1
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Chavez BG, Leite Dias S, D'Auria JC. The evolution of tropane alkaloids: Coca does it differently. CURRENT OPINION IN PLANT BIOLOGY 2024; 81:102606. [PMID: 39067083 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbi.2024.102606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2024] [Revised: 07/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
It is undeniable that tropane alkaloids (TAs) have been both beneficial and detrimental to human health in the modern era. Understanding their biosynthesis is vital for using synthetic biology to engineer organisms for pharmaceutical production. The most parsimonious approaches to pathway elucidation are traditionally homology-based methods. However, this approach has largely failed for TA biosynthesis in angiosperms. In the recent decade, significant progress has been made in elucidating the TA synthesis pathway in Erythroxylum coca, highlighting the parallel development of TAs in both the Solanaceae and Erythroxylaceae families. This separate evolutionary path has uncovered substantial divergence in the TAs formed by E. coca and distinct enzymatic reactions that differ from the traditional TA biosynthetic pathway found in TA-producing nightshade plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Gabriel Chavez
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK Gatersleben), Seeland 06466, Germany
| | - Sara Leite Dias
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK Gatersleben), Seeland 06466, Germany
| | - John Charles D'Auria
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK Gatersleben), Seeland 06466, Germany.
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2
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D'Auria JC, Fernie AR. The BAHD and the bold: the mitochondria's role in alkaloid artistry. TRENDS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2024:S1360-1385(24)00204-8. [PMID: 39089907 DOI: 10.1016/j.tplants.2024.07.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2024] [Revised: 07/24/2024] [Accepted: 07/25/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024]
Abstract
In a recent study, Zeng et al. uncovered 3β-tigloyloxytropane synthase (TS) in Atropa belladonna, characterizing its mitochondrial localization and substrate specificity. The discovery of this enzyme opens up new bioengineering possibilities for tropane alkaloids (TAs), enhancing the potential for sustainable agriculture and expanding our knowledge of TA biosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- John C D'Auria
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Corrensstr. 3, 06466 Seeland, OT Gatersleben, Germany.
| | - Alisdair R Fernie
- Department of Root Biology and Symbiosis, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476 Potsdam, OT Golm, Germany
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3
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Simpson JP, Kim CY, Kaur A, Weng JK, Dilkes B, Chapple C. Genome-wide association identifies a BAHD acyltransferase activity that assembles an ester of glucuronosylglycerol and phenylacetic acid. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2024; 118:2169-2187. [PMID: 38558472 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.16737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Revised: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) are an effective approach to identify new specialized metabolites and the genes involved in their biosynthesis and regulation. In this study, GWAS of Arabidopsis thaliana soluble leaf and stem metabolites identified alleles of an uncharacterized BAHD-family acyltransferase (AT5G57840) associated with natural variation in three structurally related metabolites. These metabolites were esters of glucuronosylglycerol, with one metabolite containing phenylacetic acid as the acyl component of the ester. Knockout and overexpression of AT5G57840 in Arabidopsis and heterologous overexpression in Nicotiana benthamiana and Escherichia coli demonstrated that it is capable of utilizing phenylacetyl-CoA as an acyl donor and glucuronosylglycerol as an acyl acceptor. We, thus, named the protein Glucuronosylglycerol Ester Synthase (GGES). Additionally, phenylacetyl glucuronosylglycerol increased in Arabidopsis CYP79A2 mutants that overproduce phenylacetic acid and was lost in knockout mutants of UDP-sulfoquinovosyl: diacylglycerol sulfoquinovosyl transferase, an enzyme required for glucuronosylglycerol biosynthesis and associated with glycerolipid metabolism under phosphate-starvation stress. GGES is a member of a well-supported clade of BAHD family acyltransferases that arose by duplication and neofunctionalized during the evolution of the Brassicales within a larger clade that includes HCT as well as enzymes that synthesize other plant-specialized metabolites. Together, this work extends our understanding of the catalytic diversity of BAHD acyltransferases and uncovers a pathway that involves contributions from both phenylalanine and lipid metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey P Simpson
- Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, 47907, USA
- Purdue Center for Plant Biology, West Lafayette, Indiana, 47907, USA
| | - Colin Y Kim
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02142, USA
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02139, USA
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02138, USA
| | - Amanpreet Kaur
- Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, 47907, USA
- Purdue Center for Plant Biology, West Lafayette, Indiana, 47907, USA
| | - Jing-Ke Weng
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02142, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology & Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, 02120, USA
- Institute for Plant-Human Interface, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, 02120, USA
| | - Brian Dilkes
- Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, 47907, USA
- Purdue Center for Plant Biology, West Lafayette, Indiana, 47907, USA
| | - Clint Chapple
- Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, 47907, USA
- Purdue Center for Plant Biology, West Lafayette, Indiana, 47907, USA
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4
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Zeng J, Liu X, Dong Z, Zhang F, Qiu F, Zhong M, Zhao T, Yang C, Zeng L, Lan X, Zhang H, Zhou J, Chen M, Tang K, Liao Z. Discovering a mitochondrion-localized BAHD acyltransferase involved in calystegine biosynthesis and engineering the production of 3β-tigloyloxytropane. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3623. [PMID: 38684703 PMCID: PMC11058270 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47968-0] [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: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Solanaceous plants produce tropane alkaloids (TAs) via esterification of 3α- and 3β-tropanol. Although littorine synthase is revealed to be responsible for 3α-tropanol esterification that leads to hyoscyamine biosynthesis, the genes associated with 3β-tropanol esterification are unknown. Here, we report that a BAHD acyltransferase from Atropa belladonna, 3β-tigloyloxytropane synthase (TS), catalyzes 3β-tropanol and tigloyl-CoA to form 3β-tigloyloxytropane, the key intermediate in calystegine biosynthesis and a potential drug for treating neurodegenerative disease. Unlike other cytosolic-localized BAHD acyltransferases, TS is localized to mitochondria. The catalytic mechanism of TS is revealed through molecular docking and site-directed mutagenesis. Subsequently, 3β-tigloyloxytropane is synthesized in tobacco. A bacterial CoA ligase (PcICS) is found to synthesize tigloyl-CoA, an acyl donor for 3β-tigloyloxytropane biosynthesis. By expressing TS mutant and PcICS, engineered Escherichia coli synthesizes 3β-tigloyloxytropane from tiglic acid and 3β-tropanol. This study helps to characterize the enzymology and chemodiversity of TAs and provides an approach for producing 3β-tigloyloxytropane.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junlan Zeng
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, SWU-TAAHC Medicinal Plant Joint R&D Centre, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Xiaoqiang Liu
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, SWU-TAAHC Medicinal Plant Joint R&D Centre, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Zhaoyue Dong
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Fangyuan Zhang
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, SWU-TAAHC Medicinal Plant Joint R&D Centre, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Fei Qiu
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, SWU-TAAHC Medicinal Plant Joint R&D Centre, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Mingyu Zhong
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, SWU-TAAHC Medicinal Plant Joint R&D Centre, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Tengfei Zhao
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, SWU-TAAHC Medicinal Plant Joint R&D Centre, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Chunxian Yang
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, SWU-TAAHC Medicinal Plant Joint R&D Centre, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Lingjiang Zeng
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, SWU-TAAHC Medicinal Plant Joint R&D Centre, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Xiaozhong Lan
- TAAHC-SWU Medicinal Plant Joint R&D Centre, The Provincial and Ministerial Co-founded Collaborative Innovation Center for R&D in Xizang Characteristic Agricultural and Animal Husbandry Resources, Xizang Agricultural and Animal Husbandry College, Nyingchi, 860000, China
| | - Hongbo Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Tobacco Research Institute of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Qingdao, 266101, China
| | - Junhui Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China
| | - Min Chen
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Kexuan Tang
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, SWU-TAAHC Medicinal Plant Joint R&D Centre, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
- Fudan-SJTU-Nottingham Plant Biotechnology R&D Center, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Zhihua Liao
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (CHONGQING) Science City, State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, SWU-TAAHC Medicinal Plant Joint R&D Centre, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China.
