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Sang M, Feng P, Chi LP, Zhang W. The biosynthetic logic and enzymatic machinery of approved fungi-derived pharmaceuticals and agricultural biopesticides. Nat Prod Rep 2024; 41:565-603. [PMID: 37990930 DOI: 10.1039/d3np00040k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2023]
Abstract
Covering: 2000 to 2023The kingdom Fungi has become a remarkably valuable source of structurally complex natural products (NPs) with diverse bioactivities. Since the revolutionary discovery and application of the antibiotic penicillin from Penicillium, a number of fungi-derived NPs have been developed and approved into pharmaceuticals and pesticide agents using traditional "activity-guided" approaches. Although emerging genome mining algorithms and surrogate expression hosts have brought revolutionary approaches to NP discovery, the time and costs involved in developing these into new drugs can still be prohibitively high. Therefore, it is essential to maximize the utility of existing drugs by rational design and systematic production of new chemical structures based on these drugs by synthetic biology. To this purpose, there have been great advances in characterizing the diversified biosynthetic gene clusters associated with the well-known drugs and in understanding the biosynthesis logic mechanisms and enzymatic transformation processes involved in their production. We describe advances made in the heterogeneous reconstruction of complex NP scaffolds using fungal polyketide synthases (PKSs), non-ribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs), PKS/NRPS hybrids, terpenoids, and indole alkaloids and also discuss mechanistic insights into metabolic engineering, pathway reprogramming, and cell factory development. Moreover, we suggest pathways for expanding access to the fungal chemical repertoire by biosynthesis of representative family members via common platform intermediates and through the rational manipulation of natural biosynthetic machineries for drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moli Sang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong 266237, China.
| | - Peiyuan Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong 266237, China.
| | - Lu-Ping Chi
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong 266237, China.
| | - Wei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong 266237, China.
- CAS and Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, Shandong 266071, China
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Davis KA, Jones AM, Panaccione DG. Two Satellite Gene Clusters Enhance Ergot Alkaloid Biosynthesis Capacity of Aspergillus leporis. Appl Environ Microbiol 2023; 89:e0079323. [PMID: 37432119 PMCID: PMC10467348 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00793-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 06/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Ergot alkaloids are fungal specialized metabolites that are important in agriculture and serve as sources of several pharmaceuticals. Aspergillus leporis is a soil saprotroph that possesses two ergot alkaloid biosynthetic gene clusters encoding lysergic acid amide production. We identified two additional, partial biosynthetic gene clusters within the A. leporis genome containing some of the ergot alkaloid synthesis (eas) genes required to make two groups of clavine ergot alkaloids, fumigaclavines and rugulovasines. Clavines possess unique biological properties compared to lysergic acid derivatives. Bioinformatic analyses indicated the fumigaclavine cluster contained functional copies of easA, easG, easD, easM, and easN. Genes resembling easQ and easH, which are required for rugulovasine production, were identified in a separate gene cluster. The pathways encoded by these partial, or satellite, clusters would require intermediates from the previously described lysergic acid amide pathway to synthesize a product. Chemical analyses of A. leporis cultures revealed the presence of fumigaclavine A. However, rugulovasine was only detected in a single sample, prompting a heterologous expression approach to confirm functionality of easQ and easH. An easA knockout strain of Metarhizium brunneum, which accumulates the rugulovasine precursor chanoclavine-I aldehyde, was chosen as expression host. Strains of M. brunneum expressing easQ and easH from A. leporis accumulated rugulovasine as demonstrated through mass spectrometry analysis. These data indicate that A. leporis is exceptional among fungi in having the capacity to synthesize products from three branches of the ergot alkaloid pathway and for utilizing an unusual satellite cluster approach to achieve that outcome. IMPORTANCE Ergot alkaloids are chemicals produced by several species of fungi and are notable for their impacts on agriculture and medicine. The ability to make ergot alkaloids is typically encoded by a clustered set of genes that are physically adjacent on a chromosome. Different ergot alkaloid classes are formed via branching of a complex pathway that begins with a core set of the same five genes. Most ergot alkaloid-producing fungi have a single cluster of genes that is complete, or self-sufficient, and produce ergot alkaloids from one or occasionally two branches from that single cluster. Our data show that Aspergillus leporis is exceptional in having the genetic capacity to make products from three pathway branches. Moreover, it uses a satellite cluster approach, in which gene products of partial clusters rely on supplementation with a chemical intermediate produced via another gene cluster, to diversify its biosynthetic potential without duplicating all the steps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle A. Davis
- Division of Plant and Soil Sciences, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
| | - Abigail M. Jones
- Division of Plant and Soil Sciences, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
| | - Daniel G. Panaccione
- Division of Plant and Soil Sciences, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA
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3
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Ramachanderan R, Schramm S, Schaefer B. Migraine drugs. CHEMTEXTS 2023. [DOI: 10.1007/s40828-023-00178-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/05/2023]
Abstract
AbstractAccording to recent studies, migraine affects more than 1 billion people worldwide, making it one of the world’s most prevalent diseases. Although this highly debilitating illness has been known since ancient times, the first therapeutic drugs to treat migraine, ergotamine (Gynergen) and dihydroergotamine (Dihydergot), did not appear on the market until 1921 and 1946, respectively. Both drugs originated from Sandoz, the world’s leading pharmaceutical company in ergot alkaloid research at the time. Historically, ergot alkaloids had been primarily used in obstetrics, but with methysergide (1-methyl-lysergic acid 1′-hydroxy-butyl-(2S)-amide), it became apparent that they also held some potential in migraine treatment. Methysergide was the first effective prophylactic drug developed specifically to prevent migraine attacks in 1959. On the basis of significantly improved knowledge of migraine pathophysiology and the discovery of serotonin and its receptors, Glaxo was able to launch sumatriptan in 1992. It was the first member from the class of triptans, which are selective 5-HT1B/1D receptor agonists. Recent innovations in acute and preventive migraine therapy include lasmiditan, a selective 5-HT1F receptor agonist from Eli Lilly, the gepants, which are calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor antagonists discovered at Merck & Co and BMS, and anti-CGRP/receptor monoclonal antibodies from Amgen, Pfizer, Eli Lilly, and others.
