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Nie S, Wang S, Chen R, Ge M, Yan X, Qiao J. Catalytic Mechanism and Heterologous Biosynthesis Application of Sesquiterpene Synthases. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2024; 72:6871-6888. [PMID: 38526460 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.4c00030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
Sesquiterpenes comprise a diverse group of natural products with a wide range of applications in cosmetics, food, medicine, agriculture, and biofuels. Heterologous biosynthesis is increasingly employed for sesquiterpene production, aiming to overcome the limitations associated with chemical synthesis and natural extraction. Sesquiterpene synthases (STSs) play a crucial role in the heterologous biosynthesis of sesquiterpene. Under the catalysis of STSs, over 300 skeletons are produced through various cyclization processes (C1-C10 closure, C1-C11 closure, C1-C6 closure, and C1-C7 closure), which are responsible for the diversity of sesquiterpenes. According to the cyclization types, we gave an overview of advances in understanding the mechanism of STSs cyclization from the aspects of protein crystal structures and site-directed mutagenesis. We also summarized the applications of engineering STSs in the heterologous biosynthesis of sesquiterpene. Finally, the bottlenecks and potential research directions related to the STSs cyclization mechanism and application of modified STSs were presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengxin Nie
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
- Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
- Zhejiang Institute of Tianjin University (Shaoxing), Shaoxing 312300, China
| | - Shengli Wang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
- Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
- Zhejiang Institute of Tianjin University (Shaoxing), Shaoxing 312300, China
| | - Ruiqi Chen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
- Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
- Zhejiang Institute of Tianjin University (Shaoxing), Shaoxing 312300, China
| | - Mingyue Ge
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
- Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
- Zhejiang Institute of Tianjin University (Shaoxing), Shaoxing 312300, China
| | - Xiaoguang Yan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
- Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
- Zhejiang Institute of Tianjin University (Shaoxing), Shaoxing 312300, China
| | - Jianjun Qiao
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
- Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
- Zhejiang Institute of Tianjin University (Shaoxing), Shaoxing 312300, China
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Nartey C, Koo HJ, Laurendon C, Shaik HZ, O’maille P, Noel JP, Morcos F. Coevolutionary Information Captures Catalytic Functions and Reveals Divergent Roles of Terpene Synthase Interdomain Connections. Biochemistry 2024; 63:355-366. [PMID: 38206111 PMCID: PMC10851433 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.3c00578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Inferring the historical and biophysical causes of diversity within protein families is a complex puzzle. A key to unraveling this problem is characterizing the rugged topography of sequence-function adaptive landscapes. Using biochemical data from a 29 = 512 combinatorial library of tobacco 5-epi-aristolochene synthase (TEAS) mutants engineered to make the native major product of Egyptian henbane premnaspirodiene synthase (HPS) and a complementary 512 mutant HPS library, we address the question of how product specificity is controlled. These data sets reveal that HPS is far more robust and resistant to mutations than TEAS, where most mutants are promiscuous. We also combine experimental data with a sequence Potts Hamiltonian model and direct coupling analysis to quantify mutant fitness. Our results demonstrate that the Hamiltonian captures variation in product outputs across both libraries, clusters native family members based on their substrate specificities, and exposes the divergent catalytic roles of couplings between the catalytic and noncatalytic domains of TEAS versus HPS. Specifically, we found that the role of the interdomain connectivities in specifying product output is more important in TEAS than connectivities within the catalytic domain. Despite being 75% identical, this property is not shared by HPS, where connectivities within the catalytic domain are more important for specificity. By solving the X-ray crystal structure of HPS, we assessed structural bases for their interdomain network differences. Last, we calculate the product profile Shannon entropies of the two libraries, which showcases that site-site connectivities also play divergent roles in catalytic accuracy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charisse
M. Nartey
- Department
of Biological Sciences, The University of
Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas 75080, United States
| | - Hyun Jo Koo
- Howard
Hughes Medical Institute, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, Jack H. Skirball Center for Chemical Biology and Proteomics, 10010 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Caroline Laurendon
- John
Innes Centre, Department of Metabolic Biology, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UH, U.K.
| | - Hana Z. Shaik
- Department
of Bioengineering, The University of Texas
at Dallas, Richardson, Texas 75080, United States
| | - Paul O’maille
- John
Innes Centre, Institute of Food Research, Food & Health Programme, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UA, U.K.
| | - Joseph P. Noel
- Howard
Hughes Medical Institute, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, Jack H. Skirball Center for Chemical Biology and Proteomics, 10010 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Faruck Morcos
- Department
of Biological Sciences, The University of
Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas 75080, United States
- Department
of Bioengineering, The University of Texas
at Dallas, Richardson, Texas 75080, United States
- Center for
Systems Biology, The University of Texas
at Dallas, Richardson, Texas 75080, United States
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Dinday S, Ghosh S. Recent advances in triterpenoid pathway elucidation and engineering. Biotechnol Adv 2023; 68:108214. [PMID: 37478981 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2023.108214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2023] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/23/2023]
Abstract
Triterpenoids are among the most assorted class of specialized metabolites found in all the taxa of living organisms. Triterpenoids are the leading active ingredients sourced from plant species and are utilized in pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. The triterpenoid precursor 2,3-oxidosqualene, which is biosynthesized via the mevalonate (MVA) pathway is structurally diversified by the oxidosqualene cyclases (OSCs) and other scaffold-decorating enzymes such as cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (P450s), UDP-glycosyltransferases (UGTs) and acyltransferases (ATs). A majority of the bioactive triterpenoids are harvested from the native hosts using the traditional methods of extraction and occasionally semi-synthesized. These methods of supply are time-consuming and do not often align with sustainability goals. Recent advancements in metabolic engineering and synthetic biology have shown prospects for the green routes of triterpenoid pathway reconstruction in heterologous hosts such as Escherichia coli, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Nicotiana benthamiana, which appear to be quite promising and might lead to the development of alternative source of triterpenoids. The present review describes the biotechnological strategies used to elucidate complex biosynthetic pathways and to understand their regulation and also discusses how the advances in triterpenoid pathway engineering might aid in the scale-up of triterpenoid production in engineered hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandeep Dinday
- CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow 226015, Uttar Pradesh, India; School of Agricultural Biotechnology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana 141004, Punjab, India
| | - Sumit Ghosh
- CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow 226015, Uttar Pradesh, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research, Ghaziabad 201002, Uttar Pradesh, India.