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5
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Zamar DL, Papon N, Courdavault V. The Evolutionary Pattern of Cocaine and Hyoscyamine Biosynthesis Provides Strategies To Produce Tropane Alkaloids. Chembiochem 2023; 24:e202300234. [PMID: 37249120 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202300234] [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: 03/24/2023] [Revised: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Cocaine and hyoscyamine are two tropane alkaloids (TA) from Erythroxylaceae and Solanaceae, respectively. These famous compounds possess anticholinergic properties that can be used to treat neuromuscular disorders. While the hyoscyamine biosynthetic pathway has been fully elucidated allowing its de novo synthesis in yeast, the cocaine pathway remained only partially elucidated. Recently, the Huang research group has completed the cocaine biosynthetic route by characterizing its two missing enzymes. This allowed the whole pathway to be transferring into Nicotiana benthamiana to achieve cocaine production. Here, besides highlighting the impact of this discovery, we discuss how TA biosynthesis evolved via the recruitment of two distinct and convergent pathways in Erythroxylaceae and Solanaceae. Finally, while enriching our knowledge on TA biosynthesis, this diversification of the molecular actors involved in cocaine and hyoscyamine biosynthesis opens perspectives in metabolic engineering by exploring enzyme biochemical plasticity that can ease and shorten TA pathway reconstitution in heterologous organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Duchesse-Lacours Zamar
- Université de Tours, Faculté de Pharmacie, EA2106 Biomolécules et Biotechnologies Végétales, 31, Avenue Monge, 37200, Tours, France
| | - Nicolas Papon
- Université d'Angers, Fungal Respiratory Infections Research Unit, University Hospital of Angers, 4 rue de Larrey, 49933, Angers Cedex 09, France
| | - Vincent Courdavault
- Université de Tours, Faculté de Pharmacie, EA2106 Biomolécules et Biotechnologies Végétales, 31, Avenue Monge, 37200, Tours, France
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6
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Wang YJ, Tain T, Yu JY, Li J, Xu B, Chen J, D’Auria J, Huang JP, Huang SX. Genomic and structural basis for evolution of tropane alkaloid biosynthesis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2302448120. [PMID: 37068250 PMCID: PMC10151470 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2302448120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 04/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The tropane alkaloids (TAs) cocaine and hyoscyamine have been used medicinally for thousands of years. To understand the evolutionary origins and trajectories of serial biosynthetic enzymes of TAs and especially the characteristic tropane skeletons, we generated the chromosome-level genome assemblies of cocaine-producing Erythroxylum novogranatense (Erythroxylaceae, rosids clade) and hyoscyamine-producing Anisodus acutangulus (Solanaceae, asterids clade). Comparative genomic and phylogenetic analysis suggested that the lack of spermidine synthase/N-methyltransferase (EnSPMT1) in ancestral asterids species contributed to the divergence of polyamine (spermidine or putrescine) methylation in cocaine and hyoscyamine biosynthesis. Molecular docking analysis and key site mutation experiments suggested that ecgonone synthases CYP81AN15 and CYP82M3 adopt different active-site architectures to biosynthesize the same product ecgonone from the same substrate in Erythroxylaceae and Solanaceae. Further synteny analysis showed different evolutionary origins and trajectories of CYP81AN15 and CYP82M3, particularly the emergence of CYP81AN15 through the neofunctionalization of ancient tandem duplication genes. The combination of structural biology and comparative genomic analysis revealed that ecgonone methyltransferase, which is responsible for the biosynthesis of characteristic 2-substituted carboxymethyl group in cocaine, evolved from the tandem copies of salicylic acid methyltransferase by the mutations of critical E216 and S153 residues. Overall, we provided strong evidence for the independent origins of serial TA biosynthetic enzymes on the genomic and structural level, underlying the chemotypic convergence of TAs in phylogenetically distant species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong-Jiang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China and Yunnan Key Laboratory of Natural Medicinal Chemistry, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming650201, China
| | - Tian Tain
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China and Yunnan Key Laboratory of Natural Medicinal Chemistry, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming650201, China
- University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing100049, China
| | - Jia-Yi Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China and Yunnan Key Laboratory of Natural Medicinal Chemistry, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming650201, China
- University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing100049, China
| | - Jie Li
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China and Yunnan Key Laboratory of Natural Medicinal Chemistry, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming650201, China
- University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing100049, China
| | - Bingyan Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China and Yunnan Key Laboratory of Natural Medicinal Chemistry, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming650201, China
- University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing100049, China
| | - Jianghua Chen
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Plant Resources and Sustainable Use, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming650223, China
| | - John C. D’Auria
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Leibniz Institute for Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research Ortsteil Gatersleben, SeelandD-06466, Germany
| | - Jian-Ping Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China and Yunnan Key Laboratory of Natural Medicinal Chemistry, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming650201, China
| | - Sheng-Xiong Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China and Yunnan Key Laboratory of Natural Medicinal Chemistry, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming650201, China
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7
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Understanding how plants produce cocaine. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2218838120. [PMID: 36574687 PMCID: PMC9910477 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2218838120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
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8
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Wang YJ, Huang JP, Tian T, Yan Y, Chen Y, Yang J, Chen J, Gu YC, Huang SX. Discovery and Engineering of the Cocaine Biosynthetic Pathway. J Am Chem Soc 2022; 144:22000-22007. [PMID: 36376019 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c09091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Cocaine, the archetypal tropane alkaloid from the plant genus Erythroxylum, has recently been used clinically as a topical anesthesia of the mucous membranes. Despite this, the key biosynthetic step of the requisite tropane skeleton (methylecgonone) from the identified intermediate 4-(1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinyl)-3-oxobutanoic acid (MPOA) has remained, until this point, unknown. Herein, we identify two missing enzymes (EnCYP81AN15 and EnMT4) necessary for the biosynthesis of the tropane skeleton in cocaine by transient expression of the candidate genes in Nicotiana benthamiana. Cytochrome P450 EnCYP81AN15 was observed to selectively mediate the oxidative cyclization of S-MPOA to yield the unstable intermediate ecgonone, which was then methylated to form optically active methylecgonone by methyltransferase EnMT4 in Erythroxylum novogranatense. The establishment of this pathway corrects the long-standing (but incorrect) biosynthetic hypothesis of MPOA methylation first and oxidative cyclization second. Notably, the de novo reconstruction of cocaine was realized in N. benthamiana with the two newly identified genes, as well as four already known ones. This study not only reports a near-complete biosynthetic pathway of cocaine and provides new insights into the metabolic networks of tropane alkaloids (cocaine and hyoscyamine) in plants but also enables the heterologous synthesis of tropane alkaloids in other (micro)organisms, entailing significant implications for pharmaceutical production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong-Jiang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, and CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jian-Ping Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, and CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, China.,State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Innovative Institute of Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China
| | - Tian Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, and CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yijun Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, and CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, China
| | - Yin Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, and CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jing Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, and CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, China
| | - Jianghua Chen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Plant Resources and Sustainable Use, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China
| | - Yu-Cheng Gu
- Syngenta Jealott's Hill International Research Centre, Bracknell, Berkshire RG42 6EY, U.K
| | - Sheng-Xiong Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, and CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, China
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9
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Elucidation of tropane alkaloid biosynthesis in Erythroxylum coca using a microbial pathway discovery platform. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2215372119. [PMID: 36442128 PMCID: PMC9894180 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2215372119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Tropane alkaloids (TAs) are heterocyclic nitrogenous metabolites found across seven orders of angiosperms, including Malpighiales (Erythroxylaceae) and Solanales (Solanaceae). Despite the well-established euphorigenic properties of Erythroxylaceae TAs like cocaine, their biosynthetic pathway remains incomplete. Using yeast as a screening platform, we identified and characterized the missing steps of TA biosynthesis in Erythroxylum coca. We first characterize putative E. coca polyamine synthase- and amine oxidase-like enzymes in vitro, in yeast, and in planta to show that the first tropane ring closure in Erythroxylaceae occurs via bifunctional spermidine synthase/N-methyltransferases and both flavin- and copper-dependent amine oxidases. We next identify a SABATH family methyltransferase responsible for the 2-carbomethoxy moiety characteristic of Erythroxylaceae TAs and demonstrate that its coexpression with methylecgonone reductase in yeast engineered to express the Solanaceae TA pathway enables the production of a hybrid TA with structural features of both lineages. Finally, we use clustering analysis of Erythroxylum transcriptome datasets to discover a cytochrome P450 of the CYP81A family responsible for the second tropane ring closure in Erythroxylaceae, and demonstrate the function of the core coca TA pathway in vivo via reconstruction and de novo biosynthesis of methylecgonine in yeast. Collectively, our results provide strong evidence that TA biosynthesis in Erythroxylaceae and Solanaceae is polyphyletic and that independent recruitment of unique biosynthetic mechanisms and enzyme classes occurred at nearly every step in the evolution of this pathway.
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10
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Tian T, Wang YJ, Huang JP, Li J, Xu B, Chen Y, Wang L, Yang J, Yan Y, Huang SX. Catalytic innovation underlies independent recruitment of polyketide synthases in cocaine and hyoscyamine biosynthesis. Nat Commun 2022; 13:4994. [PMID: 36008484 PMCID: PMC9411544 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32776-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Tropane alkaloids such as hyoscyamine and cocaine are of importance in medicinal uses. Only recently has the hyoscyamine biosynthetic machinery become complete. However, the cocaine biosynthesis pathway remains only partially elucidated. Here we characterize polyketide synthases required for generating 3-oxo-glutaric acid from malonyl-CoA in cocaine biosynthetic route. Structural analysis shows that these two polyketide synthases adopt distinctly different active site architecture to catalyze the same reaction as pyrrolidine ketide synthase in hyoscyamine biosynthesis, revealing an unusual parallel/convergent evolution of biochemical function in homologous enzymes. Further phylogenetic analysis suggests lineage-specific acquisition of polyketide synthases required for tropane alkaloid biosynthesis in Erythroxylaceae and Solanaceae species, respectively. Overall, our work elucidates not only a key unknown step in cocaine biosynthesis pathway but also, more importantly, structural and biochemical basis for independent recruitment of polyketide synthases in tropane alkaloid biosynthesis, thus broadening the understanding of conservation and innovation of biosynthetic catalysts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tian Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, and CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, 710119, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yong-Jiang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, and CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Jian-Ping Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, and CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Innovative Institute of Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Jie Li
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, and CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Bingyan Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, and CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yin Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, and CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Li Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Innovative Institute of Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Jing Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, and CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China
| | - Yijun Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, and CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China
| | - Sheng-Xiong Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, and CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China.
