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Khalkho JP, Beck A, Priyanka, Panda B, Chandra R. Microbial allies: exploring fungal endophytes for biosynthesis of terpenoid indole alkaloids. Arch Microbiol 2024; 206:340. [PMID: 38960981 DOI: 10.1007/s00203-024-04067-4] [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: 01/30/2024] [Revised: 06/19/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024]
Abstract
Terpenoid indole alkaloids (TIAs) are natural compounds found in medicinal plants that exhibit various therapeutic activities, such as antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-diabetic, anti-helminthic, and anti-tumor properties. However, the production of these alkaloids in plants is limited, and there is a high demand for them due to the increasing incidence of cancer cases. To address this research gap, researchers have focused on optimizing culture media, eliciting metabolic pathways, overexpressing genes, and searching for potential sources of TIAs in organisms other than plants. The insufficient number of essential genes and enzymes in the biosynthesis pathway is the reason behind the limited production of TIAs. As the field of natural product discovery from biological species continues to grow, endophytes are being investigated more and more as potential sources of bioactive metabolites with a variety of chemical structures. Endophytes are microorganisms (fungi, bacteria, archaea, and actinomycetes), that exert a significant influence on the metabolic pathways of both the host plants and the endophytic cells. Bio-prospection of fungal endophytes has shown the discovery of novel, high-value bioactive compounds of commercial significance. The discovery of therapeutically significant secondary metabolites has been made easier by endophytic entities' abundant but understudied diversity. It has been observed that fungal endophytes have better intermediate processing ability due to cellular compartmentation. This paper focuses on fungal endophytes and their metabolic ability to produce complex TIAs, recent advancements in this area, and addressing the limitations and future perspectives related to TIA production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaya Prabha Khalkho
- Department of Bioengineering and Biotechnology, Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Ranchi, Jharkhand, 835215, India
| | - Abhishek Beck
- Department of Bioengineering and Biotechnology, Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Ranchi, Jharkhand, 835215, India
| | - Priyanka
- Department of Bioengineering and Biotechnology, Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Ranchi, Jharkhand, 835215, India
| | - Banishree Panda
- Department of Bioengineering and Biotechnology, Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Ranchi, Jharkhand, 835215, India
| | - Ramesh Chandra
- Department of Bioengineering and Biotechnology, Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Ranchi, Jharkhand, 835215, India.
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2
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Cao J, Yang B, Zhang M, Yu F. Regulation of T16H subcellular localization for promoting its catalytic efficiency in yeast cells. Biotechnol Lett 2024; 46:29-35. [PMID: 37971563 DOI: 10.1007/s10529-023-03442-3] [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: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 09/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
To investigate the effect of subcellular localization on the transformation efficiency of heterologous expressed functional P450s in yeast. Microbial biotransformation offers a promising substitute for the direct extraction of natural products, but its viability in industrial applications depends on achieving high transformation efficiencies. To investigate the influence of subcellular microenvironments on the activity of heterologously expressed P450s, Catharanthus roseus tabersonine 16-hydroxylase (T16H) was chosen, and its subcellular localization was regulated by fusing organelle-localization signals. Interestingly, this manipulation had no effect on the gene expression levels of T16H, but resulted in varying conversion rates from tabersonine to 16-hydroxy tabersonine. Notably, the highest transformation efficiency was observed in yeast cells expressing peroxisome-localized T16H. Given the alkaline pH optimum for P450s, the alkaline peroxisomal lumen could be a suitable compartment for P450s reactions to achieve high transformation efficiency using yeast cells. Different organelle-localization of T16H in yeast cells resulted in varying conversion rates, suggesting that compartmentalizing the expression of target enzymes could be a viable approach to increase transformation efficiency in yeast.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiancong Cao
- School of Biological Engineering, Dalian Polytechnic University, Dalian, 116034, China
| | - Bingrun Yang
- School of Biological Engineering, Dalian Polytechnic University, Dalian, 116034, China
| | - Mengxia Zhang
- School of Biological Engineering, Dalian Polytechnic University, Dalian, 116034, China
| | - Fang Yu
- School of Biological Engineering, Dalian Polytechnic University, Dalian, 116034, China.
