1
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Guo J, Gao D, Lian J, Qu Y. De novo biosynthesis of antiarrhythmic alkaloid ajmaline. Nat Commun 2024; 15:457. [PMID: 38212296 PMCID: PMC10784492 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-44797-z] [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: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/13/2024] Open
Abstract
The antiarrhythmic drug ajmaline is a monoterpenoid indole alkaloid (MIA) isolated from the Ayurvedic plant Rauvolfia serpentina (Indian Snakeroot). Research into the biosynthesis of ajmaline and another renowned MIA chemotherapeutic drug vinblastine has yielded pivotal advancements in the fields of plant specialized metabolism and engineering over recent decades. While the majority of vinblastine biosynthesis has been recently elucidated, the quest for comprehending ajmaline biosynthesis remains incomplete, marked by the absence of two critical enzymes. Here, we show the discovery and characterization of these two elusive reductases, alongside the identification of two physiologically relevant esterases that complete the biosynthesis of ajmaline. We show that ajmaline biosynthesis proceeds with vomilenine 1,2(R)-reduction followed by its 19,20(S)-reduction. This process is further modulated by two root-expressing esterases that deacetylate 17-O-acetylnorajmaline. Expanding upon the successful completion of the ajmaline biosynthetic pathway, we engineer the de novo biosynthesis of ajmaline in Baker's yeast.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Guo
- Department of Chemistry, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB, Canada
| | - Di Gao
- Key Laboratory of Biomass Chemical Engineering of Ministry of Education, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jiazhang Lian
- Key Laboratory of Biomass Chemical Engineering of Ministry of Education, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
- ZJU-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Smart Biomaterials, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Yang Qu
- Department of Chemistry, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB, Canada.
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2
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Aparicio DM, Tépox-Luna D, Bedolla-Medrano M, Gnecco D, Juárez JR, Mendoza Á, Orea ML, Terán JL. Boron trifluoride etherate for regioselective rearrangement or opening of secondary aryl glycidic amides. Tetrahedron 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tet.2022.132934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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3
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Hong B, Grzech D, Caputi L, Sonawane P, López CER, Kamileen MO, Hernández Lozada NJ, Grabe V, O'Connor SE. Biosynthesis of strychnine. Nature 2022; 607:617-622. [PMID: 35794473 PMCID: PMC9300463 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-04950-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Strychnine is a natural product that, through isolation, structural elucidation and synthetic efforts, shaped the field of organic chemistry. Currently, strychnine is used as a pesticide to control rodents1 because of its potent neurotoxicity2,3. The polycyclic architecture of strychnine has inspired chemists to develop new synthetic transformations and strategies to access this molecular scaffold4, yet it is still unknown how plants create this complex structure. Here we report the biosynthetic pathway of strychnine, along with the related molecules brucine and diaboline. Moreover, we successfully recapitulate strychnine, brucine and diaboline biosynthesis in Nicotiana benthamiana from an upstream intermediate, thus demonstrating that this complex, pharmacologically active class of compounds can now be harnessed through metabolic engineering approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benke Hong
- Department of Natural Product Biosynthesis, Max-Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany
| | - Dagny Grzech
- Department of Natural Product Biosynthesis, Max-Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany
| | - Lorenzo Caputi
- Department of Natural Product Biosynthesis, Max-Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany
| | - Prashant Sonawane
- Department of Natural Product Biosynthesis, Max-Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany
| | - Carlos E Rodríguez López
- Department of Natural Product Biosynthesis, Max-Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany
| | - Mohamed Omar Kamileen
- Department of Natural Product Biosynthesis, Max-Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany
| | - Néstor J Hernández Lozada
- Department of Natural Product Biosynthesis, Max-Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany
| | - Veit Grabe
- Microscopic Imaging Service Group, Max-Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany
| | - Sarah E O'Connor
- Department of Natural Product Biosynthesis, Max-Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany.
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4
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Trenti F, Yamamoto K, Hong B, Paetz C, Nakamura Y, O'Connor SE. Early and Late Steps of Quinine Biosynthesis. Org Lett 2021; 23:1793-1797. [PMID: 33625237 PMCID: PMC7944568 DOI: 10.1021/acs.orglett.1c00206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
![]()
The enzymatic basis
for quinine 1 biosynthesis was
investigated. Transcriptomic data from the producing plant led to
the discovery of three enzymes involved in the early and late steps
of the pathway. A medium-chain alcohol dehydrogenase (CpDCS) and an
esterase (CpDCE) yielded the biosynthetic intermediate dihydrocorynantheal 2 from strictosidine aglycone 3. Additionally,
the discovery of an O-methyltransferase specific
for 6′-hydroxycinchoninone 4 suggested the final
step order to be cinchoninone 16/17 hydroxylation, methylation,
and keto-reduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Trenti
- Department of Natural Product Biosynthesis, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Hans-Knöll-Straße 8, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Kotaro Yamamoto
- Department of Natural Product Biosynthesis, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Hans-Knöll-Straße 8, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Benke Hong
- Department of Natural Product Biosynthesis, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Hans-Knöll-Straße 8, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Christian Paetz
- Department of Natural Product Biosynthesis, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Hans-Knöll-Straße 8, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Yoko Nakamura
- Department of Natural Product Biosynthesis, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Hans-Knöll-Straße 8, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Sarah E O'Connor
- Department of Natural Product Biosynthesis, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Hans-Knöll-Straße 8, 07745 Jena, Germany
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5
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Iyer RN, Favela D, Zhang G, Olson DE. The iboga enigma: the chemistry and neuropharmacology of iboga alkaloids and related analogs. Nat Prod Rep 2021; 38:307-329. [PMID: 32794540 DOI: 10.1039/d0np00033g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Covering: 2000 up to 2020 Few classes of natural products have inspired as many chemists and biologists as have the iboga alkaloids. This family of monoterpenoid indole alkaloids includes the anti-addictive compound ibogaine as well as catharanthine, a precursor to the chemotherapeutic vinblastine. Despite being known for over 120 years, these small molecules continue to challenge our assumptions about biosynthetic pathways, catalyze our creativity for constructing complex architectures, and embolden new approaches for treating mental illness. This review will cover recent advances in both the biosynthesis and chemical synthesis of iboga alkaloids as well as their use as next-generation neurotherapeutics. Whenever appropriate, we provide historical context for the discoveries of the past decade and indicate areas that have yet to be resolved. While significant progress regarding their chemistry and pharmacology has been made since the 1960s, it is clear that the iboga alkaloids will continue to stoke scientific innovation for years to come.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rishab N Iyer
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
| | - David Favela
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
| | - Guoliang Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
| | - David E Olson
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA. and Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, 2700 Stockton Blvd, Suite 2102, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA and Center for Neuroscience, University of California, Davis, 1544 Newton Ct, Davis, CA 95618, USA
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6
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Volk J, Sarafeddinov A, Unver T, Marx S, Tretzel J, Zotzel J, Warzecha H. Two novel methylesterases from Olea europaea contribute to the catabolism of oleoside-type secoiridoid esters. PLANTA 2019; 250:2083-2097. [PMID: 31578603 DOI: 10.1007/s00425-019-03286-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2019] [Accepted: 09/25/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Two newly identified phytohormone cleaving esterases from Olea europaea are responsible for the glucosidase-initiated activation of the specialized metabolites ligstroside and oleuropein. Biosynthetic routes leading to the formation of plant natural products are tightly orchestrated enzymatic sequences usually involving numerous specialized catalysts. After their accumulation in plant cells and tissues, otherwise non-reactive compounds can be enzymatically activated, e.g., in response to environmental threats, like pathogen attack. In olive (Olea europaea), secoiridoid-derived phenolics, such as oleuropein or ligstroside, can be converted by glucosidases and as yet unidentified esterases to oleoside aldehydes. These are not only involved in pathogen defense, but also bear considerable promise as pharmaceuticals or neutraceuticals. Making use of the available olive genomic data, we have identified four novel methylesterases that showed significant homology to the polyneuridine aldehyde esterase (PNAE) from Rauvolfia serpentina, an enzyme acting on a distantly related metabolite group (monoterpenoid indole alkaloids, MIAs) also featuring a secoiridoid structural component. The four olive enzymes belong to the α/ß-hydrolase fold family and showed variable in vitro activity against methyl esters of selected plant hormones, namely jasmonic acid (MeJA), indole acetic acid (MeIAA), as well as salicylic acid (MeSA). None of the identified catalysts were directly active against the olive metabolites oleuropein, ligstroside, or oleoside 11-methyl ester. When employed in a sequential reaction with an appropriate glucosidase, however, two were capable of hydrolyzing these specialized compounds yielding reactive dialdehydes. This suggests that the esterases play a pivotal role in the activation of the olive secoiridoid polyphenols. Finally, we show that several of the investigated methylesterases exhibit a concomitant in vitro transesterification capacity-a novel feature, yielding ethyl esters of jasmonic acid (JA) or indole-3-acetic acid (IAA).