Graphical abstract
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Yu ZP, An C, Yao Y, Wang CY, Sun Z, Cui C, Liu L, Gao SS. A combined strategy for the overproduction of complex ergot alkaloid agroclavine. Synth Syst Biotechnol 2022; 7:1126-1132. [PMID: 36092273 PMCID: PMC9428804 DOI: 10.1016/j.synbio.2022.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2022] [Revised: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Microbial cell factories (MCFs) and cell-free systems (CFSs) are generally considered as two unrelated approaches for the biosynthesis of biomolecules. In the current study, two systems were combined together for the overproduction of agroclavine (AC), a structurally complex ergot alkaloid. The whole biosynthetic pathway for AC was split into the early pathway and the late pathway at the point of the FAD-linked oxidoreductase EasE, which was reconstituted in an MCF (Aspergillus nidulans) and a four-enzyme CFS, respectively. The final titer of AC of this combined system is 1209 mg/L, which is the highest one that has been reported so far, to the best of our knowledge. The development of such a combined route could potentially avoid the limitations of both MCF and CFS systems, and boost the production of complex ergot alkaloids with polycyclic ring systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi-Pu Yu
- Key Laboratory of Marine Drugs, The Ministry of Education of China, Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, PR China
- Laboratory for Marine Drugs and Bioproducts, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266003, PR China
| | - Chunyan An
- Beijing Institute for Drug Control, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Generic Drugs, Beijing Key Laboratory of Analysis and Evaluation on Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 102206, PR China
| | - Yongpeng Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, PR China
| | - Chang-Yun Wang
- Key Laboratory of Marine Drugs, The Ministry of Education of China, Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, PR China
- Laboratory for Marine Drugs and Bioproducts, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266003, PR China
| | - Zhoutong Sun
- Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, 300308, PR China
- National Technology Innovation Center of Synthetic Biology, Tianjin, 300308, PR China
| | - Chengsen Cui
- Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, 300308, PR China
- National Technology Innovation Center of Synthetic Biology, Tianjin, 300308, PR China
| | - Ling Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, PR China
- Corresponding author.
| | - Shu-Shan Gao
- Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, 300308, PR China
- National Technology Innovation Center of Synthetic Biology, Tianjin, 300308, PR China
- Corresponding author.
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Methods of Lysergic Acid Synthesis—The Key Ergot Alkaloid. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27217322. [PMID: 36364148 PMCID: PMC9654825 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27217322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Revised: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Ergot is the spore form of the fungus Claviceps purpurea. Ergot alkaloids are indole compounds that are biosynthetically derived from L-tryptophan and represent the largest group of fungal nitrogen metabolites found in nature. The common part of ergot alkaloids is lysergic acid. This review shows the importance of lysergic acid as a representative of ergot alkaloids. The subject of ergot and its alkaloids is presented, with a particular focus on lysergic acid. All methods of total lysergic acid synthesis—through Woodward, Hendrickson, and Szantay intermediates and Heck coupling methods—are presented. The topic of biosynthesis is also discussed.
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Wei X, Wang WG, Matsuda Y. Branching and converging pathways in fungal natural product biosynthesis. Fungal Biol Biotechnol 2022; 9:6. [PMID: 35255990 PMCID: PMC8902786 DOI: 10.1186/s40694-022-00135-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Accepted: 02/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractIn nature, organic molecules with great structural diversity and complexity are synthesized by utilizing a relatively small number of starting materials. A synthetic strategy adopted by nature is pathway branching, in which a common biosynthetic intermediate is transformed into different end products. A natural product can also be synthesized by the fusion of two or more precursors generated from separate metabolic pathways. This review article summarizes several representative branching and converging pathways in fungal natural product biosynthesis to illuminate how fungi are capable of synthesizing a diverse array of natural products.
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Jamieson CS, Misa J, Tang Y, Billingsley JM. Biosynthesis and synthetic biology of psychoactive natural products. Chem Soc Rev 2021; 50:6950-7008. [PMID: 33908526 PMCID: PMC8217322 DOI: 10.1039/d1cs00065a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Psychoactive natural products play an integral role in the modern world. The tremendous structural complexity displayed by such molecules confers diverse biological activities of significant medicinal value and sociocultural impact. Accordingly, in the last two centuries, immense effort has been devoted towards establishing how plants, animals, and fungi synthesize complex natural products from simple metabolic precursors. The recent explosion of genomics data and molecular biology tools has enabled the identification of genes encoding proteins that catalyze individual biosynthetic steps. Once fully elucidated, the "biosynthetic pathways" are often comparable to organic syntheses in elegance and yield. Additionally, the discovery of biosynthetic enzymes provides powerful catalysts which may be repurposed for synthetic biology applications, or implemented with chemoenzymatic synthetic approaches. In this review, we discuss the progress that has been made toward biosynthetic pathway elucidation amongst four classes of psychoactive natural products: hallucinogens, stimulants, cannabinoids, and opioids. Compounds of diverse biosynthetic origin - terpene, amino acid, polyketide - are identified, and notable mechanisms of key scaffold transforming steps are highlighted. We also provide a description of subsequent applications of the biosynthetic machinery, with an emphasis placed on the synthetic biology and metabolic engineering strategies enabling heterologous production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cooper S Jamieson
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| | - Joshua Misa
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| | - Yi Tang
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA. and Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| | - John M Billingsley
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA. and Invizyne Technologies, Inc., Monrovia, CA, USA
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Genetic Manipulation of the Ergot Alkaloid Pathway in Epichloë festucae var. lolii and Its Effect on Black Beetle Feeding Deterrence. Toxins (Basel) 2021; 13:toxins13020076. [PMID: 33498584 PMCID: PMC7909537 DOI: 10.3390/toxins13020076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Revised: 01/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Epichloë endophytes are filamentous fungi (family Clavicipitaceae) that live in symbiotic associations with grasses in the sub family Poöideae. In New Zealand, E. festucae var. lolii confers significant resistance to perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) against insect and animal herbivory and is an essential component of pastoral agriculture, where ryegrass is a major forage species. The fungus produces in planta a range of bioactive secondary metabolites, including ergovaline, which has demonstrated bioactivity against the important pasture pest black beetle, but can also cause mammalian toxicosis. We genetically modified E. festucae var. lolii strain AR5 to eliminate key enzymatic steps in the ergovaline pathway to determine if intermediate ergot alkaloid compounds can still provide insecticidal benefits in the absence of the toxic end product ergovaline. Four genes (dmaW, easG, cloA, and lpsB) spanning the pathway were deleted and each deletion mutant was inoculated into five different plant genotypes of perennial ryegrass, which were later harvested for a full chemical analysis of the ergot alkaloid compounds produced. These associations were also used in a black beetle feeding deterrence study. Deterrence was seen with just chanoclavine present, but was cumulative as more intermediate compounds in the pathway were made available. Ergovaline was not detected in any of the deletion associations, indicating that bioactivity towards black beetle can be obtained in the absence of this mammalian toxin.