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11
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Fiesel PD, Parks HM, Last RL, Barry CS. Fruity, sticky, stinky, spicy, bitter, addictive, and deadly: evolutionary signatures of metabolic complexity in the Solanaceae. Nat Prod Rep 2022; 39:1438-1464. [PMID: 35332352 PMCID: PMC9308699 DOI: 10.1039/d2np00003b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Covering: 2000-2022Plants collectively synthesize a huge repertoire of metabolites. General metabolites, also referred to as primary metabolites, are conserved across the plant kingdom and are required for processes essential to growth and development. These include amino acids, sugars, lipids, and organic acids. In contrast, specialized metabolites, historically termed secondary metabolites, are structurally diverse, exhibit lineage-specific distribution and provide selective advantage to host species to facilitate reproduction and environmental adaptation. Due to their potent bioactivities, plant specialized metabolites attract considerable attention for use as flavorings, fragrances, pharmaceuticals, and bio-pesticides. The Solanaceae (Nightshade family) consists of approximately 2700 species and includes crops of significant economic, cultural, and scientific importance: these include potato, tomato, pepper, eggplant, tobacco, and petunia. The Solanaceae has emerged as a model family for studying the biochemical evolution of plant specialized metabolism and multiple examples exist of lineage-specific metabolites that influence the senses and physiology of commensal and harmful organisms, including humans. These include, alcohols, phenylpropanoids, and carotenoids that contribute to fruit aroma and color in tomato (fruity), glandular trichome-derived terpenoids and acylsugars that contribute to plant defense (stinky & sticky, respectively), capsaicinoids in chilli-peppers that influence seed dispersal (spicy), and steroidal glycoalkaloids (bitter) from Solanum, nicotine (addictive) from tobacco, as well as tropane alkaloids (deadly) from Deadly Nightshade that deter herbivory. Advances in genomics and metabolomics, coupled with the adoption of comparative phylogenetic approaches, resulted in deeper knowledge of the biosynthesis and evolution of these metabolites. This review highlights recent progress in this area and outlines opportunities for - and challenges of-developing a more comprehensive understanding of Solanaceae metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul D Fiesel
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Hannah M Parks
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Robert L Last
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
- Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Cornelius S Barry
- Department of Horticulture, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.
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12
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Muratovska N, Silva P, Pozdniakova T, Pereira H, Grey C, Johansson B, Carlquist M. Towards engineered yeast as production platform for capsaicinoids. Biotechnol Adv 2022; 59:107989. [PMID: 35623491 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2022.107989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Revised: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Capsaicinoids are bioactive alkaloids produced by the chili pepper fruit and are known to be the most potent agonists of the human pain receptor TRPV1 (Transient Receptor Potential Cation Channel Subfamily V Member 1). They are currently produced by extraction from chili pepper fruit or by chemical synthesis. Transfer of the biosynthetic route to a microbial host could enable more efficient capsaicinoid production by fermentation and may also enable the use of synthetic biology to create a diversity of new compounds with potentially improved properties. This review summarises the current state of the art on the biosynthesis of capsaicinoid precursors in baker's yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and discusses bioengineering strategies for achieving total synthesis from sugar.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Muratovska
- Division of Applied Microbiology, Lund University, Box 124, 221 00 Lund, Sweden
| | - Paulo Silva
- CBMA - Center of Molecular and Environmental Biology Engineering, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Braga 4710-057, Portugal
| | - Tatiana Pozdniakova
- CBMA - Center of Molecular and Environmental Biology Engineering, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Braga 4710-057, Portugal
| | - Humberto Pereira
- CBMA - Center of Molecular and Environmental Biology Engineering, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Braga 4710-057, Portugal
| | - Carl Grey
- Division of Biotechnology, Lund University, Box 118, SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden
| | - Björn Johansson
- CBMA - Center of Molecular and Environmental Biology Engineering, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Braga 4710-057, Portugal.
| | - Magnus Carlquist
- Division of Applied Microbiology, Lund University, Box 124, 221 00 Lund, Sweden.
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13
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Lv Y, Tian T, Wang YJ, Huang JP, Huang SX. Advances in chemistry and bioactivity of the genus Erythroxylum. NATURAL PRODUCTS AND BIOPROSPECTING 2022; 12:15. [PMID: 35426005 PMCID: PMC9010490 DOI: 10.1007/s13659-022-00338-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Erythroxylum P. Browne is the largest and most representative genus of Erythroxylaceae family. It contains approximately 230 species that are mainly distributed in tropical and subtropical regions. Some species in this genus, such as E. monogynum and E. coca, have been used as folk medicines in India or South America for a long history. It is well known that Erythroxylum plants are rich in tropane alkaloids, and the representative member cocaine shows remarkable activity in human central nervous system. However, many other types of active compounds have also been found in Erythroxylum along with the broadening and deepening of phytochemical research. To date, a total of 383 compounds from Erythroxylum have been reported, among which only 186 tropane alkaloids have been reviewed in 2010. In this review, we summarized all remained 197 compounds characterized from 53 Erythroxylum species from 1960 to 2021, which include diterpenes, triterpenes, alkaloids, flavonoids, and other derivates, providing a comprehensive overview of phytoconstituents profile of Erythroxylum plants. In addition, the biological activities of representative phytochemicals and crude extracts were also highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yulian Lv
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Tian Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yong-Jiang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Jian-Ping Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Innovative Institute of Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Sheng-Xiong Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China.
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14
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Watkins JL, Facchini PJ. Compartmentalization at the interface of primary and alkaloid metabolism. CURRENT OPINION IN PLANT BIOLOGY 2022; 66:102186. [PMID: 35219143 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbi.2022.102186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2021] [Revised: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Plants produce many compounds used by humans as medicines, including alkaloids of the benzylisoquinoline (BIA), monoterpene indole (MIA) and tropane classes. The biosynthetic pathways of these pharmaceutical alkaloids are complex and spatially segregated across several tissues, cell-types and organelles. This review discusses the origin of primary metabolic inputs required by these specialized biosynthetic pathways and considers aspects relevant to their spatial organization. These factors are important for alkaloid production both in the native plants and for synthetic biology pathway reconstruction in microorganisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacinta L Watkins
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Peter J Facchini
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada.
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15
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Sullivan ML. Near-real time determination of BAHD acyl-coenzyme A transferase reaction rates and kinetic parameters using Ellman's reagent. Methods Enzymol 2022; 683:19-39. [PMID: 37087187 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2022.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
BAHD acyl-coenzyme A (CoA) acyltransferases play key roles in a large number of biosynthetic reactions involved in plant specialized metabolism. One approach to measure reaction rates for these enzymes is to quantify the amide or ester reaction products following chromatographic separation of reaction components, an approach that can be labor intensive and time consuming, and complicated by a lack of pure standards. We previously developed and validated an alternative approach using 5,5'-dithio-bis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB, Ellman's reagent) to spectrophotometrically monitor reaction progress by the release of free CoA in the reaction. This approach allows near-real time measurement of reaction rates, permitting reaction conditions (buffer, reactant, and enzyme concentrations, etc.) to be changed "on the fly." The ease and rapidity of data collection allows a high density of data points to be collected for determination of kinetic parameters. Here we provide a detailed procedure for using DTNB to measure BAHD acyl-CoA acyltransferase reaction rates, and as an example, use it to determine kinetic parameters for red clover hydroxycinnamoyl-CoA:shikimate hydroxycinnamoyltransferase, a BAHD acyl-CoA hydroxycinnamoyltransferase not previously characterized with respect to kinetic parameters. This approach may be more generally applicable to transferases using CoA donors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael L Sullivan
- US Dairy Forage Research Center, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Madison, WI, United States.
