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Wu TJ, Lin CC, Ma LT, Yang CK, Ho CL, Wang SY, Chu FH. Functional identification of specialized diterpene synthases from Chamaecyparis obtusa and C. obtusa var. formosana to illustrate the putative evolution of diterpene synthases in Cupressaceae. PLANT SCIENCE : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2024; 344:112080. [PMID: 38582272 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2024.112080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024]
Abstract
Chamaecyparis obtusa and C. obtusa var. formosana of the Cupressaceae family are well known for their fragrance and excellent physical properties. To investigate the biosynthesis of unique diterpenoid compounds, diterpene synthase genes for specialized metabolite synthesis were cloned from C. obtusa and C. obtusa var. formosana. Using an Escherichia coli co-expression system, eight diterpene synthases (diTPSs) were characterized. CoCPS and CovfCPS are class II monofunctional (+)-copalyl diphosphate synthases [(+)-CPSs]. Class I monofunctional CoLS and CovfLS convert (+)-copalyl diphosphate [(+)-CPP] to levopimaradiene, CoBRS, CovfBRS1, and CovfBRS3 convert (+)-CPP to (-)-beyerene, and CovfSDS converts (+)-CPP to (-)-sandaracopimaradiene. These enzymes are all monofunctional diterpene syntheses in Cupressaceae family of gymnosperm, and differ from those in Pinaceae. The discovery of the enzyme responsible for the biosynthesis of tetracyclic diterpene (-)-beyerene was characterized for the first time. Diterpene synthases with different catalytic functions exist in closely related species within the Cupressaceae family, indicating that this group of monofunctional diterpene synthases is particularly prone to the evolution of new functions and development of species-specific specialized diterpenoid constituents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsai-Jung Wu
- School of Forestry and Resource Conservation, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chi-Chun Lin
- School of Forestry and Resource Conservation, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Li-Ting Ma
- Academy of Circular Economy, National Chung-Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Kai Yang
- Department of Forestry, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chen-Lung Ho
- Taiwan Forestry Research Institute, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Sheng-Yang Wang
- Department of Forestry, National Chung-Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Fang-Hua Chu
- School of Forestry and Resource Conservation, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
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2
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Tian M, Jin B, Chen L, Ma R, Ma Q, Li X, Chen T, Guo J, Ge H, Zhao X, Lai C, Tang J, Cui G, Huang L. Functional diversity of diterpene synthases in Aconitum plants. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY : PPB 2023; 202:107968. [PMID: 37619270 DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2023.107968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2023] [Revised: 07/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/06/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
Members of the Aconitum genus within the Ranunculaceae family are known to accumulate a broad array of medicinal and toxic diterpenoid alkaloids (DAs). Historically, ent-copalyl diphosphate (ent-CPP) was considered the sole precursor in DAs biosynthesis. However, the recent discovery of ent-8,13-CPP synthase in A. gymnandrum Maxim., which participates in ent-atiserene biosynthesis, raises the question of whether this gene is conserved throughout the Aconitum genus. In this study, RNA sequencing and PacBio Iso-sequencing were employed to identify diterpene synthases (diTPSs) in four additional Aconitum species with distinct DA compositions. In vitro and in vivo analyses functionally characterized a diverse array of 10 class II and 9 class I diTPSs. In addition to the identification of seven class II diTPSs as ent-CPP synthases, three other synthases generating ent-8,13-CPP, 8,13-CPP, and 8α-hydroxy-CPP were also discovered. Four class I kaurene synthases-like (KSLs) were observed to react with ent-CPP to yield ent-kaurene. Three KSLs not only reacted with ent-CPP but also ent-8,13-CPP to produce ent-atiserene. AsiKSL2-1 was found to react with 8α-hydroxy-CPP to produce Z-abienol and AsiKSL2-2 exhibited no activity with any of the four intermediates. This research delineates the known diterpene biosynthesis pathways in six Aconitum species and explores the highly divergent diterpene synthases within the genus, which are consistent with their phylogeny and may be responsible for the differential distribution of diterpenoid alkaloids in root and aerial parts. These findings contribute valuable insights into the diversification of diterpene biosynthesis and establish a solid foundation for future investigation into DA biosynthetic pathways in Aconitum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei Tian
- State Key Laboratory for Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China
| | - Baolong Jin
- State Key Laboratory for Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China
| | - Lingli Chen
- State Key Laboratory for Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China; Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Anhui Food and Drug Inspection and Research Institute, Hefei, 230051, China
| | - Rui Ma
- School of Pharmacy, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Henan, 450046, China
| | - Qing Ma
- State Key Laboratory for Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China
| | - Xiaolin Li
- State Key Laboratory for Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China
| | - Tong Chen
- State Key Laboratory for Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China
| | - Juan Guo
- State Key Laboratory for Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China
| | - Hui Ge
- Gansu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Gansu, 730000, China
| | - Xin Zhao
- Gansu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Gansu, 730000, China
| | - Changjiangsheng Lai
- State Key Laboratory for Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China
| | - Jinfu Tang
- State Key Laboratory for Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China
| | - Guanghong Cui
- State Key Laboratory for Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China.