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3
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Xiong Y, Shi Q, Li J, Sy ND, Schlenk D, Gan J. Methylation and Demethylation of Emerging Contaminants in Plants. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:1998-2006. [PMID: 38240245 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c03171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2024]
Abstract
Many contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) have reactive functional groups and may readily undergo biotransformations, such as methylation and demethylation. These transformations have been reported to occur during human metabolism and wastewater treatment, leading to the propagation of CECs. When treated wastewater and biosolids are used in agriculture, CECs and their transformation products (TPs) are introduced into soil-plant systems. However, little is known about whether transformation cycles, such as methylation and demethylation, take place in higher plants and hence affect the fate of CECs in terrestrial ecosystems. In this study, we explored the interconversion between four common CECs (acetaminophen, diazepam, methylparaben, and naproxen) and their methylated or demethylated TPs in Arabidopsis thaliana cells and whole wheat seedlings. The methylation-demethylation cycle occurred in both plant models with demethylation generally taking place at a greater degree than methylation. The transformation rate of demethylation or methylation was dependent on the bond strength of R-CH3, with demethylation of methylparaben or methylation of acetaminophen being more pronounced. Although not explored in this study, these interconversions may exert influences on the behavior and biological activity of CECs, particularly in terrestrial ecosystems. The study findings demonstrated the prevalence of transformation cycles between CECs and their methylated or demethylated TPs in higher plants, contributing to a more complete understanding of risks of CECs in the human-wastewater-soil-plant continuum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaxin Xiong
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, United States
| | - Qingyang Shi
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, United States
| | - Jun Li
- School of the Earth Sciences and Resources, Chinese University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Nathan Darlucio Sy
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, United States
| | - Daniel Schlenk
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, United States
| | - Jay Gan
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of California, Riverside, California 92521, United States
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4
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Stander EA, Lehka B, Carqueijeiro I, Cuello C, Hansson FG, Jansen HJ, Dugé De Bernonville T, Birer Williams C, Vergès V, Lezin E, Lorensen MDBB, Dang TT, Oudin A, Lanoue A, Durand M, Giglioli-Guivarc'h N, Janfelt C, Papon N, Dirks RP, O'connor SE, Jensen MK, Besseau S, Courdavault V. The Rauvolfia tetraphylla genome suggests multiple distinct biosynthetic routes for yohimbane monoterpene indole alkaloids. Commun Biol 2023; 6:1197. [PMID: 38001233 PMCID: PMC10673892 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05574-8] [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: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Monoterpene indole alkaloids (MIAs) are a structurally diverse family of specialized metabolites mainly produced in Gentianales to cope with environmental challenges. Due to their pharmacological properties, the biosynthetic modalities of several MIA types have been elucidated but not that of the yohimbanes. Here, we combine metabolomics, proteomics, transcriptomics and genome sequencing of Rauvolfia tetraphylla with machine learning to discover the unexpected multiple actors of this natural product synthesis. We identify a medium chain dehydrogenase/reductase (MDR) that produces a mixture of four diastereomers of yohimbanes including the well-known yohimbine and rauwolscine. In addition to this multifunctional yohimbane synthase (YOS), an MDR synthesizing mainly heteroyohimbanes and the short chain dehydrogenase vitrosamine synthase also display a yohimbane synthase side activity. Lastly, we establish that the combination of geissoschizine synthase with at least three other MDRs also produces a yohimbane mixture thus shedding light on the complex mechanisms evolved for the synthesis of these plant bioactives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Amor Stander
- Biomolécules et Biotechnologies Végétales, EA2106, Université de Tours, 37200, Tours, France
| | - Beata Lehka
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Inês Carqueijeiro
- Biomolécules et Biotechnologies Végétales, EA2106, Université de Tours, 37200, Tours, France
| | - Clément Cuello
- Biomolécules et Biotechnologies Végétales, EA2106, Université de Tours, 37200, Tours, France
| | - Frederik G Hansson
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Hans J Jansen
- Future Genomics Technologies, 2333 BE, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Thomas Dugé De Bernonville
- Biomolécules et Biotechnologies Végétales, EA2106, Université de Tours, 37200, Tours, France
- Limagrain, Centre de Recherche, Route d'Ennezat, Chappes, France
| | - Caroline Birer Williams
- Biomolécules et Biotechnologies Végétales, EA2106, Université de Tours, 37200, Tours, France
| | - Valentin Vergès
- Biomolécules et Biotechnologies Végétales, EA2106, Université de Tours, 37200, Tours, France
| | - Enzo Lezin
- Biomolécules et Biotechnologies Végétales, EA2106, Université de Tours, 37200, Tours, France
| | | | - Thu-Thuy Dang
- Department of Chemistry, Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, BC, Canada
| | - Audrey Oudin
- Biomolécules et Biotechnologies Végétales, EA2106, Université de Tours, 37200, Tours, France
| | - Arnaud Lanoue
- Biomolécules et Biotechnologies Végétales, EA2106, Université de Tours, 37200, Tours, France
| | - Mickael Durand
- Biomolécules et Biotechnologies Végétales, EA2106, Université de Tours, 37200, Tours, France
| | | | - Christian Janfelt
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Nicolas Papon
- Univ Angers, Univ Brest, IRF, SFR ICAT, F-49000, Angers, France
| | - Ron P Dirks
- Future Genomics Technologies, 2333 BE, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Sarah Ellen O'connor
- Department of Natural Product Biosynthesis, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, 07745, Germany.
| | - Michael Krogh Jensen
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs, Lyngby, Denmark.
| | - Sébastien Besseau
- Biomolécules et Biotechnologies Végétales, EA2106, Université de Tours, 37200, Tours, France.
| | - Vincent Courdavault
- Biomolécules et Biotechnologies Végétales, EA2106, Université de Tours, 37200, Tours, France.
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5
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Shi X, Zhao G, Li H, Zhao Z, Li W, Wu M, Du YL. Hydroxytryptophan biosynthesis by a family of heme-dependent enzymes in bacteria. Nat Chem Biol 2023; 19:1415-1422. [PMID: 37653171 DOI: 10.1038/s41589-023-01416-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
Hydroxytryptophan serves as a chemical precursor to a variety of bioactive specialized metabolites, including the human neurotransmitter serotonin and the hormone melatonin. Although the human and animal routes to hydroxytryptophan have been known for decades, how bacteria catalyze tryptophan indole hydroxylation remains a mystery. Here we report a class of tryptophan hydroxylases that are involved in various bacterial metabolic pathways. These enzymes utilize a histidine-ligated heme cofactor and molecular oxygen or hydrogen peroxide to catalyze regioselective hydroxylation on the tryptophan indole moiety, which is mechanistically distinct from their animal counterparts from the nonheme iron enzyme family. Through genome mining, we also identify members that can hydroxylate the tryptophan indole ring at alternative positions. Our results not only reveal a conserved way to synthesize hydroxytryptophans in bacteria but also provide a valuable enzyme toolbox for biocatalysis. As proof of concept, we assemble a highly efficient pathway for melatonin in a bacterial host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinjie Shi
- The Fourth Affiliated Hospital and Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Guiyun Zhao
- The Fourth Affiliated Hospital and Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Department of Pharmacy, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Yiwu, China
| | - Hu Li
- Polytechnic Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zhijie Zhao
- The Fourth Affiliated Hospital and Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Wei Li
- The Fourth Affiliated Hospital and Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Miaolian Wu
- Department of Pharmacy, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Yiwu, China
| | - Yi-Ling Du
- The Fourth Affiliated Hospital and Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
- Department of Pharmacy, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Yiwu, China.