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16
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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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17
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Sullivan ML, Knollenberg BJ. Red Clover HDT, a BAHD Hydroxycinnamoyl-Coenzyme A:L-3,4-Dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) Hydroxycinnamoyl Transferase That Synthesizes Clovamide and Other N-Hydroxycinnamoyl-Aromatic Amino Acid Amides. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:727461. [PMID: 34868112 PMCID: PMC8641662 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.727461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Red clover leaves accumulate high levels (up to 1 to 2% of dry matter) of two caffeic acid derivatives: phaselic acid (2-O-caffeoyl-L-malate) and clovamide [N-caffeoyl-L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA)]. These likely play roles in protecting the plant from biotic and abiotic stresses but can also help preserve protein during harvest and storage of the forage via oxidation by an endogenous polyphenol oxidase. We previously identified and characterized, a hydroxycinnamoyl-coenzyme A (CoA):malate hydroxycinnamoyl transferase (HMT) from red clover. Here, we identified a hydroxycinnamoyl-CoA:L-DOPA hydroxycinnamoyl transferase (HDT) activity in unexpanded red clover leaves. Silencing of the previously cloned HMT gene reduced both HMT and HDT activities in red clover, even though the HMT enzyme lacks HDT activity. A combination of PCR with degenerate primers based on BAHD hydroxycinnamoyl-CoA transferase sequences and 5' and 3' rapid amplification of cDNA ends was used to clone two nearly identical cDNAs from red clover. When expressed in Escherichia coli, the encoded proteins were capable of transferring hydroxycinnamic acids (p-coumaric, caffeic, or ferulic) from the corresponding CoA thioesters to the aromatic amino acids L-Phe, L-Tyr, L-DOPA, or L-Trp. Kinetic parameters for these substrates were determined. Stable expression of HDT in transgenic alfalfa resulted in foliar accumulation of p-coumaroyl- and feruloyl-L-Tyr that are not normally present in alfalfa, but not derivatives containing caffeoyl or L-DOPA moieties. Transient expression of HDT in Nicotiana benthamiana resulted in the production of caffeoyl-L-Tyr, but not clovamide. Coexpression of HDT with a tyrosine hydroxylase resulted in clovamide accumulation, indicating the host species' pool of available amino acid (and hydroxycinnamoyl-CoA) substrates likely plays a major role in determining HDT product accumulation in planta. Finally, that HDT and HMT proteins share a high degree of identity (72%), but differ substantially in substrate specificity, is promising for further investigation of structure-function relationships of this class of enzymes, which could allow the rational design of BAHD enzymes with specific and desirable activities.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Benjamin J. Knollenberg
- Department of Plant Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
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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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Wang L, Chen K, Zhang M, Ye M, Qiao X. Catalytic function, mechanism, and application of plant acyltransferases. Crit Rev Biotechnol 2021; 42:125-144. [PMID: 34151663 DOI: 10.1080/07388551.2021.1931015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Acyltransferases (ATs) are important tailoring enzymes that contribute to the diversity of natural products. They catalyze the transfer of acyl groups to the skeleton, which improves the lipid solubility, stability, and pharmacological activity of natural compounds. In recent years, a number of ATs have been isolated from plants. In this review, we have summarized 141 biochemically characterized ATs during the period July 1997 to October 2020, including their function, heterologous expression systems, and catalytic mechanisms. Their catalytic performance and application potential has been further discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linlin Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Kuan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Meng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Min Ye
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Xue Qiao
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
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20
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Diversity in Chemical Structures and Biological Properties of Plant Alkaloids. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26113374. [PMID: 34204857 PMCID: PMC8199754 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26113374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2021] [Revised: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 04/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Phytochemicals belonging to the group of alkaloids are signature specialized metabolites endowed with countless biological activities. Plants are armored with these naturally produced nitrogenous compounds to combat numerous challenging environmental stress conditions. Traditional and modern healthcare systems have harnessed the potential of these organic compounds for the treatment of many ailments. Various chemical entities (functional groups) attached to the central moiety are responsible for their diverse range of biological properties. The development of the characterization of these plant metabolites and the enzymes involved in their biosynthesis is of an utmost priority to deliver enhanced advantages in terms of biological properties and productivity. Further, the incorporation of whole/partial metabolic pathways in the heterologous system and/or the overexpression of biosynthetic steps in homologous systems have both become alternative and lucrative methods over chemical synthesis in recent times. Moreover, in-depth research on alkaloid biosynthetic pathways has revealed numerous chemical modifications that occur during alkaloidal conversions. These chemical reactions involve glycosylation, acylation, reduction, oxidation, and methylation steps, and they are usually responsible for conferring the biological activities possessed by alkaloids. In this review, we aim to discuss the alkaloidal group of plant specialized metabolites and their brief classification covering major categories. We also emphasize the diversity in the basic structures of plant alkaloids arising through enzymatically catalyzed structural modifications in certain plant species, as well as their emerging diverse biological activities. The role of alkaloids in plant defense and their mechanisms of action are also briefly discussed. Moreover, the commercial utilization of plant alkaloids in the marketplace displaying various applications has been enumerated.
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21
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Schnabel A, Athmer B, Manke K, Schumacher F, Cotinguiba F, Vogt T. Identification and characterization of piperine synthase from black pepper, Piper nigrum L. Commun Biol 2021; 4:445. [PMID: 33833371 PMCID: PMC8032705 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-01967-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2020] [Accepted: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) is the world's most popular spice and is also used as an ingredient in traditional medicine. Its pungent perception is due to the interaction of its major compound, piperine (1-piperoyl-piperidine) with the human TRPV-1 or vanilloid receptor. We now identify the hitherto concealed enzymatic formation of piperine from piperoyl coenzyme A and piperidine based on a differential RNA-Seq approach from developing black pepper fruits. This enzyme is described as piperine synthase (piperoyl-CoA:piperidine piperoyl transferase) and is a member of the BAHD-type of acyltransferases encoded by a gene that is preferentially expressed in immature fruits. A second BAHD-type enzyme, also highly expressed in immature black pepper fruits, has a rather promiscuous substrate specificity, combining diverse CoA-esters with aliphatic and aromatic amines with similar efficiencies, and was termed piperamide synthase. Recombinant piperine and piperamide synthases are members of a small gene family in black pepper. They can be used to facilitate the microbial production of a broad range of medicinally relevant aliphatic and aromatic piperamides based on a wide array of CoA-donors and amine-derived acceptors, offering widespread applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arianne Schnabel
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Dept. Cell and Metabolic Biology, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Benedikt Athmer
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Dept. Cell and Metabolic Biology, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Kerstin Manke
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Dept. Cell and Metabolic Biology, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | | | - Fernando Cotinguiba
- Instituto de Pesquisas de Produtos Naturais (IPPN), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro/RJ, Brasil
| | - Thomas Vogt
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Dept. Cell and Metabolic Biology, Halle (Saale), Germany.
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22
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Huang JP, Wang YJ, Tian T, Wang L, Yan Y, Huang SX. Tropane alkaloid biosynthesis: a centennial review. Nat Prod Rep 2021; 38:1634-1658. [PMID: 33533391 DOI: 10.1039/d0np00076k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Covering: 1917 to 2020Tropane alkaloids (TAs) are a remarkable class of plant secondary metabolites, which are characterized by an 8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane (nortropane) ring. Members of this class, such as hyoscyamine, scopolamine, and cocaine, are well known for their long history as poisons, hallucinogens, and anaesthetic agents. Since the structure of the tropane ring system was first elucidated in 1901, organic chemists and biochemists have been interested in how these mysterious tropane alkaloids are assembled in vitro and in vivo. However, it was only in 2020 that the complete biosynthetic route of hyoscyamine and scopolamine was clarified, and their de novo production in yeast was also achieved. The aim of this review is to present the innovative ideas and results in exploring the story of tropane alkaloid biosynthesis in plants from 1917 to 2020. This review also highlights that Robinson's classic synthesis of tropinone, which is one hundred years old, is biomimetic, and underscores the importance of total synthesis in the study of natural product biosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian-Ping Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650204, China. and State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Innovative Institute of Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China
| | - Yong-Jiang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650204, China.
| | - Tian Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650204, China. and School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710119, China
| | - Li Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650204, China.
| | - Yijun Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650204, China.