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Affiliation(s)
- Jascha Volk
- Plant Biotechnology and Metabolic Engineering, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Schnittspahnstraße 4, 64287, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Alla Sarafeddinov
- N-Zyme BioTec GmbH, Riedstrasse, 64295, Darmstadt, Germany
- Döhler GmbH, Riedstrasse, 64295, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Turgay Unver
- Ficus Biotechnology, Ostim Teknopark, Yenimahalle, 06378, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Stefan Marx
- N-Zyme BioTec GmbH, Riedstrasse, 64295, Darmstadt, Germany
- Stabizym GmbH, Bruchwiesenstrasse 49, 64380, Roßdorf, Germany
| | | | - Jens Zotzel
- N-Zyme BioTec GmbH, Riedstrasse, 64295, Darmstadt, Germany
- Döhler GmbH, Riedstrasse, 64295, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Heribert Warzecha
- Plant Biotechnology and Metabolic Engineering, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Schnittspahnstraße 4, 64287, Darmstadt, Germany.
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Farrow SC, Kamileen MO, Caputi L, Bussey K, Mundy JEA, McAtee RC, Stephenson CRJ, O'Connor SE. Biosynthesis of an Anti-Addiction Agent from the Iboga Plant. J Am Chem Soc 2019; 141:12979-12983. [PMID: 31364847 PMCID: PMC6706869 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.9b05999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
![]()
(−)-Ibogaine
and (−)-voacangine are plant derived
psychoactives that show promise as treatments for opioid addiction.
However, these compounds are produced by hard to source plants, making
these chemicals difficult for broad-scale use. Here we report the
complete biosynthesis of (−)-voacangine, and de-esterified
voacangine, which is converted to (−)-ibogaine by heating,
enabling biocatalytic production of these compounds. Notably, (−)-ibogaine
and (−)-voacangine are of the opposite enantiomeric configuration
compared to the other major alkaloids found in this natural product
class. Therefore, this discovery provides insight into enantioselective
enzymatic formal Diels–Alder reactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott C Farrow
- Department of Natural Product Biosynthesis , Max Planck Institute of Chemical Ecology , Hans-Knöll-Straße 8 , 07745 Jena , Germany
| | - Mohamed O Kamileen
- Department of Natural Product Biosynthesis , Max Planck Institute of Chemical Ecology , Hans-Knöll-Straße 8 , 07745 Jena , Germany
| | - Lorenzo Caputi
- Department of Natural Product Biosynthesis , Max Planck Institute of Chemical Ecology , Hans-Knöll-Straße 8 , 07745 Jena , Germany
| | - Kate Bussey
- Department of Biological Chemistry , John Innes Centre , Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UH , United Kingdom
| | - Julia E A Mundy
- Department of Biological Chemistry , John Innes Centre , Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UH , United Kingdom
| | - Rory C McAtee
- Willard Henry Dow Laboratory, Department of Chemistry , University of Michigan , 930 North University Avenue , Ann Arbor , Michigan 48109 , United States
| | - Corey R J Stephenson
- Willard Henry Dow Laboratory, Department of Chemistry , University of Michigan , 930 North University Avenue , Ann Arbor , Michigan 48109 , United States
| | - Sarah E O'Connor
- Department of Natural Product Biosynthesis , Max Planck Institute of Chemical Ecology , Hans-Knöll-Straße 8 , 07745 Jena , Germany
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8
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Liu P, Xu Y, Yan H, Chen J, Shang EX, Qian DW, Jiang S, Duan JA. Characterization of molecular signature of the roots of Paeonia lactiflora during growth. Chin J Nat Med 2018; 15:785-793. [PMID: 29103464 DOI: 10.1016/s1875-5364(17)30110-3] [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: 10/28/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The roots of Paeoniae lactiflora Pall. are widely consumed as crude drugs in Asian countries due to their remarkable beneficial health effects. The present research was undertaken to illuminate the dynamic changes in metabolites and enzymes and facilitate selection of the harvesting time when the herb can provide optimum health benefits. P. lactiflora roots were analyzed at 12 stages of growth for monoterpenoid glycosides, phenols, nucleosides, nucleobases, amino acids, and polysaccharides by high-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detector, ultra-high pressure liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry, and UV spectrophotometry. The enzyme activities of plant β-glucosidases and esterases were determined by UV methods. The total content of monoterpenoid glycosides and phenols peaked in December. For nucleosides and nucleobases, the highest content appeared in April. The maximum phasic accumulation of the total amino acids took place in March, and the content of total polysaccharides reached a peak value in September. December, April, and March were selected as the appropriate harvesting times for producing natural medicinal or health food products. Plant β-glucosidases and esterases showed the highest activity in December and May, respectively. When the activity of β-glucosidase increased, esterase activity decreased, while the contents of oxypaeoniflora and paeoniflorin increased. When esterase activity increased, the contents of benzoylpaeoniflorin, paeoniflorin, and gallic acid decreased. In conclusion, the results from the present study would be useful in determination of the suitable time for harvesting P. lactiflora roots for medicinal purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei Liu
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization and National and Local Collaborative Engineering Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization and Formulae Innovative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Yuan Xu
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization and National and Local Collaborative Engineering Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization and Formulae Innovative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Hui Yan
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization and National and Local Collaborative Engineering Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization and Formulae Innovative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Jing Chen
- Institute of Bioengineering, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China
| | - Er-Xin Shang
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization and National and Local Collaborative Engineering Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization and Formulae Innovative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Da-Wei Qian
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization and National and Local Collaborative Engineering Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization and Formulae Innovative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Shu Jiang
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization and National and Local Collaborative Engineering Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization and Formulae Innovative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Jin-Ao Duan
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization and National and Local Collaborative Engineering Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization and Formulae Innovative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China.