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Králová M, Frébortová J, Pěnčík A, Frébort I. Overexpression of Trp-related genes in Claviceps purpurea leading to increased ergot alkaloid production. N Biotechnol 2020; 61:69-79. [PMID: 33188977 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbt.2020.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2020] [Revised: 11/04/2020] [Accepted: 11/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The parasitic fungus Claviceps purpurea has been used for decades by the pharmaceutical industry as a valuable producer of ergot alkaloids. As the biosynthetic pathway of ergot alkaloids involves a common precursor L-tryptophan, targeted genetic modification of the related genes may improve production yield. In this work, the S76L mutated version of the trpE gene encoding anthranilate synthase was constitutively overexpressed in the fungus with the aim of overcoming feedback inhibition of the native enzyme by an excess of tryptophan. In another approach, the dmaW gene encoding dimethylallyltryptophan synthase, which produces a key intermediate for the biosynthesis of ergot alkaloids, was also constitutively overexpressed. Each of the above manipulations led to a significant increase (up to 7-fold) in the production of ergot alkaloids in submerged cultures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michaela Králová
- Department of Molecular Biology, Centre of the Region Haná for Biotechnological and Agricultural Research, Palacký University Olomouc, Šlechtitelů 27, Olomouc, 783 71 Czech Republic
| | - Jitka Frébortová
- Department of Chemical Biology and Genetics, Centre of the Region Haná for Biotechnological and Agricultural Research, Palacký University Olomouc, Šlechtitelů 27, Olomouc, 783 71 Czech Republic
| | - Aleš Pěnčík
- Department of Chemical Biology and Genetics, Centre of the Region Haná for Biotechnological and Agricultural Research, Palacký University Olomouc, Šlechtitelů 27, Olomouc, 783 71 Czech Republic
| | - Ivo Frébort
- Department of Molecular Biology, Centre of the Region Haná for Biotechnological and Agricultural Research, Palacký University Olomouc, Šlechtitelů 27, Olomouc, 783 71 Czech Republic.
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Genetic Reprogramming of the Ergot Alkaloid Pathway of Metarhizium brunneum. Appl Environ Microbiol 2020; 86:AEM.01251-20. [PMID: 32769181 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01251-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2020] [Accepted: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Ergot alkaloids are important specialized fungal metabolites that are used to make potent pharmaceuticals for neurological diseases and disorders. Lysergic acid (LA) and dihydrolysergic acid (DHLA) are desirable lead compounds for pharmaceutical semisynthesis but are typically transient intermediates in the ergot alkaloid and dihydroergot alkaloid pathways. Previous work with Neosartorya fumigata demonstrated strategies to produce these compounds as pathway end products, but their percent yield (percentage of molecules in product state as opposed to precursor state) was low. Moreover, ergot alkaloids in N. fumigata are typically retained in the fungus as opposed to being secreted. We used clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)-CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) and heterologous expression approaches to engineer these compounds in Metarhizium brunneum, representing an alternate expression host from a different lineage of fungi. The relative percent yields of LA (86.9%) and DHLA (72.8%) were much higher than those calculated here for previously engineered strains of N. fumigata (2.6% and 2.0%, respectively). Secretion of these alkaloids also was measured, with averages of 98.4% of LA and 87.5% of DHLA being secreted into the growth medium; both values were significantly higher than those measured for the N. fumigata derivatives (both of which were less than 5.6% secreted). We used a similar approach to engineer a novel dihydroergot alkaloid in M. brunneum and, through high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analyses, provisionally identified it as the dihydrogenated form of lysergic acid α-hydroxyethylamide (dihydro-LAH). The engineering of these strains provides a strategy for producing novel and pharmaceutically important chemicals in a fungus more suitable for their production.IMPORTANCE Ergot alkaloids derived from LA or DHLA are the bases for numerous pharmaceuticals with applications in the treatment of dementia, migraines, hyperprolactinemia, and other conditions. However, extraction of ergot alkaloids from natural sources is inefficient, and their chemical synthesis is expensive. The ability to control and redirect ergot alkaloid synthesis in fungi may allow more efficient production of these important chemicals and facilitate research on novel derivatives. Our results show that Metarhizium brunneum can be engineered to efficiently produce and secrete LA and DHLA and, also, to produce a novel derivative of DHLA not previously found in nature. The engineering of dihydroergot alkaloids, including a novel species, is important because very few natural sources of these compounds are known. Our approach establishes a platform with which to use M. brunneum to study the production of other ergot alkaloids, specifically those classified as lysergic acid amides and dihydroergot alkaloids.
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Bharadwaj R, Jagadeesan H, Kumar SR, Ramalingam S. Molecular mechanisms in grass-Epichloë interactions: towards endophyte driven farming to improve plant fitness and immunity. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 2020; 36:92. [PMID: 32562008 DOI: 10.1007/s11274-020-02868-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2020] [Accepted: 06/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
All plants harbor many microbial species including bacteria and fungi in their tissues. The interactions between the plant and these microbes could be symbiotic, mutualistic, parasitic or commensalistic. Mutualistic microorganisms are endophytic in nature and are known to play a role in plant growth, development and fitness. Endophytes display complex diversity depending upon the agro-climatic conditions and this diversity could be exploited for crop improvement and sustainable agriculture. Plant-endophyte partnerships are highly specific, several genetic and molecular cascades play a key role in colonization of endophytes in host plants leading to rapid changes in host and endophyte metabolism. This results in the accumulation of secondary metabolites, which play an important role in plant defense against biotic and abiotic stress conditions. Alkaloids are one of the important class of metabolites produced by Epichloë genus and other related classes of endophytes and confer protection against insect and mammalian herbivory. In this context, this review discusses the evolutionary aspects of the Epichloë genus along with key molecular mechanisms determining the lifestyle of Epichloë endophytes in host system. Novel hypothesis is proposed to outline the initial cellular signaling events during colonization of Epichloë in cool season grasses. Complex clustering of alkaloid biosynthetic genes and molecular mechanisms involved in the production of alkaloids have been elaborated in detail. The natural defense and advantages of the endophyte derived metabolites have also been extensively discussed. Finally, this review highlights the importance of endophyte-arbitrated plant immunity to develop novel approaches for eco-friendly agriculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Bharadwaj
- Plant Genetic Engineering Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, 641046, India
| | - H Jagadeesan
- Department of Biotechnology, PSG College of Technology, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - S R Kumar
- Plant Genetic Engineering Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, 641046, India
| | - S Ramalingam
- Plant Genetic Engineering Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, 641046, India.