| | - Sheng-Xiong Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650204, China. and State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Innovative Institute of Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China and School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710119, China
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23
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Oshikiri H, Watanabe B, Yamamoto H, Yazaki K, Takanashi K. Two BAHD Acyltransferases Catalyze the Last Step in the Shikonin/Alkannin Biosynthetic Pathway. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2020; 184:753-761. [PMID: 32727911 PMCID: PMC7536692 DOI: 10.1104/pp.20.00207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2020] [Accepted: 07/24/2020] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Several Boraginaceae plants produce biologically active red naphthoquinone pigments, derivatives of the enantiomers shikonin and alkannin, which vary in acyl groups on their side chains. Compositions of shikonin/alkannin derivatives vary in plant species, but the mechanisms generating the diversity of shikonin/alkannin derivatives are largely unknown. This study describes the identification and characterization of two BAHD acyltransferases, shikonin O-acyltransferase (LeSAT1) and alkannin O-acyltransferase (LeAAT1), from Lithospermum erythrorhizon, a medicinal plant in the family Boraginaceae that primarily produces the shikonin/alkannin derivatives acetylshikonin and β-hydroxyisovalerylshikonin. Enzyme assays using Escherichia coli showed that the acylation activity of LeSAT1 was specific to shikonin, whereas the acylation activity of LeAAT1 was specific to alkannin. Both enzymes recognized acetyl-CoA, isobutyryl-CoA, and isovaleryl-CoA as acyl donors to produce their corresponding shikonin/alkannin derivatives, with both enzymes showing the highest activity for acetyl-CoA. These findings were consistent with the composition of shikonin/alkannin derivatives in intact L erythrorhizon plants and cell cultures. Genes encoding both enzymes were preferentially expressed in the roots and cell cultures in the dark in pigment production medium M9, conditions associated with shikonin/alkannin production. These results indicated that LeSAT1 and LeAAT1 are enantiomer-specific acyltransferases that generate various shikonin/alkannin derivatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haruka Oshikiri
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Shinshu University, Nagano 390-8621, Japan
| | - Bunta Watanabe
- Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University, Kyoto 611-0011, Japan
| | - Hirobumi Yamamoto
- Department of Applied Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Toyo University, Gunma 374-0193, Japan
| | - Kazufumi Yazaki
- Research Institute for Sustainable Humanosphere, Kyoto University, Kyoto 611-0011, Japan
| | - Kojiro Takanashi
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Shinshu University, Nagano 390-8621, Japan
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Alseekh S, Perez de Souza L, Benina M, Fernie AR. The style and substance of plant flavonoid decoration; towards defining both structure and function. PHYTOCHEMISTRY 2020; 174:112347. [PMID: 32203741 DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2020.112347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2019] [Revised: 03/11/2020] [Accepted: 03/12/2020] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Over 8000 different flavonoids have been described and a considerable number of new flavonoid structures are being elucidated every year. The advent of metabolomics alongside the development of phytochemical genetics - wherein the genetic basis underlying the regulation of the levels of plant metabolites is determined - has provided a massive boost to such efforts. That said our understanding of the individual function(s) of the vast majority of the metabolites that constitute this important class of phytochemicals remains unknown. Here we review what is known concerning the major decorative modifications of flavonoids in plants, namely hydroxylation, glycosylation, methylation and acylation. Our major focus is with regard to the in planta function of these modified compounds, however, we also highlight the demonstrated bioactive roles which they possess. We additionally performed a comprehensive survey of the flavonoids listed in the KNApSAcK database in order to assess the frequency of occurrence of each type of flavonoid modification. We conclude that whilst considerable research has been carried out regarding the biological roles of flavonoids most studies to date have merely provided information on the compound class or sub-classes thereof as a whole with too little currently known on the specific role of individual metabolites. We, therefore, finally suggest a framework based on currently available tools by which the relative importance of the individual compounds can be assessed under various biological conditions in order to fill this knowledge-gap.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saleh Alseekh
- Max-Planck-Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476, Potsdam-Golm, Germany; Center of Plant Systems Biology and Biotechnology, 4000, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
| | - Leonardo Perez de Souza
- Max-Planck-Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476, Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| | - Maria Benina
- Center of Plant Systems Biology and Biotechnology, 4000, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
| | - Alisdair R Fernie
- Max-Planck-Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476, Potsdam-Golm, Germany; Center of Plant Systems Biology and Biotechnology, 4000, Plovdiv, Bulgaria.
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25
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Qiu F, Zeng J, Wang J, Huang JP, Zhou W, Yang C, Lan X, Chen M, Huang SX, Kai G, Liao Z. Functional genomics analysis reveals two novel genes required for littorine biosynthesis. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2020; 225:1906-1914. [PMID: 31705812 DOI: 10.1111/nph.16317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2019] [Accepted: 11/01/2019] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Some medicinal plants of the Solanaceae produce pharmaceutical tropane alkaloids (TAs), such as hyoscyamine and scopolamine. Littorine is a key biosynthetic intermediate in the hyoscyamine and scopolamine biosynthetic pathways. However, the mechanism underlying littorine formation from the precursors phenyllactate and tropine is not completely understood. Here, we report the elucidation of littorine biosynthesis through a functional genomics approach and functional identification of two novel biosynthesis genes that encode phenyllactate UDP-glycosyltransferase (UGT1) and littorine synthase (LS). UGT1 and LS are highly and specifically expressed in Atropa belladonna secondary roots. Suppression of either UGT1 or LS disrupted the biosynthesis of littorine and its TA derivatives (hyoscyamine and scopolamine). Purified His-tagged UGT1 catalysed phenyllactate glycosylation to form phenyllactylglucose. UGT1 and LS co-expression in tobacco leaves led to littorine synthesis if tropine and phenyllactate were added. This identification of UGT1 and LS provides the missing link in littorine biosynthesis. The results pave the way for producing hyoscyamine and scopolamine for medical use by metabolic engineering or synthetic biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Qiu
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Plant Resource Conservation and Germplasm Innovation, SWU-TAAHC Medicinal Plant Joint R&D Centre, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Junlan Zeng
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Plant Resource Conservation and Germplasm Innovation, SWU-TAAHC Medicinal Plant Joint R&D Centre, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Plant Resource Conservation and Germplasm Innovation, SWU-TAAHC Medicinal Plant Joint R&D Centre, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Jian-Ping Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, CAS Centre for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China
| | - Wei Zhou
- Laboratory of Medicinal Plant Biotechnology, College of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 311402, China
| | - Chunxian Yang
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Plant Resource Conservation and Germplasm Innovation, SWU-TAAHC Medicinal Plant Joint R&D Centre, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Xiaozhong Lan
- TAAHC-SWU Medicinal Plant Joint R&D Centre, Tibetan Collaborative Innovation Centre of Agricultural and Animal Husbandry Resources, Xizang Agricultural and Animal Husbandry College, Nyingchi of Tibet, 860000, China
| | - Min Chen
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Luminescent and Real-Time Analytical Chemistry (Ministry of Education), Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Sheng-Xiong Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, CAS Centre for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China
| | - Guoyin Kai
- Laboratory of Medicinal Plant Biotechnology, College of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 311402, China
| | - Zhihua Liao
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Plant Resource Conservation and Germplasm Innovation, SWU-TAAHC Medicinal Plant Joint R&D Centre, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
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26
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Liu C, Qiao X, Li Q, Zeng W, Wei S, Wang X, Chen Y, Wu X, Wu J, Yin H, Zhang S. Genome-wide comparative analysis of the BAHD superfamily in seven Rosaceae species and expression analysis in pear (Pyrus bretschneideri). BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2020; 20:14. [PMID: 31914928 PMCID: PMC6950883 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-019-2230-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2019] [Accepted: 12/30/2019] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The BAHD acyltransferase superfamily exhibits various biological roles in plants, including regulating fruit quality, catalytic synthesizing of terpene, phenolics and esters, and improving stress resistance. However, the copy numbers, expression characteristics and associations with fruit aroma formation of the BAHD genes remain unclear. RESULTS In total, 717 BAHD genes were obtained from the genomes of seven Rosaceae, (Pyrus bretschneideri, Malus domestica, Prunus avium, Prunus persica, Fragaria vesca, Pyrus communis and Rubus occidentalis). Based on the detailed phylogenetic analysis and classifications in model plants, we divided the BAHD family genes into seven groups, I-a, I-b, II-a, II-b, III-a, IV and V. An inter-species synteny analysis revealed the ancient origin of BAHD superfamily with 78 syntenic gene pairs were detected among the seven Rosaceae species. Different types of gene duplication events jointly drive the expansion of BAHD superfamily, and purifying selection dominates the evolution of BAHD genes supported by the small Ka/Ks ratios. Based on the correlation analysis between the ester content and expression levels of BAHD genes at different developmental stages, four candidate genes were selected for verification as assessed by qRT-PCR. The result implied that Pbr020016.1, Pbr019034.1, Pbr014028.1 and Pbr029551.1 are important candidate genes involved in aroma formation during pear fruit development. CONCLUSION We have thoroughly identified the BAHD superfamily genes and performed a comprehensive comparative analysis of their phylogenetic relationships, expansion patterns, and expression characteristics in seven Rosaceae species, and we also obtained four candidate genes involved in aroma synthesis in pear fruit. These results provide a theoretical basis for future studies of the specific biological functions of BAHD superfamily members and the improvement of pear fruit quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunxin Liu
- Center of Pear Engineering Technology Research, State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xin Qiao
- Center of Pear Engineering Technology Research, State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, Jiangsu, China
| | - Qionghou Li
- Center of Pear Engineering Technology Research, State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, Jiangsu, China
| | - Weiwei Zeng
- Center of Pear Engineering Technology Research, State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, Jiangsu, China
| | - Shuwei Wei
- Shandong Institute of Pomology, Taian, 271000, Shandong, China
| | - Xin Wang
- Center of Pear Engineering Technology Research, State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yangyang Chen
- Center of Pear Engineering Technology Research, State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiao Wu
- Center of Pear Engineering Technology Research, State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jun Wu
- Center of Pear Engineering Technology Research, State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, Jiangsu, China
| | - Hao Yin
- Center of Pear Engineering Technology Research, State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Shaoling Zhang
- Center of Pear Engineering Technology Research, State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, Jiangsu, China.
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Restrepo DA, Saenz E, Jara-Muñoz OA, Calixto-Botía IF, Rodríguez-Suárez S, Zuleta P, Chavez BG, Sanchez JA, D'Auria JC. Erythroxylum in Focus: An Interdisciplinary Review of an Overlooked Genus. Molecules 2019; 24:E3788. [PMID: 31640255 PMCID: PMC6833119 DOI: 10.3390/molecules24203788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2019] [Revised: 10/17/2019] [Accepted: 10/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The genus Erythroxylum contains species used by indigenous people of South America long before the domestication of plants. Two species, E. coca and E. novogranatense, have been utilized for thousands of years specifically for their tropane alkaloid content. While abuse of the narcotic cocaine has impacted society on many levels, these species and their wild relatives contain untapped resources for the benefit of mankind in the form of foods, pharmaceuticals, phytotherapeutic products, and other high-value plant-derived metabolites. In this review, we describe the current state of knowledge of members within the genus and the recent advances in the realm of molecular biology and biochemistry.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A Restrepo
- Centro de Estudios sobre Seguridad y Drogas, Facultad de Economía, Universidad de los Andes, Bogota 111711, Colombia.
| | - Ernesto Saenz
- Departamento Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de los Andes, Bogota 111711, Colombia.
| | | | - Iván F Calixto-Botía
- Escuela de Biología, Universidad Pedagógica y Tecnológica de Colombia, Tunja 150003, Colombia.
| | - Sioly Rodríguez-Suárez
- Centro de Estudios sobre Seguridad y Drogas, Facultad de Economía, Universidad de los Andes, Bogota 111711, Colombia.
| | - Pablo Zuleta
- Centro de Estudios sobre Seguridad y Drogas, Facultad de Economía, Universidad de los Andes, Bogota 111711, Colombia.
| | - Benjamin G Chavez
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), 06466 Gatersleben, Germany.
| | - Juan A Sanchez
- Centro de Estudios sobre Seguridad y Drogas, Facultad de Economía, Universidad de los Andes, Bogota 111711, Colombia.