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Sarkar A, Foderaro T, Kramer L, Markley AL, Lee J, Traylor MJ, Fox JM. Evolution-Guided Biosynthesis of Terpenoid Inhibitors. ACS Synth Biol 2022; 11:3015-3027. [PMID: 35984356 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.2c00188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Terpenoids, the largest and most structurally diverse group of natural products, include a striking variety of biologically active compounds, from flavors to medicines. Despite their well-documented biochemical versatility, the evolutionary processes that generate new functional terpenoids are poorly understood and difficult to recapitulate in engineered systems. This study uses a synthetic biochemical objective─a transcriptional system that links the inhibition of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B), a human drug target, to the expression of a gene for antibiotic resistance in Escherichia coli (E. coli)─to evolve a terpene synthase to produce enzyme inhibitors. Site saturation mutagenesis of poorly conserved residues on γ-humulene synthase (GHS), a promicuous enzyme, yielded mutants that improved fitness (i.e., the antibiotic resistance of E. coli) by reducing GHS toxicity and/or by increasing inhibitor production. Intriguingly, a combination of two mutations enhanced the titer of a minority product─a terpene alcohol that inhibits PTP1B─by over 50-fold, and a comparison of similar mutants enabled the identification of a site where mutations permit efficient hydroxylation. Findings suggest that the plasticity of terpene synthases enables an efficient sampling of structurally distinct starting points for building new functional molecules and provide an experimental framework for exploiting this plasticity in activity-guided screens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ankur Sarkar
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, 3415 Colorado Avenue, Boulder, Colorado 80303, United States
| | - Tom Foderaro
- Think Bioscience, Inc., A1B43 MCDB, 1945 Colorado Avenue, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
| | - Levi Kramer
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, 3415 Colorado Avenue, Boulder, Colorado 80303, United States
| | - Andrew L Markley
- Think Bioscience, Inc., A1B43 MCDB, 1945 Colorado Avenue, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
| | - Jessica Lee
- Think Bioscience, Inc., A1B43 MCDB, 1945 Colorado Avenue, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
| | - Matthew J Traylor
- Think Bioscience, Inc., A1B43 MCDB, 1945 Colorado Avenue, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
| | - Jerome M Fox
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, 3415 Colorado Avenue, Boulder, Colorado 80303, United States
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Günther J, Erthmann PØ, Khakimov B, Bak S. Reciprocal mutations of two multifunctional β-amyrin synthases from Barbarea vulgaris shift α/β-amyrin ratios. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 188:1483-1495. [PMID: 34865155 PMCID: PMC8896598 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiab545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
In the wild cruciferous wintercress (Barbarea vulgaris), β-amyrin-derived saponins are involved in resistance against insect herbivores like the major agricultural pest diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella). Enzymes belonging to the 2,3-oxidosqualene cyclase family have been identified and characterized in B. vulgaris G-type and P-type plants that differ in their natural habitat, insect resistance and saponin content. Both G-type and P-type plants possess highly similar 2,3-oxidosqualene cyclase enzymes that mainly produce β-amyrin (Barbarea vulgaris Lupeol synthase 5 G-Type; BvLUP5-G) or α-amyrin (Barbarea vulgaris Lupeol synthase 5 P-Type; BvLUP5-P), respectively. Despite the difference in product formation, the two BvLUP5 enzymes are 98% identical at the amino acid level. This provides a unique opportunity to investigate determinants of product formation, using the B. vulgaris 2,3-oxidosqualene cyclase enzymes as a model for studying amino acid residues that determine differences in product formation. In this study, we identified two amino acid residues at position 121 and 735 that are responsible for the dominant changes in generated product ratios of β-amyrin and α-amyrin in both BvLUP5 enzymes. These amino acid residues have not previously been highlighted as directly involved in 2,3-oxidosqualene cyclase product specificity. Our results highlight the functional diversity and promiscuity of 2,3-oxidosqualene cyclase enzymes. These enzymes serve as important mediators of metabolic plasticity throughout plant evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Günther
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences and Copenhagen Plant Science Center, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Pernille Østerbye Erthmann
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences and Copenhagen Plant Science Center, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Bekzod Khakimov
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences and Copenhagen Plant Science Center, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Food Science, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Søren Bak
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences and Copenhagen Plant Science Center, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
- Author for communication:
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Lu Y, Luo Y, Zhou J, Hu T, Tu L, Tong Y, Su P, Liu Y, Wang J, Jiang Z, Wu X, Chen X, Huang L, Gao W. Probing the functions of friedelane-type triterpene cyclases from four celastrol-producing plants. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2022; 109:555-567. [PMID: 34750899 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.15575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Revised: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Triterpenes are among the most diverse plant natural products, and their diversity is closely related to various triterpene skeletons catalyzed by different 2,3-oxidosqualene cyclases (OSCs). Celastrol, a friedelane-type triterpene with significant bioactivities, is specifically distributed in higher plants, such as Celastraceae species. Friedelin is an important precursor for the biosynthesis of celastrol, and it is synthesized through the cyclization of 2,3-oxidosqualene, with the highest number of rearrangements being catalyzed by friedelane-type triterpene cyclases. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the catalysis of friedelin production by friedelane-type triterpene cyclases have not yet been fully elucidated. In this study, transcriptome data of four celastrol-producing plants from Celastraceae were used to identify a total of 21 putative OSCs. Through functional characterization, the friedelane-type triterpene cyclases were separately verified in the four plants. Analysis of the selection pressure showed that purifying selection acted on these OSCs, and the friedelane-type triterpene cyclases may undergo weaker selective restriction during evolution. Molecular docking and site-directed mutagenesis revealed that changes in some amino acids that are unique to friedelane-type triterpene cyclases may lead to variations in catalytic specificity or efficiency, thereby affecting the synthesis of friedelin. Our research explored the functional diversity of triterpene synthases from a multispecies perspective. It also provides some references for further research on the relative mechanisms of friedelin biosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Lu
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yunfeng Luo
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Jiawei Zhou
- College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, China
| | - Tianyuan Hu
- College of Pharmacy, School of Medicine, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Lichan Tu
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yuru Tong
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Ping Su
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL, USA
| | - Yuan Liu
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Jiadian Wang
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhouqian Jiang
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoyi Wu
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaochao Chen
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Luqi Huang
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Gao
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
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7
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Chen K, Zhang M, Ye M, Qiao X. Site-directed mutagenesis and substrate compatibility to reveal the structure-function relationships of plant oxidosqualene cyclases. Nat Prod Rep 2021; 38:2261-2275. [PMID: 33988197 DOI: 10.1039/d1np00015b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Covering: up to May 2020Oxidosqualene cyclases (OSCs) catalyze one of the most complex polycyclization reactions in nature, using the linear 2,3-oxidosqualene to generate an array of triterpene skeletons in plants. Despite the structural diversity of the products, the protein sequences of plant OSCs are highly conserved, where a few key amino acids could govern the product selectivity. Due to the absence of crystal structures, site-directed mutagenesis and substrate structural modification become key approaches to understand the cyclization mechanism. In this review, 98 mutation sites in 25 plant OSCs have been summarized, and the conserved key residues have been identified by sequence alignment. Structure-function relationships are further discussed. Meanwhile, the substrate selectivity has been summarized to probe the active site cavity of plant OSCs. A total of 77 references are included.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, 38 Xueyuan Road, Beijing 100191, China.
| | - Meng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, 38 Xueyuan Road, Beijing 100191, China.
| | - Min Ye
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, 38 Xueyuan Road, Beijing 100191, China.
| | - Xue Qiao
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, 38 Xueyuan Road, Beijing 100191, China.
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Durairaj J, Melillo E, Bouwmeester HJ, Beekwilder J, de Ridder D, van Dijk ADJ. Integrating structure-based machine learning and co-evolution to investigate specificity in plant sesquiterpene synthases. PLoS Comput Biol 2021; 17:e1008197. [PMID: 33750949 PMCID: PMC8016262 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1008197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Revised: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Sesquiterpene synthases (STSs) catalyze the formation of a large class of plant volatiles called sesquiterpenes. While thousands of putative STS sequences from diverse plant species are available, only a small number of them have been functionally characterized. Sequence identity-based screening for desired enzymes, often used in biotechnological applications, is difficult to apply here as STS sequence similarity is strongly affected by species. This calls for more sophisticated computational methods for functionality prediction. We investigate the specificity of precursor cation formation in these elusive enzymes. By inspecting multi-product STSs, we demonstrate that STSs have a strong selectivity towards one precursor cation. We use a machine learning approach combining sequence and structure information to accurately predict precursor cation specificity for STSs across all plant species. We combine this with a co-evolutionary analysis on the wealth of uncharacterized putative STS sequences, to pinpoint residues and distant functional contacts influencing cation formation and reaction pathway selection. These structural factors can be used to predict and engineer enzymes with specific functions, as we demonstrate by predicting and characterizing two novel STSs from Citrus bergamia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janani Durairaj
- Bioinformatics Group, Department of Plant Sciences, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Harro J. Bouwmeester
- Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jules Beekwilder
- Bioscience, Wageningen Plant Research, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Laboratory of Plant Physiology, Department of Plant Sciences, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Dick de Ridder
- Bioinformatics Group, Department of Plant Sciences, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Aalt D. J. van Dijk
- Bioinformatics Group, Department of Plant Sciences, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Biometris, Department of Plant Sciences, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
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Engels B, Heinig U, McElroy C, Meusinger R, Grothe T, Stadler M, Jennewein S. Isolation of a gene cluster from Armillaria gallica for the synthesis of armillyl orsellinate-type sesquiterpenoids. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2021; 105:211-224. [PMID: 33191459 PMCID: PMC7778616 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-020-11006-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2020] [Revised: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 11/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Melleolides and armillyl orsellinates are protoilludene-type aryl esters that are synthesized exclusively by parasitic fungi of the globally distributed genus Armillaria (Agaricomycetes, Physalacriaceae). Several of these compounds show potent antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities, making them promising leads for the development of new antibiotics or drugs for the treatment of cancer. We recently cloned and characterized the Armillaria gallica gene Pro1 encoding protoilludene synthase, a sesquiterpene cyclase catalyzing the pathway-committing step to all protoilludene-type aryl esters. Fungal enzymes representing secondary metabolic pathways are sometimes encoded by gene clusters, so we hypothesized that the missing steps in the pathway to melleolides and armillyl orsellinates might be identified by cloning the genes surrounding Pro1. Here we report the isolation of an A. gallica gene cluster encoding protoilludene synthase and four cytochrome P450 monooxygenases. Heterologous expression and functional analysis resulted in the identification of protoilludene-8α-hydroxylase, which catalyzes the first committed step in the armillyl orsellinate pathway. This confirms that ∆-6-protoilludene is a precursor for the synthesis of both melleolides and armillyl orsellinates, but the two pathways already branch at the level of the first oxygenation step. Our results provide insight into the synthesis of these valuable natural products and pave the way for their production by metabolic engineering. KEY POINTS: • Protoilludene-type aryl esters are bioactive metabolites produced by Armillaria spp. • The pathway-committing step to these compounds is catalyzed by protoilludene synthase. • We characterized CYP-type enzymes in the cluster and identified novel intermediates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedikt Engels
- Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology, Forckenbeckstrasse 6, 52074, Aachen, Germany
- Jennewein Biotechnologie GmbH, Maarweg 32, Rheinbreitbach, Germany
| | - Uwe Heinig
- Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology, Forckenbeckstrasse 6, 52074, Aachen, Germany
- Department of Plant & Environmental Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, P.O. Box 26, 7610001, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Christopher McElroy
- Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology, Forckenbeckstrasse 6, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Reinhard Meusinger
- Clemens Schöpf Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Technical University of Darmstadt, 64287, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Torsten Grothe
- Mibelle Group Biochemistry, Bolimattstrasse 1, 5033, Buchs, Switzerland
| | - Marc Stadler
- Department of Microbial Drugs, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Inhoffenstrasse 7, 38124, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Stefan Jennewein
- Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology, Forckenbeckstrasse 6, 52074, Aachen, Germany.
