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Li S, Zhou Z, Li Y, Hu Y, Huang Z, Hu G, Wang Y, Wang X, Lou Q, Gao L, Shen C, Gao R, Xu Z, Song J, Pu X. Construction of a high-efficiency GjCCD4a mutant and its application for de novo biosynthesis of five crocins in Escherichia coli. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 277:133985. [PMID: 39033887 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.133985] [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: 04/18/2024] [Revised: 07/02/2024] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024]
Abstract
Crocins are bioactive natural products that rarely exist in plants. High costs and resource shortage severely limit its development and application. Synthetic biology studies on crocins are of considerable global interest. However, the lack of high-efficiency genetic tools and complex cascade biocatalytic systems have substantially hindered progress in crocin biosynthesis-related research. Based on mutagenesis, a high-efficiency GjCCD4a mutant (N212m) was constructed with a catalytic efficiency that was 25.08-fold higher than that of the wild-type. Solubilized GjCCD4a was expressed via fusion with an MBP tag. Moreover, N212m and ten other genes were introduced into Escherichia coli for the de novo biosynthesis of five crocins. The engineered E57 strain produced crocins III and V with a total yield of 11.50 mg/L, and the E579 strain produced crocins I-V with a total output of 8.43 mg/L at shake-flask level. This study identified a marvelous genetic element (N212m) for crocin biosynthesis and achieved its de novo biosynthesis in E. coli using glucose. This study provides a reference for the large-scale production of five crocins using E. coli cell factories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siqi Li
- Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Anhui Institute of Innovative Drugs, School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Ze Zhou
- Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Anhui Institute of Innovative Drugs, School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Yufang Li
- Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Anhui Institute of Innovative Drugs, School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Yan Hu
- Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Anhui Institute of Innovative Drugs, School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Ziyi Huang
- Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Anhui Institute of Innovative Drugs, School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Ge Hu
- Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Anhui Institute of Innovative Drugs, School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Ying Wang
- Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Anhui Institute of Innovative Drugs, School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Xu Wang
- Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Anhui Institute of Innovative Drugs, School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Qian Lou
- Key Lab of Chinese Medicine Resources Conservation, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of the People's Republic of China, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Longlong Gao
- Key Lab of Chinese Medicine Resources Conservation, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of the People's Republic of China, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Chuanpu Shen
- Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Anhui Institute of Innovative Drugs, School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Ranran Gao
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China
| | - Zhichao Xu
- College of Life Sciences, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
| | - Jingyuan Song
- Key Lab of Chinese Medicine Resources Conservation, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of the People's Republic of China, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100193, China.
| | - Xiangdong Pu
- Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Anhui Institute of Innovative Drugs, School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China; Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine Formula Granule, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China.
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2
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Hua Z, Liu N, Yan X. Research progress on the pharmacological activity, biosynthetic pathways, and biosynthesis of crocins. Beilstein J Org Chem 2024; 20:741-752. [PMID: 38633914 PMCID: PMC11022409 DOI: 10.3762/bjoc.20.68] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Crocins are water-soluble apocarotenoids isolated from the flowers of crocus and gardenia. They exhibit various pharmacological effects, including neuroprotection, anti-inflammatory properties, hepatorenal protection, and anticancer activity. They are often used as coloring and seasoning agents. Due to the limited content of crocins in plants and the high cost of chemical synthesis, the supply of crocins is insufficient to meet current demand. The biosynthetic pathways for crocins have been elucidated to date, which allows the heterologous production of these valuable compounds in microorganisms by fermentation. This review article provides a comprehensive overview of the chemistry, pharmacological activity, biosynthetic pathways, and heterologous production of crocins, aiming to lay the foundation for the large-scale production of these valuable natural products by using engineered microbial cell factories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongwei Hua
- State Key Laboratory of Component-based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 10 Poyang Lake Road, Tuanbo New Town, Jinghai District, Tianjin 301617, China
| | - Nan Liu
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 10 Poyang Lake Road, Tuanbo New Town, Jinghai District, Tianjin 301617, China
| | - Xiaohui Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Component-based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 10 Poyang Lake Road, Tuanbo New Town, Jinghai District, Tianjin 301617, China
