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Liu JS, Li YK, Li J, Li Y, Liu ZT, Zhou ZX, Li YG, Wang R. Ascorbate peroxidase catalyses synthesis of protocatechualdehyde from p-hydroxybenzaldehyde in Lycoris aurea. Gene 2024; 927:148697. [PMID: 38880186 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2024.148697] [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: 02/17/2024] [Revised: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024]
Abstract
Protocatechualdehyde is a plant natural phenolic aldehyde and an active ingredient with important bioactivities in traditional Chinese medicine. Protocatechualdehyde is also a key intermediate in the synthesis of Amaryllidaceae alkaloids for supplying the C6-C1 skeleton. However, the biosynthesis of protocatechualdehyde in plants remains obscure. In this study, we measured the protocatechualdehyde contents in the root, bulb, scape and flower of the Amaryllidaceae plant Lycoris aurea (L'Hér.) Herb., and performed the correlation analysis between the protocatechualdehyde contents and the transcriptional levels of the phenolic oxidization candidate protein encoding genes. We found that a novel ascorbate peroxidase encoded by the contig_24999 in the L. aurea transcriptome database had potential role in the biosynthesis of protocatechualdehyde. The LauAPX_24999 gene was then cloned from the cDNA of the scape of L. aurea. The transient expression of LauAPX_24999 protein in Arabidopsis protoplasts demonstrated that LauAPX_24999 protein was localized in the cytoplasm, thus belonging to Class II L-ascorbate peroxidase. Subsequently, LauAPX_24999 protein was heterogenously expressed in Escherichia coli, and identified that LauAPX_24999 biosynthesized protocatechualdehyde from p-hydroxybenzaldehyde using L-ascorbic acid as the electron donor. The protein structure modelling and molecular docking indicated that p-hydroxybenzaldehyde could access to the active pocket of LauAPX_24999 protein, and reside at the δ-edge of the heme group while L-ascorbic acid binds at the γ-heme edge. To our knowledge, LauAPX_24999 is the first enzyme discovered in plants able to biosynthesize protocatechualdehyde from p-hydroxybenzaldehyde, and offers a competent enzyme resource for the biosynthesis of Amaryllidaceae alkaloids via synthetic biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin-Shu Liu
- Institute of Botany, Jiangsu Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China; Engineering College, Qufu Normal University, Rizhao 276826, China.
| | - Yi-Kui Li
- Institute of Botany, Jiangsu Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China.
| | - Jie Li
- Institute of Botany, Jiangsu Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China.
| | - Yang Li
- Institute of Botany, Jiangsu Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China.
| | - Zheng-Tai Liu
- Institute of Botany, Jiangsu Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China.
| | - Zheng-Xiong Zhou
- Institute of Botany, Jiangsu Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China; The Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China.
| | - Yu-Gang Li
- Engineering College, Qufu Normal University, Rizhao 276826, China.
| | - Ren Wang
- Institute of Botany, Jiangsu Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory for the Research and Utilization of Plant Resources, Nanjing 210014, China.
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Fujimaki S, Sakamoto S, Shimada S, Kino K, Furuya T. Engineering a coenzyme-independent dioxygenase for one-step production of vanillin from ferulic acid. Appl Environ Microbiol 2024; 90:e0023324. [PMID: 38727223 PMCID: PMC11218615 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00233-24] [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: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Vanillin is one of the world's most important flavor and fragrance compounds used in foods and cosmetics. In plants, vanillin is reportedly biosynthesized from ferulic acid via the hydratase/lyase-type enzyme VpVAN. However, in biotechnological and biocatalytic applications, the use of VpVAN limits the production of vanillin. Although microbial enzymes are helpful as substitutes for plant enzymes, synthesizing vanillin from ferulic acid in one step using microbial enzymes remains a challenge. Here, we developed a single enzyme that catalyzes vanillin production from ferulic acid in a coenzyme-independent manner via the rational design of a microbial dioxygenase in the carotenoid cleavage oxygenase family using computational simulations. This enzyme acquired catalytic activity toward ferulic acid by introducing mutations into the active center to increase its affinity for ferulic acid. We found that the single enzyme can catalyze not only the production of vanillin from ferulic acid but also the synthesis of other aldehydes from p-coumaric acid, sinapinic acid, and coniferyl alcohol. These results indicate that the approach used in this study can greatly expand the range of substrates available for the dioxygenase family of enzymes. The engineered enzyme enables efficient production of vanillin and other value-added aldehydes from renewable lignin-derived compounds. IMPORTANCE The final step of vanillin biosynthesis in plants is reportedly catalyzed by the enzyme VpVAN. Prior to our study, VpVAN was the only reported enzyme that directly converts ferulic acid to vanillin. However, as many characteristics of VpVAN remain unknown, this enzyme is not yet suitable for biocatalytic applications. We show that an enzyme that converts ferulic acid to vanillin in one step could be constructed by modifying a microbial dioxygenase-type enzyme. The engineered enzyme is of biotechnological importance as a tool for the production of vanillin and related compounds via biocatalytic processes and metabolic engineering. The results of this study may also provide useful insights for understanding vanillin biosynthesis in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shizuka Fujimaki
