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Li S, Zhou Z, Li Y, Hu Y, Huang Z, Hu G, Wang Y, Wang X, Lou Q, Gao L, Shen C, Gao R, Xu Z, Song J, Pu X. Construction of a high-efficiency GjCCD4a mutant and its application for de novo biosynthesis of five crocins in Escherichia coli. Int J Biol Macromol 2024:133985. [PMID: 39033887 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.133985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2024] [Revised: 07/02/2024] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024]
Abstract
Crocins are bioactive natural products that rarely exist in plants. High costs and resource shortage severely limit its development and application. Synthetic biology studies on crocins are of considerable global interest. However, the lack of high-efficiency genetic tools and complex cascade biocatalytic systems have substantially hindered progress in crocin biosynthesis-related research. Based on mutagenesis, a high-efficiency GjCCD4a mutant (N212m) was constructed with a catalytic efficiency that was 25.08-fold higher than that of the wild-type. Solubilized GjCCD4a was expressed via fusion with an MBP tag. Moreover, N212m and ten other genes were introduced into Escherichia coli for the de novo biosynthesis of five crocins. The engineered E57 strain produced crocins III and V with a total yield of 11.50 mg/L, and the E579 strain produced crocins I-V with a total output of 8.43 mg/L at shake-flask level. This study identified a marvelous genetic element (N212m) for crocin biosynthesis and achieved its de novo biosynthesis in E. coli using glucose. This study provides a reference for the large-scale production of five crocins using E. coli cell factories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siqi Li
- Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Anhui Institute of Innovative Drugs, School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Ze Zhou
- Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Anhui Institute of Innovative Drugs, School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Yufang Li
- Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Anhui Institute of Innovative Drugs, School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Yan Hu
- Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Anhui Institute of Innovative Drugs, School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Ziyi Huang
- Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Anhui Institute of Innovative Drugs, School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Ge Hu
- Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Anhui Institute of Innovative Drugs, School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Ying Wang
- Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Anhui Institute of Innovative Drugs, School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Xu Wang
- Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Anhui Institute of Innovative Drugs, School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Qian Lou
- Key Lab of Chinese Medicine Resources Conservation, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of the People's Republic of China, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Longlong Gao
- Key Lab of Chinese Medicine Resources Conservation, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of the People's Republic of China, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Chuanpu Shen
- Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Anhui Institute of Innovative Drugs, School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Ranran Gao
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China
| | - Zhichao Xu
- College of Life Sciences, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
| | - Jingyuan Song
- Key Lab of Chinese Medicine Resources Conservation, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of the People's Republic of China, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100193, China.
| | - Xiangdong Pu
- Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Anhui Institute of Innovative Drugs, School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China; Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine Formula Granule, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China.
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2
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Lai J, Li C. Review on the pharmacological effects and pharmacokinetics of scutellarein. Arch Pharm (Weinheim) 2024:e2400053. [PMID: 38849327 DOI: 10.1002/ardp.202400053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2024] [Revised: 05/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024]
Abstract
Scutellarein is a flavonoid from Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi that has been shown to have a variety of pharmacological activities. This review aims to summarize the pharmacological and pharmacokinetic studies on scutellarein and provide useful information for relevant scholars. Pharmacological studies indicate that scutellarein possesses a diverse range of pharmacological properties, including but not limited to anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiviral, neuroprotective, hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, anticancer, and cardiovascular protective effects. Further investigation reveals that the pharmacological effects of scutellarein are driven by multiple mechanisms. These mechanisms encompass the scavenging of free radicals, inhibition of the activation of inflammatory signaling pathways and expression of inflammatory mediators, inhibition of the activity of crucial viral proteins, suppression of gluconeogenesis, amelioration of insulin resistance, improvement of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury, induction of apoptosis in cancer cells, and prevention of myocardial hypertrophy, among others. In summary, these pharmacological studies suggest that scutellarein holds promise for the treatment of various diseases. It is imperative to conduct clinical studies to further elucidate the therapeutic effects of scutellarein. However, it is worth noting that studies on the pharmacokinetics reveal an inhibitory effect of scutellarein on uridine 5'-diphosphate glucuronide transferases and cytochrome P450 enzymes, potentially posing safety risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiang Lai
- Department of Anorectal Surgery, The Third People's Hospital of Chengdu, Chengdu, China
| | - Chunxiao Li
- Department of Dermatology, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
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3
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Xu W, Liu M, Li H, Chen J, Zhou J. De Novo Synthesis of Chrysin in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2024; 72:6481-6490. [PMID: 38481145 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.3c09820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
