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Tian Y, Kong L, Li Q, Wang Y, Wang Y, An Z, Ma Y, Tian L, Duan B, Sun W, Gao R, Chen S, Xu Z. Structural diversity, evolutionary origin, and metabolic engineering of plant specialized benzylisoquinoline alkaloids. Nat Prod Rep 2024. [PMID: 39360417 DOI: 10.1039/d4np00029c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/04/2024]
Abstract
Covering: up to June 2024Benzylisoquinoline alkaloids (BIAs) represent a diverse class of plant specialized metabolites derived from L-tyrosine, exhibiting significant pharmacological properties such as anti-microbial, anti-spasmodic, anti-cancer, cardiovascular protection, and analgesic effects. The industrial production of valuable BIAs relies on extraction from plants; however, challenges concerning their low concentration and efficiency hinder drug development. Hence, alternative approaches, including biosynthesis and chemoenzymatic synthesis, have been explored. Model species like Papaver somniferum and Coptis japonica have played a key role in unraveling the biosynthetic pathways of BIAs; however, many aspects, particularly modified steps like oxidation and methylation, remain unclear. Critical enzymes, e.g., CYP450s and methyltransferases, play a substantial role in BIA backbone formation and modification, which is essential for understanding the origin and adaptive evolution of these plant specialized metabolites. This review comprehensively analyzes the structural diversity of reported BIAs and their distribution in plant lineages. In addition, the progress in understanding biosynthesis, evolution, and catalytic mechanisms underlying BIA biosynthesis is summarized. Finally, we discuss the progress and challenges in metabolic engineering, providing valuable insights into BIA drug development and the sustainable utilization of BIA-producing plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya Tian
- Key Laboratory of Saline-alkali Vegetation Ecology Restoration (Northeast Forestry University), Ministry of Education, Harbin 150040, China.
- College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, 150040, China
| | - Lingzhe Kong
- Key Laboratory of Saline-alkali Vegetation Ecology Restoration (Northeast Forestry University), Ministry of Education, Harbin 150040, China.
- College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, 150040, China
| | - Qi Li
- Key Laboratory of Saline-alkali Vegetation Ecology Restoration (Northeast Forestry University), Ministry of Education, Harbin 150040, China.
- College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, 150040, China
| | - Yifan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Saline-alkali Vegetation Ecology Restoration (Northeast Forestry University), Ministry of Education, Harbin 150040, China.
- College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, 150040, China
| | - Yongmiao Wang
- Key Laboratory of Saline-alkali Vegetation Ecology Restoration (Northeast Forestry University), Ministry of Education, Harbin 150040, China.
- College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, 150040, China
| | - Zhoujie An
- Key Laboratory of Saline-alkali Vegetation Ecology Restoration (Northeast Forestry University), Ministry of Education, Harbin 150040, China.
- College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, 150040, China
| | - Yuwei Ma
- Key Laboratory of Saline-alkali Vegetation Ecology Restoration (Northeast Forestry University), Ministry of Education, Harbin 150040, China.
- College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, 150040, China
| | - Lixia Tian
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, China
| | - Baozhong Duan
- College of Pharmaceutical Science, Dali University, Dali 671003, China
| | - Wei Sun
- Key Laboratory of Beijing for Identification and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Ranran Gao
- Artemisinin Research Center, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China.
| | - Shilin Chen
- Institute of Herbgenomics, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China.
| | - Zhichao Xu
- Key Laboratory of Saline-alkali Vegetation Ecology Restoration (Northeast Forestry University), Ministry of Education, Harbin 150040, China.
- College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, 150040, China
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Li Q, Jiao X, Li X, Shi W, Ma Y, Tan X, Gan J, Liu J, Yang J, Wang J, Jin B, Chen T, Su P, Zhao Y, Zhang Y, Tang J, Cui G, Chen Y, Guo J, Huang L. Identification of the cytochrome P450s responsible for the biosynthesis of two types of aporphine alkaloids and their de novo biosynthesis in yeast. JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY 2024; 66:1703-1717. [PMID: 38953746 DOI: 10.1111/jipb.13724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2024] [Revised: 05/24/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
Aporphine alkaloids have diverse pharmacological activities; however, our understanding of their biosynthesis is relatively limited. Previous studies have classified aporphine alkaloids into two categories based on the configuration and number of substituents of the D-ring and have proposed preliminary biosynthetic pathways for each category. In this study, we identified two specific cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYP80G6 and CYP80Q5) with distinct activities toward (S)-configured and (R)-configured substrates from the herbaceous perennial vine Stephania tetrandra, shedding light on the biosynthetic mechanisms and stereochemical features of these two aporphine alkaloid categories. Additionally, we characterized two CYP719C enzymes (CYP719C3 and CYP719C4) that catalyzed the formation of the methylenedioxy bridge, an essential pharmacophoric group, on the A- and D-rings, respectively, of aporphine alkaloids. Leveraging the functional characterization of these crucial cytochrome P450 enzymes, we reconstructed the biosynthetic pathways for the two types of aporphine alkaloids in budding yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) for the de novo production of compounds such as (R)-glaziovine, (S)-glaziovine, and magnoflorine. This study provides key insight into the biosynthesis of aporphine alkaloids and lays a foundation for producing these valuable compounds through synthetic biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qishuang Li
- School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China
- State Key Laboratory for Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China
| | - Xiang Jiao
- Department of Life Sciences, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, SE-41296, Sweden
| | - Xinyi Li
- State Key Laboratory for Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Wenlong Shi
- State Key Laboratory for Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China
| | - Ying Ma
- State Key Laboratory for Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China
| | - Xiangmei Tan
- State Key Laboratory for Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China
| | - Jingyi Gan
- State Key Laboratory for Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China
| | - Jimei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, The Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Jian Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China
| | - Jian Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China
| | - Baolong Jin
- State Key Laboratory for Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China
| | - Tong Chen
- State Key Laboratory for Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China
| | - Ping Su
- State Key Laboratory for Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China
| | - Yujun Zhao
- State Key Laboratory for Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China
| | - Yifeng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China
| | - Jinfu Tang
- State Key Laboratory for Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China
| | - Guanghong Cui
- State Key Laboratory for Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China
| | - Yun Chen
- Department of Life Sciences, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, SE-41296, Sweden
| | - Juan Guo
- State Key Laboratory for Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China
| | - Luqi Huang
- State Key Laboratory for Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China
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Ware I, Franke K, Frolov A, Bureiko K, Kysil E, Yahayu M, El Enshasy HA, Wessjohann LA. Comparative metabolite analysis of Piper sarmentosum organs approached by LC-MS-based metabolic profiling. NATURAL PRODUCTS AND BIOPROSPECTING 2024; 14:30. [PMID: 38743199 PMCID: PMC11093948 DOI: 10.1007/s13659-024-00453-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 05/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Piper sarmentosum Roxb. (Piperaceae) is a traditional medicinal and food plant widely distributed in the tropical and subtropical regions of Asia, offering both health and culinary benefits. In this study the secondary metabolites in different organs of P. sarmentosum were identified and their relative abundances were characterized. The metabolic profiles of leaves, roots, stems and fruits were comprehensively investigated by liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HR-MS) and the data subsequently analyzed using multivariate statistical methods. Manual interpretation of the tandem mass spectrometric (MS/MS) fragmentation patterns revealed the presence of 154 tentatively identified metabolites, mostly represented by alkaloids and flavonoids. Principle component analysis and hierarchical clustering indicated the predominant occurrence of flavonoids, lignans and phenyl propanoids in leaves, aporphines in stems, piperamides in fruits and lignan-amides in roots. Overall, this study provides extensive data on the metabolite composition of P. sarmentosum, supplying useful information for bioactive compounds discovery and patterns of their preferential biosynthesis or storage in specific organs. This can be used to optimize production and harvesting as well as to maximize the plant's economic value as herbal medicine or in food applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ismail Ware
- Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, 06120, Halle (Saale), Germany
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, Kota Kinabalu 88400, Sabah, Malaysia
- Institute of Bioproduct Development, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), 81310 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
| | - Katrin Franke
- Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, 06120, Halle (Saale), Germany.