| | - Luqi Huang
- State Key Laboratory for Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China.
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3
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Xu C, Wang H, Zhou L, Yan B. Phenotypic and transcriptomic shifts in roots and leaves of rice under the joint stress from microplastic and arsenic. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 447:130770. [PMID: 36640509 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.130770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Revised: 12/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Co-contamination of soil from microplastics (MP) and arsenic (As) is becoming more prevalent, posing a severe threat to agricultural productivity. However, how this joint pollution affects crop growth needs to be better understood. To assess this, we investigated the transcriptomic and phenotypic patterns of rice (Oryza sativa) to MP, As, and their mixtures. The results revealed that, compared to As, MP had much less impact on rice growth, while the MP-As mixture decreased rice's aboveground biomass and altered As's biodistribution in rice tissues. Transcriptome further corroborated this pattern: 13 (294), 4195 (1842), and 3112 (2063) genes differentially regulated in response to MP, As, and their mixtures were observed in root (leaf) tissues, respectively. The joint application of MP and As produced a synergistic effect on crucial metabolic processes, such as carbohydrate, carboxylic acid, oxoacid, organic acid, amino acid, and tetrapyrrole metabolism. Moreover, we found that the joint stress reprogrammed the expression of hub genes encoding photosynthetic enzymes, protein kinases, and transcription factors, which likely reflect a transcript-driven tradeoff strategy between rice growth and defense. Together, these results strongly indicate that MP aggravated the As-induced toxicity in rice plants, which may impact the crop's acclimation to other abiotic field environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chanchan Xu
- Institute of Environmental Research at Greater Bay Area, Key Laboratory for Water Quality and Conservation of the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Haiqing Wang
- Institute of Environmental Research at Greater Bay Area, Key Laboratory for Water Quality and Conservation of the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Li Zhou
- Institute of Environmental Research at Greater Bay Area, Key Laboratory for Water Quality and Conservation of the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China.
| | - Bing Yan
- Institute of Environmental Research at Greater Bay Area, Key Laboratory for Water Quality and Conservation of the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China.
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4
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Tiedge K, Li X, Merrill AT, Davisson D, Chen Y, Yu P, Tantillo DJ, Last RL, Zerbe P. Comparative transcriptomics and metabolomics reveal specialized metabolite drought stress responses in switchgrass (Panicum virgatum). THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2022; 236:1393-1408. [PMID: 36028985 PMCID: PMC9912200 DOI: 10.1111/nph.18443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) is a bioenergy model crop valued for its energy efficiency and drought tolerance. The related monocot species rice (Oryza sativa) and maize (Zea mays) deploy species-specific, specialized metabolites as core stress defenses. By contrast, specialized chemical defenses in switchgrass are largely unknown. To investigate specialized metabolic drought responses in switchgrass, we integrated tissue-specific transcriptome and metabolite analyses of the genotypes Alamo and Cave-in-Rock that feature different drought tolerance. The more drought-susceptible Cave-in-Rock featured an earlier onset of transcriptomic changes and significantly more differentially expressed genes in response to drought compared to Alamo. Specialized pathways showed moderate differential expression compared to pronounced transcriptomic alterations in carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism. However, diterpenoid-biosynthetic genes showed drought-inducible expression in Alamo roots, contrasting largely unaltered triterpenoid and phenylpropanoid pathways. Metabolomic analyses identified common and genotype-specific flavonoids and terpenoids. Consistent with transcriptomic alterations, several root diterpenoids showed significant drought-induced accumulation, whereas triterpenoid abundance remained predominantly unchanged. Structural analysis verified select drought-responsive diterpenoids as oxygenated furanoditerpenoids. Drought-dependent transcriptome and metabolite profiles provide the foundation to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying switchgrass drought responses. Accumulation of specialized root diterpenoids and corresponding pathway transcripts supports a role in drought stress tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kira Tiedge
- Department of Plant BiologyUniversity of California, DavisDavisCA95616USA
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life SciencesUniversity of Groningen9747AG Groningenthe Netherlands