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Yan L, Liu Y. Insights into the Mechanism and Enantioselectivity in the Biosynthesis of Ergot Alkaloid Cycloclavine Catalyzed by Aj_EasH from Aspergillus japonicus. Inorg Chem 2019; 58:13771-13781. [PMID: 31560525 DOI: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.9b01168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Cycloclavine is a complex ergot alkaloid containing an unusual cyclopropyl moiety, which has a wide range of biological activities and pharmaceutical applications. The biosynthesis of cycloclavine requires a series of enzymes, one of which is a nonheme FeII/α-ketoglutarate-dependent (aKG) oxidase (Aj_EasH). According to the previous proposal, the cyclopropyl ring formation catalyzed by Aj_EasH follows an unprecedented oxidative mechanism; however, the reaction details are unknown. In this article, on the basis of the recently obtained crystal structure of Aj_EasH (EasH from Aspergillus japonicas), the reactant models were built, and the reaction details were investigated by performing QM-only and combined QM and MM calculations. Our calculation results reveal that the biosynthesis of cyclopropyl moiety involves a radical intermediate rather than a carbocationic or carbanionic intermediate as in the biosynthesis of terpenoid family. The iron(IV)-oxo first abstracts a hydrogen atom from the substrate to trigger the reaction, and then the generated radical intermediate undergoes ring rearrangement to form the fused 5-3 ring system of cycloclavine. On the basis of our calculations, the absolute configuration of the cycloclavine catalyzed by Aj_EasH from Aspergillus japonicus should be (5R,8R,10R), which is different from the product isolated from Ipomoea hildebrandtii (5R,8S,10S). Residues at the active site play an important role in substrate binding, ring rearrangement, and enantioselectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lijuan Yan
- Key Lab of Colloid and Interface Chemistry, Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering , Shandong University , Jinan , Shandong 250100 , China
| | - Yongjun Liu
- Key Lab of Colloid and Interface Chemistry, Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering , Shandong University , Jinan , Shandong 250100 , China
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Song H, Naowarojna N, Cheng R, Lopez J, Liu P. Non-heme iron enzyme-catalyzed complex transformations: Endoperoxidation, cyclopropanation, orthoester, oxidative C-C and C-S bond formation reactions in natural product biosynthesis. ADVANCES IN PROTEIN CHEMISTRY AND STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY 2019; 117:1-61. [PMID: 31564305 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apcsb.2019.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Non-heme iron enzymes catalyze a wide range of chemical transformations, serving as one of the key types of tailoring enzymes in the biosynthesis of natural products. Hydroxylation reaction is the most common type of reactions catalyzed by these enzymes and hydroxylation reactions have been extensively investigated mechanistically. However, the mechanistic details for other types of transformations remain largely unknown or unexplored. In this paper, we present some of the most recently discovered transformations, including endoperoxidation, orthoester formation, cyclopropanation, oxidative C-C and C-S bond formation reactions. In addition, many of them are multi-functional enzymes, which further complicate their mechanistic investigations. In this work, we summarize their biosynthetic pathways, with special emphasis on the mechanistic details available for these newly discovered enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heng Song
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Hubei, People's Republic of China
| | | | - Ronghai Cheng
- Department of Chemistry, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Juan Lopez
- Department of Chemistry, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Pinghua Liu
- Department of Chemistry, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States
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Antipova TV, Zhelifonova VP, Baskunov BP, Kochkina GA, Ozerskaya SM, Kozlovskii AG. Exometabolites the Penicillium Fungi Isolated from Various High-Latitude Ecosystems. Microbiology (Reading) 2018. [DOI: 10.1134/s002626171805003x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
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15
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Ergot Alkaloid Synthesis Capacity of Penicillium camemberti. Appl Environ Microbiol 2018; 84:AEM.01583-18. [PMID: 30076193 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01583-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2018] [Accepted: 07/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Ergot alkaloids are specialized fungal metabolites with potent biological activities. They are encoded by well-characterized gene clusters in the genomes of producing fungi. Penicillium camemberti plays a major role in the ripening of Brie and Camembert cheeses. The P. camemberti genome contains a cluster of five genes shown in other fungi to be required for synthesis of the important ergot alkaloid intermediate chanoclavine-I aldehyde and two additional genes (easH and easQ) that may control modification of chanoclavine-I aldehyde into other ergot alkaloids. We analyzed samples of Brie and Camembert cheeses, as well as cultures of P. camemberti, and did not detect chanoclavine-I aldehyde or its derivatives. To create a functioning facsimile of the P. camembertieas cluster, we expressed P. camemberti easH and easQ in a chanoclavine-I aldehyde-accumulating easA knockout mutant of Neosartorya fumigata The easH-easQ-engineered N. fumigata strain accumulated a pair of compounds of m/z 269.1288 in positive-mode liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). The analytes fragmented in a manner typical of the stereoisomeric ergot alkaloids rugulovasine A and B, and the related rugulovasine producer Penicillium biforme accumulated the same isomeric pair of analytes. The P. camemberti eas genes were transcribed in culture, but comparison of the P. camemberti eas cluster with the functional cluster from P. biforme indicated 11 polymorphisms. Whereas other P. camembertieas genes functioned when expressed in N. fumigata, P. camembertieasC did not restore ergot alkaloids when expressed in an easC mutant. The data indicate that P. camemberti formerly had the capacity to produce the ergot alkaloids rugulovasine A and B.IMPORTANCE The presence of ergot alkaloid synthesis genes in the genome of Penicillium camemberti is significant, because the fungus is widely consumed in Brie and Camembert cheeses. Our results show that, although the fungus has several functional genes from the ergot alkaloid pathway, it produces only an early pathway intermediate in culture and does not produce ergot alkaloids in cheese. Penicillium biforme, a close relative of P. camemberti, contains a similar but fully functional set of ergot alkaloid synthesis genes and produces ergot alkaloids chanoclavine-I, chanoclavine-I aldehyde, and rugulovasine A and B. Our reconstruction of the P. camemberti pathway in the model fungus Neosartorya fumigata indicated that P. camemberti formerly had the capacity to produce these same ergot alkaloids. Neither P. camemberti nor P. biforme produced ergot alkaloids in cheese, indicating that nutritionally driven gene regulation prevents these fungi from producing ergot alkaloids in a dairy environment.