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9
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Grosse‐Holz F, Kelly S, Blaskowski S, Kaschani F, Kaiser M, van der Hoorn RA. The transcriptome, extracellular proteome and active secretome of agroinfiltrated Nicotiana benthamiana uncover a large, diverse protease repertoire. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL 2018; 16:1068-1084. [PMID: 29055088 PMCID: PMC5902771 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.12852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2017] [Revised: 10/06/2017] [Accepted: 10/15/2017] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Infiltration of disarmed Agrobacterium tumefaciens into leaves of Nicotiana benthamiana (agroinfiltration) facilitates quick and safe production of antibodies, vaccines, enzymes and metabolites for industrial use (molecular farming). However, yield and purity of proteins produced by agroinfiltration are hampered by unintended proteolysis, restricting industrial viability of the agroinfiltration platform. Proteolysis may be linked to an immune response to agroinfiltration, but understanding of the response to agroinfiltration is limited. To identify the proteases, we studied the transcriptome, extracellular proteome and active secretome of agroinfiltrated leaves over a time course, with and without the P19 silencing inhibitor. Remarkably, the P19 expression had little effect on the leaf transcriptome and no effect on the extracellular proteome. 25% of the detected transcripts changed in abundance upon agroinfiltration, associated with a gradual up-regulation of immunity at the expense of photosynthesis. By contrast, 70% of the extracellular proteins increased in abundance, in many cases associated with increased efficiency of extracellular delivery. We detect a dynamic reprogramming of the proteolytic machinery upon agroinfiltration by detecting transcripts encoding for 975 different proteases and protease homologs. The extracellular proteome contains peptides derived from 196 proteases and protease homologs, and activity-based proteomics displayed 17 active extracellular Ser and Cys proteases in agroinfiltrated leaves. We discuss unique features of the N. benthamiana protease repertoire and highlight abundant extracellular proteases in agroinfiltrated leaves, being targets for reverse genetics. This data set increases our understanding of the plant response to agroinfiltration and indicates ways to improve a key expression platform for both plant science and molecular farming.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Steven Kelly
- Department of Plant SciencesUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | - Svenja Blaskowski
- Chemische BiologieZentrum für Medizinische BiotechnologieFakultät für BiologieUniversität Duisburg‐EssenEssenGermany
| | - Farnusch Kaschani
- Chemische BiologieZentrum für Medizinische BiotechnologieFakultät für BiologieUniversität Duisburg‐EssenEssenGermany
| | - Markus Kaiser
- Chemische BiologieZentrum für Medizinische BiotechnologieFakultät für BiologieUniversität Duisburg‐EssenEssenGermany
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10
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Jones BJ, Lim HY, Huang J, Kazlauskas RJ. Comparison of Five Protein Engineering Strategies for Stabilizing an α/β-Hydrolase. Biochemistry 2017; 56:6521-6532. [PMID: 29087185 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.7b00571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
A review of the previous stabilization of α/β-hydrolase fold enzymes revealed many different strategies, but no comparison of strategies on the same enzyme. For this reason, we compared five strategies to identify stabilizing mutations in a model α/β-hydrolase fold enzyme, salicylic acid binding protein 2, to reversible denaturation by urea and to irreversible denaturation by heat. The five strategies included one location agnostic approach (random mutagenesis using error-prone polymerase chain reaction), two structure-based approaches [computational design (Rosetta, FoldX) and mutation of flexible regions], and two sequence-based approaches (addition of proline at locations where a more stable homologue has proline and mutation to consensus). All strategies identified stabilizing mutations, but the best balance of success rate, degree of stabilization, and ease of implementation was mutation to consensus. A web-based automated program that predicts substitutions needed to mutate to consensus is available at http://kazlab.umn.edu .
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryan J Jones
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology & Biophysics and The Biotechnology Institute, University of Minnesota , 1479 Gortner Avenue, Saint Paul, Minnesota 55108, United States
| | - Huey Yee Lim
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology & Biophysics and The Biotechnology Institute, University of Minnesota , 1479 Gortner Avenue, Saint Paul, Minnesota 55108, United States
| | - Jun Huang
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology & Biophysics and The Biotechnology Institute, University of Minnesota , 1479 Gortner Avenue, Saint Paul, Minnesota 55108, United States.,School of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Zhejiang University of Science and Technology , Hangzhou 310023, People's Republic of China
| | - Romas J Kazlauskas
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology & Biophysics and The Biotechnology Institute, University of Minnesota , 1479 Gortner Avenue, Saint Paul, Minnesota 55108, United States
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11
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Dang TT, Franke J, Tatsis E, O'Connor SE. Dual Catalytic Activity of a Cytochrome P450 Controls Bifurcation at a Metabolic Branch Point of Alkaloid Biosynthesis in Rauwolfia serpentina. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2017; 56:9440-9444. [PMID: 28654178 PMCID: PMC5582599 DOI: 10.1002/anie.201705010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Plants create tremendous chemical diversity from a single biosynthetic intermediate. In plant-derived ajmalan alkaloid pathways, the biosynthetic intermediate vomilenine can be transformed into the anti-arrhythmic compound ajmaline, or alternatively, can isomerize to form perakine, an alkaloid with a structurally distinct scaffold. Here we report the discovery and characterization of vinorine hydroxylase, a cytochrome P450 enzyme that hydroxylates vinorine to form vomilenine, which was found to exist as a mixture of rapidly interconverting epimers. Surprisingly, this cytochrome P450 also catalyzes the non-oxidative isomerization of the ajmaline precursor vomilenine to perakine. This unusual dual catalytic activity of vinorine hydroxylase thereby provides a control mechanism for the bifurcation of these alkaloid pathway branches. This discovery highlights the unusual catalytic functionality that has evolved in plant pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thu‐Thuy T. Dang
- Department of Biological ChemistryJohn Innes CentreColney LaneNorwichUK
| | - Jakob Franke
- Department of Biological ChemistryJohn Innes CentreColney LaneNorwichUK
| | - Evangelos Tatsis
- Department of Biological ChemistryJohn Innes CentreColney LaneNorwichUK
| | - Sarah E. O'Connor
- Department of Biological ChemistryJohn Innes CentreColney LaneNorwichUK
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12
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Dang TTT, Franke J, Tatsis E, O'Connor SE. Dual Catalytic Activity of a Cytochrome P450 Controls Bifurcation at a Metabolic Branch Point of Alkaloid Biosynthesis inRauwolfia serpentina. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2017. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201705010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Thu-Thuy T. Dang
- Department of Biological Chemistry; John Innes Centre; Colney Lane Norwich UK
| | - Jakob Franke
- Department of Biological Chemistry; John Innes Centre; Colney Lane Norwich UK
| | - Evangelos Tatsis
- 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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13
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Wang C, Zhang L, You J. Nickel-Catalyzed Aminoxylation of Inert Aliphatic C(sp3)–H Bonds with Stable Nitroxyl Radicals under Air: One-Pot Route to α-Formyl Acid Derivatives. Org Lett 2017; 19:1690-1693. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.orglett.7b00479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Chunxia Wang
- Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry
and Technology of Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, 29 Wangjiang Road, Chengdu 610064, P.R. China
| | - Luoqiang Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry
and Technology of Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, 29 Wangjiang Road, Chengdu 610064, P.R. China
| | - Jingsong You
- Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry
and Technology of Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, 29 Wangjiang Road, Chengdu 610064, P.R. China
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14
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Nomura T. Function and application of a non-ester-hydrolyzing carboxylesterase discovered in tulip. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem 2017; 81:81-94. [DOI: 10.1080/09168451.2016.1240608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Plants have evolved secondary metabolite biosynthetic pathways of immense rich diversity. The genes encoding enzymes for secondary metabolite biosynthesis have evolved through gene duplication followed by neofunctionalization, thereby generating functional diversity. Emerging evidence demonstrates that some of those enzymes catalyze reactions entirely different from those usually catalyzed by other members of the same family; e.g. transacylation catalyzed by an enzyme similar to a hydrolytic enzyme. Tuliposide-converting enzyme (TCE), which we recently discovered from tulip, catalyzes the conversion of major defensive secondary metabolites, tuliposides, to antimicrobial tulipalins. The TCEs belong to the carboxylesterase family in the α/β-hydrolase fold superfamily, and specifically catalyze intramolecular transesterification, but not hydrolysis. This non-ester-hydrolyzing carboxylesterase is an example of an enzyme showing catalytic properties that are unpredictable from its primary structure. This review describes the biochemical and physiological aspects of tulipalin biogenesis, and the diverse functions of plant carboxylesterases in the α/β-hydrolase fold superfamily.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taiji Nomura