Chrysin, a flavonoid, has been found to have been widely used in the health food field. But at present, chrysin production is hindered by the low availability of precursors and the lack of catalytic enzymes with high activity. Therefore, ZmPAL was initially screened to synthesize trans-cinnamic acid with high catalytic activity and specificity. To enhance the supply of precursors, the shikimic acid and chorismic acid pathway genes were overexpressed. Besides, the expression of the intracellular and mitochondrial carbon metabolism genes CIT, MAC1/3, CTP1, YHM2, RtME, and MDH was enhanced to increase the intracellular acetyl-CoA content. Chrysin was synthesized through a novel gene combination of ScCPR-EbFNSI-1 and PcFNSI. Finally, de novo synthesis of chrysin was achieved, reaching 41.9 mg/L, which is the highest reported concentration to date. In summary, we identified efficient enzymes for chrysin production and increased it by regulating acetyl-CoA metabolism in mitochondria and the cytoplasm, laying a foundation for future large-scale production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiqi Xu
- Engineering Research Center of Ministry of Education on Food Synthetic Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
- School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
| | - Mengsu Liu
- Engineering Research Center of Ministry of Education on Food Synthetic Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
- School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
| | - Hongbiao Li
- Engineering Research Center of Ministry of Education on Food Synthetic Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
- School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
| | - Jian Chen
- Engineering Research Center of Ministry of Education on Food Synthetic Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
- School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
| | - Jingwen Zhou
- Engineering Research Center of Ministry of Education on Food Synthetic Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
- School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
- Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
- Jiangsu Provisional Research Center for Bioactive Product Processing Technology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
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4
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Yang X, Zheng S, Wang X, Wang J, Ali Shah SB, Wang Y, Gao R, Xu Z. Advances in pharmacology, biosynthesis, and metabolic engineering of Scutellaria-specialized metabolites. Crit Rev Biotechnol 2024; 44:302-318. [PMID: 36581326 DOI: 10.1080/07388551.2022.2149386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Revised: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Scutellaria Linn., which belongs to the family Lamiaceae, is a commonly used medicinal plant for heat clearing and detoxification. In particular, the roots of S. baicalensis and the entire herb of S. barbata have been widely used in traditional medicine for thousands of years. The main active components of Scutellaria, including: baicalein, wogonin, norwogonin, scutellarein, and their glycosides have potential or existing drug usage. However, the wild resources of Scutellaria plants have been overexploited, and degenerated germplasm resources cannot fulfill the requirements of chemical extraction and clinical usage. Metabolic engineering and green production via microorganisms provide alternative strategies for greater efficiency in the production of natural products. Here, we review the progress of: pharmacological investigations, multi-omics, biosynthetic pathways, and metabolic engineering of various Scutellaria species and their active compounds. In addition, based on multi-omics data, we systematically analyze the phylogenetic relationships of Scutellaria and predict candidate transcription factors related to the regulation of active flavonoids. Finally, we propose the prospects of directed evolution of core enzymes and genome-assisted breeding to alleviate the shortage of plant resources of Scutellaria. This review provides important insights into the sustainable utilization and development of Scutellaria resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyi Yang
- Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Saline-alkali Vegetation Ecology Restoration (Northeast Forestry University), Harbin, China
- College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
| | - Sihao Zheng
- China National Traditional Chinese Medicine Co., Ltd, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaotong Wang
- Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Saline-alkali Vegetation Ecology Restoration (Northeast Forestry University), Harbin, China
- College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Saline-alkali Vegetation Ecology Restoration (Northeast Forestry University), Harbin, China
- College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
| | - Syed Basit Ali Shah
- Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Saline-alkali Vegetation Ecology Restoration (Northeast Forestry University), Harbin, China
- College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
| | - Yu Wang
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Ranran Gao
- The Artemisinin Research Center, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhichao Xu
- Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Saline-alkali Vegetation Ecology Restoration (Northeast Forestry University), Harbin, China
- College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
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Chen Z, Wu T, Yu S, Li M, Fan X, Huo YX. Self-assembly systems to troubleshoot metabolic engineering challenges. Trends Biotechnol 2024; 42:43-60. [PMID: 37451946 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2023.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 06/18/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Enzyme self-assembly is a technology in which enzyme units can aggregate into ordered macromolecules, assisted by scaffolds. In metabolic engineering, self-assembly strategies have been explored for aggregating multiple enzymes in the same pathway to improve sequential catalytic efficiency, which in turn enables high-level production. The performance of the scaffolds is critical to the formation of an efficient and stable assembly system. This review comprehensively analyzes these scaffolds by exploring how they assemble, and it illustrates how to apply self-assembly strategies for different modules in metabolic engineering. Functional modifications to scaffolds will further promote efficient strategies for production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenya Chen
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, No. 5 South Zhongguancun Street, 100081, Beijing, China
| | - Tong Wu
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, No. 5 South Zhongguancun Street, 100081, Beijing, China
| | - Shengzhu Yu
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, No. 5 South Zhongguancun Street, 100081, Beijing, China
| | - Min Li
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, No. 5 South Zhongguancun Street, 100081, Beijing, China
| | - Xuanhe Fan
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, No. 5 South Zhongguancun Street, 100081, Beijing, China
| | - Yi-Xin Huo
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, No. 5 South Zhongguancun Street, 100081, Beijing, China.