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10
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Suzuki A, Aikawa Y, Ito R, Hoshino T. Oryza sativa
Parkeol Cyclase: Changes in the Substrate‐Folding Conformation and the Deprotonation Sites on Mutation at Tyr257: Importance of the Hydroxy Group and Steric Bulk. Chembiochem 2019; 20:2862-2875. [DOI: 10.1002/cbic.201900314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Asuka Suzuki
- Graduate School of Science and Technology andDepartment of Applied Biological ChemistryFaculty of AgricultureNiigata University Ikarashi 2-8050 Nishi-ku Niigata 950–2181 Japan
| | - Yuko Aikawa
- Graduate School of Science and Technology andDepartment of Applied Biological ChemistryFaculty of AgricultureNiigata University Ikarashi 2-8050 Nishi-ku Niigata 950–2181 Japan
| | - Ryousuke Ito
- Graduate School of Science and Technology andDepartment of Applied Biological ChemistryFaculty of AgricultureNiigata University Ikarashi 2-8050 Nishi-ku Niigata 950–2181 Japan
| | - Tsutomu Hoshino
- Graduate School of Science and Technology andDepartment of Applied Biological ChemistryFaculty of AgricultureNiigata University Ikarashi 2-8050 Nishi-ku Niigata 950–2181 Japan
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11
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Srisawat P, Fukushima EO, Yasumoto S, Robertlee J, Suzuki H, Seki H, Muranaka T. Identification of oxidosqualene cyclases from the medicinal legume tree Bauhinia forficata: a step toward discovering preponderant α-amyrin-producing activity. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2019; 224:352-366. [PMID: 31230357 DOI: 10.1111/nph.16013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2019] [Accepted: 06/15/2019] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Triterpenoids are widely distributed among plants of the legume family. However, most studies have focused on triterpenoids and their biosynthetic enzymes in model legumes. We evaluated the triterpenoid aglycones profile of the medicinal legume tree Bauhinia forficata by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Through transcriptome analyses, homology-based cloning, and heterologous expression, we discovered four oxidosqualene cyclases (OSCs) which are responsible for the diversity of triterpenols in B. forficata. We also investigated the effects of the unique motif TLCYCR on α-amyrin synthase activity. B. forficata highly accumulated α-amyrin. We discovered an OSC with a preponderant α-amyrin-producing activity, which accounted for at least 95% of the total triterpenols. We also discovered three other functional OSCs (BfOSC1, BfOSC2, and BfOSC4) that produce β-amyrin, germanicol, and cycloartenol. Furthermore, by replacing the unique motif TLCYCR from BfOSC3 with the MWCYCR motif, we altered the function of BfOSC3 such that it no longer produced α-amyrin. Our results provide new insights into OSC cyclization, which is responsible for the diversity of triterpenoid metabolites in B. forficata, a non-model legume plant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pisanee Srisawat
- Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, Suita, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Ery Odette Fukushima
- Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, Suita, 565-0871, Japan
- Universidad Regional Amazónica IKIAM, Tena, 150150, Ecuador
| | - Shuhei Yasumoto
- Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, Suita, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Jekson Robertlee
- Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, Suita, 565-0871, Japan
- Department of Frontier Research, Kazusa DNA Research Institute, Kisarazu, 292-0818, Japan
| | - Hideyuki Suzuki
- Department of Research & Development, Kazusa DNA Research Institute, Kisarazu, 292-0818, Japan
| | - Hikaru Seki
- Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, Suita, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Toshiya Muranaka
- Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, Suita, 565-0871, Japan
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12
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Berni R, Hoque MZ, Legay S, Cai G, Siddiqui KS, Hausman JF, Andre CM, Guerriero G. Tuscan Varieties of Sweet Cherry Are Rich Sources of Ursolic and Oleanolic Acid: Protein Modeling Coupled to Targeted Gene Expression and Metabolite Analyses. Molecules 2019; 24:E1590. [PMID: 31013661 PMCID: PMC6515059 DOI: 10.3390/molecules24081590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2019] [Revised: 04/20/2019] [Accepted: 04/20/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The potential of six ancient Tuscan sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) varieties as a source of health-promoting pentacyclic triterpenes is here evaluated by means of a targeted gene expression and metabolite analysis. By using a sequence homology criterion, we identify five oxidosqualene cyclase genes (OSCs) and three cytochrome P450s (CYP85s) that are putatively involved in the triterpene production pathway in sweet cherries. We performed 3D structure prediction and induced-fit docking using cation intermediates and reaction products for some OSCs to predict their function. We show that the Tuscan varieties have different amounts of ursolic and oleanolic acids and that these variations are related to different gene expression profiles. This study stresses the interest of valorizing ancient fruits as alternative sources of functional molecules with nutraceutical value. It also provides information on sweet cherry triterpene biosynthetic genes, which could be the object of follow-up functional studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Berni
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, via P.A. Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena, Italy.
- Trees and Timber Institute, National Research Council of Italy (CNR-IVALSA), via Aurelia 49, 58022 Follonica (GR), Italy.
| | - Mubasher Zahir Hoque
- Bio-Bio-1 Research Foundation, Sangskriti Bikash Kendra Bhaban, 1/E/1 Poribagh, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh.
- Life Sciences Department, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM), Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Sylvain Legay
- Environmental Research and Innovation Department, Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology, 5 avenue des Hauts-Fourneaux, L-4362 Esch/Alzette, Luxembourg.
| | - Giampiero Cai
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, via P.A. Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena, Italy.
| | - Khawar Sohail Siddiqui
- Life Sciences Department, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM), Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Jean-Francois Hausman
- Environmental Research and Innovation Department, Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology, 5 avenue des Hauts-Fourneaux, L-4362 Esch/Alzette, Luxembourg.
| | - Christelle M Andre
- Environmental Research and Innovation Department, Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology, 5 avenue des Hauts-Fourneaux, L-4362 Esch/Alzette, Luxembourg.
| | - Gea Guerriero
- Environmental Research and Innovation Department, Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology, 5 avenue des Hauts-Fourneaux, L-4362 Esch/Alzette, Luxembourg.
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13
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Fukuda Y, Watanabe T, Hoshino T. Mutated variants of squalene-hopene cyclase: enzymatic syntheses of triterpenes bearing oxygen-bridged monocycles and a new 6,6,6,6,6-fusded pentacyclic scaffold, named neogammacerane, from 2,3-oxidosqualene. Org Biomol Chem 2019; 16:8365-8378. [PMID: 30209480 DOI: 10.1039/c8ob02009d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Squalene-hopene cyclase (SHC) catalyzes the conversion of acyclic squalene molecule into a 6,6,6,6,5-fused pentacyclic hopene and hopanol. SHC is also able to convert (3S)-2,3-oxidosqualene into 3β-hydroxyhopene and 3β-hydroxyhopanol and can generate 3α-hydroxyhopene and 3α-hydroxyhopanol from (3R)-2,3-oxidosqualene. Functional analyses of active site residues toward the squalene cyclization reaction have been extensively reported, but investigations of the cyclization reactions of (3R,S)-oxidosqualene by SHC have rarely been reported. The cyclization reactions of oxidosqualene with W169X, G600F/F601G and F601G/P602F were examined. The variants of the W169L generated new triterpene skeletons possessing a 7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane moiety (oxygen-bridged monocycle) with (1S,2S,4R)- and (1R,2S,4S)-stereochemistry, which were produced from (3R)- and (3S)-oxidosqualenes, respectively. The F601G/P602F double mutant also furnished a novel triterpene, named neogammacer-21(22)-en-3β-ol, consisting of a 6,6,6,6,6-fused pentacyclic system, in which Me-29 at C-22 of the gammacerane skeleton migrated to C-21. We propose to name this novel scaffold neogammacerane. The formation mechanisms of the enzymatic products from 2,3-oxidosqualene are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoriyuki Fukuda
- Graduate School of Science and Technology and Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Faculty of Agriculture, Niigata University, Ikarashi 2-8050, Nishi-ku, Niigata 950-2181, Japan.