- Biotechnology Research Center and Department of Biotechnology, Toyama Prefectural University, Imizu, Japan
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Ahamada K, Benayad S, Poupon E, Evanno L. Polyneuridine aldehyde: structure, stability overviews and a plausible origin of flavopereirine. Tetrahedron Lett 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tetlet.2016.03.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Devamani T, Rauwerdink AM, Lun-zer M, Jones BJ, Mooney JL, Tan MAO, Zhang ZJ, Xu JH, Dean AM, Kazlauskas RJ. Catalytic Promiscuity of Ancestral Esterases and Hydroxynitrile Lyases. J Am Chem Soc 2016; 138:1046-56. [PMID: 26736133 PMCID: PMC5466365 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.5b12209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Catalytic promiscuity is a useful, but accidental, enzyme property, so finding catalytically promiscuous enzymes in nature is inefficient. Some ancestral enzymes were branch points in the evolution of new enzymes and are hypothesized to have been promiscuous. To test the hypothesis that ancestral enzymes were more promiscuous than their modern descendants, we reconstructed ancestral enzymes at four branch points in the divergence hydroxynitrile lyases (HNL's) from esterases ∼ 100 million years ago. Both enzyme types are α/β-hydrolase-fold enzymes and have the same catalytic triad, but differ in reaction type and mechanism. Esterases catalyze hydrolysis via an acyl enzyme intermediate, while lyases catalyze an elimination without an intermediate. Screening ancestral enzymes and their modern descendants with six esterase substrates and six lyase substrates found higher catalytic promiscuity among the ancestral enzymes (P < 0.01). Ancestral esterases were more likely to catalyze a lyase reaction than modern esterases, and the ancestral HNL was more likely to catalyze ester hydrolysis than modern HNL's. One ancestral enzyme (HNL1) along the path from esterase to hydroxynitrile lyases was especially promiscuous and catalyzed both hydrolysis and lyase reactions with many substrates. A broader screen tested mechanistically related reactions that were not selected for by evolution: decarboxylation, Michael addition, γ-lactam hydrolysis and 1,5-diketone hydrolysis. The ancestral enzymes were more promiscuous than their modern descendants (P = 0.04). Thus, these reconstructed ancestral enzymes are catalytically promiscuous, but HNL1 is especially so.
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Affiliation(s)
- Titu Devamani
- University of Minnesota, Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology & Biophysics and The Biotechnology Institute, 1479 Gortner Avenue, Saint Paul, MN 55108 USA
| | - Alissa M. Rauwerdink
- University of Minnesota, Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology & Biophysics and The Biotechnology Institute, 1479 Gortner Avenue, Saint Paul, MN 55108 USA
| | - Mark Lun-zer
- University of Minnesota, Department of Ecology, Evolution & Behavior and The Biotechnology Institute, 1479 Gortner Avenue, Saint Paul, MN 55108 USA
| | - Bryan J. Jones
- University of Minnesota, Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology & Biophysics and The Biotechnology Institute, 1479 Gortner Avenue, Saint Paul, MN 55108 USA
| | - Joanna L. Mooney
- University of Minnesota, Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology & Biophysics and The Biotechnology Institute, 1479 Gortner Avenue, Saint Paul, MN 55108 USA
| | | | - Zhi-Jun Zhang
- East China University of Science and Technology, School of Biotechnology, Meilong Road 130, Shanghai 200237 P. R. China
| | - Jian-He Xu
- East China University of Science and Technology, School of Biotechnology, Meilong Road 130, Shanghai 200237 P. R. China
| | - Antony M. Dean
- University of Minnesota, Department of Ecology, Evolution & Behavior and The Biotechnology Institute, 1479 Gortner Avenue, Saint Paul, MN 55108 USA
- Sun Yat-sen University, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, No.135, Xinggang West Road, Guangzhou, 510275 P. R. China
| | - Romas J. Kazlauskas
- University of Minnesota, Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology & Biophysics and The Biotechnology Institute, 1479 Gortner Avenue, Saint Paul, MN 55108 USA
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Wu F, Kerčmar P, Zhang C, Stöckigt J. Sarpagan-Ajmalan-Type Indoles: Biosynthesis, Structural Biology, and Chemo-Enzymatic Significance. THE ALKALOIDS. CHEMISTRY AND BIOLOGY 2015; 76:1-61. [PMID: 26827882 DOI: 10.1016/bs.alkal.2015.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The biosynthetic pathway of the monoterpenoid indole alkaloid ajmaline in the genus Rauvolfia, in particular Rauvolfia serpentina Benth. ex Kurz, is one of the few pathways that have been comprehensively uncovered. Every step in the progress of plant alkaloid biosynthesis research is due to the endeavors of several generations of scientists and the advancement of technologies. The tissue and cell suspension cultures developed in the 1970s by M.H. Zenk enabled the extraction of alkaloids and crude enzymes for use as experimental materials, thus establishing the foundation for further research on enzymatic reaction networks. In vivo NMR technology was first used in biosynthetic investigations in the 1990s following the invention of high-field cryo-NMR, which allowed the rapid and reliable detection of bioconversion processes within living plant cells. Shortly before, in 1988, a milestone was reached with the heterologous expression of the strictosidine synthase cDNA, which paved the way for the application of "reverse genetics" and "macromolecular crystallography." Both methods allowed the structural analysis of several Rauvolfia enzymes involved in ajmaline biosynthesis and expanded our knowledge of the enzyme mechanisms, substrate specificities, and structure-activity relationships. It also opened the door for rational enzyme engineering and metabolic steering. Today, the research focus of ajmaline biosynthesis is shifting from "delineation" to "utilization." The Pictet-Spenglerase strictosidine synthase, strictosidine glucosidase, together with raucaffricine glucosidase, as pioneers in this area, have become useful tools to generate "privileged structures" and "diversity oriented" syntheses, which may help to construct novel scaffolds and to set up libraries of sarpagan-ajmalan-type alkaloids in chemo-enzymatic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangrui Wu
- Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory of Entomological Biopharmaceutical R&D, Dali University, Dali, Yunnan, P.R. China; Department of Pharmacology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | - Chenggui Zhang
- Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory of Entomological Biopharmaceutical R&D, Dali University, Dali, Yunnan, P.R. China
| | - Joachim Stöckigt
- Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory of Entomological Biopharmaceutical R&D, Dali University, Dali, Yunnan, P.R. China; College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, P.R. China
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Van Moerkercke A, Fabris M, Pollier J, Baart GJE, Rombauts S, Hasnain G, Rischer H, Memelink J, Oksman-Caldentey KM, Goossens A. CathaCyc, a metabolic pathway database built from Catharanthus roseus RNA-Seq data. PLANT & CELL PHYSIOLOGY 2013; 54:673-85. [PMID: 23493402 DOI: 10.1093/pcp/pct039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
The medicinal plant Madagascar periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus) synthesizes numerous terpenoid indole alkaloids (TIAs), such as the anticancer drugs vinblastine and vincristine. The TIA pathway operates in a complex metabolic network that steers plant growth and survival. Pathway databases and metabolic networks reconstructed from 'omics' sequence data can help to discover missing enzymes, study metabolic pathway evolution and, ultimately, engineer metabolic pathways. To date, such databases have mainly been built for model plant species with sequenced genomes. Although genome sequence data are not available for most medicinal plant species, next-generation sequencing is now extensively employed to create comprehensive medicinal plant transcriptome sequence resources. Here we report on the construction of CathaCyc, a detailed metabolic pathway database, from C. roseus RNA-Seq data sets. CathaCyc (version 1.0) contains 390 pathways with 1,347 assigned enzymes and spans primary and secondary metabolism. Curation of the pathways linked with the synthesis of TIAs and triterpenoids, their primary metabolic precursors, and their elicitors, the jasmonate hormones, demonstrated that RNA-Seq resources are suitable for the construction of pathway databases. CathaCyc is accessible online (http://www.cathacyc.org) and offers a range of tools for the visualization and analysis of metabolic networks and 'omics' data. Overlay with expression data from publicly available RNA-Seq resources demonstrated that two well-characterized C. roseus terpenoid pathways, those of TIAs and triterpenoids, are subject to distinct regulation by both developmental and environmental cues. We anticipate that databases such as CathaCyc will become key to the study and exploitation of the metabolism of medicinal plants.