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Xu Z, Chen S, Wang Y, Tian Y, Wang X, Xin T, Li Z, Hua X, Tan S, Sun W, Pu X, Yao H, Gao R, Song J. Crocus genome reveals the evolutionary origin of crocin biosynthesis. Acta Pharm Sin B 2024; 14:1878-1891. [PMID: 38572115 PMCID: PMC10985130 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2023.12.013] [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: 08/26/2023] [Revised: 10/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Crocus sativus (saffron) is a globally autumn-flowering plant, and its stigmas are the most expensive spice and valuable herb medicine. Crocus specialized metabolites, crocins, are biosynthesized in distant species, Gardenia (eudicot) and Crocus (monocot), and the evolution of crocin biosynthesis remains poorly understood. With the chromosome-level Crocus genome assembly, we revealed that two rounds of lineage-specific whole genome triplication occurred, contributing important roles in the production of carotenoids and apocarotenoids. According to the kingdom-wide identification, phylogenetic analysis, and functional assays of carotenoid cleavage dioxygenases (CCDs), we deduced that the duplication, site positive selection, and neofunctionalization of Crocus-specific CCD2 from CCD1 members are responsible for the crocin biosynthesis. In addition, site mutation of CsCCD2 revealed the key amino acids, including I143, L146, R161, E181, T259, and S292 related to the catalytic activity of zeaxanthin cleavage. Our study provides important insights into the origin and evolution of plant specialized metabolites, which are derived by duplication events of biosynthetic genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhichao Xu
- Key Lab of Chinese Medicine Resources Conservation, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of the People's Republic of China, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100193, China
- State Key Laboratory of Basis and New Drug Development of Natural and Nuclear Drugs, Engineering Research Center of Chinese Medicine Resource, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100193, China
- College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
| | - Shanshan Chen
- College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
- Key Laboratory of Beijing for Identification and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Yalin Wang
- College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
| | - Ya Tian
- College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
| | - Xiaotong Wang
- College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
- Key Laboratory of Beijing for Identification and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Tianyi Xin
- Key Lab of Chinese Medicine Resources Conservation, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of the People's Republic of China, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100193, China
- State Key Laboratory of Basis and New Drug Development of Natural and Nuclear Drugs, Engineering Research Center of Chinese Medicine Resource, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Zishan Li
- College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
| | - Xin Hua
- College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
| | - Shengnan Tan
- Analysis and Testing Center of Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
| | - Wei Sun
- Key Laboratory of Beijing for Identification and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Xiangdong Pu
- School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Hui Yao
- Key Lab of Chinese Medicine Resources Conservation, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of the People's Republic of China, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100193, China
- State Key Laboratory of Basis and New Drug Development of Natural and Nuclear Drugs, Engineering Research Center of Chinese Medicine Resource, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Ranran Gao
- Key Laboratory of Beijing for Identification and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Jingyuan Song
- Key Lab of Chinese Medicine Resources Conservation, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of the People's Republic of China, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100193, China
- State Key Laboratory of Basis and New Drug Development of Natural and Nuclear Drugs, Engineering Research Center of Chinese Medicine Resource, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100193, China
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Zhou J, Huang D, Liu C, Hu Z, Li H, Lou S. Research Progress in Heterologous Crocin Production. Mar Drugs 2023; 22:22. [PMID: 38248646 PMCID: PMC10820313 DOI: 10.3390/md22010022] [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: 11/24/2023] [Revised: 12/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Crocin is one of the most valuable components of the Chinese medicinal plant Crocus sativus and is widely used in the food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industries. Traditional planting of C. sativus is unable to fulfill the increasing demand for crocin in the global market, however, such that researchers have turned their attention to the heterologous production of crocin in a variety of hosts. At present, there are reports of successful heterologous production of crocin in Escherichia coli, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, microalgae, and plants that do not naturally produce crocin. Of these, the microalga Dunaliella salina, which produces high levels of β-carotene, the substrate for crocin biosynthesis, is worthy of attention. This article describes the biosynthesis of crocin, compares the features of each heterologous host, and clarifies the requirements for efficient production of crocin in microalgae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junjie Zhou
- College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China; (J.Z.); (D.H.); (C.L.); (Z.H.); (H.L.)
