol not previously identified in I. rubescens. Metabolite profiling verified the presence of nezukol in I. rubescens leaf tissue. The proposed IrTPS2-catalyzed reaction mechanism proceeds via the common ionization of the diphosphate group of (+)-CPP, followed by formation of an intermediary pimar-15-en-8-yl+ carbocation and neutralization of the carbocation by water capture at C-8 to yield nezukol, as confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis. Oxygenation activity is rare for the family of class I diTPSs and offers new catalysts for developing metabolic engineering platforms to produce a broader spectrum of bioactive diterpenoid natural products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle A. Pelot
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California-Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Lynne M. Hagelthorn
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California-Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - J. Bennett Addison
- Department of Chemistry, University of California-Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Philipp Zerbe
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California-Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
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23
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Pemberton TA, Chen M, Harris GG, Chou WKW, Duan L, Köksal M, Genshaft AS, Cane DE, Christianson DW. Exploring the Influence of Domain Architecture on the Catalytic Function of Diterpene Synthases. Biochemistry 2017; 56:2010-2023. [PMID: 28362483 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.7b00137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Terpenoid synthases catalyze isoprenoid cyclization reactions underlying the generation of more than 80,000 natural products. Such dramatic chemodiversity belies the fact that these enzymes generally consist of only three domain folds designated as α, β, and γ. Catalysis by class I terpenoid synthases occurs exclusively in the α domain, which is found with α, αα, αβ, and αβγ domain architectures. Here, we explore the influence of domain architecture on catalysis by taxadiene synthase from Taxus brevifolia (TbTS, αβγ), fusicoccadiene synthase from Phomopsis amygdali (PaFS, (αα)6), and ophiobolin F synthase from Aspergillus clavatus (AcOS, αα). We show that the cyclization fidelity and catalytic efficiency of the α domain of TbTS are severely compromised by deletion of the βγ domains; however, retention of the β domain preserves significant cyclization fidelity. In PaFS, we previously demonstrated that one α domain similarly influences catalysis by the other α domain [ Chen , M. , Chou , W. K. W. , Toyomasu , T. , Cane , D. E. , and Christianson , D. W. ( 2016 ) ACS Chem. Biol. 11 , 889 - 899 ]. Here, we show that the hexameric quaternary structure of PaFS enables cluster channeling. We also show that the α domains of PaFS and AcOS can be swapped so as to make functional chimeric αα synthases. Notably, both cyclization fidelity and catalytic efficiency are altered in all chimeric synthases. Twelve newly formed and uncharacterized C20 diterpene products and three C25 sesterterpene products are generated by these chimeras. Thus, engineered αβγ and αα terpenoid cyclases promise to generate chemodiversity in the greater family of terpenoid natural products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Travis A Pemberton
- Roy and Diana Vagelos Laboratories, Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania , 231 South 34th Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104-6323, United States
| | - Mengbin Chen
- Roy and Diana Vagelos Laboratories, Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania , 231 South 34th Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104-6323, United States
| | - Golda G Harris
- Roy and Diana Vagelos Laboratories, Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania , 231 South 34th Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104-6323, United States
| | - Wayne K W Chou
- Department of Chemistry, Brown University , Box H, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States
| | - Lian Duan
- Department of Chemistry, Brown University , Box H, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States
| | - Mustafa Köksal
- Roy and Diana Vagelos Laboratories, Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania , 231 South 34th Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104-6323, United States
| | - Alex S Genshaft
- Roy and Diana Vagelos Laboratories, Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania , 231 South 34th Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104-6323, United States
| | - David E Cane
- Department of Chemistry, Brown University , Box H, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States
| | - David W Christianson
- Roy and Diana Vagelos Laboratories, Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania , 231 South 34th Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104-6323, United States
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