- Departamento Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de los Andes, Bogota 111711, Colombia.
| | - John C D'Auria
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), 06466 Gatersleben, Germany.
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Engineering a microbial biosynthesis platform for de novo production of tropane alkaloids. Nat Commun 2019; 10:3634. [PMID: 31406117 PMCID: PMC6690885 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-11588-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2019] [Accepted: 07/18/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Tropane alkaloids (TAs) are a class of phytochemicals produced by plants of the nightshade family used for treating diverse neurological disorders. Here, we demonstrate de novo production of tropine, a key intermediate in the biosynthetic pathway of medicinal TAs such as scopolamine, from simple carbon and nitrogen sources in yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae). Our engineered strain incorporates 15 additional genes, including 11 derived from diverse plants and bacteria, and 7 disruptions to yeast regulatory or biosynthetic proteins to produce tropine at titers of 6 mg/L. We also demonstrate the utility of our engineered yeast platform for the discovery of TA derivatives by combining biosynthetic modules from distant plant lineages to achieve de novo production of cinnamoyltropine, a non-canonical TA. Our engineered strain constitutes a starting point for future optimization efforts towards realizing industrial fermentation of medicinal TAs and a platform for the synthesis of TA derivatives with enhanced bioactivities. Tropane alkaloids (TAs) are a group of phytochemicals that are used to treat neurological disorders. Here, the authors engineer baker’s yeast to produce tropine, a key intermediate in the biosynthetic pathway of TAs, and cinnamoyltropine, a non-canonical TA, from simple carbon and nitrogen sources.
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29
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Kohnen-Johannsen KL, Kayser O. Tropane Alkaloids: Chemistry, Pharmacology, Biosynthesis and Production. Molecules 2019; 24:E796. [PMID: 30813289 PMCID: PMC6412926 DOI: 10.3390/molecules24040796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 130] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2019] [Revised: 02/15/2019] [Accepted: 02/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Tropane alkaloids (TA) are valuable secondary plant metabolites which are mostly found in high concentrations in the Solanaceae and Erythroxylaceae families. The TAs, which are characterized by their unique bicyclic tropane ring system, can be divided into three major groups: hyoscyamine and scopolamine, cocaine and calystegines. Although all TAs have the same basic structure, they differ immensely in their biological, chemical and pharmacological properties. Scopolamine, also known as hyoscine, has the largest legitimate market as a pharmacological agent due to its treatment of nausea, vomiting, motion sickness, as well as smooth muscle spasms while cocaine is the 2nd most frequently consumed illicit drug globally. This review provides a comprehensive overview of TAs, highlighting their structural diversity, use in pharmaceutical therapy from both historical and modern perspectives, natural biosynthesis in planta and emerging production possibilities using tissue culture and microbial biosynthesis of these compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathrin Laura Kohnen-Johannsen
- Technical Biochemistry, Department of Biochemical and Chemical Engineering, Technical University Dortmund, D-44227 Dortmund, Germany.
| | - Oliver Kayser
- Technical Biochemistry, Department of Biochemical and Chemical Engineering, Technical University Dortmund, D-44227 Dortmund, Germany.
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30
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Delporte M, Bernard G, Legrand G, Hielscher B, Lanoue A, Molinié R, Rambaud C, Mathiron D, Besseau S, Linka N, Hilbert JL, Gagneul D. A BAHD neofunctionalization promotes tetrahydroxycinnamoyl spermine accumulation in the pollen coat of the Asteraceae family. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2018; 69:5355-5371. [PMID: 30169823 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/ery320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2018] [Accepted: 08/06/2018] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
In eudicotyledons, accumulation of trihydroxycinnamoyl spermidine that is restricted to the pollen wall constitutes an evolutionary conserved trait. However, the role of this compound, which is synthetized by the BAHD enzyme spermidine hydroxycinnamoyl transferase (SHT), is still a matter of debate. Here, we show that this particular phenolamide is replaced by tetrahydroxycinnamoyl spermine in the pollen coat of the Asteraceae. Phylogenetic analyses combined with quantitative RT-PCR experiments allowed the identification of two homologous genes from Cichorium intybus (chicory) putatively involved in its metabolism. In vitro biochemical characterization of the two enzymes, named CiSHT1 and CiSHT2, confirmed the capability of recombinant proteins to synthesize spermine as well as spermidine derivatives. The wild-type metabolic phenotype was partially restored in an Arabidopsis sht mutant expressing CiSHT2. Strikingly, the transgenic plants also accumulated spermine derivatives that were absent in the wild-type. Overexpression of CiSHT2 in chicory hairy roots led to the accumulation of spermine derivatives, confirming its in vivo function. Complementary sequence analyses revealed the presence of an amino acid motif typical of the SHTs among the BAHD enzyme family. Our results highlight a recent neofunctionalization among the SHTs that has promoted the emergence of new phenolamides in the Asteraceae, which could potentially have contributed to the evolutionary success of this family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianne Delporte
- EA 7394, USC INRA 1411, Institut Charles Viollette (ICV), Agro-food and Biotechnology Research Institute, Université de Lille, INRA, ISA, Univ. Artois, Univ. Littoral Côte d'Opale, Cité Scientifique, Villeneuve d'Ascq, France
| | - Guillaume Bernard
- EA 7394, USC INRA 1411, Institut Charles Viollette (ICV), Agro-food and Biotechnology Research Institute, Université de Lille, INRA, ISA, Univ. Artois, Univ. Littoral Côte d'Opale, Cité Scientifique, Villeneuve d'Ascq, France
| | - Guillaume Legrand
- EA 7394, USC INRA 1411, Institut Charles Viollette (ICV), Agro-food and Biotechnology Research Institute, Université de Lille, INRA, ISA, Univ. Artois, Univ. Littoral Côte d'Opale, Cité Scientifique, Villeneuve d'Ascq, France
| | - Björn Hielscher
- Institute for Plant Biochemistry and Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences (CEPLAS), Heinrich Heine University, Universitätsstrasse, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Arnaud Lanoue
- Biomolécules et Biotechnologies Végétales, EA, Université de Tours, Tours, France
| | - Roland Molinié
- Biologie des Plantes & Innovation (EA 3900 BIOPI), Université de Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens Cedex, France
| | - Caroline Rambaud
- EA 7394, USC INRA 1411, Institut Charles Viollette (ICV), Agro-food and Biotechnology Research Institute, Université de Lille, INRA, ISA, Univ. Artois, Univ. Littoral Côte d'Opale, Cité Scientifique, Villeneuve d'Ascq, France
| | - David Mathiron
- Plateforme Analytique (PFA), Université de Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens Cedex, France
| | - Sébastien Besseau
- Biomolécules et Biotechnologies Végétales, EA, Université de Tours, Tours, France
| | - Nicole Linka
- Institute for Plant Biochemistry and Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences (CEPLAS), Heinrich Heine University, Universitätsstrasse, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Jean-Louis Hilbert
- EA 7394, USC INRA 1411, Institut Charles Viollette (ICV), Agro-food and Biotechnology Research Institute, Université de Lille, INRA, ISA, Univ. Artois, Univ. Littoral Côte d'Opale, Cité Scientifique, Villeneuve d'Ascq, France
| | - David Gagneul
- EA 7394, USC INRA 1411, Institut Charles Viollette (ICV), Agro-food and Biotechnology Research Institute, Université de Lille, INRA, ISA, Univ. Artois, Univ. Littoral Côte d'Opale, Cité Scientifique, Villeneuve d'Ascq, France
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31
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Abstract
In this Review, we consider the story of cocaine from its humble origins in South America to its status as one of the most abused substances in 21st century society. The synthesis and biosynthesis of cocaine are discussed, as well as its pharmacokinetics, metabolism, pharmacology, and importance in modern neuroscience and molecular imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsey R. Drake