- Institute of Biology/Geobotany and Botanical Garden, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, 06108, Halle (Saale), Germany.
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, 04103, Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Andrej Frolov
- Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, 06120, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Kseniia Bureiko
- Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, 06120, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Elana Kysil
- Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, 06120, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Maizatulakmal Yahayu
- Institute of Bioproduct Development, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), 81310 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
| | - Hesham Ali El Enshasy
- Institute of Bioproduct Development, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), 81310 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
- City of Scientific Research and Technology Applications, New Borg Al Arab, Alexandria, 21934, Egypt
| | - Ludger A Wessjohann
- Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, 06120, Halle (Saale), Germany.
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, 04103, Leipzig, Germany.
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Kim A, Ngamnithiporn A, Du E, Stoltz BM. Recent Advances in the Total Synthesis of the Tetrahydroisoquinoline Alkaloids (2002-2020). Chem Rev 2023; 123:9447-9496. [PMID: 37429001 PMCID: PMC10416225 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.3c00054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023]
Abstract
The tetrahydroisoquinoline (THIQ) natural products constitute one of the largest families of alkaloids and exhibit a wide range of structural diversity and biological activity. Ranging from simple THIQ natural products to complex trisTHIQ alkaloids such as the ecteinascidins, the chemical syntheses of these alkaloids and their analogs have been thoroughly investigated due to their intricate structural features and functionalities, as well as their high therapeutic potential. This review describes the general structure and biosynthesis of each family of THIQ alkaloids as well as recent advancements of the total synthesis of these natural products from 2002 to 2020. Recent chemical syntheses that have emerged harnessing novel, creative synthetic design, and modern chemical methodology will be highlighted. This review will hopefully serve as a guide for the unique strategies and tools used in the total synthesis of THIQ alkaloids, as well as address the longstanding challenges in their chemical and biosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexia
N. Kim
- The
Warren and Katharine Schlinger Laboratory for Chemistry and Chemical
Engineering, Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, United States
| | - Aurapat Ngamnithiporn
- Laboratory
of Medicinal Chemistry, Chulabhorn Research
Institute, 54 Kamphaeng
Phet 6 Road, Bangkok 10210, Thailand
| | - Emily Du
- The
Warren and Katharine Schlinger Laboratory for Chemistry and Chemical
Engineering, Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, United States
| | - Brian M. Stoltz
- The
Warren and Katharine Schlinger Laboratory for Chemistry and Chemical
Engineering, Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, United States
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5
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Hernandez-Rocha JV, Vásquez-Morales SG. The Potential of Magnolia spp. in the Production of Alternative Pest Control Substances. Molecules 2023; 28:4681. [PMID: 37375236 PMCID: PMC10303668 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28124681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Revised: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The irrational use of synthetic pesticides in agriculture has had negative impacts on ecosystems and contributed to environmental pollution. Botanical pesticides offer a clean biotechnological alternative to meet the agricultural challenges posed by pests and arthropods. This article proposes the use of fruit structures (fruit, peel, seed, and sarcotesta) of several Magnolia species as biopesticides. The potential of extracts, essential oils, and secondary metabolites of these structures for pest control is described. From 11 Magnolia species, 277 natural compounds were obtained, 68.7% of which were terpenoids, phenolic compounds, and alkaloids. Finally, the importance of a correct management of Magnolia species to ensure their sustainable use and conservation is stressed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Suria Gisela Vásquez-Morales
- Department of Biology, Division of Natural and Exact Sciences, University of Guanajuato, Guanajuato 36050, Mexico
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6
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Ozber N, Yu L, Hagel JM, Facchini PJ. Strong Feedback Inhibition of Key Enzymes in the Morphine Biosynthetic Pathway from Opium Poppy Detectable in Engineered Yeast. ACS Chem Biol 2023; 18:419-430. [PMID: 36735832 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.2c00873] [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: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Systematic screening of morphine pathway intermediates in engineered yeast revealed key biosynthetic enzymes displaying potent feedback inhibition: 3'-hydroxy-N-methylcoclaurine 4'-methyltransferase (4'OMT), which yields (S)-reticuline, and the coupled salutaridinol-7-O-acetyltransferase (SalAT) and thebaine synthase (THS2) enzyme system that produces thebaine. The addition of deuterated reticuline-d1 to a yeast strain able to convert (S)-norcoclaurine to (S)-reticuline showed reduced product accumulation in response to the feeding of all four successive pathway intermediates. Similarly, the addition of deuterated thebaine-d3 to a yeast strain able to convert salutaridine to thebaine showed reduced product accumulation from exogenous salutaridine or salutaridinol. In vitro analysis showed that reticuline is a noncompetitive inhibitor of 4'OMT, whereas thebaine exerts mixed inhibition on SalAT/THS2. In a yeast strain capable of de novo morphine biosynthesis, the addition of reticuline and thebaine resulted in the accumulation of several pathway intermediates. In contrast, morphine had no effect, suggesting that circumventing the interaction of reticuline and thebaine with 4'OMT and SalAT/THS2, respectively, could substantially increase opiate alkaloid titers in engineered yeast.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natali Ozber
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Lisa Yu
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Jillian M Hagel
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Peter J Facchini
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada
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Lashley A, Miller R, Provenzano S, Jarecki SA, Erba P, Salim V. Functional Diversification and Structural Origins of Plant Natural Product Methyltransferases. Molecules 2022; 28:43. [PMID: 36615239 PMCID: PMC9822479 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28010043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
In plants, methylation is a common step in specialized metabolic pathways, leading to a vast diversity of natural products. The methylation of these small molecules is catalyzed by S-adenosyl-l-methionine (SAM)-dependent methyltransferases, which are categorized based on the methyl-accepting atom (O, N, C, S, or Se). These methyltransferases are responsible for the transformation of metabolites involved in plant defense response, pigments, and cell signaling. Plant natural product methyltransferases are part of the Class I methyltransferase-superfamily containing the canonical Rossmann fold. Recent advances in genomics have accelerated the functional characterization of plant natural product methyltransferases, allowing for the determination of substrate specificities and regioselectivity and further realizing the potential for enzyme engineering. This review compiles known biochemically characterized plant natural product methyltransferases that have contributed to our knowledge in the diversification of small molecules mediated by methylation steps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Audrey Lashley
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Shreveport, LA 71115, USA
| | - Ryan Miller
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Shreveport, LA 71115, USA
- School of Medicine, Louisiana State University Health New Orleans, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Stephanie Provenzano
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Shreveport, LA 71115, USA
- School of Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Shreveport, Shreveport, LA 71103, USA
| | - Sara-Alexis Jarecki
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Shreveport, LA 71115, USA
| | - Paul Erba
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Shreveport, LA 71115, USA
- School of Medicine, Louisiana State University Health New Orleans, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Vonny Salim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Shreveport, LA 71115, USA
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Cheng W, Yao Y, Wang Q, Chang X, Shi Z, Fang X, Chen F, Chen S, Zhang Y, Zhang F, Zhu D, Deng Z, Lu L. Characterization of benzylisoquinoline alkaloid methyltransferases in Liriodendron chinense provides insights into the phylogenic basis of angiosperm alkaloid diversity. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2022; 112:535-548. [PMID: 36062348 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.15966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Revised: 08/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Benzylisoquinoline alkaloids (BIAs) are a class of plant secondary metabolites with great pharmacological value. Their biosynthetic pathways have been extensively elucidated in the species from the Ranunculales order, such as poppy and Coptis japonica, in which methylation events play central roles and are directly responsible for BIA chemodiversity. Here, we combined BIA quantitative profiling and transcriptomic analyses to identify novel BIA methyltransferases (MTs) from Liriodendron chinense, a basal angiosperm plant. We identified an N-methyltransferase (LcNMT1) and two O-methyltransferases (LcOMT1 and LcOMT3), and characterized their biochemical functions in vitro. LcNMT1 methylates (S)-coclaurine to produce mono- and dimethylated products. Mutagenesis experiments revealed that a single-residue alteration is sufficient to change its substrate selectivity. LcOMT1 methylates (S)-norcoclaurine at the C6 site and LcOMT3 methylates (S)-coclaurine at the C7 site, respectively. Two key residues of LcOMT3, A115 and T301, are identified as important contributors to its catalytic activity. Compared with Ranunculales-derived NMTs, Magnoliales-derived NMTs were less abundant and had narrower substrate specificity, indicating that NMT expansion has contributed substantially to BIA chemodiversity in angiosperms, particularly in Ranunculales species. In summary, we not only characterized three novel enzymes that could be useful in the biosynthetic production of valuable BIAs but also shed light on the molecular origin of BIAs during angiosperm evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weijia Cheng