| | - Xingxing Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyMichigan State UniversityEast LansingMI48824USA
- DOE Great Lakes Bioenergy Research CenterMichigan State UniversityEast LansingMI48824USA
| | - Amy T. Merrill
- Department of ChemistryUniversity of California, DavisDavisCA95616USA
| | - Danielle Davisson
- Department of Plant BiologyUniversity of California, DavisDavisCA95616USA
| | - Yuxuan Chen
- Department of Plant BiologyUniversity of California, DavisDavisCA95616USA
| | - Ping Yu
- NMR FacilityUniversity of California, DavisDavisCA95616USA
| | - Dean J. Tantillo
- Department of ChemistryUniversity of California, DavisDavisCA95616USA
| | - Robert L. Last
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyMichigan State UniversityEast LansingMI48824USA
- DOE Great Lakes Bioenergy Research CenterMichigan State UniversityEast LansingMI48824USA
- Department Plant BiologyMichigan State UniversityEast LansingMI48824USA
| | - Philipp Zerbe
- Department of Plant BiologyUniversity of California, DavisDavisCA95616USA
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5
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REN J, WU Y, ZHU Z, CHEN R, ZHANG L. Biosynthesis and regulation of diterpenoids in medicinal plants. Chin J Nat Med 2022; 20:761-772. [DOI: 10.1016/s1875-5364(22)60214-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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6
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Li X, Sarma SJ, Sumner LW, Jones AD, Last RL. Switchgrass Metabolomics Reveals Striking Genotypic and Developmental Differences in Specialized Metabolic Phenotypes. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2022. [PMID: 35729681 DOI: 10.1101/2020.06.01.127720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) is a bioenergy crop that grows productively on lands not suitable for food production and is an excellent target for low-pesticide input biomass production. We hypothesize that resistance to insect pests and microbial pathogens is influenced by low-molecular-weight compounds known as specialized metabolites. We employed untargeted liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, quantitative gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to identify differences in switchgrass ecotype metabolomes. This analysis revealed striking differences between upland and lowland switchgrass metabolomes as well as distinct developmental profiles. Terpenoid- and polyphenol-derived specialized metabolites were identified, including steroidal saponins, di- and sesqui-terpenoids, and flavonoids. The saponins are particularly abundant in switchgrass extracts and have diverse aglycone cores and sugar moieties. We report seven structurally distinct steroidal saponin classes with unique steroidal cores and glycosylated at one or two positions. Quantitative GC-MS revealed differences in total saponin concentrations in the leaf blade, leaf sheath, stem, rhizome, and root (2.3 ± 0.10, 0.5 ± 0.01, 2.5 ± 0.5, 3.0 ± 0.7, and 0.3 ± 0.01 μg/mg of dw, respectively). The quantitative data also demonstrated that saponin concentrations are higher in roots of lowland (ranging from 3.0 to 6.6 μg/mg of dw) than in upland (from 0.9 to 1.9 μg/mg of dw) ecotype plants, suggesting ecotypic-specific biosynthesis and/or biological functions. These results enable future testing of these specialized metabolites on biotic and abiotic stress tolerance and can provide information on the development of low-input bioenergy crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingxing Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, United States
- DOE Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, United States
| | - Saurav J Sarma
- Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211, United States
- MU Metabolomics Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211, United States
| | - Lloyd W Sumner
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211, United States
- Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211, United States
- MU Metabolomics Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211, United States
- Interdisciplinary Plant Group, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211, United States
| | - A Daniel Jones
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, United States
- DOE Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, United States
| | - Robert L Last
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, United States
- DOE Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, United States
- Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, United States
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7