| | - Danqiong Huang
- College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China; (J.Z.); (D.H.); (C.L.); (Z.H.); (H.L.)
| | - Chenglong Liu
- College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China; (J.Z.); (D.H.); (C.L.); (Z.H.); (H.L.)
| | - Zhangli Hu
- College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China; (J.Z.); (D.H.); (C.L.); (Z.H.); (H.L.)
- Shenzhen Engineering Laboratory for Marine Algal Biotechnology, Longhua Innovation Institute for Biotechnology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Hui Li
- College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China; (J.Z.); (D.H.); (C.L.); (Z.H.); (H.L.)
- Shenzhen Engineering Laboratory for Marine Algal Biotechnology, Longhua Innovation Institute for Biotechnology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Sulin Lou
- College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China; (J.Z.); (D.H.); (C.L.); (Z.H.); (H.L.)
- Shenzhen Engineering Laboratory for Marine Algal Biotechnology, Longhua Innovation Institute for Biotechnology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
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Demurtas OC, Sulli M, Ferrante P, Mini P, Martí M, Aragonés V, Daròs JA, Giuliano G. Production of Saffron Apocarotenoids in Nicotiana benthamiana Plants Genome-Edited to Accumulate Zeaxanthin Precursor. Metabolites 2023; 13:729. [PMID: 37367887 DOI: 10.3390/metabo13060729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Crocins are glycosylated apocarotenoids with strong coloring power and anti-oxidant, anticancer, and neuro-protective properties. We previously dissected the saffron crocin biosynthesis pathway, and demonstrated that the CsCCD2 enzyme, catalyzing the carotenoid cleavage step, shows a strong preference for the xanthophyll zeaxanthin in vitro and in bacterio. In order to investigate substrate specificity in planta and to establish a plant-based bio-factory system for crocin production, we compared wild-type Nicotiana benthamiana plants, accumulating various xanthophylls together with α- and β-carotene, with genome-edited lines, in which all the xanthophylls normally accumulated in leaves were replaced by a single xanthophyll, zeaxanthin. These plants were used as chassis for the production in leaves of saffron apocarotenoids (crocins, picrocrocin) using two transient expression methods to overexpress CsCCD2: agroinfiltration and inoculation with a viral vector derived from tobacco etch virus (TEV). The results indicated the superior performance of the zeaxanthin-accumulating line and of the use of the viral vector to express CsCCD2. The results also suggested a relaxed substrate specificity of CsCCD2 in planta, cleaving additional carotenoid substrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia Costantina Demurtas
- Biotechnology and Agro-Industry Division, ENEA, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, Casaccia Research Center, 00123 Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Sulli
- Biotechnology and Agro-Industry Division, ENEA, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, Casaccia Research Center, 00123 Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Ferrante
- Biotechnology and Agro-Industry Division, ENEA, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, Casaccia Research Center, 00123 Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Mini
- Biotechnology and Agro-Industry Division, ENEA, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, Casaccia Research Center, 00123 Rome, Italy
| | - Maricarmen Martí
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas-Universitat Politècnica de València, 46022 Valencia, Spain
| | - Verónica Aragonés
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas-Universitat Politècnica de València, 46022 Valencia, Spain
| | - José-Antonio Daròs
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas-Universitat Politècnica de València, 46022 Valencia, Spain
| | - Giovanni Giuliano
- Biotechnology and Agro-Industry Division, ENEA, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, Casaccia Research Center, 00123 Rome, Italy