- Jinan Microecological Biomedicine Shandong Laboratory, Jinan, China.
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Microbial Biochemistry and Metabolic Engineering, Hangzhou, China.
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6
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Pu X, Wang M, Chen M, Lin X, Lei M, Zhang J, Yang S, Wang H, Liao J, Zhang L, Huang Q. Proteomics-Guided Mining and Characterization of Epoxidase Involved in Camptothecin Biosynthesis from Camptotheca acuminata. ACS Chem Biol 2023; 18:1772-1785. [PMID: 37523250 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.3c00222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/02/2023]
Abstract
The detailed metabolic map for camptothecin (CPT) biosynthesis in Camptotheca acuminata has been proposed according to our combined omics results. However, the CYP450-mediated epoxidation step in CPT biosynthesis remains unexplored. A proteomics-guided approach was used to identify and annotate the proteins enriched during the vigorous CPT metabolism period in mature C. acuminata and seedlings. Comparative analyses revealed that the CPT and flavonoid biosyntheses were vigorous in stems and all of the samples except the leaves, respectively. The CYP71BE genes were screened based on their enrichment patterns at the transcriptomic-proteomic level and biochemically characterized in Saccharomyces cerevisiae WAT11. Four CYP71BE proteins exhibited in vitro isoliquiritigenin epoxidase activity. Additionally, CYP71BE206 showed epoxidase activity toward strictosamide, the critical precursor for CPT biosynthesis, both in vitro and in Nicotiana benthamiana. In planta functional verification suggested that CYP71BE206 is involved in CPT biosynthesis. Their catalytic conditions were optimized, and the enzymatic parameters were determined. This study provides valuable insight into the CYP71BE-mediated epoxidation step for CPT biosynthesis and offers evidence to verify that the newly characterized epoxidase (CYP71BE206) is simultaneously responsible for the biosynthesis of CPT and the flavonoid in this plant. An evolution event probably happened on ancestral CYP71BE, resulting in the neofunctionalization of CYP71BE206.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Pu
- College of Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, China
| | - Minji Wang
- College of Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, China
| | - Menghan Chen
- College of Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, China
| | - Xinyu Lin
- College of Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, China
| | - Ming Lei
- College of Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, China
| | - Jiahua Zhang
- College of Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, China
| | - Shengnan Yang
- College of Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, China
| | - Hanguang Wang
- College of Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, China
| | - Jinqiu Liao
- College of Life Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, China
| | - Li Zhang
- College of Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, China
| | - Qianming Huang
- College of Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, China
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7
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Coon A, Musah RA. Investigation of Small-Molecule Constituents in Voacanga africana Seeds and Mapping of Their Spatial Distributions Using Laser Ablation Direct Analysis in Real-Time Imaging-Mass Spectrometry (LADI-MS). ACS OMEGA 2023; 8:27190-27205. [PMID: 37546641 PMCID: PMC10399170 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c02464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
Plant seeds are a renewable resource that can furnish access to medicinal natural products that can only otherwise be isolated from aerial or root parts, the harvest of which may be destructive to the plant or threaten its viability. However, optimization of the isolation of such compounds from seeds would be greatly assisted if the spatial distribution of the molecules of interest within the plant tissue were known. For example, iboga alkaloids that hold promise for the treatment of opioid use disorder are typically isolated from the leaves, bark, or roots of Tabernanthe or Voacanga spp. trees, but it would be more environmentally sustainable to isolate such compounds from their seeds. Here, we leveraged the unique capabilities of the ambient mass spectral imaging technique termed laser ablation direct analysis in real-time imaging-mass spectrometry (LADI-MS) to reveal the spatial distributions of a range of molecules, including alkaloids within V. africana seeds. In addition to six compounds previously reported in these seeds, namely, tetradecanoic acid, n-hexadecanoic acid, (Z,Z)-9,12-octadecadienoic acid, (Z)-9-octadecenoic acid, octadecanoic acid, and Δ14-vincamine, an additional 31 compounds were newly identified in V. africana seeds. The compound classes included alkaloids, terpenes, and fatty acids. The ion images showed that the fatty acids were localized in the embryo of the seed. The alkaloids, which were mainly localized in the seed endosperm, included strictamine, akuammidine, polyneruidine, vobasine, and Δ14-vincamine. This information can be exploited to enhance the efficiency of secondary metabolite isolation from V. africana seeds while eliminating the destruction of other plant parts.