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6
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Guo D, Zhu Z, Wang Z, Feng F, Cao Q, Xia Z, Jia X, Lv D, Han T, Chen X. Multi-omics landscape to decrypt the distinct flavonoid biosynthesis of Scutellaria baicalensis across multiple tissues. HORTICULTURE RESEARCH 2024; 11:uhad258. [PMID: 38298899 PMCID: PMC10828779 DOI: 10.1093/hr/uhad258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2024]
Abstract
Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, also known as huang-qin in traditional Chinese medicine, is a widely used herbal remedy due to its anticancer, antivirus, and hepatoprotective properties. The S. baicalensis genome was sequenced many years ago; by contrast, the proteome as the executer of most biological processes of S. baicalensis in the aerial parts, as well as the secondary structure of the roots (xylem, phloem, and periderm), is far less comprehensively characterized. Here we attempt to depict the molecular landscape of the non-model plant S. baicalensis through a multi-omics approach, with the goal of constructing a highly informative and valuable reference dataset. Furthermore, we provide an in-depth characterization dissection to explain the two distinct flavonoid biosynthesis pathways that exist in the aerial parts and root, at the protein and phosphorylated protein levels. Our study provides detailed spatial proteomic and phosphoproteomic information in the context of secondary structures, with implications for the molecular profiling of secondary metabolite biosynthesis in non-model medicinal plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dandan Guo
- Pharmaceutical Analysis and Testing center, School of Pharmacy, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai, 200433, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory for Pharmaceutical Metabolite Research, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Zhenyu Zhu
- Pharmaceutical Analysis and Testing center, School of Pharmacy, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai, 200433, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory for Pharmaceutical Metabolite Research, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Zhe Wang
- Department of Physiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Fei Feng
- Pharmaceutical Analysis and Testing center, School of Pharmacy, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai, 200433, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory for Pharmaceutical Metabolite Research, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Qi Cao
- Pharmaceutical Analysis and Testing center, School of Pharmacy, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai, 200433, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory for Pharmaceutical Metabolite Research, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Zhewei Xia
- Pharmaceutical Analysis and Testing center, School of Pharmacy, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai, 200433, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory for Pharmaceutical Metabolite Research, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Xinlei Jia
- Pharmaceutical Analysis and Testing center, School of Pharmacy, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Diya Lv
- Pharmaceutical Analysis and Testing center, School of Pharmacy, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai, 200433, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory for Pharmaceutical Metabolite Research, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Ting Han
- Pharmaceutical Analysis and Testing center, School of Pharmacy, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Xiaofei Chen
- Pharmaceutical Analysis and Testing center, School of Pharmacy, Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University), Shanghai, 200433, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory for Pharmaceutical Metabolite Research, Shanghai, 200433, China
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7
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Liu N, Dong W, Yang H, Li JH, Chiu TY. Application of artificial scaffold systems in microbial metabolic engineering. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2023; 11:1328141. [PMID: 38188488 PMCID: PMC10771841 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1328141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024] Open
Abstract
In nature, metabolic pathways are often organized into complex structures such as multienzyme complexes, enzyme molecular scaffolds, or reaction microcompartments. These structures help facilitate multi-step metabolic reactions. However, engineered metabolic pathways in microbial cell factories do not possess inherent metabolic regulatory mechanisms, which can result in metabolic imbalance. Taking inspiration from nature, scientists have successfully developed synthetic scaffolds to enhance the performance of engineered metabolic pathways in microbial cell factories. By recruiting enzymes, synthetic scaffolds facilitate the formation of multi-enzyme complexes, leading to the modulation of enzyme spatial distribution, increased enzyme activity, and a reduction in the loss of intermediate products and the toxicity associated with harmful intermediates within cells. In recent years, scaffolds based on proteins, nucleic acids, and various organelles have been developed and employed to facilitate multiple metabolic pathways. Despite varying degrees of success, synthetic scaffolds still encounter numerous challenges. The objective of this review is to provide a comprehensive introduction to these synthetic scaffolds and discuss their latest research advancements and challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nana Liu
- College of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China
- HIM-BGI Omics Center, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Hangzhou, China
| | - Wei Dong
- HIM-BGI Omics Center, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Hangzhou, China
| | - Huanming Yang
- HIM-BGI Omics Center, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Hangzhou, China
| | - Jing-Hua Li
- College of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China
| | - Tsan-Yu Chiu
- College of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China
- HIM-BGI Omics Center, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Hangzhou, China
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8
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Wang Y, Yu L, Shao J, Zhu Z, Zhang L. Structure-driven protein engineering for production of valuable natural products. TRENDS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 28:460-470. [PMID: 36473772 DOI: 10.1016/j.tplants.2022.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Revised: 09/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Proteins are the most frequently used biocatalysts, and their structures determine their functions. Modifying the functions of proteins on the basis of their structures lies at the heart of protein engineering, opening a new horizon for metabolic engineering by efficiently generating stable enzymes. Many attempts at classical metabolic engineering have focused on improving specific metabolic fluxes and producing more valuable natural products by increasing gene expression levels and enzyme concentrations. However, most naturally occurring enzymes show limitations, and such limitations have hindered practical applications. Here we review recent advances in protein engineering in synthetic biology, chemoenzymatic synthesis, and plant metabolic engineering and describe opportunities for designing and constructing novel enzymes or proteins with desirable properties to obtain more active natural products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Wang
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China; Biomedical Innovation R&D Centre, School of Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Luyao Yu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Jie Shao
- Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Zhanpin Zhu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China; Biomedical Innovation R&D Centre, School of Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China; Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China; Innovative Drug R&D Center, College of Life Sciences, Huaibei Normal University, Huaibei 235000, China.