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Martín JF, Álvarez-Álvarez R, Liras P. Clavine Alkaloids Gene Clusters of Penicillium and Related Fungi: Evolutionary Combination of Prenyltransferases, Monooxygenases and Dioxygenases. Genes (Basel) 2017; 8:genes8120342. [PMID: 29186777 PMCID: PMC5748660 DOI: 10.3390/genes8120342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2017] [Revised: 11/13/2017] [Accepted: 11/16/2017] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The clavine alkaloids produced by the fungi of the Aspergillaceae and Arthrodermatacea families differ from the ergot alkaloids produced by Claviceps and Neotyphodium. The clavine alkaloids lack the extensive peptide chain modifications that occur in lysergic acid derived ergot alkaloids. Both clavine and ergot alkaloids arise from the condensation of tryptophan and dimethylallylpyrophosphate by the action of the dimethylallyltryptophan synthase. The first five steps of the biosynthetic pathway that convert tryptophan and dimethylallyl-pyrophosphate (DMA-PP) in chanoclavine-1-aldehyde are common to both clavine and ergot alkaloids. The biosynthesis of ergot alkaloids has been extensively studied and is not considered in this article. We focus this review on recent advances in the gene clusters for clavine alkaloids in the species of Penicillium, Aspergillus (Neosartorya), Arthroderma and Trychophyton and the enzymes encoded by them. The final products of the clavine alkaloids pathways derive from the tetracyclic ergoline ring, which is modified by late enzymes, including a reverse type prenyltransferase, P450 monooxygenases and acetyltransferases. In Aspergillus japonicus, a α-ketoglutarate and Fe2+-dependent dioxygenase is involved in the cyclization of a festuclavine-like unknown type intermediate into cycloclavine. Related dioxygenases occur in the biosynthetic gene clusters of ergot alkaloids in Claviceps purpurea and also in the clavine clusters in Penicillium species. The final products of the clavine alkaloid pathway in these fungi differ from each other depending on the late biosynthetic enzymes involved. An important difference between clavine and ergot alkaloid pathways is that clavine producers lack the enzyme CloA, a P450 monooxygenase, involved in one of the steps of the conversion of chanoclavine-1-aldehyde into lysergic acid. Bioinformatic analysis of the sequenced genomes of the Aspergillaceae and Arthrodermataceae fungi showed the presence of clavine gene clusters in Arthroderma species, Penicillium roqueforti, Penicillium commune, Penicillium camemberti, Penicillium expansum, Penicillium steckii and Penicillium griseofulvum. Analysis of the gene clusters in several clavine alkaloid producers indicates that there are gene gains, gene losses and gene rearrangements. These findings may be explained by a divergent evolution of the gene clusters of ergot and clavine alkaloids from a common ancestral progenitor six genes cluster although horizontal gene transfer of some specific genes may have occurred more recently.
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Silencing of a second dimethylallyltryptophan synthase of Penicillium roqueforti reveals a novel clavine alkaloid gene cluster. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2017; 101:6111-6121. [PMID: 28620689 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-017-8366-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2017] [Revised: 05/22/2017] [Accepted: 05/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Penicillium roqueforti produces several prenylated indole alkaloids, including roquefortine C and clavine alkaloids. The first step in the biosynthesis of roquefortine C is the prenylation of tryptophan-derived dipeptides by a dimethylallyltryptophan synthase, specific for roquefortine biosynthesis (roquefortine prenyltransferase). A second dimethylallyltryptophan synthase, DmaW2, different from the roquefortine prenyltransferase, has been studied in this article. Silencing the gene encoding this second dimethylallyltryptophan synthase, dmaW2, proved that inactivation of this gene does not prevent the production of roquefortine C, but suppresses the formation of other indole alkaloids. Mass spectrometry studies have identified these compounds as isofumigaclavine A, the pathway final product and prenylated intermediates. The silencing does not affect the production of mycophenolic acid and andrastin A. A bioinformatic study of the genome of P. roqueforti revealed that DmaW2 (renamed IfgA) is a prenyltransferase involved in isofumigaclavine A biosynthesis encoded by a gene located in a six genes cluster (cluster A). A second three genes cluster (cluster B) encodes the so-called yellow enzyme and enzymes for the late steps for the conversion of festuclavine to isofumigaclavine A. The yellow enzyme contains a tyrosine-181 at its active center, as occurs in Neosartorya fumigata, but in contrast to the Clavicipitaceae fungi. A complete isofumigaclavines A and B biosynthetic pathway is proposed based on the finding of these studies on the biosynthesis of clavine alkaloids.
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18
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Abstract
Ergot alkaloids are a class of indole derivatives produced by the genera of Ascomycota includingClaviceps,Aspergillus,Penicillium, andEpichloë.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing-Jing Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines
- Key Laboratory of Biosynthesis of Natural Products of National Health and Family Planning Commission
- Institute of Materia Medica
- Peking Union Medical College & Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences
- Beijing 100050
| | - Meng-Yao Han
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines
- Key Laboratory of Biosynthesis of Natural Products of National Health and Family Planning Commission
- Institute of Materia Medica
- Peking Union Medical College & Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences
- Beijing 100050
| | - Ting Gong
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines
- Key Laboratory of Biosynthesis of Natural Products of National Health and Family Planning Commission
- Institute of Materia Medica
- Peking Union Medical College & Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences
- Beijing 100050
| | - Jin-Ling Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines
- Key Laboratory of Biosynthesis of Natural Products of National Health and Family Planning Commission
- Institute of Materia Medica
- Peking Union Medical College & Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences
- Beijing 100050
| | - Ping Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines
- Key Laboratory of Biosynthesis of Natural Products of National Health and Family Planning Commission
- Institute of Materia Medica
- Peking Union Medical College & Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences
- Beijing 100050
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19
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Gerhards N, Li SM. A bifunctional old yellow enzyme from Penicillium roqueforti is involved in ergot alkaloid biosynthesis. Org Biomol Chem 2017; 15:8059-8071. [DOI: 10.1039/c7ob02095c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Bifunctional FgaOx3Pr3catalyses the formation of festuclavine in the presence of EasG or FgaFS and enhances the activity of several chanoclavine-I dehydrogenases tremendously.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Gerhards
- Institut für Pharmazeutische Biologie und Biotechnologie
- Philipps-Universität Marburg
- D-35037 Marburg
- Germany
| | - Shu-Ming Li
- Institut für Pharmazeutische Biologie und Biotechnologie
- Philipps-Universität Marburg
- D-35037 Marburg
- Germany
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20
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Jakubczyk D, Caputi L, Stevenson CEM, Lawson DM, O'Connor SE. Structural characterization of EasH (Aspergillus japonicus) - an oxidase involved in cycloclavine biosynthesis. Chem Commun (Camb) 2016; 52:14306-14309. [PMID: 27885368 PMCID: PMC5317212 DOI: 10.1039/c6cc08438a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2016] [Accepted: 11/22/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Aj_EasH is a non-heme iron- and α-keto-glutarate-dependent oxidase that is responsible for an unusual cyclopropyl ring formation in the biosynthesis of the fungal ergot alkaloid cycloclavine. The three dimensional structure of Aj_EasH (2.2 Å resolution) reported here provides insight into the mechanism of this unusual and complex reaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorota Jakubczyk
- Department of Biological Chemistry, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK.
| | - Lorenzo Caputi
- Department of Biological Chemistry, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK.
| | - Clare E M Stevenson
- Department of Biological Chemistry, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK.
| | - David M Lawson
- Department of Biological Chemistry, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK.
| | - Sarah E O'Connor
- Department of Biological Chemistry, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK.