- Department of Ophthalmology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
- Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Yan Yao
- Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Qiuxia Wang
- Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Xiaosa Chang
- Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Zhuolin Shi
- Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Xueting Fang
- Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Fangfang Chen
- Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Shixin Chen
- Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Yonghong Zhang
- Laboratory of Medicinal Plant, Hubei Key Laboratory of Wudang Local Chinese Medicine Research, Academy of Bio-Medicine Research, School of Basic Medicine, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, 442000, China
| | - Fan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Dongqing Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Zixin Deng
- Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Li Lu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
- Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, 430071, China
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Durmaz L, Kiziltas H, Guven L, Karagecili H, Alwasel S, Gulcin İ. Antioxidant, Antidiabetic, Anticholinergic, and Antiglaucoma Effects of Magnofluorine. Molecules 2022; 27:5902. [PMID: 36144638 PMCID: PMC9502953 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27185902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Revised: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Magnofluorine, a secondary metabolite commonly found in various plants, has pharmacological potential; however, its antioxidant and enzyme inhibition effects have not been investigated. We investigated the antioxidant potential of Magnofluorine using bioanalytical assays with 2,2-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS•+), N,N-dimethyl-p-phenylenediamine dihydrochloride (DMPD•+), and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH•) scavenging abilities and K3[Fe(CN)6] and Cu2+ reduction abilities. Further, we compared the effects of Magnofluorine and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), α-Tocopherol, and Trolox as positive antioxidant controls. According to the analysis results, Magnofluorine removed 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals with an IC50 value of 10.58 μg/mL. The IC50 values of BHA, BHT, Trolox, and α-Tocopherol were 10.10 μg/mL, 25.95 μg/mL, 7.059 μg/mL, and 11.31 μg/mL, respectively. Our results indicated that the DPPH· scavenging effect of Magnofluorine was similar to that of BHA, close to that of Trolox, and better than that of BHT and α-tocopherol. The inhibition effect of Magnofluorine was examined against enzymes, such as acetylcholinesterase (AChE), α-glycosidase, butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), and human carbonic anhydrase II (hCA II), which are linked to global disorders, such as diabetes, Alzheimer's disease (AD), and glaucoma. Magnofluorine inhibited these metabolic enzymes with Ki values of 10.251.94, 5.991.79, 25.411.10, and 30.563.36 nM, respectively. Thus, Magnofluorine, which has been proven to be an antioxidant, antidiabetic, and anticholinergic in our study, can treat glaucoma. In addition, molecular docking was performed to understand the interactions between Magnofluorine and target enzymes BChE (D: 6T9P), hCA II (A:3HS4), AChE (B:4EY7), and α-glycosidase (C:5NN8). The results suggest that Magnofluorine may be an important compound in the transition from natural sources to industrial applications, especially new drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lokman Durmaz
- Department of Medical Services and Technology, Cayirli Vocational School, Erzincan Binali Yildirim University, Erzincan 24500, Turkey
| | - Hatice Kiziltas
- Department of Pharmacy Services, Vocational School of Health Services, Van Yuzuncu Yil University, Van 65080, Turkey
| | - Leyla Guven
- Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ataturk University, Erzurum 25240, Turkey
| | - Hasan Karagecili
- Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Science, Siirt University, Siirt 56100, Turkey
| | - Saleh Alwasel
- Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11362, Saudi Arabia
| | - İlhami Gulcin
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Ataturk University, Erzurum 25240, Turkey
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10
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Pujari I, Babu VS. Rhizobium rhizogenes infection in threatened Indian orchid Dendrobium ovatum mobilises 'Moscatilin' to enhance plant defensins. 3 Biotech 2022; 12:119. [PMID: 35530740 PMCID: PMC9035196 DOI: 10.1007/s13205-022-03180-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 04/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The present study illustrates the transformation ability of two wild-type bacterial strains of Rhizobium rhizogenes (MTCC 532 and MTCC 2364) on the embryogenic callus and callus-derived plantlets of a threatened Indian orchid, Dendrobium ovatum. Co-culture of the bacterium with the explants gave marginal hairy root phenotype that failed to multiply in the culture medium. Some primary and secondary metabolites were subdued in infected explants. Moscatilin, the stilbenoid active principle in D. ovatum, was found below the detection limit. The presence of two metabolites viz., Laudanosine, a benzyltetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloid and Lyciumin B, a cyclic peptide, were detected exclusively in the infected explants. The subjugated amino acids and phenolics in the infected plantlets were routed to produce phytoanticipins, and phenanthrenes, strengthening the defence mechanism in infected tissues. This research implies that the plant's defence mechanism activation could have prevented the extensive hairy root formation in the explants, even though nodulations and phenotype transitions were witnessed. Moscatilin has a structural resemblance with Resveratrol, a phytoalexin that combats bacterial and fungal pathogens. The study favours the possibility of Moscatlin being a precursor for phenanthrene compounds, thereby serving as a 'phytoanticipin' during the infection phase. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-022-03180-9.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ipsita Pujari
- Department of Plant Sciences, Manipal School of Life Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Udupi, Karnataka 576104 India
| | - Vidhu Sankar Babu
- Department of Plant Sciences, Manipal School of Life Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Udupi, Karnataka 576104 India
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11
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Han J, Wu Y, Zhou Y, Li S. Engineering Saccharomyces cerevisiae to produce plant benzylisoquinoline alkaloids. ABIOTECH 2021; 2:264-275. [PMID: 34377581 PMCID: PMC8286646 DOI: 10.1007/s42994-021-00055-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Benzylisoquinoline alkaloids (BIAs) are a diverse family of plant natural products with extensive pharmacological properties, but the yield of BIAs from plant is limited. The understanding of BIA biosynthetic mechanism in plant and the development of synthetic biology enable the possibility to produce BIAs through microbial fermentation, as an alternative to agriculture-based supply chains. In this review, we discussed the engineering strategies to synthesize BIAs in Saccharomyces cerevisiae (yeast) and improve BIA production level, including heterologous pathway reconstruction, enzyme engineering, expression regulation, host engineering and fermentation engineering. We also highlight recent metabolic engineering advances in the production of BIAs in yeast.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianing Han
- Robert Frederick Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, 230A Olin Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 USA
| | - Yinan Wu
- Robert Frederick Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, 230A Olin Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 USA
| | - Yilun Zhou
- Robert Frederick Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, 230A Olin Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 USA
| | - Sijin Li
- Robert Frederick Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, 230A Olin Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 USA
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12
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Liu Y, Wang B, Shu S, Li Z, Song C, Liu D, Niu Y, Liu J, Zhang J, Liu H, Hu Z, Huang B, Liu X, Liu W, Jiang L, Alami MM, Zhou Y, Ma Y, He X, Yang Y, Zhang T, Hu H, Barker MS, Chen S, Wang X, Nie J. Analysis of the Coptis chinensis genome reveals the diversification of protoberberine-type alkaloids. Nat Commun 2021; 12:3276. [PMID: 34078898 PMCID: PMC8172641 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-23611-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2020] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Chinese goldthread (Coptis chinensis Franch.), a member of the Ranunculales, represents an important early-diverging eudicot lineage with diverse medicinal applications. Here, we present a high-quality chromosome-scale genome assembly and annotation of C. chinensis. Phylogenetic and comparative genomic analyses reveal the phylogenetic placement of this species and identify a single round of ancient whole-genome duplication (WGD) shared by the Ranunculaceae. We characterize genes involved in the biosynthesis of protoberberine-type alkaloids in C. chinensis. In particular, local genomic tandem duplications contribute to member amplification of a Ranunculales clade-specific gene family of the cytochrome P450 (CYP) 719. The functional versatility of a key CYP719 gene that encodes the (S)-canadine synthase enzyme involved in the berberine biosynthesis pathway may play critical roles in the diversification of other berberine-related alkaloids in C. chinensis. Our study provides insights into the genomic landscape of early-diverging eudicots and provides a valuable model genome for genetic and applied studies of Ranunculales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifei Liu
- College of Pharmacy, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, China.