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Yang L, Huo D, He K, Zhang S, Hou C. Role of Tryptophan in the Active Site of Plant Esterase: Chemical Modification and Fluorometric Studies. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 2013; 170:909-24. [DOI: 10.1007/s12010-013-0203-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2012] [Accepted: 03/18/2013] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Panjikar S, Stoeckigt J, O'Connor S, Warzecha H. The impact of structural biology on alkaloid biosynthesis research. Nat Prod Rep 2012; 29:1176-200. [DOI: 10.1039/c2np20057k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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De Luca V, Salim V, Levac D, Atsumi SM, Yu F. Discovery and functional analysis of monoterpenoid indole alkaloid pathways in plants. Methods Enzymol 2012; 515:207-29. [PMID: 22999176 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-394290-6.00010-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Numerous difficulties have been associated with forward genetic approaches to identify, and functionally characterize genes involved in the biosynthesis, regulation, and transport of monoterpenoid indole alkaloids (MIAs). While the identification of certain classes of genes associated with MIA pathways has facilitated the use of homology-based approaches to clone other genes catalyzing similar reactions in other parts of the pathway, this has not greatly speeded up the pace of gene discovery for the diversity of reactions involved. Compounding this problem has been the lack of knowledge or even availability of certain MIA intermediates that would be required to establish a novel enzyme reaction to functionally identify a biosynthetic step or the candidate gene product involved. The advent of inexpensive sequencing technologies for transcriptome and genome sequencing, combined with proteomics and metabolomics, is now revolutionizing the pace of gene discovery associated with MIA pathways and their regulation. The discovery process uses large databases of genes, proteins, and metabolites from an ever-expanding list of nonmodel plant species competent to produce and accumulate MIAs. Comparative bioinformatics between species, together with gene expression analysis of particular tissue, cell, and developmental types, is helping to identify target genes that can then be investigated for their possible role in an MIA pathway by virus-induced gene silencing. Successful silencing not only confirms the involvement of the candidate gene but also allows identification of the pathway intermediate involved. In many circumstances, the pathway intermediate can be isolated for use as a substrate in order to confirm gene function in heterologous bacterial, yeast, or plant expression systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincenzo De Luca
- Department of Biological Sciences, Brock University, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada.
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Catalytic characteristics of plant-esterase from wheat flour. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 2011; 28:541-8. [DOI: 10.1007/s11274-011-0845-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2011] [Accepted: 07/08/2011] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Yin W, Kabir MS, Wang Z, Rallapalli SK, Ma J, Cook JM. Enantiospecific total synthesis of the important biogenetic intermediates along the ajmaline pathway, (+)-polyneuridine and (+)-polyneuridine aldehyde, as well as 16-epivellosimine and macusine A. J Org Chem 2010; 75:3339-49. [PMID: 20392128 DOI: 10.1021/jo100279w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The first stereospecific synthesis of polyneuridine aldehyde (6), 16-epivellosimine (7), (+)-polyneuridine (8), and (+)-macusine A (9) has been accomplished from commercially available d-(+)-tryptophan methyl ester. d-(+)-Tryptophan has served here both as the chiral auxiliary and the starting material for the synthesis of the common intermediate, (+)-vellosimine (13). This alkaloid was available in enantiospecific fashion in seven reaction vessels in 27% overall yield from d-(+)-trytophan methyl ester (14) via a combination of the asymmetric Pictet-Spengler reaction, Dieckmann cyclization, and a stereocontrolled intramolecular enolate-driven palladium-mediated cross-coupling reaction. A new process for this stereocontrolled intramolecular cross-coupling has been developed via a copper-mediated process. The initial results of this investigation indicated that an enolate-driven palladium-mediated cross-coupling reaction can be accomplished by a copper-mediated process which is less expensive and much easier to work up. An enantiospecific total synthesis of (+)-polyneuridine aldehyde (6), which has been proposed as an important biogenetic intermediate in the biosynthesis of quebrachidine (2), was then accomplished in an overall yield of 14.1% in 13 reaction vessels from d-(+)-tryptophan methyl ester (14). Aldehyde 13 was protected as the N(a)-Boc aldehyde 32 and then converted into the prochiral C(16)-quaternary diol 12 via the practical Tollens' reaction and deprotection. The DDQ-mediated oxidative cyclization and TFA/Et(3)SiH reductive cleavage served as protection/deprotection steps to provide a versatile entry into the three alkaloids polyneuridine aldehyde (6), polyneuridine (8), and macusine A (9) from the quarternary diol 12. The oxidation of the 16-hydroxymethyl group present in the axial position was achieved with the Corey-Kim reagent to provide the desired beta-axial aldehydes, polyneuridine aldehyde (6), and 16-epivellosimine (7) with 100% diastereoselectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenyuan Yin
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 3210 North Cramer Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53211, USA
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Stöckigt J, Chen Z, Ruppert M. Enzymatic and Chemo-Enzymatic Approaches Towards Natural and Non-Natural Alkaloids: Indoles, Isoquinolines, and Others. NATURAL PRODUCTS VIA ENZYMATIC REACTIONS 2010; 297:67-103. [DOI: 10.1007/128_2010_80] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
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Schäfer H, Wink M. Medicinally important secondary metabolites in recombinant microorganisms or plants: Progress in alkaloid biosynthesis. Biotechnol J 2009; 4:1684-703. [DOI: 10.1002/biot.200900229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Yang L, Hill M, Wang M, Panjikar S, Stöckigt J. Structural basis and enzymatic mechanism of the biosynthesis of C9- from C10-monoterpenoid indole alkaloids. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2009; 48:5211-3. [PMID: 19496101 DOI: 10.1002/anie.200900150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Cutting carbons: The three-dimensional structure of polyneuridine aldehyde esterase (PNAE) gives insight into the enzymatic mechanism of the biosynthesis of C(9)- from C(10)-monoterpenoid indole alkaloids (see scheme). PNAE is a very substrate-specific serine esterase. It harbors the catalytic triad S87-D216-H244, and is a new member of the alpha/beta-fold hydrolase superfamily. Its novel function leads to the diversification of alkaloid structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liuqing Yang
- Institute of Materia Medica, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, 383 Yu Hang Tang Road, Hangzhou 310058, China
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Yang L, Hill M, Wang M, Panjikar S, Stöckigt J. Strukturbasis und Enzymmechanismus der Biosynthese von C9- aus C10-monoterpenoiden Indol-Alkaloiden. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2009. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.200900150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Edwankar CR, Edwankar RV, Rallapalli S, Cook JM. General Approach to the Total Synthesis of Macroline-Related Sarpagine and Ajmaline Alkaloids 1. Nat Prod Commun 2008. [DOI: 10.1177/1934578x0800301114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Described in this review is a general and efficient strategy for the synthesis of macroline-related sarpagine and ajmaline alkaloids. The tetracyclic ketone in the parent system, as well as the alkoxy substituted series served as templates for the synthesis of these complex molecules. The palladium-mediated enolate cross coupling process, regiospecific hydroboration, and Tollens reaction are some of the key transformations that have been employed for further functionalization of these templates. Synthetic routes that have been improved, in order to obtain gram quantities of these alkaloids form a part of this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chitra R. Edwankar