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8
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Yan W, Cao Z, Ding M, Yuan Y. Design and construction of microbial cell factories based on systems biology. Synth Syst Biotechnol 2023; 8:176-185. [PMID: 36874510 PMCID: PMC9979088 DOI: 10.1016/j.synbio.2022.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2022] [Revised: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Environmental sustainability is an increasingly important issue in industry. As an environmentally friendly and sustainable way, constructing microbial cell factories to produce all kinds of valuable products has attracted more and more attention. In the process of constructing microbial cell factories, systems biology plays a crucial role. This review summarizes the recent applications of systems biology in the design and construction of microbial cell factories from four perspectives, including functional genes/enzymes discovery, bottleneck pathways identification, strains tolerance improvement and design and construction of synthetic microbial consortia. Systems biology tools can be employed to identify functional genes/enzymes involved in the biosynthetic pathways of products. These discovered genes are introduced into appropriate chassis strains to build engineering microorganisms capable of producing products. Subsequently, systems biology tools are used to identify bottleneck pathways, improve strains tolerance and guide design and construction of synthetic microbial consortia, resulting in increasing the yield of engineered strains and constructing microbial cell factories successfully.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenlong Yan
- Frontier Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China.,Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Zhibei Cao
- Frontier Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China.,Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Mingzhu Ding
- Frontier Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China.,Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Yingjin Yuan
- Frontier Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China.,Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
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9
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Lemos Cruz P, Carqueijeiro I, Koudounas K, Bomzan DP, Stander EA, Abdallah C, Kulagina N, Oudin A, Lanoue A, Giglioli-Guivarc'h N, Nagegowda DA, Papon N, Besseau S, Clastre M, Courdavault V. Identification of a second 16-hydroxytabersonine-O-methyltransferase suggests an evolutionary relationship between alkaloid and flavonoid metabolisms in Catharanthus roseus. PROTOPLASMA 2023; 260:607-624. [PMID: 35947213 DOI: 10.1007/s00709-022-01801-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The medicinal plant Catharanthus roseus biosynthesizes many important drugs for human health, including the anticancer monoterpene indole alkaloids (MIAs) vinblastine and vincristine. Over the past decades, the continuous increase in pharmaceutical demand has prompted several research groups to characterize MIA biosynthetic pathways for considering future metabolic engineering processes of supply. In line with previous work suggesting that diversification can potentially occur at various steps along the vindoline branch, we were here interested in investigating the involvement of distinct isoforms of tabersonine-16-O-methyltransferase (16OMT) which plays a pivotal role in the MIA biosynthetic pathway. By combining homology searches based on the previously characterized 16OMT1, phylogenetic analyses, functional assays in yeast, and biochemical and in planta characterizations, we identified a second isoform of 16OMT, referred to as 16OMT2. 16OMT2 appears to be a multifunctional enzyme working on both MIA and flavonoid substrates, suggesting that a constrained evolution of the enzyme for accommodating the MIA substrate has probably occurred to favor the apparition of 16OMT2 from an ancestral specific flavonoid-O-methyltransferase. Since 16OMT1 and 16OMT2 displays a high sequence identity and similar kinetic parameters for 16-hydroxytabersonine, we postulate that 16OMT1 may result from a later 16OMT2 gene duplication accompanied by a continuous neofunctionalization leading to an almost complete loss of flavonoid O-methyltransferase activity. Overall, these results participate in increasing our knowledge on the evolutionary processes that have likely led to enzyme co-optation for MIA synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pamela Lemos Cruz
- Université de Tours, EA2106 "Biomolécules et Biotechnologies Végétales", Tours, France
| | - Ines Carqueijeiro
- Université de Tours, EA2106 "Biomolécules et Biotechnologies Végétales", Tours, France
| | | | - Dikki Pedenla Bomzan
- Molecular Plant Biology and Biotechnology Lab, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Research Centre, Bengaluru, 560065, India
| | - Emily Amor Stander
- Université de Tours, EA2106 "Biomolécules et Biotechnologies Végétales", Tours, France
| | - Cécile Abdallah
- Université de Tours, EA2106 "Biomolécules et Biotechnologies Végétales", Tours, France
| | - Natalja Kulagina
- Université de Tours, EA2106 "Biomolécules et Biotechnologies Végétales", Tours, France
| | - Audrey Oudin
- Université de Tours, EA2106 "Biomolécules et Biotechnologies Végétales", Tours, France
| | - Arnaud Lanoue
- Université de Tours, EA2106 "Biomolécules et Biotechnologies Végétales", Tours, France
| | | | - Dinesh A Nagegowda
- Molecular Plant Biology and Biotechnology Lab, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Research Centre, Bengaluru, 560065, India
| | - Nicolas Papon
- Univ Angers, Univ Brest, IRF, SFR, ICAT, F-49000, Angers, France
| | - Sébastien Besseau
- Université de Tours, EA2106 "Biomolécules et Biotechnologies Végétales", Tours, France
| | - Marc Clastre
- Université de Tours, EA2106 "Biomolécules et Biotechnologies Végétales", Tours, France
| | - Vincent Courdavault
- Université de Tours, EA2106 "Biomolécules et Biotechnologies Végétales", Tours, France.