| | - Bo Wang
- Hubei Institute for Drug Control, Wuhan, China
| | - Shaohua Shu
- College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Zheng Li
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Chi Song
- Wuhan Benagen Tech Solutions Company Limited, Wuhan, China
| | - Di Liu
- College of Pharmacy, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, China
| | - Yan Niu
- Wuhan Benagen Tech Solutions Company Limited, Wuhan, China
| | - Jinxin Liu
- College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jingjing Zhang
- College of Pharmacy, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, China
| | - Heping Liu
- College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhigang Hu
- College of Pharmacy, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, China
| | - Bisheng Huang
- College of Pharmacy, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiuyu Liu
- National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Liu
- College of Pharmacy, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, China
| | - Liping Jiang
- College of Pharmacy, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, China
| | | | - Yuxin Zhou
- Hubei Institute for Drug Control, Wuhan, China
| | - Yutao Ma
- College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiangxiang He
- Wuhan Benagen Tech Solutions Company Limited, Wuhan, China
| | - Yicheng Yang
- Wuhan Benagen Tech Solutions Company Limited, Wuhan, China
| | - Tianyuan Zhang
- Wuhan Benagen Tech Solutions Company Limited, Wuhan, China
| | - Hui Hu
- Jing Brand Chizhengtang Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Huangshi, China
| | - Michael S Barker
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Shilin Chen
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
| | - Xuekui Wang
- College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.
| | - Jing Nie
- Hubei Institute for Drug Control, Wuhan, China.
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13
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Menéndez-Perdomo IM, Hagel JM, Facchini PJ. Benzylisoquinoline alkaloid analysis using high-resolution Orbitrap LC-MS n. JOURNAL OF MASS SPECTROMETRY : JMS 2021; 56:e4683. [PMID: 33410198 DOI: 10.1002/jms.4683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Revised: 10/29/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Benzylisoquinoline alkaloids (BIAs) have profound implications on human health owing to their potent pharmacological properties. Notable naturally occurring BIAs are the narcotic analgesics morphine, the cough suppressant codeine, the potential anticancer drug noscapine, the muscle relaxant papaverine, and the antimicrobial sanguinarine, all of which are produced in opium poppy (Papaver somniferum). Thebaine, an intermediate in the biosynthesis of codeine and morphine, is used in the manufacture of semisynthetic opiates, including oxycodone and naloxone. As the only commercial source of pharmaceutical opiates, opium poppy has been the focus of considerable research to understand BIA metabolism in the plant. The elucidation of several BIA biosynthetic pathways has enabled the development of synthetic biology platforms aimed at the alternative commercial production of valuable phytochemicals in microorganisms. The detection and identification of BIA pathway products and intermediates in complex extracts is essential for the continuing advancement of research in plant specialized metabolism and microbial synthetic biology. Herein, we report the use of liquid chromatography coupled with linear trap quadrupole and high-resolution Orbitrap multistage mass spectrometry to characterize 44 authentic BIAs using collision-induced dissociation (CID), higher-energy collisional dissociation (HCD), and pulsed Q collision-induced dissociation (PQD) MS2 fragmentation, with MS2 CID followed by MS3 and MS4 fragmentation. Our deep library of diagnostic spectral data constitutes a valuable resource for BIAs identification. In addition, we identified 22 BIAs in opium poppy latex and roots extracts.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jillian M Hagel
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Peter J Facchini
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada
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14
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Thakur RK, Rajpal VR, Raina SN, Kumar P, Sonkar A, Joshi L. UPLC-DAD Assisted Phytochemical Quantitation Reveals a Sex, Ploidy and Ecogeography Specificity in the Expression Levels of Selected Secondary Metabolites in Medicinal Tinospora cordifolia: Implications for Elites' Identification Program. Curr Top Med Chem 2020; 20:698-709. [PMID: 31976836 DOI: 10.2174/1568026620666200124105027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2019] [Revised: 10/10/2019] [Accepted: 10/25/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Medicinal phytochemistry involving UPLC-DAD in an exhaustive analysis involving quantification of eight commercially important phytochemicals viz. syringin, cordifolioside A, magnoflorine, tinocordiside, palmatine, 20β-hydroxyecdysone, L-tetrahydropalmatine and berberine has been done in 143 accessions from eight states and the union territories of Delhi and Jammu & Kashmir of India representing three different ploidy levels viz. diploid (2x), triploid (3x) and synthetic tetraploid (4x). The study was done to assess the effect of sex, ploidy level and ecogeography on the expression level of secondary metabolites in stems of dioecious, medicinally important shrub Tinospora cordifolia. METHODS Two different UPLC-DAD methods were used for the quantification of eight selected phytochemicals from the alcoholic stem extracts of T. cordifolia accessions. The Waters Acquity UPLC system hyphenated to the QTOF micromass system, equipped with PDA and ESI-Q-TOF detectors was utilized for the quantitative analysis, Mass Lynx v 4.0 software was used for data analysis. RESULTS Significant quantitative changes were observed in the analysed secondary metabolites among different accessions of T. cordifolia. The triploid (3x) cytotypes revealed higher amounts of seven out of eight analysed secondary metabolites than diploids and only 20β-hydroxyecdysone was observed to be present in significantly higher amount in diploid cytotypes. Further, at the tetraploid level, novel induced colchiploid (synthetic 4x) genotypes revealed increase in the yield of all of the analysed eight phytochemicals than their respective diploid counterparts. The quantity of active principles in tetraploid cytotypes were also higher than the average triploid levels at multiple locations in five out of eight tested phytochemicals, indicating the influence of ploidy on expression levels of secondary metabolites in T. cordifolia. Additionally, at each of the three ploidy levels (2x, 3x and synthetic 4x), a significant sex specificity could be observed in the expression levels of active principles, with female sex outperforming the male in the content of some phytochemicals, while others getting overexpressed in the male sex. The manifestation of diverse ecogeographies on secondary metabolism was observed in the form of identification of high yielding accessions from the states of Madhya Pradesh, Delhi and Himachal Pradesh and the Union territory of Jammu & Kashmir. Two triploid female accessions that contained approximately two- to eight fold higher amounts of five out of the eight analysed phytochemicals have been identified as superior elites from the wild from the states of Delhi and Madhya Pradesh. CONCLUSION The paper shows the first observations of ploidy specificity along with subtle sex and ecogeography influence on the expression levels of secondary metabolome in T. cordifolia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rakesh Kr Thakur
- Amity institute of Biotechnology, Amity University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Vijay Rani Rajpal
- Botany Department, Hansraj College, University of Delhi, New Delhi, India
| | - S N Raina
- Amity institute of Biotechnology, Amity University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Pawan Kumar
- CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, India
| | - Anand Sonkar
- Botany Department, Hansraj College, University of Delhi, New Delhi, India
| | - Lata Joshi
- Amity institute of Biotechnology, Amity University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
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15
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Zhong F, Huang L, Qi L, Ma Y, Yan Z. Full-length transcriptome analysis of Coptis deltoidea and identification of putative genes involved in benzylisoquinoline alkaloids biosynthesis based on combined sequencing platforms. PLANT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2020; 102:477-499. [PMID: 31902069 DOI: 10.1007/s11103-019-00959-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2019] [Accepted: 12/30/2019] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
The study carry out comprehensive transcriptome analysis of C. deltoidea and exploration of BIAs biosynthesis and accumulation based on UHPLC-MS/MS and combined sequencing platforms. Coptis deltoidea is an important medicinal plant with a long history of medicinal use, which is rich in benzylisoquinoline alkaloids (BIAs). In this study, Ultra performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS) and combined sequencing platforms were performed for exploration of BIAs biosynthesis, accumulation and comprehensive transcriptome analysis of C. deltoidea. By metabolism profiling, the accumulation of ten BIAs was analyzed using UHPLC-MS/MS and different contents were observed in different organs. From transcriptome sequencing result, we applied single-molecule real-time (SMRT) sequencing to C. deltoidea and generated a total of 75,438 full-length transcripts. We proposed the candidate biosynthetic pathway of tyrosine, precursor of BIAs, and identified 64 full length-transcripts encoding enzymes putatively involved in BIAs biosynthesis. RNA-Seq data indicated that the majority of genes exhibited relatively high expression level in roots. Transport of BIAs was also important for their accumulation. Here, 9 ABC transporters and 2 MATE transporters highly homologous to known alkaloid transporters related with BIAs transport in roots and rhizomes were identified. These findings based on the combined sequencing platforms provide valuable genetic information for C. deltoidea and the results of transcriptome combined with metabolome analysis can help us better understand BIAs biosynthesis and transport in this medicinal plant. The information will be critical for further characterization of C. deltoidea transcriptome and molecular-assisted breeding for this medicinal plant with scarce resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Furong Zhong
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Systematic Research, Development and Utilization of Chinese Medicine Resources, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
- School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Ling Huang
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Systematic Research, Development and Utilization of Chinese Medicine Resources, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
- School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Luming Qi
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Systematic Research, Development and Utilization of Chinese Medicine Resources, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
- School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Yuntong Ma
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Systematic Research, Development and Utilization of Chinese Medicine Resources, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China.