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14
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Nakano C, Watanabe T, Minamino M, Hoshino T. Enzymatic syntheses of novel carbocyclic scaffolds with a 6,5 + 5,5 ring system by squalene-hopene cyclase. Org Biomol Chem 2019; 17:9375-9389. [DOI: 10.1039/c9ob01941c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
A novel scaffold with a 6,5 + 5, 5 ring system (allodammarane) was synthesized from 27-norsqualene (13a), 3R-(18) and 3S-27-noroxidosqualenes (19).
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiaki Nakano
- Department of Applied Biological Chemistry
- Faculty of Agriculture
- and Graduate School of Science and Technology
- Niigata University
- Niigata
| | - Takumi Watanabe
- Department of Applied Biological Chemistry
- Faculty of Agriculture
- and Graduate School of Science and Technology
- Niigata University
- Niigata
| | - Mai Minamino
- Department of Applied Biological Chemistry
- Faculty of Agriculture
- and Graduate School of Science and Technology
- Niigata University
- Niigata
| | - Tsutomu Hoshino
- Department of Applied Biological Chemistry
- Faculty of Agriculture
- and Graduate School of Science and Technology
- Niigata University
- Niigata
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15
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Ideno N, Umeyama S, Watanabe T, Nakajima M, Sato T, Hoshino T. Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius
Squalene‐Hopene Cyclase: The Critical Role of Steric Bulk at Ala306 and the First Enzymatic Synthesis of Epoxydammarane from 2,3‐Oxidosqualene. Chembiochem 2018; 19:1873-1886. [DOI: 10.1002/cbic.201800281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Natsumi Ideno
- Graduate School of Science and Technology andDepartment of Applied Biological ChemistryFaculty of AgricultureNiigata University Ikarashi 2–8050, Nishi-ku Niigata 950–2181 Japan
| | - Shikou Umeyama
- Graduate School of Science and Technology andDepartment of Applied Biological ChemistryFaculty of AgricultureNiigata University Ikarashi 2–8050, Nishi-ku Niigata 950–2181 Japan
| | - Takashi Watanabe
- Graduate School of Science and Technology andDepartment of Applied Biological ChemistryFaculty of AgricultureNiigata University Ikarashi 2–8050, Nishi-ku Niigata 950–2181 Japan
| | - Mami Nakajima
- Graduate School of Science and Technology andDepartment of Applied Biological ChemistryFaculty of AgricultureNiigata University Ikarashi 2–8050, Nishi-ku Niigata 950–2181 Japan
| | - Tsutomu Sato
- Graduate School of Science and Technology andDepartment of Applied Biological ChemistryFaculty of AgricultureNiigata University Ikarashi 2–8050, Nishi-ku Niigata 950–2181 Japan
| | - Tsutomu Hoshino
- Graduate School of Science and Technology andDepartment of Applied Biological ChemistryFaculty of AgricultureNiigata University Ikarashi 2–8050, Nishi-ku Niigata 950–2181 Japan
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16
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Kaneko I, Terasawa Y, Hoshino T. Squalene-Hopene Cyclase: Mechanistic Insights into the Polycyclization Cascades of Squalene Analogs Bearing Ethyl and Hydroxymethyl Groups at the C-2 and C-23 Positions. Chemistry 2018; 24:11139-11157. [DOI: 10.1002/chem.201801668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ikki Kaneko
- Graduate School of Science and Technology and Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Faculty of Agriculture; Niigata University; Ikarashi 2-8050 Nishi-ku Niigata 950-2181 Japan
| | - Yuri Terasawa
- Graduate School of Science and Technology and Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Faculty of Agriculture; Niigata University; Ikarashi 2-8050 Nishi-ku Niigata 950-2181 Japan
| | - Tsutomu Hoshino
- Graduate School of Science and Technology and Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Faculty of Agriculture; Niigata University; Ikarashi 2-8050 Nishi-ku Niigata 950-2181 Japan
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17
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Takahashi K, Sasaki Y, Hoshino T. Squalene-Hopene Cyclase: On the Polycyclization Reactions of Squalene Analogues Bearing Ethyl Groups at Positions C-6, C-10, C-15, and C-19. European J Org Chem 2018. [DOI: 10.1002/ejoc.201800010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kazunari Takahashi
- Graduate School of Science and Technology and Department of Applied Biological Chemistry; Faculty of Agriculture; Niigata University; Ikarashi 2-8050 950-2181 Nishi-ku, Niigata Japan
| | - Yusuke Sasaki
- Graduate School of Science and Technology and Department of Applied Biological Chemistry; Faculty of Agriculture; Niigata University; Ikarashi 2-8050 950-2181 Nishi-ku, Niigata Japan
| | - Tsutomu Hoshino
- Graduate School of Science and Technology and Department of Applied Biological Chemistry; Faculty of Agriculture; Niigata University; Ikarashi 2-8050 950-2181 Nishi-ku, Niigata Japan
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18
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Jin J, Moore MK, Wilson WK, Matsuda SPT. Astertarone A Synthase from Chinese Cabbage Does Not Produce the C4-Epimer: Mechanistic Insights. Org Lett 2018; 20:1802-1805. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.orglett.8b00302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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19
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Aiba Y, Watanabe T, Terasawa Y, Nakano C, Hoshino T. Strictly Conserved Residues in Euphorbia tirucalli
β-Amyrin Cyclase: Trp612 Stabilizes Transient Cation through Cation-π Interaction and CH-π Interaction of Tyr736 with Leu734 Confers Robust Local Protein Architecture. Chembiochem 2018; 19:486-495. [DOI: 10.1002/cbic.201700572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2017] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yukari Aiba
- Graduate School of Science and Technology and Department of Applied Biological Chemistry; Faculty of Agriculture; Niigata University; Ikarashi 2-8050 Nishi-ku Niigata 950-2181 Japan
| | - Takumi Watanabe
- Graduate School of Science and Technology and Department of Applied Biological Chemistry; Faculty of Agriculture; Niigata University; Ikarashi 2-8050 Nishi-ku Niigata 950-2181 Japan
| | - Yuri Terasawa
- Graduate School of Science and Technology and Department of Applied Biological Chemistry; Faculty of Agriculture; Niigata University; Ikarashi 2-8050 Nishi-ku Niigata 950-2181 Japan
| | - Chiaki Nakano
- Graduate School of Science and Technology and Department of Applied Biological Chemistry; Faculty of Agriculture; Niigata University; Ikarashi 2-8050 Nishi-ku Niigata 950-2181 Japan
| | - Tsutomu Hoshino
- Graduate School of Science and Technology and Department of Applied Biological Chemistry; Faculty of Agriculture; Niigata University; Ikarashi 2-8050 Nishi-ku Niigata 950-2181 Japan
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20
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Hoshino T, Nakagawa K, Aiba Y, Itoh D, Nakada C, Masukawa Y. Euphorbia tirucalli
β-Amyrin Synthase: Critical Roles of Steric Sizes at Val483 and Met729 and the CH-π Interaction between Val483 and Trp534 for Catalytic Action. Chembiochem 2017; 18:2145-2155. [DOI: 10.1002/cbic.201700368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2017] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Tsutomu Hoshino
- Graduate School of Science and Technology and; Department of Applied Biological Chemistry; Faculty of Agriculture; Niigata University; Ikarashi 2-8050 Nishi-ku Niigata 950-2181 Japan), E-mail: address
| | - Kazuya Nakagawa
- Graduate School of Science and Technology and; Department of Applied Biological Chemistry; Faculty of Agriculture; Niigata University; Ikarashi 2-8050 Nishi-ku Niigata 950-2181 Japan), E-mail: address
| | - Yukari Aiba
- Graduate School of Science and Technology and; Department of Applied Biological Chemistry; Faculty of Agriculture; Niigata University; Ikarashi 2-8050 Nishi-ku Niigata 950-2181 Japan), E-mail: address
| | - Daichi Itoh
- Graduate School of Science and Technology and; Department of Applied Biological Chemistry; Faculty of Agriculture; Niigata University; Ikarashi 2-8050 Nishi-ku Niigata 950-2181 Japan), E-mail: address
| | - Chika Nakada
- Graduate School of Science and Technology and; Department of Applied Biological Chemistry; Faculty of Agriculture; Niigata University; Ikarashi 2-8050 Nishi-ku Niigata 950-2181 Japan), E-mail: address
| | - Yukari Masukawa
- Graduate School of Science and Technology and; Department of Applied Biological Chemistry; Faculty of Agriculture; Niigata University; Ikarashi 2-8050 Nishi-ku Niigata 950-2181 Japan), E-mail: address
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21
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Hoshino T. β-Amyrin biosynthesis: catalytic mechanism and substrate recognition. Org Biomol Chem 2017; 15:2869-2891. [DOI: 10.1039/c7ob00238f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
In the past five years, there have been remarkable advances in the study of β-amyrin synthase. This review outlines the catalytic mechanism and substrate recognition in β-amyrin biosynthesis, which have been attained by the site-directed mutagenesis and substrate analog experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsutomu Hoshino
- Graduate School of Science and Technology and Department of Applied Biological Chemistry
- Faculty of Agriculture
- Niigata University
- Niigata 950-2181
- Japan
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22