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9
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Liu M, Wang Y, Jiang H, Han Y, Xia J. Synthetic Multienzyme Assemblies for Natural Product Biosynthesis. Chembiochem 2023; 24:e202200518. [PMID: 36625563 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202200518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
In nature, enzymes that catalyze sequential reactions are often assembled as clusters or complexes. The formation of multienzyme complexes, or metabolons, brings the enzyme active sites into proximity to promote intermediate transfer, decrease intermediate leakage, and streamline the metabolic flux towards the desired products. We and others have developed synthetic versions of metabolons through various strategies to enhance the catalytic rates for synthesizing valuable chemicals inside microbes. Synthetic multienzyme complexes range from static enzyme nanostructures to dynamic enzyme coacervates. Enzyme complexation optimizes the metabolic fluxes inside microbes, increases the product titer, and supplies the field with high-yield microbe strains that are amenable to large-scale fermentation. Enzyme complexes constructed inside microbial cells can be separated as independent entities and catalyze biosynthetic reactions ex vivo; such a feature gains these complexes another name, "synthetic organelles" - new subcellular entities with independent structures and functions. Still, the field is seeking new strategies to better balance dynamicity and confinement and to achieve finer control of local compartmentalization in the cells, as the natural multienzyme complexes do. Industrial applications of synthetic multienzyme complexes for the large-scale production of valuable chemicals are yet to be realized. This review focuses on synthetic multienzyme complexes that are constructed and function inside microbial cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Liu
- Department of Chemistry and, Center for Cell & Developmental Biology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Yue Wang
- Department of Chemistry and, Center for Cell & Developmental Biology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Hao Jiang
- Department of Chemistry and, Center for Cell & Developmental Biology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Yongxu Han
- Department of Chemistry and, Center for Cell & Developmental Biology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Jiang Xia
- Department of Chemistry and, Center for Cell & Developmental Biology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
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10
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Tous Mohedano M, Mao J, Chen Y. Optimization of Pinocembrin Biosynthesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. ACS Synth Biol 2022; 12:144-152. [PMID: 36534476 PMCID: PMC9872169 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.2c00425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The flavonoid pinocembrin and its derivatives have gained increasing interest for their benefits on human health. While pinocembrin and its derivatives can be produced in engineered Saccharomyces cerevisiae, yields remain low. Here, we describe novel strategies for improved de novo biosynthesis of pinocembrin from glucose based on overcoming existing limitations in S. cerevisiae. First, we identified cinnamic acid as an inhibitor of pinocembrin synthesis. Second, by screening for more efficient enzymes and optimizing the expression of downstream genes, we reduced cinnamic acid accumulation. Third, we addressed other limiting factors by boosting the availability of the precursor malonyl-CoA, while eliminating the undesired byproduct 2',4',6'-trihydroxy dihydrochalcone. After optimizing cultivation conditions, 80 mg/L pinocembrin was obtained in a shake flask, the highest yield reported for S. cerevisiae. Finally, we demonstrated that pinocembrin-producing strains could be further engineered to generate 25 mg/L chrysin, another interesting flavone. The strains generated in this study will facilitate the production of flavonoids through the pinocembrin biosynthetic pathway.
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11
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Metabolic pathway assembly using docking domains from type I cis-AT polyketide synthases. Nat Commun 2022; 13:5541. [PMID: 36130947 PMCID: PMC9492657 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-33272-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Engineered metabolic pathways in microbial cell factories often have no natural organization and have challenging flux imbalances, leading to low biocatalytic efficiency. Modular polyketide synthases (PKSs) are multienzyme complexes that synthesize polyketide products via an assembly line thiotemplate mechanism. Here, we develop a strategy named mimic PKS enzyme assembly line (mPKSeal) that assembles key cascade enzymes to enhance biocatalytic efficiency and increase target production by recruiting cascade enzymes tagged with docking domains from type I cis-AT PKS. We apply this strategy to the astaxanthin biosynthetic pathway in engineered Escherichia coli for multienzyme assembly to increase astaxanthin production by 2.4-fold. The docking pairs, from the same PKSs or those from different cis-AT PKSs evidently belonging to distinct classes, are effective enzyme assembly tools for increasing astaxanthin production. This study addresses the challenge of cascade catalytic efficiency and highlights the potential for engineering enzyme assembly. Assembly artificial pathway in design connecting media can increase biosynthetic efficiency, but the choice of connecting media is limited. Here, the authors develop a new protein assembly strategy using a pool of docking peptides from polyketide synthase and show its application in astaxanthin biosynthesis in E. coli.