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21
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Majeská Čudejková M, Vojta P, Valík J, Galuszka P. Quantitative and qualitative transcriptome analysis of four industrial strains of Claviceps purpurea with respect to ergot alkaloid production. N Biotechnol 2016; 33:743-754. [PMID: 26827914 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbt.2016.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2015] [Revised: 12/22/2015] [Accepted: 01/05/2016] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
The fungus Claviceps purpurea is a biotrophic phytopathogen widely used in the pharmaceutical industry for its ability to produce ergot alkaloids (EAs). The fungus attacks unfertilized ovaries of grasses and forms sclerotia, which represent the only type of tissue where the synthesis of EAs occurs. The biosynthetic pathway of EAs has been extensively studied; however, little is known concerning its regulation. Here, we present the quantitative transcriptome analysis of the sclerotial and mycelial tissues providing a comprehensive view of transcriptional differences between the tissues that produce EAs and those that do not produce EAs and the pathogenic and non-pathogenic lifestyle. The results indicate metabolic changes coupled with sclerotial differentiation, which are likely needed as initiation factors for EA biosynthesis. One of the promising factors seems to be oxidative stress. Here, we focus on the identification of putative transcription factors and regulators involved in sclerotial differentiation, which might be involved in EA biosynthesis. To shed more light on the regulation of EA composition, whole transcriptome analysis of four industrial strains differing in their alkaloid spectra was performed. The results support the hypothesis proposing the composition of the amino acid pool in sclerotia to be an important factor regulating the final structure of the ergopeptines produced by Claviceps purpurea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mária Majeská Čudejková
- Department of Molecular Biology, Centre of the Region Haná for Biotechnological and Agricultural Research, Faculty of Science, Palacký University in Olomouc, Šlechtitelů 27, 783 71 Olomouc, Czech Republic.
| | - Petr Vojta
- Department of Molecular Biology, Centre of the Region Haná for Biotechnological and Agricultural Research, Faculty of Science, Palacký University in Olomouc, Šlechtitelů 27, 783 71 Olomouc, Czech Republic; Institute of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacký University Olomouc, Hněvotínská 1333/5, 779 00 Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Josef Valík
- Teva Czech Industries s.r.o., Ostravská 305/29, 747 70 Opava-Komárov, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Galuszka
- Department of Molecular Biology, Centre of the Region Haná for Biotechnological and Agricultural Research, Faculty of Science, Palacký University in Olomouc, Šlechtitelů 27, 783 71 Olomouc, Czech Republic
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22
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Jakubczyk D, Caputi L, Hatsch A, Nielsen CAF, Diefenbacher M, Klein J, Molt A, Schröder H, Cheng JZ, Naesby M, O'Connor SE. Discovery and reconstitution of the cycloclavine biosynthetic pathway--enzymatic formation of a cyclopropyl group. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2015; 54:5117-21. [PMID: 25712404 PMCID: PMC4471609 DOI: 10.1002/anie.201410002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2014] [Revised: 01/29/2015] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
The ergot alkaloids, a class of fungal-derived natural products with important biological activities, are derived from a common intermediate, chanoclavine-I, which is elaborated into a set of diverse structures. Herein we report the discovery of the biosynthetic pathway of cycloclavine, a complex ergot alkaloid containing a cyclopropyl moiety. We used a yeast-based expression platform along with in vitro biochemical experiments to identify the enzyme that catalyzes a rearrangement of the chanoclavine-I intermediate to form a cyclopropyl moiety. The resulting compound, cycloclavine, was produced in yeast at titers of >500 mg L(-1) , thus demonstrating the feasibility of the heterologous expression of these complex alkaloids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorota Jakubczyk
- Department of Biological Chemistry, John Innes CentreColney Lane, Norwich (UK)
| | - Lorenzo Caputi
- Department of Biological Chemistry, John Innes CentreColney Lane, Norwich (UK)
| | | | | | | | - Jens Klein
- Evolva SADuggingerstrasse 23, Reinach (Switzerland)
| | | | | | - Johnathan Z Cheng
- Department of Biological Chemistry, John Innes CentreColney Lane, Norwich (UK)
| | | | - Sarah E O'Connor
- Department of Biological Chemistry, John Innes CentreColney Lane, Norwich (UK)
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23
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Gerhards N, Matuschek M, Wallwey C, Li SM. Genome mining of ascomycetous fungi reveals their genetic potential for ergot alkaloid production. Arch Microbiol 2015; 197:701-13. [DOI: 10.1007/s00203-015-1105-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2015] [Revised: 03/07/2015] [Accepted: 03/12/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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24
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Jakubczyk D, Caputi L, Hatsch A, Nielsen CAF, Diefenbacher M, Klein J, Molt A, Schröder H, Cheng JZ, Naesby M, O'Connor SE. Discovery and Reconstitution of the Cycloclavine Biosynthetic Pathway-Enzymatic Formation of a Cyclopropyl Group. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015; 127:5206-5210. [PMID: 27546918 PMCID: PMC4974921 DOI: 10.1002/ange.201410002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2014] [Revised: 01/29/2015] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
The ergot alkaloids, a class of fungal‐derived natural products with important biological activities, are derived from a common intermediate, chanoclavine‐I, which is elaborated into a set of diverse structures. Herein we report the discovery of the biosynthetic pathway of cycloclavine, a complex ergot alkaloid containing a cyclopropyl moiety. We used a yeast‐based expression platform along with in vitro biochemical experiments to identify the enzyme that catalyzes a rearrangement of the chanoclavine‐I intermediate to form a cyclopropyl moiety. The resulting compound, cycloclavine, was produced in yeast at titers of >500 mg L−1, thus demonstrating the feasibility of the heterologous expression of these complex alkaloids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorota Jakubczyk
- Department of Biological Chemistry, John Innes Centre, Colney Lane, Norwich (UK)
| | - Lorenzo Caputi
- Department of Biological Chemistry, John Innes Centre, Colney Lane, Norwich (UK)
| | | | | | | | - Jens Klein
- Evolva SA, Duggingerstrasse 23, Reinach (Switzerland)
| | | | | | - Johnathan Z Cheng
- Department of Biological Chemistry, John Innes Centre, Colney Lane, Norwich (UK)
| | | | - Sarah E O'Connor
- Department of Biological Chemistry, John Innes Centre, Colney Lane, Norwich (UK)
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25
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Diversification of ergot alkaloids in natural and modified fungi. Toxins (Basel) 2015; 7:201-18. [PMID: 25609183 PMCID: PMC4303823 DOI: 10.3390/toxins7010201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2014] [Accepted: 01/14/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Several fungi in two different families--the Clavicipitaceae and the Trichocomaceae--produce different profiles of ergot alkaloids, many of which are important in agriculture and medicine. All ergot alkaloid producers share early steps before their pathways diverge to produce different end products. EasA, an oxidoreductase of the old yellow enzyme class, has alternate activities in different fungi resulting in branching of the pathway. Enzymes beyond the branch point differ among lineages. In the Clavicipitaceae, diversity is generated by the presence or absence and activities of lysergyl peptide synthetases, which interact to make lysergic acid amides and ergopeptines. The range of ergopeptines in a fungus may be controlled by the presence of multiple peptide synthetases as well as by the specificity of individual peptide synthetase domains. In the Trichocomaceae, diversity is generated by the presence or absence of the prenyl transferase encoded by easL (also called fgaPT1). Moreover, relaxed specificity of EasL appears to contribute to ergot alkaloid diversification. The profile of ergot alkaloids observed within a fungus also is affected by a delayed flux of intermediates through the pathway, which results in an accumulation of intermediates or early pathway byproducts to concentrations comparable to that of the pathway end product.