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D'Ambrosio C, Stigliani AL, Rambla JL, Frusciante S, Diretto G, Enfissi EMA, Granell A, Fraser PD, Giorio G. A xanthophyll-derived apocarotenoid regulates carotenogenesis in tomato chromoplasts. PLANT SCIENCE : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2023; 328:111575. [PMID: 36572066 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2022.111575] [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: 09/15/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Carotenoids possess important biological functions that make them essential components of the human diet. β-Carotene and some other carotenoids have vitamin A activity while lutein and zeaxanthin, typically referred to as the macular pigments, are involved in good vision and in delaying the onset of age-related eye diseases. In order to create a zeaxanthin-producing tomato fruit, two transgenic lines, one with a high β-carotene cyclase activity and the other with a high β-carotene hydroxylase activity, have been genetically crossed. Ripe fruits from the resulting progeny contained significant levels of violaxanthin, antheraxanthin, and xanthophyll esters. However, their zeaxanthin content was not as high as expected, and the total level of carotenoids was only 25% of the carotenoids found in ripe fruits of the comparator line. Targeted transcript analysis and apocarotenoids determinations indicated that transcriptional regulation of the pathway or degradation of synthesized carotenoids were not responsible for the low carotenoid content of hybrid fruits which instead appeared to result from a substantial reduction of carotenoid biosynthesis. Notably, the content of an unidentified hydroxylated cyclic (C13) apocarotenoid was 13 times higher in the hybrid fruits than in the control fruits. Furthermore, a GC-MS-based metabolite profiling demonstrated a perturbation of carotenogenesis in ripening hybrid fruits compatible with a block of the pathway. Moreover, carotenoid profiling on leaf, fruit, and petal samples from a set of experimental lines carrying the hp3 mutation, in combination with the two transgenes, indicated that the carotenoid biosynthesis in petal and fruit chromoplasts could be regulated. Altogether the data were consistent with the hypothesis of the regulation of the carotenoid pathway in tomato chromoplasts through a mechanism of feedback inhibition mediated by a xanthophyll-derived apocarotenoid. This chromoplast-specific post-transcriptional mechanism was disclosed in transgenic fruits of HU hybrid owing to the abnormal production of zeaxanthin and antheraxanthin, the more probable precursors of the apocarotenoid signal. A model describing the regulation of carotenoid pathway in tomato chromoplasts is presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caterina D'Ambrosio
- Centro Ricerche Metapontum Agrobios, Agenzia Lucana di Sviluppo e di Innovazione in Agricoltura (ALSIA), Metaponto, MT, Italy
| | - Adriana Lucia Stigliani
- Centro Ricerche Metapontum Agrobios, Agenzia Lucana di Sviluppo e di Innovazione in Agricoltura (ALSIA), Metaponto, MT, Italy
| | - José L Rambla
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas (UPV-CSIC), Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, 46022 Valencia, Spain; Universitat Jaume I., Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Ciencias Naturales, Avda Sos Baynat s/n, 12071 Castellón de la Plana, Spain
| | - Sarah Frusciante
- Italian National Agency for New Technologies Energy and Sustainable Development (ENEA), Casaccia Research Centre, Rome, Italy
| | - Gianfranco Diretto
- Italian National Agency for New Technologies Energy and Sustainable Development (ENEA), Casaccia Research Centre, Rome, Italy
| | - Eugenia M A Enfissi
- School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London (RHUL), Egham, Surrey, UK
| | - Antonio Granell
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas (UPV-CSIC), Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, 46022 Valencia, Spain
| | - Paul D Fraser
- School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London (RHUL), Egham, Surrey, UK
| | - Giovanni Giorio
- Centro Ricerche Metapontum Agrobios, Agenzia Lucana di Sviluppo e di Innovazione in Agricoltura (ALSIA), Metaponto, MT, Italy.