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12
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Li H, Lyv Y, Zhou S, Yu S, Zhou J. Microbial cell factories for the production of flavonoids-barriers and opportunities. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2022; 360:127538. [PMID: 35777639 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2022.127538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Revised: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Flavonoids are natural plant products with important nutritional value, health-promoting benefits, and therapeutic potential. The use of microbial cell factories to generate flavonoids is an appealing option. The microbial biosynthesis of flavonoids is compared to the classic plant extract approach in this review, and the pharmaceutical applications were presented. This paper summarize approaches for effective flavonoid biosynthesis from microorganisms, and discuss the challenges and prospects of microbial flavonoid biosynthesis. Finally, the barriers and strategies for industrial bio-production of flavonoids are highlighted. This review offers guidance on how to create robust microbial cell factories for producing flavonoids and other relevant chemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongbiao Li
- Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
| | - Yunbin Lyv
- Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
| | - Shenghu Zhou
- School of Biotechnology and Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
| | - Shiqin Yu
- Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China; School of Biotechnology and Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
| | - Jingwen Zhou
- Science Center for Future Foods, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China; School of Biotechnology and Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China; The Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China; National Engineering Laboratory for Cereal Fermentation Technology, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China.
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13
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Zhao M, Li Y, Wang F, Ren Y, Wei D. A CRISPRi mediated self-inducible system for dynamic regulation of TCA cycle and improvement of itaconic acid production in Escherichia coli. Synth Syst Biotechnol 2022; 7:982-988. [PMID: 35782485 PMCID: PMC9213231 DOI: 10.1016/j.synbio.2022.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Itaconic acid (ITA), an effective alternative fossil fuel, derives from the bypass pathway of the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle. Therefore, the imbalance of metabolic flux between TCA cycle and ITA biosynthetic pathway seriously limits the production of ITA. The optimization of flux distribution between biomass and production has the potential to the productivity of ITA. Based on the previously constructed strain Escherichia coli MG1655 Δ1-SAS-3 (ITA titer: 1.87 g/L), a CRISPRi-mediated self-inducible system (CiMS), which contained a responsive module based on the ITA biosensor YpItcR/Pccl and a regulative CRISPRi-mediated interferential module, was developed to regulate the flux of the TCA cycle and to enhance the capacity of the strain to produce ITA. First, a higher ITA-yielding strain, Δ4-Prmd-SAS-3 (ITA titer: 3.20 g/L), derived from Δ1-SAS-3, was constructed by replacing the promoter PJ23100, for the expression of ITA synthesis genes, with Prmd and knocking out the three bypass genes poxB, pflB, and ldhA. Subsequently, the CiMS was used to inhibit the expression of key genes icd, pykA, and sucCD to dynamically balance the metabolic flux between TCA cycle and ITA biosynthetic pathway during the ITA production stage. The constructed strain Δ4-Prmd-SAS-3 under the dynamic regulation of the CiMS, showed a 23% increase in the ITA titer, which reached 3.93 g/L. This study indicated that CiMS was a practical strategy to dynamically and precisely regulated the metabolic flux in microbial cell factories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Zhao
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, Newworld Institute of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
- Anhui Engineering Laboratory for Industrial Microbiology Molecular Breeding, College of Biology and Food Engineering, Anhui Polytechnic University, Wuhu, 241000, China
| | - Yuting Li
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, Newworld Institute of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Fengqing Wang
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, Newworld Institute of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
- Corresponding author.
| | - Yuhong Ren
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, Newworld Institute of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
- Corresponding author.
| | - Dongzhi Wei
- State Key Lab of Bioreactor Engineering, Newworld Institute of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
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14
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Wang Y, Liu X, Chen B, Liu W, Guo Z, Liu X, Zhu X, Liu J, Zhang J, Li J, Zhang L, Gao Y, Zhang G, Wang Y, Choudhary MI, Yang S, Jiang H. Metabolic engineering of Yarrowia lipolytica for scutellarin production. Synth Syst Biotechnol 2022; 7:958-964. [PMID: 35756963 PMCID: PMC9184295 DOI: 10.1016/j.synbio.2022.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2022] [Revised: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Scutellarin related drugs have superior therapeutic effects on cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases. Here, an optimal biosynthetic pathway for scutellarin was constructed in Yarrowia lipolytica platform due to its excellent metabolic potential. By integrating multi-copies of core genes from different species, the production of scutellarin was increased from 15.11 mg/L to 94.79 mg/L and the ratio of scutellarin to the main by-product was improved about 110-fold in flask condition. Finally, the production of scutellarin was improved 23-fold and reached to 346 mg/L in fed-batch bioreactor, which was the highest reported titer for de novo production of scutellarin in microbes. Our results represent a solid basis for further production of natural products on unconventional yeasts and have a potential of industrial implementation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yina Wang
- National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center on Germplasm Innovation and Utilization of Chinese Medicinal Materials in Southwest China, Yunnan Agricultural University, Yunnan, Kunming, 650201, China
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan Agricultural University, Yunnan, Kunming, 650201, China
- Key Laboratory of Systems Microbial Biotechnology, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, 300308, China
| | - Xiaonan Liu
- Key Laboratory of Systems Microbial Biotechnology, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, 300308, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
- National Center of Technology Innovation for Synthetic Biology, Tianjin, 300308, China
- Corresponding author. Key Laboratory of Systems Microbial Biotechnology, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, 300308, China.