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10
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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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11
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Yang M, Yao B, Lin R. Profiles of Metabolic Genes in Uncaria rhynchophylla and Characterization of the Critical Enzyme Involved in the Biosynthesis of Bioactive Compounds-(iso)Rhynchophylline. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12121790. [PMID: 36551218 PMCID: PMC9775700 DOI: 10.3390/biom12121790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Revised: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Rhynchophylline (RIN) and isorhynchophylline (IRN), two of the representative types of indole alkaloids, showed the unique spiroindole structures produced in Uncaria rhynchophylla. As the bioactive constituent of U. rhynchophylla, IRN has recently drawn extensive attention toward antihypertensive and neuroprotective activities. Despite their medicinal importance and unique chemical structure, the biosynthetic pathways of plant spiroindole alkaloids are still largely unknown. In this study, we used U. rhynchophylla, extensively used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), a widely cultivated plant of the Uncaria genus, to investigate the biosynthetic genes and characterize the functional enzymes in the spiroindole alkaloids. We aim to use the transcriptome platform to analyse the tissue-specific gene expression in spiroindole alkaloids-producing tissues, including root, bud, stem bark and leaf. The critical genes involved in the biosynthesis of precursors and scaffold formation of spiroindole alkaloids were discovered and characterized. The datasets from this work provide an essential resource for further investigating metabolic pathways in U. rhynchophylla and facilitate novel functional enzyme characterization and a good biopharming approach to spiroindole alkaloids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengquan Yang
- College of Tobacco Science, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
- School of Science, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100029, China
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Bowen Yao
- School of Science, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Rongmei Lin
- College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
- Correspondence:
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12
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Kamileen MO, DeMars MD, Hong B, Nakamura Y, Paetz C, Lichman BR, Sonawane PD, Caputi L, O'Connor SE. Recycling Upstream Redox Enzymes Expands the Regioselectivity of Cycloaddition in Pseudo-Aspidosperma Alkaloid Biosynthesis. J Am Chem Soc 2022; 144:19673-19679. [PMID: 36240425 PMCID: PMC9634793 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c08107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Nature uses cycloaddition reactions to generate complex natural product scaffolds. Dehydrosecodine is a highly reactive biosynthetic intermediate that undergoes cycloaddition to generate several alkaloid scaffolds that are the precursors to pharmacologically important compounds such as vinblastine and ibogaine. Here we report how dehydrosecodine can be subjected to redox chemistry, which in turn allows cycloaddition reactions with alternative regioselectivity. By incubating dehydrosecodine with reductase and oxidase biosynthetic enzymes that act upstream in the pathway, we can access the rare pseudoaspidosperma alkaloids pseudo-tabersonine and pseudo-vincadifformine, both in vitro and by reconstitution in the plant Nicotiana benthamiana from an upstream intermediate. We propose a stepwise mechanism to explain the formation of the pseudo-tabersonine scaffold by structurally characterizing enzyme intermediates and by monitoring the incorporation of deuterium labels. This discovery highlights how plants use redox enzymes to enantioselectively generate new scaffolds from common precursors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed O Kamileen
- Department of Natural Product Biosynthesis, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Hans-Knöll-Straße 8, Jena 07745, Germany.,Centre for Novel Agricultural Products, Department of Biology, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, U.K
| | - Matthew D DeMars
- Department of Natural Product Biosynthesis, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Hans-Knöll-Straße 8, Jena 07745, Germany
| | - Benke Hong
- Department of Natural Product Biosynthesis, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Hans-Knöll-Straße 8, Jena 07745, Germany
| | - Yoko Nakamura
- Department of Natural Product Biosynthesis, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Hans-Knöll-Straße 8, Jena 07745, Germany.,Research Group Biosynthesis and NMR, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Hans-Knöll-Straße 8, Jena 07745, Germany
| | - Christian Paetz
- Research Group Biosynthesis and NMR, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Hans-Knöll-Straße 8, Jena 07745, Germany
| | - Benjamin R Lichman
- Centre for Novel Agricultural Products, Department of Biology, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, U.K
| | - Prashant D Sonawane
- Department of Natural Product Biosynthesis, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Hans-Knöll-Straße 8, Jena 07745, Germany
| | - Lorenzo Caputi
- Department of Natural Product Biosynthesis, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Hans-Knöll-Straße 8, Jena 07745, Germany
| | - Sarah E O'Connor
- Department of Natural Product Biosynthesis, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Hans-Knöll-Straße 8, Jena 07745, Germany
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13
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Nguyen TAM, McConnachie M, Nguyen TD, Dang TTT. Discovery and Characterization of Oxidative Enzymes Involved in Monoterpenoid Indole Alkaloid Biosynthesis. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2505:141-164. [PMID: 35732943 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2349-7_11] [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] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Monoterpene indole alkaloid (MIA) constitutes a structurally diverse plant natural product group with remarkable pharmacological activities. Many MIAs have been routinely used as potent drugs for several diseases, including leukemia (vinblastine), lung cancer (camptothecin), and malaria (quinine). Nevertheless, MIAs are biosynthesized at extremely low abundance in plants and, in many cases, require additional chemical functionalizations before their therapeutic uses. As oxygenations and oxidative rearrangements are critical throughout MIAs' structural scaffolding and modifications, the discovery and engineering of oxidative enzymes play essential roles in understanding and boosting the supplies of MIAs. Recent advances in omics technologies and synthetic biology have provided unprecedented amount of biochemical data and tools, paving a wide pathway for discovering, characterizing, and engineering enzymes involved in MIA biosynthesis. Here, we discuss the latest progress in understanding the roles of oxidative enzymes in MIA metabolism and describe a bioinformatic and biochemical pipeline to identify, characterize, and make use of these plant biocatalysts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tuan-Anh Minh Nguyen
- Department of Chemistry, Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, BC, Canada
| | - Matthew McConnachie
- Department of Chemistry, Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, BC, Canada
| | - Trinh-Don Nguyen
- Department of Chemistry, Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, BC, Canada
| | - Thu-Thuy T Dang
- Department of Chemistry, Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, BC, Canada.
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14
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Papon N, Copp BR, Courdavault V. Marine drugs: Biology, pipelines, current and future prospects for production. Biotechnol Adv 2021; 54:107871. [PMID: 34801661 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2021.107871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Revised: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The marine environment is a huge reservoir of biodiversity and represents an excellent source of chemical compounds, some of which have large economical values. In the urgent quest for new pharmaceuticals, marine-based drug discovery has progressed significantly over the past several decades and we now benefit from a series of approved marine natural products (MNPs) to treat cancer and pain while an additional collection of promising leads are in clinical trials. However, the discovery and supply of MNPs has always been challenging given their low bioavailability and structural complexity. Their manufacture for pre-clinical and clinical development but also commercialization mainly relies upon marine source extraction and chemical synthesis, which are associated with high costs, unsustainability and severe environmental problems. In this review, we discuss how metabolic engineering now raises reasonable expectations for the implementation of microbial cell factories, which may provide a sustainable approach for MNP-based drug supply in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Papon
- Univ. Angers, Univ. Brest, GEIHP, SFR ICAT, F-49000 Angers, France.
| | - Brent R Copp
- School of Chemical Sciences, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand.
| | - Vincent Courdavault
- Université de Tours, EA2106 Biomolécules et Biotechnologies Végétales, Tours, France.