- School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China.
| | - Zhuyun Yan
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Systematic Research, Development and Utilization of Chinese Medicine Resources, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
- School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
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16
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Menéndez-Perdomo IM, Facchini PJ. Isolation and characterization of two O-methyltransferases involved in benzylisoquinoline alkaloid biosynthesis in sacred lotus ( Nelumbo nucifera). J Biol Chem 2020; 295:1598-1612. [PMID: 31914404 PMCID: PMC7008365 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra119.011547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2019] [Revised: 12/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Benzylisoquinoline alkaloids (BIAs) are a major class of plant metabolites with many pharmacological benefits. Sacred lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) is an ancient aquatic plant of medicinal value because of antiviral and immunomodulatory activities linked to its constituent BIAs. Although more than 30 BIAs belonging to the 1-benzylisoquinoline, aporphine, and bisbenzylisoquinoline structural subclasses and displaying a predominant R-enantiomeric conformation have been isolated from N. nucifera, its BIA biosynthetic genes and enzymes remain unknown. Herein, we report the isolation and biochemical characterization of two O-methyltransferases (OMTs) involved in BIA biosynthesis in sacred lotus. Five homologous genes, designated NnOMT1-5 and encoding polypeptides sharing >40% amino acid sequence identity, were expressed in Escherichia coli Functional characterization of the purified recombinant proteins revealed that NnOMT1 is a regiospecific 1-benzylisoquinoline 6-O-methyltransferase (6OMT) accepting both R- and S-substrates, whereas NnOMT5 is mainly a 7-O-methyltransferase (7OMT), with relatively minor 6OMT activity and a strong stereospecific preference for S-enantiomers. Available aporphines were not accepted as substrates by either enzyme, suggesting that O-methylation precedes BIA formation from 1-benzylisoquinoline intermediates. Km values for NnOMT1 and NnOMT5 were 20 and 13 μm for (R,S)-norcoclaurine and (S)-N-methylcoclaurine, respectively, similar to those for OMTs from other BIA-producing plants. Organ-based correlations of alkaloid content, OMT activity in crude extracts, and OMT gene expression supported physiological roles for NnOMT1 and NnOMT5 in BIA metabolism, occurring primarily in young leaves and embryos of sacred lotus. In summary, our work identifies two OMTs involved in BIA metabolism in the medicinal plant N. nucifera.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Peter J Facchini
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada.
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17
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Morris JS, Yu L, Facchini PJ. A single residue determines substrate preference in benzylisoquinoline alkaloid N-methyltransferases. PHYTOCHEMISTRY 2020; 170:112193. [PMID: 31765874 DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2019.112193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2019] [Revised: 10/29/2019] [Accepted: 10/30/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
N-methylation is a recurring feature in the biosynthesis of many plant specialized metabolites, including alkaloids. A crucial step in the conserved central pathway that provides intermediates for the biosynthesis of benzylisoquinoline alkaloids (BIAs) involves conversion of the secondary amine (S)-coclaurine into the tertiary amine (S)-N-methylcoclaurine by coclaurine N-methyltransferase (CNMT). Subsequent enzymatic steps yield the core intermediate (S)-reticuline, from which various branch pathways for the biosynthesis of major BIAs such as morphine, noscapine and sanguinarine diverge. An additional N-methylation yielding quaternary BIAs is catalyzed by reticuline N-methyltransferase (RNMT), such as in the branch pathway leading to the taxonomically widespread and ecologically significant alkaloid magnoflorine. Despite their functional differences, analysis of primary sequence information has been unable to accurately distinguish between CNMT-like and RNMT-like enzymes, necessitating laborious in vitro screening. Furthermore, despite a recent emphasis on structural characterization of BIA NMTs, the features and mechanisms underlying the CNMT-RNMT functional dichotomy were unknown. We report the identification of structural variants tightly correlated with function in known BIA NMTs and show through reciprocal mutagenesis that a single residue acts as a switch between CNMT- and RNMT-like functions. We use yeast in vivo screening to show that this discovery allows for accurate prediction of activity strictly from primary sequence information and, on this basis, improve the annotation of previously reported putative BIA NMTs. Our results highlight the unusually short mutational distance separating ancestral CNMT-like enzymes from more evolutionarily advanced RNMT-like enzymes, and thus help explain the widespread yet sporadic occurrence of quaternary BIAs in plants. While this is the first report of structural variants controlling mono-versus di-methylation activity among plant NMT enzymes, comparison with bacterial MT enzymes also suggests possible convergent evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy S Morris
- University of Calgary, Department of Biological Sciences, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Lisa Yu
- University of Calgary, Department of Biological Sciences, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Peter J Facchini
- University of Calgary, Department of Biological Sciences, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada.