| | - Bihuan Chen
- National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center on Germplasm Innovation and Utilization of Chinese Medicinal Materials in Southwest China, Yunnan Agricultural University, Yunnan, Kunming, 650201, China
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan Agricultural University, Yunnan, Kunming, 650201, China
- Key Laboratory of Systems Microbial Biotechnology, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, 300308, China
| | - Wei Liu
- Key Laboratory of Systems Microbial Biotechnology, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, 300308, China
- National Center of Technology Innovation for Synthetic Biology, Tianjin, 300308, China
- College of Life Science and Technology, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430023, China
| | - Zhaokuan Guo
- National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center on Germplasm Innovation and Utilization of Chinese Medicinal Materials in Southwest China, Yunnan Agricultural University, Yunnan, Kunming, 650201, China
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan Agricultural University, Yunnan, Kunming, 650201, China
- Key Laboratory of Systems Microbial Biotechnology, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, 300308, China
| | - Xiangyu Liu
- National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center on Germplasm Innovation and Utilization of Chinese Medicinal Materials in Southwest China, Yunnan Agricultural University, Yunnan, Kunming, 650201, China
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan Agricultural University, Yunnan, Kunming, 650201, China
| | - Xiaoxi Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Systems Microbial Biotechnology, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, 300308, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
- National Center of Technology Innovation for Synthetic Biology, Tianjin, 300308, China
| | - Jiayu Liu
- Key Laboratory of Systems Microbial Biotechnology, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, 300308, China
- National Center of Technology Innovation for Synthetic Biology, Tianjin, 300308, China
| | - Jin Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Systems Microbial Biotechnology, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, 300308, China
- National Center of Technology Innovation for Synthetic Biology, Tianjin, 300308, China
| | - Jing Li
- Key Laboratory of Systems Microbial Biotechnology, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, 300308, China
- National Center of Technology Innovation for Synthetic Biology, Tianjin, 300308, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Systems Microbial Biotechnology, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, 300308, China
- National Center of Technology Innovation for Synthetic Biology, Tianjin, 300308, China
- College of Life Science and Technology, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430023, China
| | - Yadi Gao
- Key Laboratory of Systems Microbial Biotechnology, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, 300308, China
- National Center of Technology Innovation for Synthetic Biology, Tianjin, 300308, China
| | - Guanghui Zhang
- National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center on Germplasm Innovation and Utilization of Chinese Medicinal Materials in Southwest China, Yunnan Agricultural University, Yunnan, Kunming, 650201, China
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan Agricultural University, Yunnan, Kunming, 650201, China
| | - Yan Wang
- H. E. J. Research Institute of Chemistry, International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Karachi, Karachi, 75270, Pakistan
| | - M. Iqbal Choudhary
- H. E. J. Research Institute of Chemistry, International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Karachi, Karachi, 75270, Pakistan
| | - Shengchao Yang
- National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center on Germplasm Innovation and Utilization of Chinese Medicinal Materials in Southwest China, Yunnan Agricultural University, Yunnan, Kunming, 650201, China
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan Agricultural University, Yunnan, Kunming, 650201, China
- Corresponding author. National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center on Germplasm Innovation and Utilization of Chinese Medicinal Materials in Southwest China, Yunnan Agricultural University, Yunnan, Kunming, 650201, China.
| | - Huifeng Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Systems Microbial Biotechnology, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, 300308, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
- National Center of Technology Innovation for Synthetic Biology, Tianjin, 300308, China
- Corresponding author. Key Laboratory of Systems Microbial Biotechnology, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, 300308, China.
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15
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Heterologous Biosynthesis of Health-Promoting Baicalein in Lycopersicon esculentum. MOLECULES (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 27:molecules27103086. [PMID: 35630564 PMCID: PMC9146059 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27103086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2022] [Revised: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Baicalein is a valuable flavonoid isolated from the medicinal plant Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, which exhibits intensive biological activities, such as anticancer and antiviral activities. However, its production is limited in the root with low yield. In this study, In-Fusion and 2A peptide linker were developed to assemble SbCLL-7, SbCHI, SbCHS-2, SbFNSII-2 and SbCYP82D1.1 genes driven by the AtPD7, CaMV 35S and AtUBQ10 promoters with HSP, E9 and NOS terminators, and were used to engineer baicalein biosynthesis in transgenic tomato plants. The genetically modified tomato plants with this construct synthesized baicalein, ranging from 150 ng/g to 558 ng/g FW (fresh weight). Baicalein-fortified tomatoes have the potential to be health-promoting fresh vegetables and provide an alternative source of baicalein production, with great prospects for market application.