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Morote L, Lobato-Gómez M, Ahrazem O, Argandoña J, Olmedilla-Alonso B, López-Jiménez AJ, Diretto G, Cuciniello R, Bergamo P, Frusciante S, Niza E, Rubio-Moraga Á, Crispi S, Granell A, Gómez-Gómez L. Crocins-rich tomato extracts showed enhanced protective effects in vitro. J Funct Foods 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jff.2023.105432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
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8
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Demurtas OC, Nicolia A, Diretto G. Terpenoid Transport in Plants: How Far from the Final Picture? PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:634. [PMID: 36771716 PMCID: PMC9919377 DOI: 10.3390/plants12030634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Contrary to the biosynthetic pathways of many terpenoids, which are well characterized and elucidated, their transport inside subcellular compartments and the secretion of reaction intermediates and final products at the short- (cell-to-cell), medium- (tissue-to-tissue), and long-distance (organ-to-organ) levels are still poorly understood, with some limited exceptions. In this review, we aim to describe the state of the art of the transport of several terpene classes that have important physiological and ecological roles or that represent high-value bioactive molecules. Among the tens of thousands of terpenoids identified in the plant kingdom, only less than 20 have been characterized from the point of view of their transport and localization. Most terpenoids are secreted in the apoplast or stored in the vacuoles by the action of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters. However, little information is available regarding the movement of terpenoid biosynthetic intermediates from plastids and the endoplasmic reticulum to the cytosol. Through a description of the transport mechanisms of cytosol- or plastid-synthesized terpenes, we attempt to provide some hypotheses, suggestions, and general schemes about the trafficking of different substrates, intermediates, and final products, which might help develop novel strategies and approaches to allow for the future identification of terpenoid transporters that are still uncharacterized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia Costantina Demurtas
- Biotechnology and Agro-Industry Division, Biotechnology Laboratory, Casaccia Research Center, ENEA—Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, 00123 Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandro Nicolia
- Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Vegetable and Ornamental Crops, via Cavalleggeri 25, 84098 Pontecagnano Faiano, Italy
| | - Gianfranco Diretto
- Biotechnology and Agro-Industry Division, Biotechnology Laboratory, Casaccia Research Center, ENEA—Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, 00123 Rome, Italy
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9
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Gómez Gómez L, Morote L, Frusciante S, Rambla JL, Diretto G, Niza E, López-Jimenez AJ, Mondejar M, Rubio-Moraga Á, Argandoña J, Presa S, Martín-Belmonte A, Luján R, Granell A, Ahrazem O. Fortification and bioaccessibility of saffron apocarotenoids in potato tubers. Front Nutr 2022; 9:1045979. [DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2022.1045979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Carotenoids are C40 isoprenoids with well-established roles in photosynthesis, pollination, photoprotection, and hormone biosynthesis. The enzymatic or ROS-induced cleavage of carotenoids generates a group of compounds named apocarotenoids, with an increasing interest by virtue of their metabolic, physiological, and ecological activities. Both classes are used industrially in a variety of fields as colorants, supplements, and bio-actives. Crocins and picrocrocin, two saffron apocarotenoids, are examples of high-value pigments utilized in the food, feed, and pharmaceutical industries. In this study, a unique construct was achieved, namely O6, which contains CsCCD2L, UGT74AD1, and UGT709G1 genes responsible for the biosynthesis of saffron apocarotenoids driven by a patatin promoter for the generation of potato tubers producing crocins and picrocrocin. Different tuber potatoes accumulated crocins and picrocrocin ranging from 19.41–360 to 105–800 μg/g DW, respectively, with crocetin, crocin 1 [(crocetin-(β-D-glucosyl)-ester)] and crocin 2 [(crocetin)-(β-D-glucosyl)-(β-D-glucosyl)-ester)] being the main compounds detected. The pattern of carotenoids and apocarotenoids were distinct between wild type and transgenic tubers and were related to changes in the expression of the pathway genes, especially from PSY2, CCD1, and CCD4. In addition, the engineered tubers showed higher antioxidant capacity, up to almost 4-fold more than the wild type, which is a promising sign for the potential health advantages of these lines. In order to better investigate these aspects, different cooking methods were applied, and each process displayed a significant impact on the retention of apocarotenoids. More in detail, the in vitro bioaccessibility of these metabolites was found to be higher in boiled potatoes (97.23%) compared to raw, baked, and fried ones (80.97, 78.96, and 76.18%, respectively). Overall, this work shows that potatoes can be engineered to accumulate saffron apocarotenoids that, when consumed, can potentially offer better health benefits. Moreover, the high bioaccessibility of these compounds revealed that potato is an excellent way to deliver crocins and picrocrocin, while also helping to improve its nutritional value.