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18
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Identification and characterization of methyltransferases involved in benzylisoquinoline alkaloids biosynthesis from Stephania intermedia. Biotechnol Lett 2019; 42:461-469. [DOI: 10.1007/s10529-019-02785-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2019] [Accepted: 12/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
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19
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Canedo-Téxon A, Ramón-Farias F, Monribot-Villanueva JL, Villafán E, Alonso-Sánchez A, Pérez-Torres CA, Ángeles G, Guerrero-Analco JA, Ibarra-Laclette E. Novel findings to the biosynthetic pathway of magnoflorine and taspine through transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis of Croton draco (Euphorbiaceae). BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2019; 19:560. [PMID: 31852435 PMCID: PMC6921603 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-019-2195-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2019] [Accepted: 12/10/2019] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Croton draco is an arboreal species and its latex as well as some other parts of the plant, are traditionally used in the treatment of a wide range of ailments and diseases. Alkaloids, such as magnoflorine, prevent early atherosclerosis progression while taspine, an abundant constituent of latex, has been described as a wound-healer and antitumor-agent. Despite the great interest for these and other secondary metabolites, no omics resources existed for the species and the biosynthetic pathways of these alkaloids remain largely unknown. RESULTS To gain insights into the pathways involved in magnoflorine and taspine biosynthesis by C. draco and identify the key enzymes in these processes, we performed an integrated analysis of the transcriptome and metabolome in the major organs (roots, stem, leaves, inflorescences, and flowers) of this species. Transcript profiles were generated through high-throughput RNA-sequencing analysis while targeted and high resolution untargeted metabolomic profiling was also performed. The biosynthesis of these compounds appears to occur in the plant organs examined, but intermediaries may be translocated from the cells in which they are produced to other cells in which they accumulate. CONCLUSIONS Our results provide a framework to better understand magnoflorine and taspine biosynthesis in C. draco. In addition, we demonstrate the potential of multi-omics approaches to identify candidate genes involved in the biosynthetic pathways of interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anahí Canedo-Téxon
- Instituto de Ecología A.C., Red de Estudios Moleculares Avanzados, 91070 Xalapa, Veracruz, México
| | - Feliza Ramón-Farias
- Universidad Veracruzana (Campus Peñuela-Córdoba), Amatlán de los Reyes, 94945 Veracruz, México
| | | | - Emanuel Villafán
- Instituto de Ecología A.C., Red de Estudios Moleculares Avanzados, 91070 Xalapa, Veracruz, México
| | - Alexandro Alonso-Sánchez
- Instituto de Ecología A.C., Red de Estudios Moleculares Avanzados, 91070 Xalapa, Veracruz, México
| | - Claudia Anahí Pérez-Torres
- Instituto de Ecología A.C., Red de Estudios Moleculares Avanzados, 91070 Xalapa, Veracruz, México
- Catedrático CONACyT en el Instituto de Ecología A.C, Veracruz, México
| | - Guillermo Ángeles
- Instituto de Ecología A.C., Red de Ecología Funcional, 91070 Xalapa, Veracruz, México
| | | | - Enrique Ibarra-Laclette
- Instituto de Ecología A.C., Red de Estudios Moleculares Avanzados, 91070 Xalapa, Veracruz, México
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20
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Morris JS, Facchini PJ. Molecular Origins of Functional Diversity in Benzylisoquinoline Alkaloid Methyltransferases. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2019; 10:1058. [PMID: 31543888 PMCID: PMC6730481 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2019.01058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2019] [Accepted: 07/30/2019] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
O- and N-methylations are ubiquitous and recurring features in the biosynthesis of many specialized metabolites. Accordingly, the methyltransferase (MT) enzymes catalyzing these modifications are directly responsible for a substantial fraction of the vast chemodiversity observed in plants. Enabled by DNA sequencing and synthesizing technologies, recent studies have revealed and experimentally validated the trajectories of molecular evolution through which MTs, such as those biosynthesizing caffeine, emerge and shape plant chemistry. Despite these advances, the evolutionary origins of many other alkaloid MTs are still unclear. Focusing on benzylisoquinoline alkaloid (BIA)-producing plants such as opium poppy, we review the functional breadth of BIA N- and O-MT enzymes and their relationship with the chemical diversity of their host species. Drawing on recent structural studies, we discuss newfound insight regarding the molecular determinants of BIA MT function and highlight key hypotheses to be tested. We explore what is known and suspected concerning the evolutionary histories of BIA MTs and show that substantial advances in this domain are within reach. This new knowledge is expected to greatly enhance our conceptual understanding of the evolutionary origins of specialized metabolism.
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21
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Lang DE, Morris JS, Rowley M, Torres MA, Maksimovich VA, Facchini PJ, Ng KKS. Structure-function studies of tetrahydroprotoberberine N-methyltransferase reveal the molecular basis of stereoselective substrate recognition. J Biol Chem 2019; 294:14482-14498. [PMID: 31395658 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra119.009214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2019] [Revised: 08/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Benzylisoquinoline alkaloids (BIAs) are a structurally diverse class of plant-specialized metabolites that have been particularly well-studied in the order Ranunculales. The N-methyltransferases (NMTs) in BIA biosynthesis can be divided into three groups according to substrate specificity and amino acid sequence. Here, we report the first crystal structures of enzyme complexes from the tetrahydroprotoberberine NMT (TNMT) subclass, specifically for GfTNMT from the yellow horned poppy (Glaucium flavum). GfTNMT was co-crystallized with the cofactor S-adenosyl-l-methionine (d min = 1.6 Å), the product S-adenosyl-l-homocysteine (d min = 1.8 Å), or in complex with S-adenosyl-l-homocysteine and (S)-cis-N-methylstylopine (d min = 1.8 Å). These structures reveal for the first time how a mostly hydrophobic L-shaped substrate recognition pocket selects for the (S)-cis configuration of the two central six-membered rings in protoberberine BIA compounds. Mutagenesis studies confirm and functionally define the roles of several highly-conserved residues within and near the GfTNMT-active site. The substrate specificity of TNMT enzymes appears to arise from the arrangement of subgroup-specific stereospecific recognition elements relative to catalytic elements that are more widely-conserved among all BIA NMTs. The binding mode of protoberberine compounds to GfTNMT appears to be similar to coclaurine NMT, with the isoquinoline rings buried deepest in the binding pocket. This binding mode differs from that of pavine NMT, in which the benzyl ring is bound more deeply than the isoquinoline rings. The insights into substrate recognition and catalysis provided here form a sound basis for the rational engineering of NMT enzymes for chemoenzymatic synthesis and metabolic engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dean E Lang
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Jeremy S Morris
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Michael Rowley
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Miguel A Torres
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada.,Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305
| | - Vook A Maksimovich
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Peter J Facchini
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Kenneth K S Ng
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada
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22
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Molecular cloning and functional characterization of an O-methyltransferase catalyzing 4'-O-methylation of resveratrol in Acorus calamus. J Biosci Bioeng 2018; 127:539-543. [PMID: 30471982 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiosc.2018.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2018] [Revised: 09/27/2018] [Accepted: 10/13/2018] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Resveratrol and its methyl ethers, which belong to a class of natural polyphenol stilbenes, play important roles as biologically active compounds in plant defense as well as in human health. Although the biosynthetic pathway of resveratrol has been fully elucidated, the characterization of resveratrol-specific O-methyltransferases remains elusive. In this study, we used RNA-seq analysis to identify a putative aromatic O-methyltransferase gene, AcOMT1, in Acorus calamus. Recombinant AcOMT1 expressed in Escherichia coli showed high 4'-O-methylation activity toward resveratrol and its derivative, isorhapontigenin. We purified a reaction product enzymatically formed from resveratrol by AcOMT1 and confirmed it as 4'-O-methylresveratrol (deoxyrhapontigenin). Resveratrol and isorhapontigenin were the most preferred substrates with apparent Km values of 1.8 μM and 4.2 μM, respectively. Recombinant AcOMT1 exhibited reduced activity toward other resveratrol derivatives, piceatannol, oxyresveratrol, and pinostilbene. In contrast, recombinant AcOMT1 exhibited no activity toward pterostilbene or pinosylvin. These results indicate that AcOMT1 showed high 4'-O-methylation activity toward stilbenes with non-methylated phloroglucinol rings.
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23
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Menéndez-Perdomo IM, Facchini PJ. Benzylisoquinoline Alkaloids Biosynthesis in Sacred Lotus. Molecules 2018; 23:E2899. [PMID: 30404216 PMCID: PMC6278464 DOI: 10.3390/molecules23112899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2018] [Revised: 11/01/2018] [Accepted: 11/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Sacred lotus (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.) is an ancient aquatic plant used throughout Asia for its nutritional and medicinal properties. Benzylisoquinoline alkaloids (BIAs), mostly within the aporphine and bisbenzylisoquinoline structural categories, are among the main bioactive constituents in the plant. The alkaloids of sacred lotus exhibit promising anti-cancer, anti-arrhythmic, anti-HIV, and anti-malarial properties. Despite their pharmacological significance, BIA metabolism in this non-model plant has not been extensively investigated. In this review, we examine the diversity of BIAs in sacred lotus, with an emphasis on the distinctive stereochemistry of alkaloids found in this species. Additionally, we discuss our current understanding of the biosynthetic genes and enzymes involved in the formation of 1-benzylisoquinoline, aporphine, and bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids in the plant. We conclude that a comprehensive functional characterization of alkaloid biosynthetic enzymes using both in vitro and in vivo methods is required to advance our limited knowledge of BIA metabolism in the sacred lotus.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Peter J Facchini
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada.