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15
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Wang H, Guo H, Wang N, Huo YX. Toward the Heterologous Biosynthesis of Plant Natural Products: Gene Discovery and Characterization. ACS Synth Biol 2021; 10:2784-2795. [PMID: 34757715 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.1c00315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Plant natural products (PNPs) represent a vast and diverse group of natural products, which have wide applications such as emulsifiers in cosmetics, sweeteners in foods, and active ingredients in medicines. Large-scale production of certain PNPs (e.g., artemisinin, taxol) has been implemented by reconstruction of biosynthetic pathways in heterologous hosts. However, unknown biosynthetic pathways greatly restrict wide applications of heterologous production of PNPs of interest. With the rapid development of sequencing and multiomics analysis technologies, huge amounts of omics data, i.e., genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics, have been deposited in public databases, which is a precious resource for identification of the unknown biosynthetic pathway of PNPs. Herein, we have enumerated the approaches which have been widely used to screen candidate genes involved in the biosynthesis of PNPs of interest. We also discuss recent developments in the characterization of putative genes and elucidation of the complete biosynthetic pathway in heterologous hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huiyan Wang
- School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, No. 5 South Zhongguancun Street, 100081 Beijing, China
| | - Hao Guo
- School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, No. 5 South Zhongguancun Street, 100081 Beijing, China
| | - Ning Wang
- School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, No. 5 South Zhongguancun Street, 100081 Beijing, China
| | - Yi-Xin Huo
- School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, No. 5 South Zhongguancun Street, 100081 Beijing, China
- Tobacco Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Qingdao 266101, China
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16
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Zhu X, Liu X, Liu T, Wang Y, Ahmed N, Li Z, Jiang H. Synthetic biology of plant natural products: From pathway elucidation to engineered biosynthesis in plant cells. PLANT COMMUNICATIONS 2021; 2:100229. [PMID: 34746761 PMCID: PMC8553972 DOI: 10.1016/j.xplc.2021.100229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Revised: 04/11/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Plant natural products (PNPs) are the main sources of drugs, food additives, and new biofuels and have become a hotspot in synthetic biology. In the past two decades, the engineered biosynthesis of many PNPs has been achieved through the construction of microbial cell factories. Alongside the rapid development of plant physiology, genetics, and plant genetic modification techniques, hosts have now expanded from single-celled microbes to complex plant systems. Plant synthetic biology is an emerging field that combines engineering principles with plant biology. In this review, we introduce recent advances in the biosynthetic pathway elucidation of PNPs and summarize the progress of engineered PNP biosynthesis in plant cells. Furthermore, a future vision of plant synthetic biology is proposed. Although we are still a long way from overcoming all the bottlenecks in plant synthetic biology, the ascent of this field is expected to provide a huge opportunity for future agriculture and industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxi Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Systems Microbial Biotechnology, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin 300308, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- National Technology Innovation Center of Synthetic Biology, Tianjin 300308, China
| | - Xiaonan Liu
- Key Laboratory of Systems Microbial Biotechnology, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin 300308, China
- National Technology Innovation Center of Synthetic Biology, Tianjin 300308, China
| | - Tian Liu
- Key Laboratory of Systems Microbial Biotechnology, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin 300308, China
- Life Science and Technology College, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi 530004, China
- National Technology Innovation Center of Synthetic Biology, Tianjin 300308, China
| | - Yina Wang
- Key Laboratory of Systems Microbial Biotechnology, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin 300308, China
- National Technology Innovation Center of Synthetic Biology, Tianjin 300308, China
- Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, Yunnan 650201, China
| | - Nida Ahmed
- Key Laboratory of Systems Microbial Biotechnology, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin 300308, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- National Technology Innovation Center of Synthetic Biology, Tianjin 300308, China
| | - Zhichao Li
- Key Laboratory of Systems Microbial Biotechnology, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin 300308, China
- National Technology Innovation Center of Synthetic Biology, Tianjin 300308, China
| | - Huifeng Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Systems Microbial Biotechnology, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin 300308, China
- National Technology Innovation Center of Synthetic Biology, Tianjin 300308, China
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17
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The Antiviral and Virucidal Activities of Voacangine and Structural Analogs Extracted from Tabernaemontana cymosa Depend on the Dengue Virus Strain. PLANTS 2021; 10:plants10071280. [PMID: 34201900 PMCID: PMC8309144 DOI: 10.3390/plants10071280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2021] [Revised: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Currently, no specific licensed antiviral exists for treating the illness caused by dengue virus (DENV). Therefore, the search for compounds of natural origin with antiviral activity is an important area of research. In the present study, three compounds were isolated and identified from seeds of Tabernaemontana cymosa plants. The in vitro antiviral effect of those compounds and voacangine against different DENV strains was assessed using different experimental approaches: compounds added before the infection (Pre), at the same time with the virus (Trans), after the infection (Post) or compounds present in all moments of the experiment (Pre-Trans-Post, Combined treatment). In silico studies (docking and molecular dynamics) were also performed to explain the possible antiviral mechanisms. The identified compounds were three structural analogs of voacangine (voacangine-7-hydroxyindolenine, rupicoline and 3-oxo-voacangine). In the Pre-treatment, only voacangine-7-hydroxyindolenine and rupicoline inhibited the infection caused by the DENV-2/NG strain (16.4% and 29.6% infection, respectively). In the Trans-treatment approach, voacangine, voacangine-7-hydroxyindolenine and rupicoline inhibited the infection in both DENV-2/NG (11.2%, 80.4% and 75.7% infection, respectively) and DENV-2/16681 infection models (73.7%, 74.0% and 75.3% infection, respectively). The latter strain was also inhibited by 3-oxo-voacangine (82.8% infection). Moreover, voacangine (most effective virucidal agent) was also effective against one strain of DENV-1 (DENV-1/WestPac/74) and against the third strain of DENV-2 (DENV-2/S16803) (48.5% and 32.4% infection, respectively). Conversely, no inhibition was observed in the post-treatment approach. The last approach (combined) showed that voacangine, voacangine-7-hydroxyindolenine and rupicoline inhibited over 90% of infections (3.5%, 6.9% and 3.5% infection, respectively) of both strains (DENV-2/NG and DENV-2/16681). The free energy of binding obtained with an in silico approach was favorable for the E protein and compounds, which ranged between −5.1 and −6.3 kcal/mol. Finally, the complex formed between DENV-2 E protein and the best virucidal compound was stable for 50 ns. Our results show that the antiviral effect of indole alkaloids derived from T. cymose depends on the serotype and the virus strain.