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Huang X, Morote L, Zhu C, Ahrazem O, Capell T, Christou P, Gómez-Gómez L. The Biosynthesis of Non-Endogenous Apocarotenoids in Transgenic Nicotiana glauca. Metabolites 2022; 12:575. [PMID: 35888700 PMCID: PMC9317256 DOI: 10.3390/metabo12070575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2022] [Revised: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Crocins are high-value compounds with industrial and food applications. Saffron is currently the main source of these soluble pigments, but its high market price hinders its use by sectors, such as pharmaceutics. Enzymes involved in the production of these compounds have been identified in saffron, Buddleja, and gardenia. In this study, the enzyme from Buddleja, BdCCD4.1, was constitutively expressed in Nicotiana glauca, a tobacco species with carotenoid-pigmented petals. The transgenic lines produced significant levels of crocins in their leaves and petals. However, the accumulation of crocins was, in general, higher in the leaves than in the petals, reaching almost 302 µg/g DW. The production of crocins was associated with decreased levels of endogenous carotenoids, mainly β-carotene. The stability of crocins in leaf and petal tissues was evaluated after three years of storage, showing an average reduction of 58.06 ± 2.20% in the petals, and 78.37 ± 5.08% in the leaves. This study illustrates the use of BdCCD4.1 as an effective tool for crocin production in N. glauca and how the tissue has an important impact on the stability of produced high-value metabolites during storage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Huang
- Department of Plant Production and Forestry Science, University of Lleida-Agrotecnio CERCA Center, Av. Alcalde Rovira Roure, 191, 25198 Lleida, Spain; (X.H.); (T.C.); (P.C.)
| | - Lucía Morote
- Department of Science and Agroforestal Technology and Genetics, Botanical Institut, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Campus Universitario s/n, 02071 Albacete, Spain; (L.M.); (O.A.)
| | - Changfu Zhu
- Department of Plant Production and Forestry Science, University of Lleida-Agrotecnio CERCA Center, Av. Alcalde Rovira Roure, 191, 25198 Lleida, Spain; (X.H.); (T.C.); (P.C.)
- School of Life Sciences, Changchun Normal University, Changchun 130032, China
| | - Oussama Ahrazem
- Department of Science and Agroforestal Technology and Genetics, Botanical Institut, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Campus Universitario s/n, 02071 Albacete, Spain; (L.M.); (O.A.)
| | - Teresa Capell
- Department of Plant Production and Forestry Science, University of Lleida-Agrotecnio CERCA Center, Av. Alcalde Rovira Roure, 191, 25198 Lleida, Spain; (X.H.); (T.C.); (P.C.)
- ICREA, Catalan Institute for Research and Advanced Studies, Passeig Lluís Companys 23, 08010 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Paul Christou
- Department of Plant Production and Forestry Science, University of Lleida-Agrotecnio CERCA Center, Av. Alcalde Rovira Roure, 191, 25198 Lleida, Spain; (X.H.); (T.C.); (P.C.)
- ICREA, Catalan Institute for Research and Advanced Studies, Passeig Lluís Companys 23, 08010 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Lourdes Gómez-Gómez
- Department of Science and Agroforestal Technology and Genetics, Botanical Institut, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Campus Universitario s/n, 02071 Albacete, Spain; (L.M.); (O.A.)