- Department of Applied Biological Science, Faculty of Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, Chiba, Japan
| | - Satsuki Sakamoto
- Department of Applied Biological Science, Faculty of Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, Chiba, Japan
| | - Shota Shimada
- Department of Applied Biological Science, Faculty of Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, Chiba, Japan
| | - Kuniki Kino
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Toshiki Furuya
- Department of Applied Biological Science, Faculty of Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, Chiba, Japan
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3
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Simon P, Lőrinczi B, Hetényi A, Szatmári I. Novel Eco-friendly, One-Pot Method for the Synthesis of Kynurenic Acid Ethyl Esters. ACS OMEGA 2023; 8:17966-17975. [PMID: 37251176 PMCID: PMC10210203 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c01170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
The synthesis of kynurenic acid derivatives with potential biological effect was investigated and optimized for one-batch, two-step microwave-assisted reactions. Utilizing both chemically and biologically representative non-, methyl-, methoxy-, and chlorosubstituted aniline derivatives, in catalyst-free conditions, syntheses of seven kynurenic acid derivatives were achieved in a time frame of 2-3.5 h. In place of halogenated reaction media, tuneable green solvents were introduced for each analogue. The potential of green solvent mixtures to replace traditional solvents and to alter the regioisomeric ratio regarding the Conrad-Limpach method was highlighted. The advantages of the fast, eco-friendly, inexpensive analytic technique of TLC densitometry were emphasized for reaction monitoring and conversion determination in comparison to quantitative NMR. Moreover, the developed 2-3.5 h syntheses were scaled-up to achieve gram-scale products of KYNA derivatives, without altering the reaction time in the halogenated solvent DCB and more importantly in its green substitutes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Péter Simon
- Institute
of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Szeged, Eötvös u. 6, H-6720 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Bálint Lőrinczi
- Institute
of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Szeged, Eötvös u. 6, H-6720 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Anasztázia Hetényi
- Department
of Medical Chemistry, University of Szeged, Dóm tér 8, H-6720 Szeged, Hungary
| | - István Szatmári
- Institute
of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Szeged, Eötvös u. 6, H-6720 Szeged, Hungary
- Stereochemistry
Research Group, Eötvös Loránd Research Network, University of Szeged, Eötvös u. 6, H-6720 Szeged, Hungary
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Diamond A, Barnabé S, Desgagné‐Penix I. Is a spice missing from the recipe? The intra-cellular localization of vanillin biosynthesis needs further investigations. PLANT BIOLOGY (STUTTGART, GERMANY) 2023; 25:3-7. [PMID: 36066305 PMCID: PMC10087407 DOI: 10.1111/plb.13465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Vanillin is the most popular flavor compound in the world. Substantial effort were made in the last decades to completely elucidate the metabolic pathway that leads to vanillin in plants, with some controversy reported. In V. planifolia, vanillin biosynthesis occurs in plastids or in redifferentiated-plastids termed ''phenyloplasts''. More recently, it was shown that all enzymes required for the conversion of [14 C]-phenylalanine to [14 C]-vanillin-glucoside are confined within that organelle. However, knowing that some of these enzymes are cytosolic or ER-membrane bound in most plant species, it raises questions on the interpretation of data obtained from the technique used and on the true localization of the biosynthetic enzymes in V.planifolia. In addition, intense debate has emerged about the real participation of last enzyme of the pathway involving vanillin synthase (VpVAN) in the direct conversion of ferulic acid to vanillin. With the discovery of another enzyme capable of this conversion and the lack of activity of VpVAN in vitro, further disagreement emerged. One additional challenge to VpVAN being necessary and sufficient is that the transcript for this protein is abundant invarious non-vanillin-producing tissues of the vanilla plant. In this viewpoint, we discuss the findings surrounding the cellular-localization and activity of enzymes of vanillin biosynthesis. This will help to further understand the pathway and urge for additional research study to resolve the debate.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. Diamond
- Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and PhysicsUniversité du Québec à Trois‐RivièresTrois‐RivièresQuébecCanada
| | - S. Barnabé
- Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and PhysicsUniversité du Québec à Trois‐RivièresTrois‐RivièresQuébecCanada
| | - I. Desgagné‐Penix
- Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and PhysicsUniversité du Québec à Trois‐RivièresTrois‐RivièresQuébecCanada
- Groupe de Recherche en Biologie Végétale (GRBV)Trois‐RivièresQuébecCanada