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Qian Z, Yu J, Chen X, Kang Y, Ren Y, Liu Q, Lu J, Zhao Q, Cai M. De Novo Production of Plant 4'-Deoxyflavones Baicalein and Oroxylin A from Ethanol in Crabtree-Negative Yeast. ACS Synth Biol 2022; 11:1600-1612. [PMID: 35389625 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.2c00026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Baicalein and oroxylin A are well-known medicinal 4'-deoxyflavones found mainly in the roots of traditional medicinal plant Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi. However, extraction from plants is time-consuming, environmentally unfriendly, and insufficient. Although microbial synthesis of flavonoids has been extensively reported, synthesis of downstream modified 4'-deoxyflavones has not, and their yields are extremely low. Here, we reassembled the S. baicalensis 4'-deoxyflavone biosynthetic pathway in a Crabtree-negative yeast, Pichia pastoris, with activity analysis and combinatorial expression of eight biosynthetic genes, allowing production of 4'-deoxyflavones like baicalein, oroxylin A, wogonin, norwogonin, 6-methoxywogonin, and the novel 6-methoxynorwogonin. De novo baicalein synthesis was then achieved by complete pathway assembly. Toxic intermediates highly impaired the cell production capacity; hence, we alleviated cinnamic acid growth inhibition by culturing the cells at near-neutral pH and using alcoholic carbon sources. To achieve pathway balance and improve baicalein and oroxylin A synthesis, we further divided the pathway into five modules. A series of ethanol-induced and constitutive transcriptional amplification devices were constructed to adapt to the modules. This fine-tuning pathway control considerably reduced byproduct and intermediate accumulation and achieved high-level de novo baicalein (401.9 mg/L with a total increase of 1182-fold, the highest titer reported) and oroxylin A (339.5 mg/L, for the first time) production from ethanol. This study provides new strategies for the microbial synthesis of 4'-deoxyflavones and other flavonoids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhilan Qian
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Jiahui Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Xinjie Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Yijia Kang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Yanna Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Qi Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Jian Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Qing Zhao
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics and Resources, Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden, Shanghai Chenshan Plant Science Research Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201602, China
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Menghao Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Optogenetic Techniques for Cell Metabolism, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
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17
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Ji D, Li J, Ren Y, Wang Y. Rational engineering in Escherichia coli for high-titer production of baicalein based on genome-scale target identification. Biotechnol Bioeng 2022; 119:1916-1925. [PMID: 35312063 DOI: 10.1002/bit.28087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Revised: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Baicalein is a bioactive flavonoid isolated from the traditional Chinese medicinal plant, Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi. Microbial synthesis of flavonoids has been intensively developed owing to the eco-friendly nature of the process. However, the titer of the flavonoids obtained is still at a low level, and effective methods to enhance these titers are lacking. In this study, the synthetic performance of baicalein-producing engineered E. coli was rationally evaluated to enhanced the expression of key enzymes. Transcriptional analyses of baicalein-overproducing strain and a control strain enabled the identification of 13 beneficial genes, including 8 genes that are seemingly irrelevant to baicalein metabolism. With the combination of the enzyme assembly and modularization strategy, the engineered DN-8 strain produced 367.8 mg/L baicalein in fed-batch fermentation, the maximum titer reported to date. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongni Ji
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China.,CAS-Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Jianhua Li
- CAS-Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Yuhong Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Yong Wang
- CAS-Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200032, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100039, China.,Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Synthetic Biology of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hu'nan University of Medicine, Huaihua, 418000, China
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18
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Qiu Z, Liu X, Li J, Qiao B, Zhao GR. Metabolic Division in an Escherichia coli Coculture System for Efficient Production of Kaempferide. ACS Synth Biol 2022; 11:1213-1227. [PMID: 35167258 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.1c00510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Kaempferide, a plant-derived natural flavonoid, exhibits excellent pharmacological activities with nutraceutical and medicinal applications in human healthcare. Efficient microbial production of complex flavonoids suffers from metabolic crosstalk and burden, which is a big challenge for synthetic biology. Herein, we identified 4'-O-methyltransferases and divided the artificial biosynthetic pathway of kaempferide into upstream, midstream, and downstream modules. By combining heterologous genes from different sources and fine-tuning the expression, we optimized each module for the production of kaempferide. Furthermore, we designed and evaluated four division patterns of synthetic labor in coculture systems by plug-and-play modularity. The linear division of three modules in a three-strain coculture showed higher productivity of kaempferide than that in two-strain cocultures. The U-shaped division by co-distributing the upstream and downstream modules in one strain led to the best performance of the coculture system, which produced 116.0 ± 3.9 mg/L kaempferide, which was 510, 140, and 50% higher than that produced by the monoculture, two-strain coculture, and three-strain coculture with the linear division, respectively. This is the first report of efficient de novo production of kaempferide in a robust Escherichia coli coculture. The strategy of U-shaped pathway division in the coculture provides a promising way for improving the productivity of valuable and complex natural products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zetian Qiu
- Frontier Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Yaguan Road 135, Jinnan District, Tianjin 300350, China
- Georgia Tech Shenzhen Institute, Tianjin University, Dashi Road 1, Nanshan
District, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Xue Liu
- Frontier Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Yaguan Road 135, Jinnan District, Tianjin 300350, China
- Georgia Tech Shenzhen Institute, Tianjin University, Dashi Road 1, Nanshan
District, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Jia Li
- Frontier Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Yaguan Road 135, Jinnan District, Tianjin 300350, China