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53211, USA
| | - Rahul V. Edwankar
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53211, USA
| | - Sundari Rallapalli
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53211, USA
| | - James M. Cook
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53211, USA
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Yang Y, Xu R, Ma CJ, Vlot AC, Klessig DF, Pichersky E. Inactive methyl indole-3-acetic acid ester can be hydrolyzed and activated by several esterases belonging to the AtMES esterase family of Arabidopsis. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2008; 147:1034-45. [PMID: 18467465 PMCID: PMC2442527 DOI: 10.1104/pp.108.118224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 120] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2008] [Accepted: 04/23/2008] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
The plant hormone auxin (indole-3-acetic acid [IAA]) is found both free and conjugated to a variety of carbohydrates, amino acids, and peptides. We have recently shown that IAA could be converted to its methyl ester (MeIAA) by the Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) enzyme IAA carboxyl methyltransferase 1. However, the presence and function of MeIAA in vivo remains unclear. Recently, it has been shown that the tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) protein SABP2 (salicylic acid binding protein 2) hydrolyzes methyl salicylate to salicylic acid. There are 20 homologs of SABP2 in the genome of Arabidopsis, which we have named AtMES (for methyl esterases). We tested 15 of the proteins encoded by these genes in biochemical assays with various substrates and identified several candidate MeIAA esterases that could hydrolyze MeIAA. MeIAA, like IAA, exerts inhibitory activity on the growth of wild-type roots when applied exogenously. However, the roots of Arabidopsis plants carrying T-DNA insertions in the putative MeIAA esterase gene AtMES17 (At3g10870) displayed significantly decreased sensitivity to MeIAA compared with wild-type roots while remaining as sensitive to free IAA as wild-type roots. Incubating seedlings in the presence of [(14)C]MeIAA for 30 min revealed that mes17 mutants hydrolyzed only 40% of the [(14)C]MeIAA taken up by plants, whereas wild-type plants hydrolyzed 100% of absorbed [(14)C]MeIAA. Roots of Arabidopsis plants overexpressing AtMES17 showed increased sensitivity to MeIAA but not to IAA. Additionally, mes17 plants have longer hypocotyls and display increased expression of the auxin-responsive DR5:beta-glucuronidase reporter gene, suggesting a perturbation in IAA homeostasis and/or transport. mes17-1/axr1-3 double mutant plants have the same phenotype as axr1-3, suggesting MES17 acts upstream of AXR1. The protein encoded by AtMES17 had a K(m) value of 13 microm and a K(cat) value of 0.18 s(-1) for MeIAA. AtMES17 was expressed at the highest levels in shoot apex, stem, and root of Arabidopsis. Our results demonstrate that MeIAA is an inactive form of IAA, and the manifestations of MeIAA in vivo activity are due to the action of free IAA that is generated from MeIAA upon hydrolysis by one or more plant esterases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Yang
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1048, USA
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Sun L, Ruppert M, Sheludko Y, Warzecha H, Zhao Y, Stöckigt J. Purification, cloning, functional expression and characterization of perakine reductase: the first example from the AKR enzyme family, extending the alkaloidal network of the plant Rauvolfia. PLANT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2008; 67:455-467. [PMID: 18409028 DOI: 10.1007/s11103-008-9331-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2007] [Accepted: 03/24/2008] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Perakine reductase (PR) catalyzes an NADPH-dependent step in a side-branch of the 10-step biosynthetic pathway of the alkaloid ajmaline. The enzyme was cloned by a "reverse-genetic" approach from cell suspension cultures of the plant Rauvolfia serpentina (Apocynaceae) and functionally expressed in Escherichia coli as the N-terminal His(6)-tagged protein. PR displays a broad substrate acceptance, converting 16 out of 28 tested compounds with reducible carbonyl function which belong to three substrate groups: benzaldehyde, cinnamic aldehyde derivatives and monoterpenoid indole alkaloids. The enzyme has an extraordinary selectivity in the group of alkaloids. Sequence alignments define PR as a new member of the aldo-keto reductase (AKR) super family, exhibiting the conserved catalytic tetrad Asp52, Tyr57, Lys84, His126. Site-directed mutagenesis of each of these functional residues to an alanine residue results in >97.8% loss of enzyme activity, in compounds of each substrate group. PR represents the first example of the large AKR-family which is involved in the biosynthesis of plant monoterpenoid indole alkaloids. In addition to a new esterase, PR significantly extends the Rauvolfia alkaloid network to the novel group of peraksine alkaloids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lianli Sun
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Natural Drug Research, Building of College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zijingang Campus, Zhejiang University, 310058 Hangzhou, PR China
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Engineering Plant Alkaloid Biosynthetic Pathways: Progress and Prospects. BIOENGINEERING AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF PLANT PATHWAYS 2008. [DOI: 10.1016/s1755-0408(07)01010-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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Abstract
Alkaloids represent a highly diverse group of compounds that are related only by the occurrence of a nitrogen atom in a heterocyclic ring. Plants are estimated to produce approximately 12,000 different alkaloids, which can be organized into groups according to their carbon skeletal structures. Alkaloid biosynthesis in plants involves many catalytic steps, catalyzed by enzymes that belong to a wide range of protein families. The characterization of novel alkaloid biosynthetic enzymes in terms of structural biochemistry, molecular and cell biology, and biotechnological applications has been the focus of research over the past several years. The application of genomics to the alkaloid field has accelerated the discovery of cDNAs encoding previously elusive biosynthetic enzymes. Other technologies, such as large-scale gene expression analyses and metabolic engineering approaches with transgenic plants, have provided new insights into the regulatory architecture of alkaloid metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jörg Ziegler
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada.
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Stöckigt J, Panjikar S. Structural biology in plant natural product biosynthesis--architecture of enzymes from monoterpenoid indole and tropane alkaloid biosynthesis. Nat Prod Rep 2007; 24:1382-400. [PMID: 18033585 DOI: 10.1039/b711935f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Several cDNAs of enzymes catalyzing biosynthetic pathways of plant-derived alkaloids have recently been heterologously expressed, and the production of appropriate enzymes from ajmaline and tropane alkaloid biosynthesis in bacteria allows their crystallization. This review describes the architecture of these enzymes with and without their ligands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joachim Stöckigt
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zijingang Campus, Zhejiang University, 310058, Hangzhou, China
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Yin W, Ma J, Rivas FM, Cook JM. First enantiospecific total synthesis of the important biogenetic intermediates, (+)-polyneuridine and (+)-polyneuridine aldehyde, as well as 16-epi-vellosimine and macusine A. Org Lett 2007; 9:295-8. [PMID: 17217288 DOI: 10.1021/ol062762q] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The first enantiospecific total synthesis of the alkaloids 16-epi-vellosimine (1), (+)-polyneuridine (2), (+)-polyneuridine aldehyde (3), and macusine A (4) is reported. The key oxidation was accomplished with the Corey-Kim reagent to provide the important biogenetic intermediates, 16-epi-vellosimine (1) and polyneuridine aldehyde (3), the latter of which is required for the conversion of the sarpagan skeleton into the ajmalan system in the biosynthesis of quebrachidine. [reaction: see text].