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Souza-Moreira TM, Alves TB, Pinheiro KA, Felippe LG, De Lima GMA, Watanabe TF, Barbosa CC, Santos VAFFM, Lopes NP, Valentini SR, Guido RVC, Furlan M, Zanelli CF. Friedelin Synthase from Maytenus ilicifolia: Leucine 482 Plays an Essential Role in the Production of the Most Rearranged Pentacyclic Triterpene. Sci Rep 2016; 6:36858. [PMID: 27874020 PMCID: PMC5118845 DOI: 10.1038/srep36858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2016] [Accepted: 10/20/2016] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Among the biologically active triterpenes, friedelin has the most-rearranged structure produced by the oxidosqualene cyclases and is the only one containing a cetonic group. In this study, we cloned and functionally characterized friedelin synthase and one cycloartenol synthase from Maytenus ilicifolia (Celastraceae). The complete coding sequences of these 2 genes were cloned from leaf mRNA, and their functions were characterized by heterologous expression in yeast. The cycloartenol synthase sequence is very similar to other known OSCs of this type (approximately 80% identity), although the M. ilicifolia friedelin synthase amino acid sequence is more related to β-amyrin synthases (65-74% identity), which is similar to the friedelin synthase cloned from Kalanchoe daigremontiana. Multiple sequence alignments demonstrated the presence of a leucine residue two positions upstream of the friedelin synthase Asp-Cys-Thr-Ala-Glu (DCTAE) active site motif, while the vast majority of OSCs identified so far have a valine or isoleucine residue at the same position. The substitution of the leucine residue with valine, threonine or isoleucine in M. ilicifolia friedelin synthase interfered with substrate recognition and lead to the production of different pentacyclic triterpenes. Hence, our data indicate a key role for the leucine residue in the structure and function of this oxidosqualene cyclase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana M. Souza-Moreira
- Instituto de Química, Univ. Estadual Paulista-UNESP, Rua Prof. Francisco Degni, 55, Quitandinha, Araraquara, SP 14800-060, Brazil
| | - Thaís B. Alves
- Instituto de Química, Univ. Estadual Paulista-UNESP, Rua Prof. Francisco Degni, 55, Quitandinha, Araraquara, SP 14800-060, Brazil
| | - Karina A. Pinheiro
- Instituto de Química, Univ. Estadual Paulista-UNESP, Rua Prof. Francisco Degni, 55, Quitandinha, Araraquara, SP 14800-060, Brazil
| | - Lidiane G. Felippe
- Instituto de Química, Univ. Estadual Paulista-UNESP, Rua Prof. Francisco Degni, 55, Quitandinha, Araraquara, SP 14800-060, Brazil
| | - Gustavo M. A. De Lima
- Centro de Pesquisa e Inovação em Biodiversidade e Fármacos, Instituto de Física de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo, São Carlos, SP 13563-120, Brazil
| | - Tatiana F. Watanabe
- Instituto de Química, Univ. Estadual Paulista-UNESP, Rua Prof. Francisco Degni, 55, Quitandinha, Araraquara, SP 14800-060, Brazil
| | - Cristina C. Barbosa
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Univ. Estadual Paulista-UNESP, Rod. Araraquara-Jaú km 1, Araraquara, SP 14801-902, Brazil
| | - Vânia A. F. F. M. Santos
- Instituto de Química, Univ. Estadual Paulista-UNESP, Rua Prof. Francisco Degni, 55, Quitandinha, Araraquara, SP 14800-060, Brazil
| | - Norberto P. Lopes
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida do Café s/n, Monte Alegre, Ribeirão Preto, SP 14040-903, Brazil
| | - Sandro R. Valentini
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Univ. Estadual Paulista-UNESP, Rod. Araraquara-Jaú km 1, Araraquara, SP 14801-902, Brazil
| | - Rafael V. C. Guido
- Centro de Pesquisa e Inovação em Biodiversidade e Fármacos, Instituto de Física de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo, São Carlos, SP 13563-120, Brazil
| | - Maysa Furlan
- Instituto de Química, Univ. Estadual Paulista-UNESP, Rua Prof. Francisco Degni, 55, Quitandinha, Araraquara, SP 14800-060, Brazil
| | - Cleslei F. Zanelli
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Univ. Estadual Paulista-UNESP, Rod. Araraquara-Jaú km 1, Araraquara, SP 14801-902, Brazil
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23
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Emmerstorfer-Augustin A, Moser S, Pichler H. Screening for improved isoprenoid biosynthesis in microorganisms. J Biotechnol 2016; 235:112-20. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2016.03.051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2015] [Revised: 03/29/2016] [Accepted: 03/31/2016] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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24
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A conserved amino acid residue critical for product and substrate specificity in plant triterpene synthases. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2016; 113:E4407-14. [PMID: 27412861 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1605509113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Triterpenes are structurally complex plant natural products with numerous medicinal applications. They are synthesized through an origami-like process that involves cyclization of the linear 30 carbon precursor 2,3-oxidosqualene into different triterpene scaffolds. Here, through a forward genetic screen in planta, we identify a conserved amino acid residue that determines product specificity in triterpene synthases from diverse plant species. Mutation of this residue results in a major change in triterpene cyclization, with production of tetracyclic rather than pentacyclic products. The mutated enzymes also use the more highly oxygenated substrate dioxidosqualene in preference to 2,3-oxidosqualene when expressed in yeast. Our discoveries provide new insights into triterpene cyclization, revealing hidden functional diversity within triterpene synthases. They further open up opportunities to engineer novel oxygenated triterpene scaffolds by manipulating the precursor supply.
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25
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Tholl D. Biosynthesis and biological functions of terpenoids in plants. ADVANCES IN BIOCHEMICAL ENGINEERING/BIOTECHNOLOGY 2015; 148:63-106. [PMID: 25583224 DOI: 10.1007/10_2014_295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 263] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Terpenoids (isoprenoids) represent the largest and most diverse class of chemicals among the myriad compounds produced by plants. Plants employ terpenoid metabolites for a variety of basic functions in growth and development but use the majority of terpenoids for more specialized chemical interactions and protection in the abiotic and biotic environment. Traditionally, plant-based terpenoids have been used by humans in the food, pharmaceutical, and chemical industries, and more recently have been exploited in the development of biofuel products. Genomic resources and emerging tools in synthetic biology facilitate the metabolic engineering of high-value terpenoid products in plants and microbes. Moreover, the ecological importance of terpenoids has gained increased attention to develop strategies for sustainable pest control and abiotic stress protection. Together, these efforts require a continuous growth in knowledge of the complex metabolic and molecular regulatory networks in terpenoid biosynthesis. This chapter gives an overview and highlights recent advances in our understanding of the organization, regulation, and diversification of core and specialized terpenoid metabolic pathways, and addresses the most important functions of volatile and nonvolatile terpenoid specialized metabolites in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorothea Tholl
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, 409 Latham Hall, 24061, Blacksburg, VA, USA,
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26
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Takase S, Saga Y, Kurihara N, Naraki S, Kuze K, Nakata G, Araki T, Kushiro T. Control of the 1,2-rearrangement process by oxidosqualene cyclases during triterpene biosynthesis. Org Biomol Chem 2015; 13:7331-6. [DOI: 10.1039/c5ob00714c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Critical residues controlling the 1,2-rearrangement process during cycloartenol and cucurbitadienol formation in oxidosqualene cyclase were identified.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yusuke Saga
- School of Agriculture
- Meiji University
- Kawasaki
- Japan
| | | | | | - Kenta Kuze
- School of Agriculture
- Meiji University
- Kawasaki
- Japan
| | - Genki Nakata
- School of Agriculture
- Meiji University
- Kawasaki
- Japan
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27
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A high-throughput colorimetric screening assay for terpene synthase activity based on substrate consumption. PLoS One 2014; 9:e93317. [PMID: 24681801 PMCID: PMC3969365 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0093317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2014] [Accepted: 03/03/2014] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Terpene synthases catalyze the formation of a variety of terpene chemical structures. Systematic mutagenesis studies have been effective in providing insights into the characteristic and complex mechanisms of C-C bond formations and in exploring the enzymatic potential for inventing new chemical structures. In addition, there is growing demand to increase terpene synthase activity in heterologous hosts, given the maturation of metabolic engineering and host breeding for terpenoid synthesis. We have developed a simple screening method for the cellular activities of terpene synthases by scoring their substrate consumption based on the color loss of the cell harboring carotenoid pathways. We demonstrate that this method can be used to detect activities of various terpene synthase or prenyltransferase genes in a high-throughput manner, irrespective of the product type, enabling the mutation analysis and directed evolution of terpene synthases. We also report the possibility for substrate-specific screening system of terpene synthases by taking advantage of the substrate-size specificity of C30 and C40 carotenoid pathways.