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Li X, Sarma SJ, Sumner LW, Jones AD, Last RL. Switchgrass Metabolomics Reveals Striking Genotypic and Developmental Differences in Specialized Metabolic Phenotypes. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2022; 70:8010-8023. [PMID: 35729681 PMCID: PMC9264348 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.2c01306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) is a bioenergy crop that grows productively on lands not suitable for food production and is an excellent target for low-pesticide input biomass production. We hypothesize that resistance to insect pests and microbial pathogens is influenced by low-molecular-weight compounds known as specialized metabolites. We employed untargeted liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, quantitative gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to identify differences in switchgrass ecotype metabolomes. This analysis revealed striking differences between upland and lowland switchgrass metabolomes as well as distinct developmental profiles. Terpenoid- and polyphenol-derived specialized metabolites were identified, including steroidal saponins, di- and sesqui-terpenoids, and flavonoids. The saponins are particularly abundant in switchgrass extracts and have diverse aglycone cores and sugar moieties. We report seven structurally distinct steroidal saponin classes with unique steroidal cores and glycosylated at one or two positions. Quantitative GC-MS revealed differences in total saponin concentrations in the leaf blade, leaf sheath, stem, rhizome, and root (2.3 ± 0.10, 0.5 ± 0.01, 2.5 ± 0.5, 3.0 ± 0.7, and 0.3 ± 0.01 μg/mg of dw, respectively). The quantitative data also demonstrated that saponin concentrations are higher in roots of lowland (ranging from 3.0 to 6.6 μg/mg of dw) than in upland (from 0.9 to 1.9 μg/mg of dw) ecotype plants, suggesting ecotypic-specific biosynthesis and/or biological functions. These results enable future testing of these specialized metabolites on biotic and abiotic stress tolerance and can provide information on the development of low-input bioenergy crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingxing Li
- Department
of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan
State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, United States
- DOE
Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Michigan
State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, United States
| | - Saurav J. Sarma
- Bond
Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211, United States
- MU
Metabolomics
Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211, United States
| | - Lloyd W. Sumner
- Department
of Biochemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211, United States
- Bond
Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211, United States
- MU
Metabolomics
Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211, United States
- Interdisciplinary
Plant Group, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211, United States
| | - A. Daniel Jones
- Department
of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan
State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, United States
- DOE
Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Michigan
State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, United States
| | - Robert L. Last
- Department
of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan
State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, United States
- DOE
Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Michigan
State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, United States
- Department
of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, United States
- . Phone: (517) 432-3278
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Tiedge K, Destremps J, Solano-Sanchez J, Arce-Rodriguez ML, Zerbe P. Foxtail mosaic virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) in switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.). PLANT METHODS 2022; 18:71. [PMID: 35644680 PMCID: PMC9150325 DOI: 10.1186/s13007-022-00903-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/07/2022] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although the genome for the allotetraploid bioenergy crop switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) has been established, limitations in mutant resources have hampered in planta gene function studies toward crop optimization. Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) is a versatile technique for transient genetic studies. Here we report the implementation of foxtail mosaic virus (FoMV)-mediated gene silencing in switchgrass in above- and below-ground tissues and at different developmental stages. RESULTS The study demonstrated that leaf rub-inoculation is a suitable method for systemic gene silencing in switchgrass. For all three visual marker genes, Magnesium chelatase subunit D (ChlD) and I (ChlI) as well as phytoene desaturase (PDS), phenotypic changes were observed in leaves, albeit at different intensities. Gene silencing efficiency was verified by RT-PCR for all tested genes. Notably, systemic gene silencing was also observed in roots, although silencing efficiency was stronger in leaves (~ 63-94%) as compared to roots (~ 48-78%). Plants at a later developmental stage were moderately less amenable to VIGS than younger plants, but also less perturbed by the viral infection. CONCLUSIONS Using FoMV-mediated VIGS could be achieved in switchgrass leaves and roots, providing an alternative approach for studying gene functions and physiological traits in this important bioenergy crop.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kira Tiedge
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California, Davis, USA.