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26
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Časar Z, Mesar T. A DMAP-Catalyzed Approach to the Industrial-Scale Preparation of N-6-Demethylated 9,10-Dihydrolysergic Acid Methyl Ester: A Key Cabergoline and Pergolide Precursor. Org Process Res Dev 2015. [DOI: 10.1021/op500394f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Zdenko Časar
- API
Development, Sandoz Development Center Slovenia, Lek Pharmaceuticals d.d., Kolodvorska 27, 1234 Mengeš, Slovenia
- Faculty
of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Aškerčeva 7, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Tomaž Mesar
- API
Development, Sandoz Development Center Slovenia, Lek Pharmaceuticals d.d., Kolodvorska 27, 1234 Mengeš, Slovenia
- API
Production, Lek Pharmaceuticals d.d., Kolodvorska 27, 1234 Mengeš, Slovenia
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27
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Gerhards N, Neubauer L, Tudzynski P, Li SM. Biosynthetic pathways of ergot alkaloids. Toxins (Basel) 2014; 6:3281-95. [PMID: 25513893 PMCID: PMC4280535 DOI: 10.3390/toxins6123281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2014] [Revised: 12/04/2014] [Accepted: 12/05/2014] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Ergot alkaloids are nitrogen-containing natural products belonging to indole alkaloids. The best known producers are fungi of the phylum Ascomycota, e.g., Claviceps, Epichloë, Penicillium and Aspergillus species. According to their structures, ergot alkaloids can be divided into three groups: clavines, lysergic acid amides and peptides (ergopeptines). All of them share the first biosynthetic steps, which lead to the formation of the tetracyclic ergoline ring system (except the simplest, tricyclic compound: chanoclavine). Different modifications on the ergoline ring by specific enzymes result in an abundance of bioactive natural products, which are used as pharmaceutical drugs or precursors thereof. From the 1950s through to recent years, most of the biosynthetic pathways have been elucidated. Gene clusters from several ergot alkaloid producers have been identified by genome mining and the functions of many of those genes have been demonstrated by knock-out experiments or biochemical investigations of the overproduced enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Gerhards
- Philipps-Universität Marburg, Institut für Pharmazeutische Biologie und Biotechnologie, Deutschhausstrasse 17A, D-35037 Marburg, Germany.
| | - Lisa Neubauer
- Institut für Biologie und Biotechnologie der Pflanzen, Westfälische Wilhelms Universität Münster, Schlossplatz 8, D-48143 Münster, Germany.
| | - Paul Tudzynski
- Institut für Biologie und Biotechnologie der Pflanzen, Westfälische Wilhelms Universität Münster, Schlossplatz 8, D-48143 Münster, Germany.
| | - Shu-Ming Li
- Philipps-Universität Marburg, Institut für Pharmazeutische Biologie und Biotechnologie, Deutschhausstrasse 17A, D-35037 Marburg, Germany.
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28
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Heterologous expression of lysergic acid and novel ergot alkaloids in Aspergillus fumigatus. Appl Environ Microbiol 2014; 80:6465-72. [PMID: 25107976 DOI: 10.1128/aem.02137-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Different lineages of fungi produce distinct classes of ergot alkaloids. Lysergic acid-derived ergot alkaloids produced by fungi in the Clavicipitaceae are particularly important in agriculture and medicine. The pathway to lysergic acid is partly elucidated, but the gene encoding the enzyme that oxidizes the intermediate agroclavine is unknown. We investigated two candidate agroclavine oxidase genes from the fungus Epichloë festucae var. lolii × Epichloë typhina isolate Lp1 (henceforth referred to as Epichloë sp. Lp1), which produces lysergic acid-derived ergot alkaloids. Candidate genes easH and cloA were expressed in a mutant strain of the mold Aspergillus fumigatus, which typically produces a subclass of ergot alkaloids not derived from agroclavine or lysergic acid. Candidate genes were coexpressed with the Epichloë sp. Lp1 allele of easA, which encodes an enzyme that catalyzed the synthesis of agroclavine from an A. fumigatus intermediate; the agroclavine then served as the substrate for the candidate agroclavine oxidases. Strains expressing easA and cloA from Epichloë sp. Lp1 produced lysergic acid from agroclavine, a process requiring a cumulative six-electron oxidation and a double-bond isomerization. Strains that accumulated excess agroclavine (as a result of Epichloë sp. Lp1 easA expression in the absence of cloA) metabolized it into two novel ergot alkaloids for which provisional structures were proposed on the basis of mass spectra and precursor feeding studies. Our data indicate that CloA catalyzes multiple reactions to produce lysergic acid from agroclavine and that combining genes from different ergot alkaloid pathways provides an effective strategy to engineer important pathway molecules and novel ergot alkaloids.
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29
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30
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Abstract
An update on new developments in the field of ergot alkaloid biosynthesis since 2011 is highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorota Jakubczyk
- The John Innes Centre
- Department of Biological Chemistry
- Norwich NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Johnathan Z. Cheng
- The John Innes Centre
- Department of Biological Chemistry
- Norwich NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Sarah E. O'Connor
- The John Innes Centre
- Department of Biological Chemistry
- Norwich NR4 7UH, UK
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Shephard G, Berthiller F, Burdaspal P, Crews C, Jonker M, Krska R, Lattanzio V, MacDonald S, Malone R, Maragos C, Sabino M, Solfrizzo M, van Egmond H, Whitaker T. Developments in mycotoxin analysis: an update for 2011-2012. WORLD MYCOTOXIN J 2013. [DOI: 10.3920/wmj2012.1492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
This review highlights developments in mycotoxin analysis and sampling over a period between mid-2011 and mid- 2012. It covers the major mycotoxins aflatoxins, Alternaria toxins, ergot alkaloids, fumonisins, ochratoxin, patulin, trichothecenes, and zearalenone. A section on mycotoxins in botanicals and spices is also included. Methods for mycotoxin determination continue to be developed using a wide range of analytical systems ranging from rapid immunochemical-based methods to the latest advances in mass spectrometry. This review follows the format of previous reviews in this series (i.e. sections on individual mycotoxins), but due to the rapid spread and developments in the field of multimycotoxin methods by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, a separate section has been devoted to advances in this area of research.