- Department of Radiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105, United States
| | - Peter J. H. Scott
- Department of Radiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105, United States
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32
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Irmisch S, Jo S, Roach CR, Jancsik S, Man Saint Yuen M, Madilao LL, O'Neil-Johnson M, Williams R, Withers SG, Bohlmann J. Discovery of UDP-Glycosyltransferases and BAHD-Acyltransferases Involved in the Biosynthesis of the Antidiabetic Plant Metabolite Montbretin A. THE PLANT CELL 2018; 30:1864-1886. [PMID: 29967287 PMCID: PMC6139687 DOI: 10.1105/tpc.18.00406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2018] [Revised: 06/27/2018] [Accepted: 06/27/2018] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Plant specialized metabolism serves as a rich resource of biologically active molecules for drug discovery. The acylated flavonol glycoside montbretin A (MbA) and its precursor myricetin 3-O-(6'-O-caffeoyl)-glucosyl rhamnoside (mini-MbA) are potent inhibitors of human pancreatic α-amylase and are being developed as drug candidates to treat type-2 diabetes. MbA occurs in corms of the ornamental plant montbretia (Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora), but a system for large-scale MbA production is currently unavailable. Biosynthesis of MbA from the flavonol myricetin and MbA accumulation occur during early stages of corm development. We established myricetin 3-O-rhamnoside (MR), myricetin 3-O-glucosyl rhamnoside (MRG), and mini-MbA as the first three intermediates of MbA biosynthesis. Contrasting the transcriptomes of young and old corms revealed differentially expressed UDP-sugar-dependent glycosyltransferases (UGTs) and BAHD-acyltransferases (BAHD-ATs). UGT77B2 and UGT709G2 catalyze the consecutive glycosylation of myricetin to produce MR and of MR to give MRG, respectively. In addition, two BAHD-ATs, CcAT1 and CcAT2, catalyze the acylation of MRG to complete the formation of mini-MbA. Transcript profiles of UGT77B2, UGT709G2, CcAT1, and CcAT2 during corm development matched the metabolite profile of MbA accumulation. Expression of these enzymes in wild tobacco (Nicotiana benthamiana) resulted in the formation of a surrogate mini-MbA, validating the potential for metabolic engineering of mini-MbA in a heterologous plant system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Irmisch
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Seohyun Jo
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Christopher R Roach
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Sharon Jancsik
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Macaire Man Saint Yuen
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Lufiani L Madilao
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | | | | | - Stephen G Withers
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Department of Chemistry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Joerg Bohlmann
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
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33
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Zhao D, Shen Y, Shi Y, Shi X, Qiao Q, Zi S, Zhao E, Yu D, Kennelly EJ. Probing the transcriptome of Aconitum carmichaelii reveals the candidate genes associated with the biosynthesis of the toxic aconitine-type C 19-diterpenoid alkaloids. PHYTOCHEMISTRY 2018; 152:113-124. [PMID: 29758520 DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2018.04.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2017] [Revised: 04/25/2018] [Accepted: 04/29/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Aconitum carmichaelii has long been used as a traditional Chinese medicine, and its processed lateral roots are known commonly as fuzi. Aconitine-type C19-diterpenoid alkaloids accumulating in the lateral roots are some of the main toxicants of this species, yet their biosynthesis remains largely unresolved. As a first step towards understanding the biosynthesis of aconitine-type C19-diterpenoid alkaloids, we performed de novo transcriptome assembly and analysis of rootstocks and leaf tissues of Aconitum carmichaelii by next-generation sequencing. A total of 525 unigene candidates were identified as involved in the formation of C19-diterpenoid alkaloids, including those encoding enzymes in the early steps of diterpenoid alkaloids scaffold biosynthetic pathway, such as ent-copalyl diphosphate synthases, ent-kaurene synthases, kaurene oxidases, cyclases, and key aminotransferases. Furthermore, candidates responsible for decorating of diterpenoid alkaloid skeletons were discovered from transcriptome sequencing of fuzi, such as monooxygenases, methyltransferase, and BAHD acyltransferases. In addition, 645 differentially expressed genes encoding transcription factors potentially related to diterpenoid alkaloids accumulation underground were documented. Subsequent modular domain structure phylogenetics and differential expression analysis led to the identification of BAHD acyltransferases possibly involved in the formation of acetyl and benzoyl esters of diterpenoid alkaloids, associated with the acute toxicity of fuzi. The transcriptome data provide the foundation for future research into the molecular basis for aconitine-type C19-diterpenoid alkaloids biosynthesis in A. carmichaelii.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dake Zhao
- Laboratory of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan University, Kunming, China; Yunnan Institute of Materia Medica, Yunnan Baiyao Group Company Limited, Kunming, China; Key Laboratory of Tropical Plant Resources and Sustainable Use, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Yong Shen
- College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
| | - Yana Shi
- Institute of Medicinal Plants, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Xingqiao Shi
- School of Agriculture, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
| | - Qin Qiao
- School of Agriculture, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
| | - Shuhui Zi
- School of Agriculture, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
| | - Erqiang Zhao
- School of Agriculture, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
| | - Diqiu Yu
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Plant Resources and Sustainable Use, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China.
| | - Edward J Kennelly
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehman College, City University of New York, United States; Ph.D. Programs in Biochemistry, Biology, and Chemistry, The Graduate Center, City University of New York, United States.
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Sullivan ML, Bonawitz ND. Spectrophotometric determination of reaction rates and kinetic parameters of a BAHD acyltransferase using DTNB (5,5'-dithio-bis-[2-nitrobenzoic acid]). PLANT SCIENCE : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2018; 269:148-152. [PMID: 29606213 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2018.01.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2017] [Revised: 12/15/2017] [Accepted: 01/27/2018] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Hydroxycinnamoyl-Coenzyme A (CoA) hydroxycinnamoyl transferases are BAHD family acyltransferases that transfer hydroxycinnamoyl moieties from a CoA-thioester to an acceptor amine or alcohol to form an N-hydroxycinnamoyl amide or O-hydroxycinnamoyl ester, respectively, with the concomitant release of free CoA. One approach to measure reaction rates for these enzymes is to quantify the hydroxycinnamoyl amide or ester reaction product following chromatographic separation of reaction components. This approach can be labor-intensive and time-consuming. As an alternative, we examined the use of 5,5'-dithio-bis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB, Ellman's reagent) to spectrophotometrically quantify, in real time, the release of free CoA during the transferase reaction. Using a hydroxycinnamoyl-CoA:l-DOPA hydroxycinnamoyl transferase as a model, we show that DTNB has little to no effect on the transferase reaction and can be used to provide a good estimate of hydroxycinnamoyl amide formation, thus allowing for the quick and easy collection of reaction rate data and determination of transferase kinetic parameters. This approach should be applicable to a wide range of hydroxycinnamoyl-CoA and other BAHD acyltransferases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael L Sullivan
- US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, US Dairy Forage Research Center, 1925 Linden Drive, Madison, WI 53705, USA.
| | - Nicholas D Bonawitz
- Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.