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28
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Thimmappa R, Geisler K, Louveau T, O'Maille P, Osbourn A. Triterpene biosynthesis in plants. ANNUAL REVIEW OF PLANT BIOLOGY 2014; 65:225-57. [PMID: 24498976 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-arplant-050312-120229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 414] [Impact Index Per Article: 41.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
The triterpenes are one of the most numerous and diverse groups of plant natural products. They are complex molecules that are, for the most part, beyond the reach of chemical synthesis. Simple triterpenes are components of surface waxes and specialized membranes and may potentially act as signaling molecules, whereas complex glycosylated triterpenes (saponins) provide protection against pathogens and pests. Simple and conjugated triterpenes have a wide range of applications in the food, health, and industrial biotechnology sectors. Here, we review recent developments in the field of triterpene biosynthesis, give an overview of the genes and enzymes that have been identified to date, and discuss strategies for discovering new triterpene biosynthetic pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramesha Thimmappa
- Department of Metabolic Biology, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UH, United Kingdom;
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Abstract
Saponins are one of the most numerous and diverse groups of plant natural products. They serve a range of ecological roles including plant defence against disease and herbivores and possibly as allelopathic agents in competitive interactions between plants. Some saponins are also important pharmaceuticals, and the underexplored biodiversity of plant saponins is likely to prove to be a vital resource for future drug discovery. The biological activity of saponins is normally attributed to the amphipathic properties of these molecules, which consist of a hydrophobic triterpene or sterol backbone and a hydrophilic carbohydrate chain, although some saponins are known to have potent biological activities that are dependent on other aspects of their structure. This chapter will focus on the biological activity and the synthesis of some of the best-studied examples of plant saponins and on recent developments in the identification of the genes and enzymes responsible for saponin synthesis.
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Racolta S, Juhl PB, Sirim D, Pleiss J. The triterpene cyclase protein family: a systematic analysis. Proteins 2012; 80:2009-19. [PMID: 22488823 DOI: 10.1002/prot.24089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2012] [Revised: 03/16/2012] [Accepted: 03/20/2012] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Triterpene cyclases catalyze a broad range of cyclization reactions to form polycyclic triterpenes. Triterpene cyclases that convert squalene to hopene are named squalene-hopene cyclases (SHC) and triterpene cyclases that convert oxidosqualene are named oxidosqualene cyclases (OSC). Many sequences have been published, but there is only one structure available for each of SHCs and OSCs. Although they catalyze a similar reaction, the sequence similarity between SHCs and OSCs is low. A family classification based on phylogenetic analysis revealed 20 homologous families which are grouped into two superfamilies, SHCs and OSCs. Based on this family assignment, the Triterpene Cyclase Engineering Database (TTCED) was established. It integrates available information on sequence and structure of 639 triterpene cyclases as well as on structurally and functionally relevant amino acids. Family specific multiple sequence alignments were generated to identify the functionally relevant residues. Based on sequence alignments, conserved residues in SHCs and OSCs were analyzed and compared to experimentally confirmed mutational data. Functional schematic models of the central cavities of OSCs and SHCs were derived from structure comparison and sequence conservation analysis. These models demonstrate the high similarity of the substrate binding cavity of SHCs and OSCs and the equivalences of the respective residues. The TTCED is a novel source for comprehensive information on the triterpene cyclase family, including a compilation of previously described mutational data. The schematic models present the conservation analysis in a readily available fashion and facilitate the correlation of residues to a specific function or substrate interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Racolta
- Institute of Technical Biochemistry, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
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Zhuang X, Köllner TG, Zhao N, Li G, Jiang Y, Zhu L, Ma J, Degenhardt J, Chen F. Dynamic evolution of herbivore-induced sesquiterpene biosynthesis in sorghum and related grass crops. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2012; 69:70-80. [PMID: 21880075 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-313x.2011.04771.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) plants damaged by insects emit a blend of volatiles, predominantly sesquiterpenes, that are implicated in attracting natural enemies of the attacking insects. To characterize sesquiterpene biosynthesis in sorghum, seven terpene synthase (TPS) genes, SbTPS1 through SbTPS7, were identified based on their evolutionary relatedness to known sesquiterpene synthase genes from maize and rice. While SbTPS6 and SbTPS7 encode truncated proteins, all other TPS genes were determined to encode functional sesquiterpene synthases. Both SbTPS1 and SbTPS2 produced the major products zingiberene, β-bisabolene and β-sesquiphellandrene, but with opposite ratios of zingiberene to β-sesquiphellandrene. SbTPS3 produced (E)-α-bergamotene and (E)-β-farnesene. SbTPS4 formed (E)-β-caryophyllene as the major product. SbTPS5 produced mostly (E)-α-bergamotene and (Z)-γ-bisabolene. Based on the genome sequences of sorghum, maize and rice and the sesquiterpene synthase genes they contain, collinearity analysis identified the orthologs of sorghum sesquiterpene synthase genes, except for SbTPS4, in maize and rice. Phylogenetic analysis implied that SbTPS1, SbTPS2 and SbTPS3, which exist as tandem repeats, evolved as a consequence of local gene duplication in a lineage-specific manner. Structural modeling and site-directed mutagenesis experiments revealed that three amino acids in the active site play critical roles in defining product specificity of SbTPS1, SbTPS2, SbTPS3 and their orthologs in maize and rice. The naturally occurring functional variations of sesquiterpene synthases within and between species suggest that multiple mechanisms, including lineage-specific gene duplication, subfunctionalization, neofunctionalization and pseudogenization of duplicated genes, have all played a role in the dynamic evolution of insect-induced sesquiterpene biosynthesis in grasses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofeng Zhuang
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA
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Yonemura Y, Ohyama T, Hoshino T. Chemo-enzymatic syntheses of drimane-type sesquiterpenes and the fundamental core of hongoquercin meroterpenoid by recombinant squalene–hopene cyclase. Org Biomol Chem 2012; 10:440-6. [DOI: 10.1039/c1ob06419c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Affiliation(s)
- W David Nes
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas 79409, USA.