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Affiliation(s)
- G.S. Shephard
- PROMEC Unit, Medical Research Council, P.O. Box 19070, Tygerberg 7505, South Africa
| | - F. Berthiller
- Department for Agrobiotechnology (IFA-Tulln), Center for Analytical Chemistry, Christian Doppler Laboratory for Mycotoxin-Metabolism and Center for Analytical Chemistry, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, Konrad Lorenz Strasse 20, 3430 Tulln, Austria
| | - P.A. Burdaspal
- Spanish Food Safety and Nutrition Agency, National Centre for Food, km 5.100, 28220 Majadahonda (Madrid), Spain
| | - C. Crews
- The Food and Environment Research Agency, Sand Hutton, York YO41 1LZ, United Kingdom
| | - M.A. Jonker
- Cluster Natural Toxins and Pesticides, RIKILT Institute of Food Safety, Wageningen University and Research Centre, P.O. Box 230, 6700 AE Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - R. Krska
- Department for Agrobiotechnology (IFA-Tulln), Center for Analytical Chemistry, Christian Doppler Laboratory for Mycotoxin-Metabolism and Center for Analytical Chemistry, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, Konrad Lorenz Strasse 20, 3430 Tulln, Austria
| | - V.M.T. Lattanzio
- National Research Council, Institute of Sciences of Food Production, Via Amendola 122/o, 700126 Bari, Italy
| | - S. MacDonald
- The Food and Environment Research Agency, Sand Hutton, York YO41 1LZ, United Kingdom
| | - R.J. Malone
- Trilogy Analytical Laboratory, 870 Vossbrink Drive, Washington, MO 63090, USA
| | - C. Maragos
- USDA, ARS National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, 1815 N. University St, Peoria, IL 61604, USA
| | - M. Sabino
- Instituto Adolfo Lutz, Av Dr Arnaldo 355, 01246-902 São Paulo/SP, Brazil
| | - M. Solfrizzo
- National Research Council, Institute of Sciences of Food Production, Via Amendola 122/o, 700126 Bari, Italy
| | - H.P. van Egmond
- Cluster Natural Toxins and Pesticides, RIKILT Institute of Food Safety, Wageningen University and Research Centre, P.O. Box 230, 6700 AE Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - T.B. Whitaker
- Biological and Agricultural Engineering Department, N.C. State University, P.O. Box 7625, Raleigh, NC 27695-7625, USA
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Hulvová H, Galuszka P, Frébortová J, Frébort I. Parasitic fungus Claviceps as a source for biotechnological production of ergot alkaloids. Biotechnol Adv 2013; 31:79-89. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2012.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2011] [Revised: 12/21/2011] [Accepted: 01/05/2012] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
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Wallwey C, Li SM. Production, detection, and purification of clavine-type ergot alkaloids. METHODS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY (CLIFTON, N.J.) 2012; 944:121-31. [PMID: 23065612 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-62703-122-6_8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/20/2023]
Abstract
Ergot alkaloids are indole derivatives with diverse structures and biological activities. This chapter describes the procedure from fungal cultivation to purified ergot alkaloids, as exemplified by fumigaclavine A in Penicillium commune. Furthermore, useful notes for working with purified ergot alkaloids are given.
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Wallwey C, Heddergott C, Xie X, Brakhage AA, Li SM. Genome mining reveals the presence of a conserved gene cluster for the biosynthesis of ergot alkaloid precursors in the fungal family Arthrodermataceae. MICROBIOLOGY-SGM 2012; 158:1634-1644. [PMID: 22403186 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.056796-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Genome sequence analysis of different fungi of the family Arthrodermataceae revealed the presence of a gene cluster consisting of five genes with high sequence similarity to those involved in the early common steps of ergot alkaloid biosynthesis in Aspergillus fumigatus and Claviceps purpurea. To provide evidence that this cluster is involved in ergot alkaloid biosynthesis, the gene ARB_04646 of the fungus Arthroderma benhamiae was cloned into pQE60 and expressed in Escherichia coli. Enzyme assays with the soluble tetrameric His(6)-tagged protein proved unequivocally that the deduced gene product, here termed ChaDH, catalysed the oxidation of chanoclavine-I in the presence of NAD(+), resulting in the formation of chanoclavine-I aldehyde. The enzyme product was unequivocally proven by NMR and MS analyses. Therefore, ChaDH functions as a chanoclavine-I dehydrogenase. K(m) values for chanoclavine-I and NAD(+) were 0.09 and 0.36 mM, respectively. Turnover number was 0.76 s(-1).
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Affiliation(s)
- Christiane Wallwey
- Philipps-Universität Marburg, Institut für Pharmazeutische Biologie und Biotechnologie, Deutschhausstraße 17a, 35037 Marburg, Germany
| | - Christoph Heddergott
- Abteilung für Molekulare und Angewandte Mikrobiologie, Leibniz-Institut für Naturstoff-Forschung und Infektionsbiologie e.V.-Hans-Knöll-Institut (HKI), Beutenbergstraße 11a, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Xiulan Xie
- Philipps-Universität Marburg, Fachbereich Chemie, Hans-Meerwein-Straße, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Axel A Brakhage
- Institut für Mikrobiologie, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Philosophenweg 12, 07743 Jena, Germany
- Abteilung für Molekulare und Angewandte Mikrobiologie, Leibniz-Institut für Naturstoff-Forschung und Infektionsbiologie e.V.-Hans-Knöll-Institut (HKI), Beutenbergstraße 11a, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Shu-Ming Li
- Philipps-Universität Marburg, Institut für Pharmazeutische Biologie und Biotechnologie, Deutschhausstraße 17a, 35037 Marburg, Germany
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Matuschek M, Wallwey C, Wollinsky B, Xie X, Li SM. In vitro conversion of chanoclavine-I aldehyde to the stereoisomers festuclavine and pyroclavine controlled by the second reduction step. RSC Adv 2012. [DOI: 10.1039/c2ra20104f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
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Xie X, Wallwey C, Matuschek M, Steinbach K, Li SM. Formyl migration product of chanoclavine-I aldehyde in the presence of the old yellow enzyme FgaOx3 from Aspergillus fumigatus: a NMR structure elucidation. MAGNETIC RESONANCE IN CHEMISTRY : MRC 2011; 49:678-681. [PMID: 21898587 DOI: 10.1002/mrc.2796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2011] [Accepted: 07/08/2011] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
A previous study showed that together with the festuclavine synthase FgaFS, the old yellow enzyme FgaOx3 from Aspergillus fumigatus catalyzed the conversion of chanoclavine-I aldehyde to festuclavine in the biosynthesis of ergot alkaloids. In the absence of FgaFS, a mixture containing two compounds with a ratio of 7:3 was detected in the enzyme assay of FgaOx3. NMR experiments including (DQF)-COSY, HSQC, HMBC and NOESY identified their structures as E/Z isomers of N-methyl-N-[(5R,10R)-10-(2-oxo-propyl)-2,4,5,10-tetrahydrobenzo[cd]indol-5-yl]formamide and proved the migration of the formyl group at C-8 in chanoclavine I-aldehyde to N-6 in the identified products.
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