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18
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Jamieson CS, Misa J, Tang Y, Billingsley JM. Biosynthesis and synthetic biology of psychoactive natural products. Chem Soc Rev 2021; 50:6950-7008. [PMID: 33908526 PMCID: PMC8217322 DOI: 10.1039/d1cs00065a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Psychoactive natural products play an integral role in the modern world. The tremendous structural complexity displayed by such molecules confers diverse biological activities of significant medicinal value and sociocultural impact. Accordingly, in the last two centuries, immense effort has been devoted towards establishing how plants, animals, and fungi synthesize complex natural products from simple metabolic precursors. The recent explosion of genomics data and molecular biology tools has enabled the identification of genes encoding proteins that catalyze individual biosynthetic steps. Once fully elucidated, the "biosynthetic pathways" are often comparable to organic syntheses in elegance and yield. Additionally, the discovery of biosynthetic enzymes provides powerful catalysts which may be repurposed for synthetic biology applications, or implemented with chemoenzymatic synthetic approaches. In this review, we discuss the progress that has been made toward biosynthetic pathway elucidation amongst four classes of psychoactive natural products: hallucinogens, stimulants, cannabinoids, and opioids. Compounds of diverse biosynthetic origin - terpene, amino acid, polyketide - are identified, and notable mechanisms of key scaffold transforming steps are highlighted. We also provide a description of subsequent applications of the biosynthetic machinery, with an emphasis placed on the synthetic biology and metabolic engineering strategies enabling heterologous production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cooper S Jamieson
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| | - Joshua Misa
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| | - Yi Tang
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA. and Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| | - John M Billingsley
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA. and Invizyne Technologies, Inc., Monrovia, CA, USA
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19
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Musquiari B, Crevelin EJ, Bertoni BW, França SDC, Pereira AMS, Castello ACD, Castillo-Ordoñez WO, Giuliatti S, Lopes AA. Precursor-directed Biosynthesis in Tabernaemontana catharinensis as a New Avenue for Alzheimer's Disease-modifying Agents. PLANTA MEDICA 2021; 87:136-147. [PMID: 33321518 DOI: 10.1055/a-1315-2282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Plants produce a high diversity of metabolites that can act as regulators of cholinergic dysfunction. Among plants, the potential of species of the genus Tabernaemontana to treat neurological disorders has been linked to iboga-type alkaloids that are biosynthesized by those species. In this context, precursor-directed biosynthesis approaches were carried out using T. catharinensis plantlets to achieve new-to-nature molecules as promising agents against Alzheimer's disease. Aerial parts of T. catharinensis, cultured in vitro, produced 7 unnatural alkaloids (5-fluoro-ibogamine, 5-fluoro-voachalotine, 5-fluoro-12-methoxy-Nb-methyl-voachalotine, 5-fluoro-isovoacangine, 5-fluoro-catharanthine, 5-fluoro-19-(S)-hydroxy-ibogamine, and 5-fluoro-coronaridine), while root extracts showed the presence of the same unnatural iboga-type alkaloids and 2 additional ones: 5-fluoro-voafinine and 5-fluoro-affinisine. Moreover, molecular docking approaches were carried out to evaluate the potential inhibition activity of T. catharinensis' natural and unnatural alkaloids against AChE and BChE enzymes. Fluorinated iboga alkaloids (5-fluoro-catharanthine, 5-fluoro-voachalotine, 5-fluoro-affinisine, 5-fluoro-isovoacangine, 5-fluoro-corinaridine) were more active than natural ones and controls against AchE, while 5-fluoro-19-(S)-hydroxy-ibogamine, 5-fluoro-catharanthine, 5-fluoro-isovoacangine, and 5-fluoro-corinaridine showed better activity than natural ones and controls against BChE. Our findings showed that precursor-directed biosynthesis strategies generated "new-to-nature" alkaloids that are promising Alzheimer's disease drug candidates. Furthermore, the isotopic experiments also allowed us to elucidate the initial steps of the biosynthetic pathway for iboga-type alkaloids, which are derived from the MEP and shikimate pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Musquiari
- Biotechnology Unit, University of Ribeirão Preto (UNAERP), Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Eduardo J Crevelin
- Faculty of Philosophy, Sciences and Letters at Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Bianca W Bertoni
- Biotechnology Unit, University of Ribeirão Preto (UNAERP), Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
- Botanic Garden of Medicinal Plant Ordem e Progresso (BOP), Jardinópolis, SP, Brazil
| | - Suzelei de C França
- Biotechnology Unit, University of Ribeirão Preto (UNAERP), Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Ana Maria S Pereira
- Biotechnology Unit, University of Ribeirão Preto (UNAERP), Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
- Botanic Garden of Medicinal Plant Ordem e Progresso (BOP), Jardinópolis, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Willian O Castillo-Ordoñez
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Exacts and Education, University of Cauca, Popayán Colombia
| | - Silvana Giuliatti
- Department of Genetics, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Adriana A Lopes
- Biotechnology Unit, University of Ribeirão Preto (UNAERP), Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
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20
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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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21
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Liu X, Zhu X, Wang H, Liu T, Cheng J, Jiang H. Discovery and modification of cytochrome P450 for plant natural products biosynthesis. Synth Syst Biotechnol 2020; 5:187-199. [PMID: 32637672 PMCID: PMC7332504 DOI: 10.1016/j.synbio.2020.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2020] [Revised: 06/21/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Cytochrome P450s are widespread in nature and play key roles in the diversification and functional modification of plant natural products. Over the last few years, there has been remarkable progress in plant P450s identification with the rapid development of sequencing technology, "omics" analysis and synthetic biology. However, challenges still persist in respect of crystal structure, heterologous expression and enzyme engineering. Here, we reviewed several research hotspots of P450 enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of plant natural products, including P450 databases, gene mining, heterologous expression and protein engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaonan Liu