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Brendolise C, Yauk YK, Eberhard ED, Wang M, Chagne D, Andre C, Greenwood DR, Beuning LL. An unusual plant triterpene synthase with predominant α-amyrin-producing activity identified by characterizing oxidosqualene cyclases from Malus × domestica. FEBS J 2011; 278:2485-99. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1742-4658.2011.08175.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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Tholl D, Lee S. Terpene Specialized Metabolism in Arabidopsis thaliana. THE ARABIDOPSIS BOOK 2011; 9:e0143. [PMID: 22303268 PMCID: PMC3268506 DOI: 10.1199/tab.0143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 138] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Terpenes constitute the largest class of plant secondary (or specialized) metabolites, which are compounds of ecological function in plant defense or the attraction of beneficial organisms. Using biochemical and genetic approaches, nearly all Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis) enzymes of the core biosynthetic pathways producing the 5-carbon building blocks of terpenes have been characterized and closer insight has been gained into the transcriptional and posttranscriptional/translational mechanisms regulating these pathways. The biochemical function of most prenyltransferases, the downstream enzymes that condense the C(5)-precursors into central 10-, 15-, and 20-carbon prenyldiphosphate intermediates, has been described, although the function of several isoforms of C(20)-prenyltranferases is not well understood. Prenyl diphosphates are converted to a variety of C(10)-, C(15)-, and C(20)-terpene products by enzymes of the terpene synthase (TPS) family. Genomic organization of the 32 Arabidopsis TPS genes indicates a species-specific divergence of terpene synthases with tissue- and cell-type specific expression profiles that may have emerged under selection pressures by different organisms. Pseudogenization, differential expression, and subcellular segregation of TPS genes and enzymes contribute to the natural variation of terpene biosynthesis among Arabidopsis accessions (ecotypes) and species. Arabidopsis will remain an important model to investigate the metabolic organization and molecular regulatory networks of terpene specialized metabolism in relation to the biological activities of terpenes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorothea Tholl
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Sungbeom Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
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Augustin JM, Kuzina V, Andersen SB, Bak S. Molecular activities, biosynthesis and evolution of triterpenoid saponins. PHYTOCHEMISTRY 2011; 72:435-57. [PMID: 21333312 DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2011.01.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 409] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2010] [Revised: 01/07/2011] [Accepted: 01/11/2011] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Saponins are bioactive compounds generally considered to be produced by plants to counteract pathogens and herbivores. Besides their role in plant defense, saponins are of growing interest for drug research as they are active constituents of several folk medicines and provide valuable pharmacological properties. Accordingly, much effort has been put into unraveling the modes of action of saponins, as well as in exploration of their potential for industrial processes and pharmacology. However, the exploitation of saponins for bioengineering crop plants with improved resistances against pests as well as circumvention of laborious and uneconomical extraction procedures for industrial production from plants is hampered by the lack of knowledge and availability of genes in saponin biosynthesis. Although the ability to produce saponins is rather widespread among plants, a complete synthetic pathway has not been elucidated in any single species. Current conceptions consider saponins to be derived from intermediates of the phytosterol pathway, and predominantly enzymes belonging to the multigene families of oxidosqualene cyclases (OSCs), cytochromes P450 (P450s) and family 1 UDP-glycosyltransferases (UGTs) are thought to be involved in their biosynthesis. Formation of unique structural features involves additional biosynthetical enzymes of diverse phylogenetic background. As an example of this, a serine carboxypeptidase-like acyltransferase (SCPL) was recently found to be involved in synthesis of triterpenoid saponins in oats. However, the total number of identified genes in saponin biosynthesis remains low as the complexity and diversity of these multigene families impede gene discovery based on sequence analysis and phylogeny. This review summarizes current knowledge of triterpenoid saponin biosynthesis in plants, molecular activities, evolutionary aspects and perspectives for further gene discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jörg M Augustin
- Plant Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, Center for Synthetic Biology, VKR Research Centre Pro-Active Plants, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, DK-1871 Frederiksberg C, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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Sawai S, Uchiyama H, Mizuno S, Aoki T, Akashi T, Ayabe SI, Takahashi T. Molecular characterization of an oxidosqualene cyclase that yields shionone, a unique tetracyclic triterpene ketone of Aster tataricus. FEBS Lett 2011; 585:1031-6. [PMID: 21377465 DOI: 10.1016/j.febslet.2011.02.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2011] [Revised: 02/27/2011] [Accepted: 02/28/2011] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Shionone is the major triterpenoid component of Aster tataricus possessing a unique all six-membered tetracyclic skeleton and 3-oxo-4-monomethyl structure. To clarify its biosynthetic process, an oxidosqualene cyclase cDNA was isolated from A. tataricus, and the function of the enzyme was determined in lanosterol synthase-deficient yeast. The cyclase yielded ca. 90% shionone and small amounts of β-amyrin, friedelin, dammara-20,24-dienol, and 4-epishionone and was designated as a shionone synthase (SHS). Transcripts of SHS were detected in A. tataricus organs, confirming its involvement in shionone biosynthesis. SHS was shown to have evolved in the Asteraceae from β-amyrin synthase lineages and acquired characteristic species- and product-specificities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satoru Sawai
- Department of Applied Biological Sciences, Nihon University, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan
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Wang Z, Yeats T, Han H, Jetter R. Cloning and characterization of oxidosqualene cyclases from Kalanchoe daigremontiana: enzymes catalyzing up to 10 rearrangement steps yielding friedelin and other triterpenoids. J Biol Chem 2010; 285:29703-12. [PMID: 20610397 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m109.098871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The first committed step in triterpenoid biosynthesis is the cyclization of oxidosqualene to polycyclic alcohols or ketones C(30)H(50)O. It is catalyzed by single oxidosqualene cyclase (OSC) enzymes that can carry out varying numbers of carbocation rearrangements and, thus, generate triterpenoids with diverse carbon skeletons. OSCs from diverse plant species have been cloned and characterized, the large majority of them catalyzing relatively few rearrangement steps. It was recently predicted that special OSCs must exist that can form friedelin, the pentacyclic triterpenoid whose formation involves the maximum possible number of rearrangement steps. The goal of the present study, therefore, was to clone a friedelin synthase from Kalanchoe daigremontiana, a plant species known to accumulate this triterpenoid in its leaf surface waxes. Five OSC cDNAs were isolated, encoding proteins with 761-779 amino acids and sharing between 57.4 and 94.3% nucleotide sequence identity. Heterologous expression in yeast and GC-MS analyses showed that one of the OSCs generated the steroid cycloartenol together with minor side products, whereas the other four enzymes produced mixtures of pentacyclic triterpenoids dominated by lupeol (93%), taraxerol (60%), glutinol (66%), and friedelin (71%), respectively. The cycloartenol synthase was found expressed in all leaf tissues, whereas the lupeol, taraxerol, glutinol, and friedelin synthases were expressed only in the epidermis layers lining the upper and lower surfaces of the leaf blade. It is concluded that the function of these enzymes is to form respective triterpenoid aglycones destined to coat the leaf exterior, probably as defense compounds against pathogens or herbivores.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhonghua Wang
- Department of Botany and Chemistry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, Canada
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Zhao CL, Cui XM, Chen YP, Liang Q. Key Enzymes of Triterpenoid Saponin Biosynthesis and the Induction of Their Activities and Gene Expressions in Plants. Nat Prod Commun 2010. [DOI: 10.1177/1934578x1000500736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Triterpenoid saponins are one of the key active components of many medicinal plants. The biosynthetic pathway of triterpenoid saponins in higher plants and a lot of experimental results both indicated that the key enzymes involved in triterpenoid saponin synthesis are squalene synthase (SS), squalene epoxidase (SE), lupeol synthase (LS), dammarenediol synthase (DS), β-amyrin synthase (β-AS), cytochrome P450-dependent monooxygenase (PDMO), and glycosyltransferase (GT). The activities and coding genes of the key enzymes could be induced by a range of factors in various plant species. However, the effects of the factors on the content and composition of the triterpenoid saponins in specific plants are not certainly coincident, and different factors appear to induce the gene expressions of the key enzymes by different signal pathways and at different levels. This paper could provide a reference for strengthening the triterpenoid saponin-synthesizing capability of specific medicinal plants at enzyme and/or gene expression levels in order to improve the plants’ commercial values.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang Ling Zhao
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China
| | - Xiu Ming Cui
- Institute of Natural Products, Wenshan Sanqi Research Institute, Wenshan 663000, China
| | - Yan Ping Chen
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China
| | - Quan Liang
- College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China
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Domingo V, Arteaga JF, Quílez del Moral JF, Barrero AF. Unusually cyclized triterpenes: occurrence, biosynthesis and chemical synthesis. Nat Prod Rep 2009; 26:115-34. [PMID: 19374125 DOI: 10.1039/b801470c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The biosynthetic origin of most of triterpenes lies in cascade cyclizations and rearrangements of the acyclic precursors squalene (S) and 2,3-oxidosqualene (OS), processes leading to tetra- and pentacyclic triterpene skeleta. Apart from these, a number of triterpenoid structures derived from cyclization processes, that are different from those leading to tetra- and pentacyclic triterpenes, are also found in Nature. We have defined these processes as unusual cyclizations, and grouped them in three blocks, namely, incomplete cyclizations of the corresponding S-derived precursors, cyclizations of S or OS towards polycyclic triterpenes and subsequent cleavage of the preformed ring systems, and two independent cyclizations of the S- or OS-derived precursor. Apart from the molecules obtained from intact organisms, we will also consider the compounds obtained from in vitro cyclizations promoted by enzyme systems. After establishing which compounds could unambiguously be grouped under the term 'unusually cyclized triterpenes', this review moves on to the advances achieved in this kind of structure during the last ten years. These advances are presented in three parts. The first one presents the structure and biological properties of the unusual triterpenes reported in the last decade. The second part considers the main biosynthetic pathways which justify the formation of these triterpenes from their corresponding acyclic precursors. Finally, we look at the achievements made in different synthetic strategies directed at some of these molecules. One hundred and twenty-three references are cited.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoriano Domingo
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Institute of Biotechnology, University of Granada, Avenida Fuentenueva, 18071 Granada, Spain
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Hoshino T, Kumai Y, Sato T. Reviewing the polyolefin cyclization reaction of the c(35) polyprene catalyzed by squalene-hopene cyclase. Chemistry 2009; 15:2091-100. [PMID: 19142932 DOI: 10.1002/chem.200802142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
A review of the polycyclization reaction of the C(35) polyprenoid by squalene-hopene cyclase: Surprisingly, our results completely disagree with a previous publication in which it was reported that a hexacyclic skeleton was constructed as the single product. In our work many tri- and tetracyclic scaffolds were isolated, but no penta- or hexacycles. The reasons for the different results and the mechanism of the polycyclization reaction are discussed (see figure).Squalene-hopene cyclase (SHC) catalyzes the polycyclization of squalene (C(30)) to the pentacyclic hopene with regio- and stereochemical specificity. In this study, we reviewed the polycyclization reaction of the C(35) polyprenoid catalyzed by SHC. Surprisingly, our results completely disagreed with a previous publication in which it was reported that a hexacyclic skeleton was constructed as the single product in 10 % yield (I. Abe, H. Tanaka, H. Noguchi, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2002, 124, 14514-14515). Our experimental results showed that many tri- and tetracyclic products, up to 12, including novel carbocyclic cores, were generated in a high conversion ratio (97 %), but no detectable amounts of the penta- and hexacycle were produced. The mechanisms for the formation of the C(35) polyprene products isolated by us are discussed in this paper. The following four conformations were generated during the polycyclization cascade: chair-chair-boat, chair-chair-chair, chair-chair-chair-boat, and chair-chair-chair-chair. Larger amounts of the false intermediates with 13alpha-H (tricycle) and 17alpha-H (tetracycle) were produced compared with the true intermediates (13beta-H and 17beta-H), which indicates that the C(35) polyprene cannot fold correctly in the enzyme cavity due to the extra C(5) unit appended to squalene. This would have promoted the formation of the aborted cyclization products with tri- and tetracycles. In addition, the fact that no penta- or hexacyclic products were formed further indicates that SHC does not have sufficient space to accommodate the entire carbon framework of C(35).