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Thornburg CK, Walter T, Walker KD. Biocatalysis of a Paclitaxel Analogue: Conversion of Baccatin III to N-Debenzoyl-N-(2-furoyl)paclitaxel and Characterization of an Amino Phenylpropanoyl CoA Transferase. Biochemistry 2017; 56:5920-5930. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.7b00912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Chelsea K. Thornburg
- Department of Chemistry and ‡Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, United States
| | - Tyler Walter
- Department of Chemistry and ‡Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, United States
| | - Kevin D. Walker
- Department of Chemistry and ‡Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, United States
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36
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Eudes A, Mouille M, Robinson DS, Benites VT, Wang G, Roux L, Tsai YL, Baidoo EEK, Chiu TY, Heazlewood JL, Scheller HV, Mukhopadhyay A, Keasling JD, Deutsch S, Loqué D. Exploiting members of the BAHD acyltransferase family to synthesize multiple hydroxycinnamate and benzoate conjugates in yeast. Microb Cell Fact 2016; 15:198. [PMID: 27871334 PMCID: PMC5117604 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-016-0593-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2016] [Accepted: 11/06/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND BAHD acyltransferases, named after the first four biochemically characterized enzymes of the group, are plant-specific enzymes that catalyze the transfer of coenzyme A-activated donors onto various acceptor molecules. They are responsible for the synthesis in plants of a myriad of secondary metabolites, some of which are beneficial for humans either as therapeutics or as specialty chemicals such as flavors and fragrances. The production of pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and commodity chemicals using engineered microbes is an alternative, green route to energy-intensive chemical syntheses that consume petroleum-based precursors. However, identification of appropriate enzymes and validation of their functional expression in heterologous hosts is a prerequisite for the design and implementation of metabolic pathways in microbes for the synthesis of such target chemicals. RESULTS For the synthesis of valuable metabolites in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we selected BAHD acyltransferases based on their preferred donor and acceptor substrates. In particular, BAHDs that use hydroxycinnamoyl-CoAs and/or benzoyl-CoA as donors were targeted because a large number of molecules beneficial to humans belong to this family of hydroxycinnamate and benzoate conjugates. The selected BAHD coding sequences were synthesized and cloned individually on a vector containing the Arabidopsis gene At4CL5, which encodes a promiscuous 4-coumarate:CoA ligase active on hydroxycinnamates and benzoates. The various S. cerevisiae strains obtained for co-expression of At4CL5 with the different BAHDs effectively produced a wide array of valuable hydroxycinnamate and benzoate conjugates upon addition of adequate combinations of donors and acceptor molecules. In particular, we report here for the first time the production in yeast of rosmarinic acid and its derivatives, quinate hydroxycinnamate esters such as chlorogenic acid, and glycerol hydroxycinnamate esters. Similarly, we achieved for the first time the microbial production of polyamine hydroxycinnamate amides; monolignol, malate and fatty alcohol hydroxycinnamate esters; tropane alkaloids; and benzoate/caffeate alcohol esters. In some instances, the additional expression of Flavobacterium johnsoniae tyrosine ammonia-lyase (FjTAL) allowed the synthesis of p-coumarate conjugates and eliminated the need to supplement the culture media with 4-hydroxycinnamate. CONCLUSION We demonstrate in this study the effectiveness of expressing members of the plant BAHD acyltransferase family in yeast for the synthesis of numerous valuable hydroxycinnamate and benzoate conjugates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aymerick Eudes
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, EmeryStation East, 5885 Hollis St., 4th Floor, Emeryville, CA, 94608, USA.,Biological Systems & Engineering Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Maxence Mouille
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, EmeryStation East, 5885 Hollis St., 4th Floor, Emeryville, CA, 94608, USA.,Biological Systems & Engineering Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | | | - Veronica T Benites
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, EmeryStation East, 5885 Hollis St., 4th Floor, Emeryville, CA, 94608, USA.,Biological Systems & Engineering Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA.,Graduate Program, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA, 94132, USA
| | - George Wang
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, EmeryStation East, 5885 Hollis St., 4th Floor, Emeryville, CA, 94608, USA.,Biological Systems & Engineering Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Lucien Roux
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, EmeryStation East, 5885 Hollis St., 4th Floor, Emeryville, CA, 94608, USA.,Biological Systems & Engineering Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA.,Master Program, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Yi-Lin Tsai
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, EmeryStation East, 5885 Hollis St., 4th Floor, Emeryville, CA, 94608, USA.,Biological Systems & Engineering Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Edward E K Baidoo
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, EmeryStation East, 5885 Hollis St., 4th Floor, Emeryville, CA, 94608, USA.,Biological Systems & Engineering Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Tsan-Yu Chiu
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, EmeryStation East, 5885 Hollis St., 4th Floor, Emeryville, CA, 94608, USA.,Biological Systems & Engineering Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Joshua L Heazlewood
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, EmeryStation East, 5885 Hollis St., 4th Floor, Emeryville, CA, 94608, USA.,Biological Systems & Engineering Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA.,School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Henrik V Scheller
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, EmeryStation East, 5885 Hollis St., 4th Floor, Emeryville, CA, 94608, USA.,Biological Systems & Engineering Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Aindrila Mukhopadhyay
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, EmeryStation East, 5885 Hollis St., 4th Floor, Emeryville, CA, 94608, USA.,Biological Systems & Engineering Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Jay D Keasling
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, EmeryStation East, 5885 Hollis St., 4th Floor, Emeryville, CA, 94608, USA.,Biological Systems & Engineering Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA.,Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering and Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA.,Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Kogle Alle´, 2970, Hørsholm, Denmark
| | | | - Dominique Loqué
- Joint BioEnergy Institute, EmeryStation East, 5885 Hollis St., 4th Floor, Emeryville, CA, 94608, USA. .,Biological Systems & Engineering Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA. .,CNRS, UMR5240, Microbiologie, Adaptation et Pathogénie, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, INSA de Lyon, 10 rue Raphaël Dubois, 69622, Villeurbanne, France.
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Kim N, Estrada O, Chavez B, Stewart C, D'Auria JC. Tropane and Granatane Alkaloid Biosynthesis: A Systematic Analysis. Molecules 2016; 21:molecules21111510. [PMID: 27845728 PMCID: PMC6274040 DOI: 10.3390/molecules21111510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2016] [Revised: 11/07/2016] [Accepted: 11/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The tropane and granatane alkaloids belong to the larger pyrroline and piperidine classes of plant alkaloids, respectively. Their core structures share common moieties and their scattered distribution among angiosperms suggest that their biosynthesis may share common ancestry in some orders, while they may be independently derived in others. Tropane and granatane alkaloid diversity arises from the myriad modifications occurring to their core ring structures. Throughout much of human history, humans have cultivated tropane- and granatane-producing plants for their medicinal properties. This manuscript will discuss the diversity of their biological and ecological roles as well as what is known about the structural genes and enzymes responsible for their biosynthesis. In addition, modern approaches to producing some pharmaceutically important tropanes via metabolic engineering endeavors are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neill Kim
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409-1061, USA.
| | - Olga Estrada
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409-1061, USA.
| | - Benjamin Chavez
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409-1061, USA.
| | - Charles Stewart
- Office of Biotechnology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011-1079, USA.
| | - John C D'Auria
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409-1061, USA.
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Luck K, Jirschitzka J, Irmisch S, Huber M, Gershenzon J, Köllner TG. CYP79D enzymes contribute to jasmonic acid-induced formation of aldoximes and other nitrogenous volatiles in two Erythroxylum species. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2016; 16:215. [PMID: 27716065 PMCID: PMC5050915 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-016-0910-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2016] [Accepted: 09/27/2016] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Amino acid-derived aldoximes and nitriles play important roles in plant defence. They are well-known as precursors for constitutive defence compounds such as cyanogenic glucosides and glucosinolates, but are also released as volatiles after insect feeding. Cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (CYP) of the CYP79 family catalyze the formation of aldoximes from the corresponding amino acids. However, the majority of CYP79s characterized so far are involved in cyanogenic glucoside or glucosinolate biosynthesis and only a few have been reported to be responsible for nitrogenous volatile production. RESULTS In this study we analysed and compared the jasmonic acid-induced volatile blends of two Erythroxylum species, the cultivated South American crop species E. coca and the African wild species E. fischeri. Both species produced different nitrogenous compounds including aliphatic aldoximes and an aromatic nitrile. Four isolated CYP79 genes (two from each species) were heterologously expressed in yeast and biochemically characterized. CYP79D62 from E. coca and CYP79D61 and CYP79D60 from E. fischeri showed broad substrate specificity in vitro and converted L-phenylalanine, L-isoleucine, L-leucine, L-tryptophan, and L-tyrosine into the respective aldoximes. In contrast, recombinant CYP79D63 from E. coca exclusively accepted L-tryptophan as substrate. Quantitative real-time PCR revealed that CYP79D60, CYP79D61, and CYP79D62 were significantly upregulated in jasmonic acid-treated Erythroxylum leaves. CONCLUSIONS The kinetic parameters of the enzymes expressed in vitro coupled with the expression patterns of the corresponding genes and the accumulation and emission of (E/Z)-phenylacetaldoxime, (E/Z)-indole-3-acetaldoxime, (E/Z)-3-methylbutyraldoxime, and (E/Z)-2-methylbutyraldoxime in jasmonic acid-treated leaves suggest that CYP79D60, CYP79D61, and CYP79D62 accept L-phenylalanine, L-leucine, L-isoleucine, and L-tryptophan as substrates in vivo and contribute to the production of volatile and semi-volatile nitrogenous defence compounds in E. coca and E. fischeri.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrin Luck
- Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Hans-Knöll-Strasse 8, D-07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Jan Jirschitzka
- Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Hans-Knöll-Strasse 8, D-07745 Jena, Germany
- Present address: Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, Forckenbeckstrasse 6, D-52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Sandra Irmisch
- Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Hans-Knöll-Strasse 8, D-07745 Jena, Germany
- Present address: Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Meret Huber
- Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Hans-Knöll-Strasse 8, D-07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Jonathan Gershenzon
- Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Hans-Knöll-Strasse 8, D-07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Tobias G. Köllner
- Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Hans-Knöll-Strasse 8, D-07745 Jena, Germany
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Bontpart T, Cheynier V, Ageorges A, Terrier N. BAHD or SCPL acyltransferase? What a dilemma for acylation in the world of plant phenolic compounds. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2015; 208:695-707. [PMID: 26053460 DOI: 10.1111/nph.13498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 112] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2015] [Accepted: 05/06/2015] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Phenolic compounds are secondary metabolites involved in several plant growth and development processes, including resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. The biosynthetic pathways leading to the vast diversity of plant phenolic products often include an acylation step, with phenolic compounds being the donor or acceptor molecules. To date, two acyltransferase families using phenolic compounds as acceptor or donor molecules have been described, with each using a different 'energy-rich' acyl donor. BAHD-acyltransferases, named after the first four biochemically characterized enzymes of the group, use acyl-CoA thioesters as donor molecules, whereas SCPL (Serine CarboxyPeptidase Like)-acyltransferases use 1-O-β-glucose esters. Here, common and divergent specifications found in the literature for both enzyme families were analyzed to answer the following questions. Are both acyltransferases involved in the synthesis of the same molecule (or same group of molecules)? Are both acyltransferases recruited in the same plant? How does the subcellular localization of these enzymes impact metabolite trafficking in plant cells?
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Affiliation(s)
- Thibaut Bontpart
- INRA, UMR1083 SPO, 2, place, Viala, F-34060, Montpellier, France
| | | | - Agnès Ageorges
- INRA, UMR1083 SPO, 2, place, Viala, F-34060, Montpellier, France
| | - Nancy Terrier
- INRA, UMR1083 SPO, 2, place, Viala, F-34060, Montpellier, France
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