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24
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Oh J, Shin Y, Ha IJ, Lee MY, Lee SG, Kang BC, Kyeong D, Kim D. Transcriptome Profiling of Two Ornamental and Medicinal Papaver Herbs. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19103192. [PMID: 30332811 PMCID: PMC6213990 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19103192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2018] [Revised: 10/05/2018] [Accepted: 10/11/2018] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The Papaver spp. (Papaver rhoeas (Corn poppy) and Papaver nudicaule (Iceland poppy)) genera are ornamental and medicinal plants that are used for the isolation of alkaloid drugs. In this study, we generated 700 Mb of transcriptome sequences with the PacBio platform. They were assembled into 120,926 contigs, and 1185 (82.2%) of the benchmarking universal single-copy orthologs (BUSCO) core genes were completely present in our assembled transcriptome. Furthermore, using 128 Gb of Illumina sequences, the transcript expression was assessed at three stages of Papaver plant development (30, 60, and 90 days), from which we identified 137 differentially expressed transcripts. Furthermore, three co-occurrence heat maps are generated from 51 different plant genomes along with the Papaver transcriptome, i.e., secondary metabolite biosynthesis, isoquinoline alkaloid biosynthesis (BIA) pathway, and cytochrome. Sixty-nine transcripts in the BIA pathway along with 22 different alkaloids (quantified with LC-QTOF-MS/MS) were mapped into the BIA KEGG map (map00950). Finally, we identified 39 full-length cytochrome transcripts and compared them with other genomes. Collectively, this transcriptome data, along with the expression and quantitative metabolite profiles, provides an initial recording of secondary metabolites and their expression related to Papaver plant development. Moreover, these profiles could help to further detail the functional characterization of the various secondary metabolite biosynthesis and Papaver plant development associated problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaehyeon Oh
- Genomics Division, National Institute of Agricultural Science, RDA, 370, Nongsaengmyeong-ro, Wansan-gu, Jeonju-si 54874, Jeollabuk-do, Korea.
| | - Younhee Shin
- Data Science Center, Insilicogen Inc., Yongin-si 16954, Gyeonggi-do, Korea.
- Department of Biological Sciences, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Korea.
| | - In Jin Ha
- Korean Medicine Clinical Trial Center (K-CTC), Kyung Hee University Korean Medicine Hospital, Seoul 02447, Korea.
| | - Min Young Lee
- Korean Medicine Clinical Trial Center (K-CTC), Kyung Hee University Korean Medicine Hospital, Seoul 02447, Korea.
| | - Seok-Geun Lee
- Korean Medicine Clinical Trial Center (K-CTC), Kyung Hee University Korean Medicine Hospital, Seoul 02447, Korea.
- KHU-KIST Department of Converging Science & Technology, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea.
| | - Byeong-Chul Kang
- Data Science Center, Insilicogen Inc., Yongin-si 16954, Gyeonggi-do, Korea.
| | - Dongsoo Kyeong
- Data Science Center, Insilicogen Inc., Yongin-si 16954, Gyeonggi-do, Korea.
| | - Dowan Kim
- Genomics Division, National Institute of Agricultural Science, RDA, 370, Nongsaengmyeong-ro, Wansan-gu, Jeonju-si 54874, Jeollabuk-do, Korea.
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25
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Bennett MR, Thompson ML, Shepherd SA, Dunstan MS, Herbert AJ, Smith DRM, Cronin VA, Menon BRK, Levy C, Micklefield J. Structure and Biocatalytic Scope of Coclaurine N-Methyltransferase. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2018; 57:10600-10604. [PMID: 29791083 PMCID: PMC6099451 DOI: 10.1002/anie.201805060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Benzylisoquinoline alkaloids (BIAs) are a structurally diverse family of plant secondary metabolites, which have been exploited to develop analgesics, antibiotics, antitumor agents, and other therapeutic agents. Biosynthesis of BIAs proceeds via a common pathway from tyrosine to (S)-reticulene at which point the pathway diverges. Coclaurine N-methyltransferase (CNMT) is a key enzyme in the pathway to (S)-reticulene, installing the N-methyl substituent that is essential for the bioactivity of many BIAs. In this paper, we describe the first crystal structure of CNMT which, along with mutagenesis studies, defines the enzymes active site architecture. The specificity of CNMT was also explored with a range of natural and synthetic substrates as well as co-factor analogues. Knowledge from this study could be used to generate improved CNMT variants required to produce BIAs or synthetic derivatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew R. Bennett
- School of ChemistryManchester Institute of BiotechnologyThe University of Manchester131 Princess StreetManchesterM1 7DNUK
| | - Mark L. Thompson
- School of ChemistryManchester Institute of BiotechnologyThe University of Manchester131 Princess StreetManchesterM1 7DNUK
| | - Sarah A. Shepherd
- School of ChemistryManchester Institute of BiotechnologyThe University of Manchester131 Princess StreetManchesterM1 7DNUK
| | - Mark S. Dunstan
- School of ChemistryManchester Institute of BiotechnologyThe University of Manchester131 Princess StreetManchesterM1 7DNUK
| | - Abigail J. Herbert
- School of ChemistryManchester Institute of BiotechnologyThe University of Manchester131 Princess StreetManchesterM1 7DNUK
| | - Duncan R. M. Smith
- School of ChemistryManchester Institute of BiotechnologyThe University of Manchester131 Princess StreetManchesterM1 7DNUK
| | - Victoria A. Cronin
- School of ChemistryManchester Institute of BiotechnologyThe University of Manchester131 Princess StreetManchesterM1 7DNUK
| | - Binuraj R. K. Menon
- School of ChemistryManchester Institute of BiotechnologyThe University of Manchester131 Princess StreetManchesterM1 7DNUK
| | - Colin Levy
- School of ChemistryManchester Institute of BiotechnologyThe University of Manchester131 Princess StreetManchesterM1 7DNUK
| | - Jason Micklefield
- School of ChemistryManchester Institute of BiotechnologyThe University of Manchester131 Princess StreetManchesterM1 7DNUK
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26
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Bennett MR, Thompson ML, Shepherd SA, Dunstan MS, Herbert AJ, Smith DRM, Cronin VA, Menon BRK, Levy C, Micklefield J. Structure and Biocatalytic Scope of Coclaurine
N
‐Methyltransferase. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2018. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201805060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Matthew R. Bennett
- School of ChemistryManchester Institute of BiotechnologyThe University of Manchester 131 Princess Street Manchester M1 7DN UK
| | - Mark L. Thompson
- School of ChemistryManchester Institute of BiotechnologyThe University of Manchester 131 Princess Street Manchester M1 7DN UK
| | - Sarah A. Shepherd
- School of ChemistryManchester Institute of BiotechnologyThe University of Manchester 131 Princess Street Manchester M1 7DN UK
| | - Mark S. Dunstan
- School of ChemistryManchester Institute of BiotechnologyThe University of Manchester 131 Princess Street Manchester M1 7DN UK
| | - Abigail J. Herbert
- School of ChemistryManchester Institute of BiotechnologyThe University of Manchester 131 Princess Street Manchester M1 7DN UK
| | - Duncan R. M. Smith
- School of ChemistryManchester Institute of BiotechnologyThe University of Manchester 131 Princess Street Manchester M1 7DN UK
| | - Victoria A. Cronin
- School of ChemistryManchester Institute of BiotechnologyThe University of Manchester 131 Princess Street Manchester M1 7DN UK
| | - Binuraj R. K. Menon
- School of ChemistryManchester Institute of BiotechnologyThe University of Manchester 131 Princess Street Manchester M1 7DN UK
| | - Colin Levy
- School of ChemistryManchester Institute of BiotechnologyThe University of Manchester 131 Princess Street Manchester M1 7DN UK
| | - Jason Micklefield
- School of ChemistryManchester Institute of BiotechnologyThe University of Manchester 131 Princess Street Manchester M1 7DN UK
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27