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsutomu Hoshino
- Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Faculty of Agriculture and Graduate School of Science and Technology, Niigata University, Ikarashi 2-8050, Nishi-ku, Niigata 950-2181, Japan.
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Kirby J, Keasling JD. Biosynthesis of plant isoprenoids: perspectives for microbial engineering. ANNUAL REVIEW OF PLANT BIOLOGY 2009; 60:335-55. [PMID: 19575586 DOI: 10.1146/annurev.arplant.043008.091955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 301] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Isoprenoids are a large and highly diverse group of natural products with many functions in plant primary and secondary metabolism. Isoprenoids are synthesized from common prenyl diphosphate precursors through the action of terpene synthases and terpene-modifying enzymes such as cytochrome P450 monooxygenases. Many isoprenoids have important applications in areas such as human health and nutrition, and much effort has been directed toward their production in microbial hosts. However, many hurdles must be overcome in the elucidation and functional microbial expression of the genes responsible for biosynthesis of an isoprenoid of interest. Here, we review investigations into isoprenoid function and gene discovery in plants as well as the latest advances in isoprenoid pathway engineering in both plant and microbial hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Kirby
- California Institute of Quantitative Biomedical Research, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA.
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Yeast sterol C24-methyltransferase: role of highly conserved tyrosine-81 in catalytic competence studied by site-directed mutagenesis and thermodynamic analysis. Arch Biochem Biophys 2008; 477:313-23. [PMID: 18555004 DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2008.05.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2008] [Revised: 05/23/2008] [Accepted: 05/23/2008] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The role of Try-81 in the reaction catalyzed by Saccharomyces cerevisiae sterol 24-C-methyltransferase (Erg6p) was investigated kinetically and for product differences against a panel of position-81 mutants in which Tyr was substituted with Trp, Phe, Ile, Leu, Val and Ala. The residue chosen for mutation is one that was reported previously to accept fecosterol and yield a set 24-ethyl (idene) sterol products typical of plants, showing the amino acid residue is located close to the transient C25 carbocation intermediate in the active site. One group of mutants (aromatic) tested with the natural substrate zymosterol accelerated the C-methylation reaction (k(cat)/K(m)) whereas the other group of mutants (aliphatics) decreased catalytic competence as the amino acid side chain was downsized. Mutating to aromatic and assaying with the substrate analog designed as a suicide substrate 26,27-dehydrozymosterol favored C26-monol formation, whereas mutating to the aliphatic of smaller size favored C26-diol formation (a measure of enzyme alkylation). In no case was zymosterol converted to an intermediate that formed a C25-diol. Thermodynamic analysis (determination of E(a), DeltaG(double dagger), DeltaH(double dagger) and TDeltaS(double dagger)) for the C-methylation reaction performed by these enzymes assayed with the substrate and its analog or zymosterol paired with the "charged' high energy intermediate (HEI) analogs 24(R,S)25,epiminolanosterol and 25-azalanosterol or "neutral" membrane insert ergosterol showed that mutation to aromatics can reduce inhibitor potency (measured as K(m)/K(i)), yet catalysis can improve in Trp81 by the introduction of a gain in free energy associated with stabilization of the transition state of a rate-controlling step directed toward turnover. Alternatively, mutation to the smaller aliphatic amino acid side chains led to a destabilization in the active site structure which was accompanied by increases in the partition ratios associated with abortive complex formation. The results are explained by consideration of the functional differences attributed to Tyr81 substitution to aromatics and aliphatics of different size involved with cation-pi or hydrogen bonding interactions and in the activation barriers required of differing side chain conformations to orient the reactants in the direction of turnover versus enzyme inactivation.
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Wu TK, Chang CH, Liu YT, Wang TT. Saccharomyces cerevisiaeoxidosqualene-lanosterol cyclase: A chemistry-biology interdisciplinary study of the protein's structure-function-reaction mechanism relationships. CHEM REC 2008; 8:302-25. [DOI: 10.1002/tcr.20157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
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Kirby J, Keasling JD. Metabolic engineering of microorganisms for isoprenoid production. Nat Prod Rep 2008; 25:656-61. [DOI: 10.1039/b802939c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Yoshikuni Y, Keasling JD. Pathway engineering by designed divergent evolution. Curr Opin Chem Biol 2007; 11:233-9. [PMID: 17353138 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2007.02.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2007] [Accepted: 02/12/2007] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Designed divergent evolution is a proposed protein engineering methodology to redesign enzyme function. The methodology was developed on the basis of the theories of divergent molecular evolution: (i) enzymes with more active and specialized functions have evolved from ones with promiscuous functions; (ii) this process is driven by small numbers of amino acid substitutions (plasticity); and (iii) the effects of double or multiple mutations are often additive (quasi-additive assumption). Thus, in many cases the impact of multiple mutations can be calculated by first determining the effects of a mutation at a single position and subsequently summing these effects using the quasi-additive assumption. In this way, the shape of the fitness landscape of a particular enzyme function can be estimated. The combinations of mutations predicted to yield global optima for desired functions can then be selected and introduced into the enzymes. The methodology has been demonstrated to be very powerful to redesign enzyme function. The use of multiple redesigned enzymes in novel or reconstructed metabolic pathways will enable the production of natural and unnatural products that will find use as pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals and many other applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasuo Yoshikuni
- UCSF/UCB Joint Graduate Group in Bioengineering, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720 USA
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Phillips DR, Rasbery JM, Bartel B, Matsuda SP. Biosynthetic diversity in plant triterpene cyclization. CURRENT OPINION IN PLANT BIOLOGY 2006; 9:305-14. [PMID: 16581287 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbi.2006.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 248] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2005] [Accepted: 03/21/2006] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Plants produce a wealth of terpenoids, many of which have been the tools of healers and chiefs for millennia. Recent research has led to the identification and characterization of many genes that are responsible for the biosynthesis of triterpenoids. Cyclases that generate sterol precursors can be recognized with some confidence on the basis of sequence; several catalytically important residues are now known, and the product profiles of sterol-generating cyclases typically reflect their phylogenetic position. By contrast, the phylogenetic relationships of cyclases that generate nonsteroidal triterpene alcohols do not consistently reflect their catalytic properties and might indicate recent and rapid catalytic evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dereth R Phillips
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology and Department of Chemistry, Rice University, 6100 Main Street, Houston, TX 77005, USA
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Keeling CI, Bohlmann J. Genes, enzymes and chemicals of terpenoid diversity in the constitutive and induced defence of conifers against insects and pathogens. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2006; 170:657-75. [PMID: 16684230 DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2006.01716.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 366] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Insects select their hosts, but trees cannot select which herbivores will feed upon them. Thus, as long-lived stationary organisms, conifers must resist the onslaught of varying and multiple attackers over their lifetime. Arguably, the greatest threats to conifers are herbivorous insects and their associated pathogens. Insects such as bark beetles, stem- and wood-boring insects, shoot-feeding weevils, and foliage-feeding budworms and sawflies are among the most devastating pests of conifer forests. Conifer trees produce a great diversity of compounds, such as an enormous array of terpenoids and phenolics, that may impart resistance to a variety of herbivores and microorganisms. Insects have evolved to specialize in resistance to these chemicals -- choosing, feeding upon, and colonizing hosts they perceive to be best suited to reproduction. This review focuses on the plant-insect interactions mediated by conifer-produced terpenoids. To understand the role of terpenoids in conifer-insect interactions, we must understand how conifers produce the wide diversity of terpenoids, as well as understand how these specific compounds affect insect behaviour and physiology. This review examines what chemicals are produced, the genes and proteins involved in their biosynthesis, how they work, and how they are regulated. It also examines how insects and their associated pathogens interact with, elicit, and are affected by conifer-produced terpenoids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher I Keeling
- Michael Smith Laboratories, 301-2185 East Mall, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
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