- Key Laboratory of Systems Microbial Biotechnology, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, 300308, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Xiaoxi Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Systems Microbial Biotechnology, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, 300308, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Hui Wang
- College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Tianjin, 300457, China
| | - Tian Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, College of Life Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi, 530004, China.,Key Laboratory of Systems Microbial Biotechnology, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, 300308, China
| | - Jian Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Systems Microbial Biotechnology, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, 300308, China
| | - Huifeng Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Systems Microbial Biotechnology, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin, 300308, China
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22
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Dugé de Bernonville T, Papon N, Clastre M, O’Connor SE, Courdavault V. Identifying Missing Biosynthesis Enzymes of Plant Natural Products. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2020; 41:142-146. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2019.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2019] [Revised: 11/07/2019] [Accepted: 12/29/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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23
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Tanifuji R, Minami A, Oguri H, Oikawa H. Total synthesis of alkaloids using both chemical and biochemical methods. Nat Prod Rep 2020; 37:1098-1121. [DOI: 10.1039/c9np00073a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
A chemoenzymatic approach to synthesize structurally complex natural alkaloids (tetrahydroisoquinoline antibiotics, indole diterpenes, and monoterpene indole alkaloids) has been reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryo Tanifuji
- Department of Applied Chemistry
- Graduate School of Engineering
- Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology
- Koganei
- Japan
| | - Atsushi Minami
- Division of Chemistry
- Graduate School of Science
- Hokkaido University
- Sapporo
- Japan
| | - Hiroki Oguri
- Department of Applied Chemistry
- Graduate School of Engineering
- Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology
- Koganei
- Japan
| | - Hideaki Oikawa
- Division of Chemistry
- Graduate School of Science
- Hokkaido University
- Sapporo
- Japan
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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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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
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(−)-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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Norwood VM, Huigens RW. Harnessing the Chemistry of the Indole Heterocycle to Drive Discoveries in Biology and Medicine. Chembiochem 2019; 20:2273-2297. [DOI: 10.1002/cbic.201800768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Verrill M. Norwood
- Department of Medicinal ChemistryCenter for Natural Products Drug Discovery and Development (CNPD3)University of Florida 1345 Center Drive Gainesville FL 32610 USA
| | - Robert W. Huigens
- Department of Medicinal ChemistryCenter for Natural Products Drug Discovery and Development (CNPD3)University of Florida 1345 Center Drive Gainesville FL 32610 USA
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Krengel F, Chevalier Q, Dickinson J, Herrera Santoyo J, Reyes Chilpa R. Metabolite Profiling of Anti-Addictive Alkaloids from Four Mexican Tabernaemontana Species and the Entheogenic African Shrub Tabernanthe iboga (Apocynaceae). Chem Biodivers 2019; 16:e1800506. [PMID: 30618175 DOI: 10.1002/cbdv.201800506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2018] [Accepted: 01/07/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Ibogaine and other ibogan type alkaloids present anti-addictive effects against several drugs of abuse and occur in different species of the Apocynaceae family. In this work, we used gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and principal component analysis (PCA) in order to compare the alkaloid profiles of the root and stem barks of four Mexican Tabernaemontana species with the root bark of the entheogenic African shrub Tabernanthe iboga. PCA demonstrated that separation between species could be attributed to quantitative differences of the major alkaloids, coronaridine, ibogamine, voacangine, and ibogaine. While T. iboga mainly presented high concentrations of ibogaine, Tabernaemontana samples either showed a predominance of voacangine and ibogaine, or coronaridine and ibogamine, respectively. The results illustrate the phytochemical proximity between both genera and confirm previous suggestions that Mexican Tabernaemontana species are viable sources of anti-addictive compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix Krengel
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Universidad 3000, Delegación Coyoacán, C.P. 04360, Ciudad Universitaria, Ciudad de México, México.,Instituto de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Av. Universidad 3000, Circuito Exterior S/N, Delegación Coyoacán, C.P. 04510, Ciudad Universitaria, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Quentin Chevalier
- Faculté des Sciences de la Vie, Université de Strasbourg (Unistra), 28 rue Goethe, 67000, Strasbourg, France
| | | | - Josefina Herrera Santoyo
- Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Av. Universidad 3000, Circuito Exterior S/N, Delegación Coyoacán, C.P. 04510, Ciudad Universitaria, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Ricardo Reyes Chilpa
- Instituto de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Av. Universidad 3000, Circuito Exterior S/N, Delegación Coyoacán, C.P. 04510, Ciudad Universitaria, Ciudad de México, México
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