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Huang XQ, Li R, Fu J, Dudareva N. A peroxisomal heterodimeric enzyme is involved in benzaldehyde synthesis in plants. Nat Commun 2022; 13:1352. [PMID: 35292635 PMCID: PMC8924275 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-28978-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Benzaldehyde, the simplest aromatic aldehyde, is one of the most wide-spread volatiles that serves as a pollinator attractant, flavor, and antifungal compound. However, the enzyme responsible for its formation in plants remains unknown. Using a combination of in vivo stable isotope labeling, classical biochemical, proteomics and genetic approaches, we show that in petunia benzaldehyde is synthesized via the β-oxidative pathway in peroxisomes by a heterodimeric enzyme consisting of α and β subunits, which belong to the NAD(P)-binding Rossmann-fold superfamily. Both subunits are alone catalytically inactive but, when mixed in equal amounts, form an active enzyme, which exhibits strict substrate specificity towards benzoyl-CoA and uses NADPH as a cofactor. Alpha subunits can form functional heterodimers with phylogenetically distant β subunits, but not all β subunits partner with α subunits, at least in Arabidopsis. Analysis of spatial, developmental and rhythmic expression of genes encoding α and β subunits revealed that expression of the gene for the α subunit likely plays a key role in regulating benzaldehyde biosynthesis. Benzaldehyde is a simple aromatic aldehyde that attracts pollinators, has antifungal properties and contributes to flavor in many plants. Here the authors show that benzaldehyde is synthesized in petunia via the benzoic acid β-oxidative pathway by a peroxisomal heterodimeric enzyme consisting of α and β subunits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing-Qi Huang
- Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.,Purdue Center for Plant Biology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Renqiuguo Li
- Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Jianxin Fu
- Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.,School of Landscape Architecture, Zhejiang Agriculture & Forestry University, 311300, Hangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Natalia Dudareva
- Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA. .,Purdue Center for Plant Biology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA. .,Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.
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Kitaoka N, Nomura T, Ogita S, Kato Y. Bioproduction of glucose conjugates of 4-hydroxybenzoic and vanillic acids using bamboo cells transformed to express bacterial 4-hydroxycinnamoyl-CoA hydratase/lyase. J Biosci Bioeng 2020; 130:89-97. [PMID: 32192841 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiosc.2020.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2019] [Revised: 12/08/2019] [Accepted: 02/08/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Rational metabolic-flow switching, which we proposed recently, is an effective strategy to produce an exogenous high-value natural product using transformed plant cells; the proof of this concept was demonstrated using bamboo (Phyllostachys nigra; Pn) cells as a model system. Pn cells were transformed to express 4-hydroxycinnamoyl-CoA hydratase/lyase of Pseudomonas putida KT2440 (PpHCHL), which catalyzes the formation of 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde and vanillin from p-coumaroyl-CoA and feruloyl-CoA, respectively. The PpHCHL-transformed cells accumulated glucose conjugates of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid and vanillic acid, indicating that the PpHCHL products (aldehydes) were further metabolized by inherent enzymes in the Pn cells. The production titers of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid glucose ester, vanillic acid glucose ester, and 4-hydroxybenzoic acid glucoside reached 1.7, 0.17, and 0.14 g/L at the maximum, respectively. These results proved the versatility of Pn cells for producing vanillin-related compounds based on rational metabolic-flow switching.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naoki Kitaoka
- Biotechnology Research Center and Department of Biotechnology, Toyama Prefectural University, Imizu, Toyama 939-0398, Japan.
| | - Taiji Nomura
- Biotechnology Research Center and Department of Biotechnology, Toyama Prefectural University, Imizu, Toyama 939-0398, Japan
| | - Shinjiro Ogita
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, Prefectural University of Hiroshima, Shobara, Hiroshima 727-0023, Japan
| | - Yasuo Kato
- Biotechnology Research Center and Department of Biotechnology, Toyama Prefectural University, Imizu, Toyama 939-0398, Japan
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Vanilla bahiana, a contribution from the Atlantic Forest biodiversity for the production of vanilla: A proteomic approach through high-definition nanoLC/MS. Food Res Int 2019; 120:148-156. [PMID: 31000225 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2019.02.038] [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: 08/02/2018] [Revised: 02/16/2019] [Accepted: 02/19/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Only a few cultivated species of Vanilla are used to produce vanilla, despite the high demand, predatory exploitation, and low genetic variability that threaten the production of natural vanilla. Vanilla bahiana pods from the Atlantic Forest may be an alternative source of natural vanilla. This study applied bottom-up and shotgun proteomics analysis to identify proteins related to flowering, fruiting, and vanilla-flavor production. Extraction solutions, including Tris-HCl buffer, β-mercaptoethanol and SDS, were assayed. SDS proved to be feasible for extraction of Vanilla fruit proteins and could be an alternative to the phenol method of protein extraction. Progenesis QI for Proteomics (QIP) software loaded with an Orchidaceae database identified 2326 proteins in our samples. Among these, 75 were highlighted as useful for the synthesis of compounds related to vanilla flavor, such as vanillin synthase, which was successfully extracted with 1% SDS, which also improved the variety of the extracted proteins. The proteins identified in V. bahiana pods indicate the enzymatic potential of this species, as further validated by quantifying the vanilla in the samples.
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