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenyuan Yin
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201, USA
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Facchini PJ. Regulation of alkaloid biosynthesis in plants. THE ALKALOIDS. CHEMISTRY AND BIOLOGY 2007; 63:1-44. [PMID: 17133713 DOI: 10.1016/s1099-4831(06)63001-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/16/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Peter J Facchini
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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O'Connor SE, Maresh JJ. Chemistry and biology of monoterpene indole alkaloid biosynthesis. Nat Prod Rep 2006; 23:532-47. [PMID: 16874388 DOI: 10.1039/b512615k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 686] [Impact Index Per Article: 38.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E O'Connor
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Building 18-592, Cambridge, MA 02139-4307, USA.
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O'Connor SE, McCoy E. Terpene Indole Alkaloid Biosynthesis. RECENT ADVANCES IN PHYTOCHEMISTRY 2006. [DOI: 10.1016/s0079-9920(06)80035-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
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Ruppert M, Woll J, Giritch A, Genady E, Ma X, Stöckigt J. Functional expression of an ajmaline pathway-specific esterase from Rauvolfia in a novel plant-virus expression system. PLANTA 2005; 222:888-98. [PMID: 16133216 DOI: 10.1007/s00425-005-0031-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2005] [Accepted: 04/29/2005] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Acetylajmalan esterase (AAE) plays an essential role in the late stage of ajmaline biosynthesis. Based on the partial peptide sequences of AAE isolated and purified from Rauvolfia cell suspensions, a full-length AAE cDNA clone was isolated. The amino acid sequence of AAE has the highest level of identity of 40% to putative lipases known from the Arabidopsis thaliana genome project. Based on the primary structure AAE is a new member of the GDSL lipase superfamily. The expression in Escherichia coli failed although a wide range of conditions were tested. With a novel virus-based plant expression system, it was possible to express AAE functionally in leaves of Nicotiana benthamiana Domin. An extraordinarily high enzyme activity was detected in the Nicotiana tissue, which exceeded that in Rauvolfia serpentina (L.) Benth. ex Kurz cell suspension cultures about 20-fold. This expression allowed molecular analysis of AAE for the first time and increased the number of functionally expressed alkaloid genes from Rauvolfia now to eight, and the number of ajmaline pathway-specific cDNAs to a total of six.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Ruppert
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, Institute of Pharmacy, Johannes Gutenberg-University, Staudinger Weg 5, 55128, Mainz, Germany
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Fridman E, Wang J, Iijima Y, Froehlich JE, Gang DR, Ohlrogge J, Pichersky E. Metabolic, genomic, and biochemical analyses of glandular trichomes from the wild tomato species Lycopersicon hirsutum identify a key enzyme in the biosynthesis of methylketones. THE PLANT CELL 2005; 17:1252-67. [PMID: 15772286 PMCID: PMC1088000 DOI: 10.1105/tpc.104.029736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 117] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2004] [Accepted: 02/12/2005] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Medium-length methylketones (C7-C15) are highly effective in protecting plants from numerous pests. We used a biochemical genomics approach to elucidate the pathway leading to synthesis of methylketones in the glandular trichomes of the wild tomato Lycopersicon hirsutum f glabratum (accession PI126449). A comparison of gland EST databases from accession PI126449 and a second L. hirsutum accession, LA1777, whose glands do not contain methylketones, showed that the expression of genes for fatty acid biosynthesis is elevated in PI126449 glands, suggesting de novo biosynthesis of methylketones. A cDNA abundant in the PI126449 gland EST database but rare in the LA1777 database was similar in sequence to plant esterases. This cDNA, designated Methylketone Synthase 1 (MKS1), was expressed in Escherichia coli and the purified protein used to catalyze in vitro reactions in which C12, C14, and C16 beta-ketoacyl-acyl-carrier-proteins (intermediates in fatty acid biosynthesis) were hydrolyzed and decarboxylated to give C11, C13, and C15 methylketones, respectively. Although MKS1 does not contain a classical transit peptide, in vitro import assays showed that it was targeted to the stroma of plastids, where fatty acid biosynthesis occurs. Levels of MKS1 transcript, protein, and enzymatic activity were correlated with levels of methylketones and gland density in a variety of tomato accessions and in different plant organs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eyal Fridman
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan An Arbor, Michigan 48109-1048, USA
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Forouhar F, Yang Y, Kumar D, Chen Y, Fridman E, Park SW, Chiang Y, Acton TB, Montelione GT, Pichersky E, Klessig DF, Tong L. Structural and biochemical studies identify tobacco SABP2 as a methyl salicylate esterase and implicate it in plant innate immunity. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2005; 102:1773-8. [PMID: 15668381 PMCID: PMC547883 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0409227102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 180] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2004] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Salicylic acid (SA) is a critical signal for the activation of plant defense responses against pathogen infections. We recently identified SA-binding protein 2 (SABP2) from tobacco as a protein that displays high affinity for SA and plays a crucial role in the activation of systemic acquired resistance to plant pathogens. Here we report the crystal structures of SABP2, alone and in complex with SA at up to 2.1-A resolution. The structures confirm that SABP2 is a member of the alpha/beta hydrolase superfamily of enzymes, with Ser-81, His-238, and Asp-210 as the catalytic triad. SA is bound in the active site and is completely shielded from the solvent, consistent with the high affinity of this compound for SABP2. Our biochemical studies reveal that SABP2 has strong esterase activity with methyl salicylate as the substrate, and that SA is a potent product inhibitor of this catalysis. Modeling of SABP2 with MeSA in the active site is consistent with all these biochemical observations. Our results suggest that SABP2 may be required to convert MeSA to SA as part of the signal transduction pathways that activate systemic acquired resistance and perhaps local defense responses as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farhad Forouhar
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northeast Structural Genomics Consortium, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
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Stuhlfelder C, Mueller MJ, Warzecha H. Cloning and expression of a tomato cDNA encoding a methyl jasmonate cleaving esterase. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2004; 271:2976-83. [PMID: 15233793 DOI: 10.1111/j.1432-1033.2004.04227.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Jasmonic acid and its methyl ester are ubiquitous plant signalling compounds necessary for the regulation of growth and development, as well as for the response of plants to environmental stress factors. To date, it is not clear whether methyl jasmonate itself acts as a signal or if its conversion to jasmonic acid is mandatory prior to the induction of a defense response. We have cloned a cDNA, encoding a methyl jasmonate-cleaving enzyme, from tomato cell suspension cultures. Sequence analysis revealed significant similarity to plant esterases and to (S)-hydroxynitrile lyases with an alpha/beta-hydrolase fold structure. The coding sequence was heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli and purified in a catalytically active form. Transcript levels, as well as enzymatic activity, were determined in different tomato tissues. High transcript levels and enzyme activities were found in roots and flowers, while the mRNA level and activity were low in stems and leaves. Moreover, when tested in methyl jasmonate- and elicitor-treated cell suspension cultures, transcript levels were found to decrease, indicating that this particular enzyme might be a regulator of jasmonate signalling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christiane Stuhlfelder
- Lehrstuhl für Pharmazeutische Biologie, Julius-von-Sachs-Institut für Biowissenschaften, Universität Würzburg, Germany
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Abstract
The biosynthetic pathway of plant alkaloids is composed of several distinct enzymes of varying substrate specificities. Homology-based cloning of candidate genes and their subsequent functional testing in heterologous expression systems are accelerating the pace at which the gene catalogues of alkaloid biosynthesis are expanding. Availability of diverse genes involved in the biosynthesis, catabolism, transport, and regulation of pharmaceutically important alkaloids should steadily advance our molecular understanding of alkaloid biology and will enable us to devise more rational strategies for metabolic engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takashi Hashimoto
- Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5 Takayama, Ikoma, Nara 630-0192, Japan.