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Ahrazem O, Zhu C, Huang X, Rubio-Moraga A, Capell T, Christou P, Gómez-Gómez L. Metabolic Engineering of Crocin Biosynthesis in Nicotiana Species. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:861140. [PMID: 35350302 PMCID: PMC8957871 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.861140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Crocins are high-value soluble pigments that are used as colorants and supplements, their presence in nature is extremely limited and, consequently, the high cost of these metabolites hinders their use by other sectors, such as the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. The carotenoid cleavage dioxygenase 2L (CsCCD2L) is the key enzyme in the biosynthetic pathway of crocins in Crocus sativus. In this study, CsCCD2L was introduced into Nicotiana tabacum and Nicotiana glauca for the production of crocins. In addition, a chimeric construct containing the Brevundimonas sp. β-carotene hydroxylase (BrCrtZ), the Arabidopsis thaliana ORANGE mutant gene (AtOrMut), and CsCCD2L was also introduced into N. tabacum. Quantitative and qualitative studies on carotenoids and apocarotenoids in the transgenic plants expressing CsCCD2L alone showed higher crocin level accumulation in N. glauca transgenic plants, reaching almost 400 μg/g DW in leaves, while in N. tabacum 36 μg/g DW was obtained. In contrast, N. tabacum plants coexpressing CsCCD2L, BrCrtZ, and AtOrMut accumulated, 3.5-fold compared to N. tabacum plants only expressing CsCCD2L. Crocins with three and four sugar molecules were the main molecular species in both host systems. Our results demonstrate that the production of saffron apocarotenoids is feasible in engineered Nicotiana species and establishes a basis for the development of strategies that may ultimately lead to the commercial exploitation of these valuable pigments for multiple applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oussama Ahrazem
- Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnología Agroforestal y Genética, Instituto Botánico, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Campus Universitario, Albacete, Spain
| | - Changfu Zhu
- Department of Plant Production and Forestry Science, University of Lleida-Agrotecnio Centre de Recerca en Agrotecnologia (CERCA) Center, Lleida, Spain
- School of Life Sciences, Changchun Normal University, Changchun, China
| | - Xin Huang
- Department of Plant Production and Forestry Science, University of Lleida-Agrotecnio Centre de Recerca en Agrotecnologia (CERCA) Center, Lleida, Spain
| | - Angela Rubio-Moraga
- Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnología Agroforestal y Genética, Instituto Botánico, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Campus Universitario, Albacete, Spain
| | - Teresa Capell
- Department of Plant Production and Forestry Science, University of Lleida-Agrotecnio Centre de Recerca en Agrotecnologia (CERCA) Center, Lleida, Spain
| | - Paul Christou
- Department of Plant Production and Forestry Science, University of Lleida-Agrotecnio Centre de Recerca en Agrotecnologia (CERCA) Center, Lleida, Spain
- Catalan Institute for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA), Catalan Institute for Research and Advanced Studies, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Lourdes Gómez-Gómez
- Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnología Agroforestal y Genética, Instituto Botánico, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Campus Universitario, Albacete, Spain
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A New Glycosyltransferase Enzyme from Family 91, UGT91P3, Is Responsible for the Final Glucosylation Step of Crocins in Saffron ( Crocus sativus L.). Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22168815. [PMID: 34445522 PMCID: PMC8396231 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22168815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Revised: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Crocetin is an apocarotenoid formed from the oxidative cleavage of zeaxanthin, by the carotenoid cleavage enzymes CCD2 (in Crocus species) and specific CCD4 enzymes in Buddleja davidii and Gardenia jasminoides. Crocetin accumulates in the stigma of saffron in the form of glucosides and crocins, which contain one to five glucose molecules. Crocetin glycosylation was hypothesized to involve at least two enzymes from superfamily 1 UDP-sugar dependent glycosyltransferases. One of them, UGT74AD1, produces crocins with one and two glucose molecules, which are substrates for a second UGT, which could belong to the UGT79, 91, or 94 families. An in silico search of Crocus transcriptomes revealed six candidate UGT genes from family 91. The transcript profiles of one of them, UGT91P3, matched the metabolite profile of crocin accumulation, and were co-expressed with UGT74AD1. In addition, both UGTs interact in a two-hybrid assay. Recombinant UGT91P3 produced mostly crocins with four and five glucose molecules in vitro, and in a combined transient expression assay with CCD2 and UGT74AD1 enzymes in Nicotiana benthamiana. These results suggest a role of UGT91P3 in the biosynthesis of highly glucosylated crocins in saffron, and that it represents the last missing gene in crocins biosynthesis.
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