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Morris JS, Groves RA, Hagel JM, Facchini PJ. An N-methyltransferase from Ephedra sinica catalyzing the formation of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine enables microbial phenylalkylamine production. J Biol Chem 2018; 293:13364-13376. [PMID: 29929980 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra118.004067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2018] [Revised: 06/19/2018] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Phenylalkylamines, such as the plant compounds ephedrine and pseudoephedrine and the animal neurotransmitters dopamine and adrenaline, compose a large class of natural and synthetic molecules with important physiological functions and pharmaceutically valuable bioactivities. The final steps of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine biosynthesis in members of the plant genus Ephedra involve N-methylation of norephedrine and norpseudoephedrine, respectively. Here, using a plant transcriptome screen, we report the isolation and characterization of an N-methyltransferase (NMT) from Ephedra sinica able to catalyze the formation of (pseudo)ephedrine and other naturally occurring phenylalkylamines, including N-methylcathinone and N-methyl(pseudo)ephedrine. Phenylalkylamine N-methyltransferase (PaNMT) shares substantial amino acid sequence identity with enzymes of the NMT family involved in benzylisoquinoline alkaloid (BIA) metabolism in members of the higher plant order Ranunculales, which includes opium poppy (Papaver somniferum). PaNMT accepted a broad range of substrates with phenylalkylamine, tryptamine, β-carboline, tetrahydroisoquinoline, and BIA structural scaffolds, which is in contrast to the specificity for BIA substrates of NMT enzymes within the Ranunculales. PaNMT transcript levels were highest in young shoots of E. sinica, which corresponded to the location of NMT activity yielding (pseudo)ephedrine, N-methylcathinone, and N-methyl(pseudo)ephedrine, and with in planta accumulation of phenylalkylamines. Co-expression of recombinant genes encoding PaNMT and an ω-transaminase (PP2799) from Pseudomonas putida in Escherichia coli enabled the conversion of exogenous (R)-phenylacetylcarbinol (PAC) and (S)-PAC to ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, respectively. Our work further demonstrates the utility of plant biochemical genomics for the isolation of key enzymes that facilitate microbial engineering for the production of medicinally important metabolites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy S Morris
- From the Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Ryan A Groves
- From the Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Jillian M Hagel
- From the Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Peter J Facchini
- From the Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada
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28
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Yang M, Zhu L, Li L, Li J, Xu L, Feng J, Liu Y. Digital Gene Expression Analysis Provides Insight into the Transcript Profile of the Genes Involved in Aporphine Alkaloid Biosynthesis in Lotus ( Nelumbo nucifera). FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2017; 8:80. [PMID: 28197160 PMCID: PMC5281601 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2017.00080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2016] [Accepted: 01/13/2017] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
The predominant alkaloids in lotus leaves are aporphine alkaloids. These are the most important active components and have many pharmacological properties, but little is known about their biosynthesis. We used digital gene expression (DGE) technology to identify differentially-expressed genes (DEGs) between two lotus cultivars with different alkaloid contents at four leaf development stages. We also predicted potential genes involved in aporphine alkaloid biosynthesis by weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). Approximately 335 billion nucleotides were generated; and 94% of which were aligned against the reference genome. Of 22 thousand expressed genes, 19,000 were differentially expressed between the two cultivars at the four stages. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis revealed that catalytic activity and oxidoreductase activity were enriched significantly in most pairwise comparisons. In Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis, dozens of DEGs were assigned to the categories of biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, isoquinoline alkaloid biosynthesis, and flavonoid biosynthesis. The genes encoding norcoclaurine synthase (NCS), norcoclaurine 6-O-methyltransferase (6OMT), coclaurine N-methyltransferase (CNMT), N-methylcoclaurine 3'-hydroxylase (NMCH), and 3'-hydroxy-N-methylcoclaurine 4'-O-methyltransferase (4'OMT) in the common pathways of benzylisoquinoline alkaloid biosynthesis and the ones encoding corytuberine synthase (CTS) in aporphine alkaloid biosynthetic pathway, which have been characterized in other plants, were identified in lotus. These genes had positive effects on alkaloid content, albeit with phenotypic lag. The WGCNA of DEGs revealed that one network module was associated with the dynamic change of alkaloid content. Eleven genes encoding proteins with methyltransferase, oxidoreductase and CYP450 activities were identified. These were surmised to be genes involved in aporphine alkaloid biosynthesis. This transcriptomic database provides new directions for future studies on clarifying the aporphine alkaloid pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei Yang
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Plant and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of SciencesWuhan, China
| | - Lingping Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Plant and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of SciencesWuhan, China
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, Viikki Plant Science Center, University of HelsinkiHelsinki, Finland
| | - Ling Li
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Plant and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of SciencesWuhan, China
- College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing, China
| | - Juanjuan Li
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Plant and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of SciencesWuhan, China
- College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing, China
| | - Liming Xu
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Plant and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of SciencesWuhan, China
| | - Ji Feng
- Tobacco Research Institute of Hubei ProvinceWuhan, China
| | - Yanling Liu
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Plant and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of SciencesWuhan, China
- *Correspondence: Yanling Liu
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29
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Torres MA, Hoffarth E, Eugenio L, Savtchouk J, Chen X, Morris JS, Facchini PJ, Ng KKS. Structural and Functional Studies of Pavine N-Methyltransferase from Thalictrum flavum Reveal Novel Insights into Substrate Recognition and Catalytic Mechanism. J Biol Chem 2016; 291:23403-23415. [PMID: 27573242 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m116.747261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2016] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Benzylisoquinoline alkaloids (BIAs) are produced in a wide variety of plants and include many common analgesic, antitussive, and anticancer compounds. Several members of a distinct family of S-adenosylmethionine (SAM)-dependent N-methyltransferases (NMTs) play critical roles in BIA biosynthesis, but the molecular basis of substrate recognition and catalysis is not known for NMTs involved in BIA metabolism. To address this issue, the crystal structure of pavine NMT from Thalictrum flavum was solved using selenomethionine-substituted protein (dmin = 2.8 Å). Additional structures were determined for the native protein (dmin = 2.0 Å) as well as binary complexes with SAM (dmin = 2.3 Å) or the reaction product S-adenosylhomocysteine (dmin = 1.6 Å). The structure of a complex with S-adenosylhomocysteine and two molecules of tetrahydropapaverine (THP; one as the S conformer and a second in the R configuration) (dmin = 1.8 Å) revealed key features of substrate recognition. Pavine NMT converted racemic THP to laudanosine, but the enzyme showed a preference for (±)-pavine and (S)-reticuline as substrates. These structures suggest the involvement of highly conserved residues at the active site. Mutagenesis of three residues near the methyl group of SAM and the nitrogen atom of the alkaloid acceptor decreased enzyme activity without disrupting the structure of the protein. The binding site for THP provides a framework for understanding substrate specificity among numerous NMTs involved in the biosynthesis of BIAs and other specialized metabolites. This information will facilitate metabolic engineering efforts aimed at producing medicinally important compounds in heterologous systems, such as yeast.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel A Torres
- From the Department of Biological Sciences and.,Alberta Glycomics Centre, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Elesha Hoffarth
- From the Department of Biological Sciences and.,Alberta Glycomics Centre, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Luiz Eugenio
- From the Department of Biological Sciences and.,Alberta Glycomics Centre, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Julia Savtchouk
- From the Department of Biological Sciences and.,Alberta Glycomics Centre, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Xue Chen
- From the Department of Biological Sciences and
| | | | | | - Kenneth K-S Ng
- From the Department of Biological Sciences and .,Alberta Glycomics Centre, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada
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