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Mattern-Dogru E, Ma X, Hartmann J, Decker H, Stöckigt J. Potential active-site residues in polyneuridine aldehyde esterase, a central enzyme of indole alkaloid biosynthesis, by modelling and site-directed mutagenesis. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF BIOCHEMISTRY 2002; 269:2889-96. [PMID: 12071952 DOI: 10.1046/j.1432-1033.2002.02956.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
In the biosynthesis of the antiarrhythmic alkaloid ajmaline, polyneuridine aldehyde esterase (PNAE) catalyses a central reaction by transforming polyneuridine aldehyde into epi-vellosimine, which is the immediate precursor for the synthesis of the ajmalane skeleton. The PNAE cDNA was previously heterologously expressed in E. coli. Sequence alignments indicated that PNAE has a 43% identity to a hydroxynitrile lyase from Hevea brasiliensis, which is a member of the alpha/beta hydrolase superfamily. The catalytic triad, which is typical for this family, is conserved. By site-directed mutagenesis, the members of the catalytic triad were identified. For further detection of the active residues, a model of PNAE was constructed based on the X-ray crystallographic structure of hydroxynitrile lyase. The potential active site residues were selected on this model, and were mutated in order to better understand the relationship of PNAE with the alpha/beta hydrolases, and as well its mechanism of action. The results showed that PNAE is a novel member of the alpha/beta hydrolase enzyme superfamily.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emine Mattern-Dogru
- Lehrstuhl für Pharmazeutische Biologie, Institut für Pharmazie, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, Germany
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Gerasimenko I, Sheludko Y, Ma X, Stöckigt J. Heterologous expression of a Rauvolfia cDNA encoding strictosidine glucosidase, a biosynthetic key to over 2000 monoterpenoid indole alkaloids. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF BIOCHEMISTRY 2002; 269:2204-13. [PMID: 11985599 DOI: 10.1046/j.1432-1033.2002.02878.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Strictosidine glucosidase (SG) is an enzyme that catalyses the second step in the biosynthesis of various classes of monoterpenoid indole alkaloids. Based on the comparison of cDNA sequences of SG from Catharanthus roseus and raucaffricine glucosidase (RG) from Rauvolfia serpentina, primers for RT-PCR were designed and the cDNA encoding SG was cloned from R. serpentina cell suspension cultures. The active enzyme was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified to homogeneity. Analysis of its deduced amino-acid sequence assigned the SG from R. serpentina to family 1 of glycosyl hydrolases. In contrast to the SG from C. roseus, the enzyme from R. serpentina is predicted to lack an uncleavable N-terminal signal sequence, which is believed to direct proteins to the endoplasmic reticulum. The temperature and pH optimum, enzyme kinetic parameters and substrate specificity of the heterologously expressed SG were studied and compared to those of the C. roseus enzyme, revealing some differences between the two glucosidases. In vitro deglucosylation of strictosidine by R. serpentina SG proceeds by the same mechanism as has been shown for the C. roseus enzyme preparation. The reaction gives rise to the end product cathenamine and involves 4,21-dehydrocorynantheine aldehyde as an intermediate. The enzymatic hydrolysis of dolichantoside (Nbeta-methylstrictosidine) leads to several products. One of them was identified as a new compound, 3-isocorreantine A. From the data it can be concluded that the divergence of the biosynthetic pathways leading to different classes of indole alkaloids formed in R. serpentina and C. roseus cell suspension cultures occurs at a later stage than strictosidine deglucosylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irina Gerasimenko
- Lehrstuhl für Pharmazeutische Biologie, Institut für Pharmazie, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, Germany
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Zhong GY, Goren R, Riov J, Sisler EC, Holland D. Characterization of an ethylene-induced esterase gene isolated from Citrus sinensis by competitive hybridization. PHYSIOLOGIA PLANTARUM 2001; 113:267-274. [PMID: 12060305 DOI: 10.1034/j.1399-3054.2001.1130215.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
A simple new method, competitive hybridization, for identification of differentially regulated genes was used to isolate novel genes induced by ethylene in citrus (Citrus sinensis [L.] Osbeck cv. Shamouti) leaves. One of the isolated genes, an ethylene-induced esterase gene (EIE), was further characterized. The deduced protein sequence of this gene shows a similarity to those of several plant alpha/beta hydrolase gene family members, which are known to be involved in secondary metabolism. Northern blot analysis demonstrated that EIE mRNA was induced by ethylene within 4 h and accumulated to a very high level 24 h after the initiation of ethylene treatment. Induction of EIE by ethylene could be counteracted by 1-methylcyclopropene, a potent ethylene perception inhibitor, indicating that the expression of EIE is ethylene-dependent. The bacterially expressed protein of EIE was recognized by antiserum against Pir7b, a naphthol AS esterase induced in rice by the non-host pathogen, Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae. The EIE protein was identified in ethylene-treated leaves using anti-Pir7b antibodies. An alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase accumulated concomitantly with the increase in EIE protein in ethylene-treated citrus leaves. An enzyme activity assay followed by western analysis confirmed that the esterase was EIE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guang Yan Zhong
- The Kennedy-Leigh Centre for Horticultural Research, Faculty of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Quality Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 76100, Israel Department of Biochemistry, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 17695-7622, USA Agricultural Research Organization, Newe Ya'ar Research Center, P.O. Box 1021, Ramat Yishay 30095, Israel
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Arend J, Warzecha H, Hefner T, Stöckigt J. Utilizing genetically engineered bacteria to produce plant-specific glucosides. Biotechnol Bioeng 2001; 76:126-31. [PMID: 11505382 DOI: 10.1002/bit.1152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Plant-derived glucosides have attracted much attention due to their widespread applications. This class of products is difficult to isolate or to synthesize in pure form because of the resulting low yields. Thus, simple approaches for the generation of such glucosides would be highly beneficial. We purified and characterized a novel glucosyltransferase from plant cell suspension cultures of Rauvolfia serpentina, which showed rather low substrate specificity. We obtained its cDNA and expressed the active recombinant protein in bacteria (Escherichia coli) with excellent plant-specific glucosylation efficiencies. Compared with the plant system, the bacteria delivered the new enzyme, which was in the form of a soluble or matrix-bound enzyme, approximately 1800 times more efficiently for the synthesis of a wide range of glucosides. More importantly, the engineered E. coli strain allowed for in vivo glucosylation and release of the product into the culture medium, as shown by the formation of arbutin, which is a potent inhibitor of human melanin biosynthesis with commercial value.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Arend
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, Institute of Pharmacy, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Staudinger Weg 5, 55099 Mainz, Germany
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47
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De Luca V, Laflamme P. The expanding universe of alkaloid biosynthesis. CURRENT OPINION IN PLANT BIOLOGY 2001; 4:225-33. [PMID: 11312133 DOI: 10.1016/s1369-5266(00)00165-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Characterization of many of the major gene families responsible for the generation of central intermediates and for their decoration, together with the development of large genomics and proteomics databases, has revolutionized our capability to identify exotic and interesting natural-product pathways. Over the next few years, these tools will facilitate dramatic advances in our knowledge of the biosynthesis of alkaloids, which will far surpass that which we have learned in the past 50 years. These tools will also be exploited for the rapid characterization of regulatory genes, which control the development of specialized cell factories for alkaloid biosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- V De Luca
- Institut de Recherche en Biologie Végétale, Département de Sciences Biologiques, Université de Montréal, 4101 rue Sherbrooke est, Montréal, H1X 2B2, Québec, Canada.
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Hinse C, Sheludko YV, Provenzani A, Stöckigt JH. In vivo NMR at 800 MHz to monitor alkaloid metabolism in plant cell cultures without tracer labeling. J Am Chem Soc 2001; 123:5118-9. [PMID: 11457351 DOI: 10.1021/ja003613k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- C Hinse
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, Institute of Pharmacy, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Staudinger Weg 5, D-55099 Mainz, Germany
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