- Georgia Tech Shenzhen Institute, Tianjin University, Dashi Road 1, Nanshan
District, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Bin Qiao
- Frontier Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Yaguan Road 135, Jinnan District, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Guang-Rong Zhao
- Frontier Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Yaguan Road 135, Jinnan District, Tianjin 300350, China
- Georgia Tech Shenzhen Institute, Tianjin University, Dashi Road 1, Nanshan
District, Shenzhen 518055, China
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Pei T, Yan M, Huang Y, Wei Y, Martin C, Zhao Q. Specific Flavonoids and Their Biosynthetic Pathway in Scutellaria baicalensis. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:866282. [PMID: 35310641 PMCID: PMC8928390 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.866282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Scutellaria baicalensis, is one of the most traditional medicinal plants in the Lamiaceae family, and has been widely used to treat liver and lung complaints and as a complementary cancer treatment in traditional Chinese medicine. The preparation from its roots, called "Huang Qin," is rich in specialized flavones such as baicalein, wogonin, and their glycosides which lack a 4'-hydroxyl group on the B ring (4'-deoxyflavones), with anti-tumor, antioxidant, and antiviral activities. Baicalein has recently been reported to inhibit the replication of the COVID-19 virus. These 4'-deoxyflavones are found only in the order Lamiales and were discovered in the genus Scutellaria, suggesting that a new metabolic pathway synthesizing 4'-deoxyflavones evolved recently in this genus. In this review, we focus on the class of 4'-deoxyflavones in S. baicalensis and their pharmacological properties. We also describe the apparent evolutionary route taken by the genes encoding enzymes involved in the novel, root-specific, biosynthetic pathway for baicalein and wogonin, which provides insights into the evolution of specific flavone biosynthetic pathways in the mint family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianlin Pei
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics and Resources, Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden, Shanghai, China
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Mengxiao Yan
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics and Resources, Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden, Shanghai, China
| | - Yanbo Huang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics and Resources, Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden, Shanghai, China
| | - Yukun Wei
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics and Resources, Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden, Shanghai, China
| | | | - Qing Zhao
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics and Resources, Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden, Shanghai, China
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
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20
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Pei T, Yan M, Li T, Li X, Yin Y, Cui M, Fang Y, Liu J, Kong Y, Xu P, Zhao Q. Characterization of UDP-glycosyltransferase family members reveals how major flavonoid glycoside accumulates in the roots of Scutellaria baicalensis. BMC Genomics 2022; 23:169. [PMID: 35232374 PMCID: PMC8888134 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-022-08391-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Flavonoid glycosides extracted from roots of Scutellaria baicalensis exhibit strong pharmaceutical antitumor, antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral activities. UDP glycosyltransferase (UGT) family members are responsible for the transfer of a glycosyl moiety from UDP sugars to a wide range of acceptor flavonoids. Baicalin is the major flavonoid glycoside found in S. baicalensis roots, and its aglycone baicalein is synthesized from a specially evolved pathway that has been elucidated. However, it is necessary to carry out a genome-wide study of genes involved in 7-O-glucuronidation, the final biosynthesis step of baicalin, which might elucidate the relationship between the enzymes and the metabolic accumulation patterns in this medicinal plant. Results We reported the phylogenetic analysis, tissue-specific expression, biochemical characterization and evolutionary analysis of glucosyltransferases (SbUGTs) and glucuronosyltransferases (SbUGATs) genes based on the recently released genome of S. baicalensis. A total of 124 UGTs were identified, and over one third of them were highly expressed in roots. In vitro enzyme assays showed that 6 SbUGTs could use UDP-glucose as a sugar donor and convert baicalein to oroxin A (baicalein 7-O-glucoside), while 4 SbUGATs used only UDP-glucuronic acid as the sugar donor and catalyzed baicalein to baicalin. SbUGAT4 and SbUGT2 are the most highly expressed SbUGAT and SbUGT genes in root tissues, respectively. Kinetic measurements revealed that SbUGAT4 had a lower Km value and higher Vmax/Km ratio to baicalein than those of SbUGT2. Furthermore, tandem duplication events were detected in SbUGTs and SbUGATs. Conclusions This study demonstrated that glucosylation and glucuronidation are two major glycosylated decorations in the roots of S. baicalensis. Higher expression level and affinity to substrate of SbUGAT4, and expansion of this gene family contribute high accumulation of baicalin in the root of S. baicalensis. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12864-022-08391-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianlin Pei
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics and Resources, Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden, Shanghai, 201602, China.,National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Mengxiao Yan
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics and Resources, Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden, Shanghai, 201602, China
| | - Tian Li
- Shanghai Center for Plant Stress Biology and Center of Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Science, Shanghai, 201602, China
| | - Xiaoqiang Li
- Shanghai Center for Plant Stress Biology and Center of Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Science, Shanghai, 201602, China
| | - Yijia Yin
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics and Resources, Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden, Shanghai, 201602, China
| | - Mengying Cui
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics and Resources, Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden, Shanghai, 201602, China
| | - Yumin Fang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics and Resources, Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden, Shanghai, 201602, China
| | - Jie Liu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics and Resources, Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden, Shanghai, 201602, China
| | - Yu Kong
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics and Resources, Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden, Shanghai, 201602, China
| | - Ping Xu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics and Resources, Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden, Shanghai, 201602, China
| | - Qing Zhao
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics and Resources, Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden, Shanghai, 201602, China. .,National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200032, China.
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