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
| | | | | | | | - Philipp Zerbe
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California, Davis, USA
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9
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Muchlinski A, Jia M, Tiedge K, Fell JS, Pelot KA, Chew L, Davisson D, Chen Y, Siegel J, Lovell JT, Zerbe P. Cytochrome P450-catalyzed biosynthesis of furanoditerpenoids in the bioenergy crop switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.). THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2021; 108:1053-1068. [PMID: 34514645 PMCID: PMC9292899 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.15492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Revised: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Specialized diterpenoid metabolites are important mediators of plant-environment interactions in monocot crops. To understand metabolite functions in plant environmental adaptation that ultimately can enable crop improvement strategies, a deeper knowledge of the underlying species-specific biosynthetic pathways is required. Here, we report the genomics-enabled discovery of five cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (CYP71Z25-CYP71Z29) that form previously unknown furanoditerpenoids in the monocot bioenergy crop Panicum virgatum (switchgrass). Combinatorial pathway reconstruction showed that CYP71Z25-CYP71Z29 catalyze furan ring addition directly to primary diterpene alcohol intermediates derived from distinct class II diterpene synthase products. Transcriptional co-expression patterns and the presence of select diterpenoids in switchgrass roots support the occurrence of P450-derived furanoditerpenoids in planta. Integrating molecular dynamics, structural analysis and targeted mutagenesis identified active site determinants that contribute to the distinct catalytic specificities underlying the broad substrate promiscuity of CYP71Z25-CYP71Z29 for native and non-native diterpenoids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Muchlinski
- Department of Plant BiologyUniversity of California – DavisDavisCalifornia95616USA
- Present address:
Firmenich Inc.4767 Nexus Center Dr.San DiegoCalifornia9212USA
| | - Meirong Jia
- Department of Plant BiologyUniversity of California – DavisDavisCalifornia95616USA
- Present address:
State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines & NHC Key Laboratory of Biosynthesis of Natural ProductsInstitute of Materia MedicaChinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical CollegeBeijing100050China
| | - Kira Tiedge
- Department of Plant BiologyUniversity of California – DavisDavisCalifornia95616USA
| | - Jason S. Fell
- Genome CenterUniversity of California – DavisDavisCalifornia95616USA
| | - Kyle A. Pelot
- Department of Plant BiologyUniversity of California – DavisDavisCalifornia95616USA
| | - Lisl Chew
- Department of Plant BiologyUniversity of California – DavisDavisCalifornia95616USA
| | - Danielle Davisson
- Department of Plant BiologyUniversity of California – DavisDavisCalifornia95616USA
| | - Yuxuan Chen
- Department of Plant BiologyUniversity of California – DavisDavisCalifornia95616USA
| | - Justin Siegel
- Genome CenterUniversity of California – DavisDavisCalifornia95616USA
- Department of ChemistryUniversity of California – DavisDavisCalifornia95616USA
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular MedicineUniversity of California – DavisDavisCalifornia95616USA
| | - John T. Lovell
- Genome Sequencing CenterHudson Alpha Institute for BiotechnologyHuntsvilleAlabama35806USA
| | - Philipp Zerbe
- Department of Plant BiologyUniversity of California – DavisDavisCalifornia95616USA
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10
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Ding Y, Northen TR, Khalil A, Huffaker A, Schmelz EA. Getting back to the grass roots: harnessing specialized metabolites for improved crop stress resilience. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2021; 70:174-186. [PMID: 34129999 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2021.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2021] [Revised: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Roots remain an understudied site of complex and important biological interactions mediating plant productivity. In grain and bioenergy crops, grass root specialized metabolites (GRSM) are central to key interactions, yet our basic knowledge of the chemical language remains fragmentary. Continued improvements in plant genome assembly and metabolomics are enabling large-scale advances in the discovery of specialized metabolic pathways as a means of regulating root-biotic interactions. Metabolomics, transcript coexpression analyses, forward genetic studies, gene synthesis and heterologous expression assays drive efficient pathway discoveries. Functional genetic variants identified through genome wide analyses, targeted CRISPR/Cas9 approaches, and both native and non-native overexpression studies critically inform novel strategies for bioengineering metabolic pathways to improve plant traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yezhang Ding
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Trent R Northen
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA 94608, USA
| | - Ahmed Khalil
- Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Alisa Huffaker
- Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Eric A Schmelz
- Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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Chen R, Bu Y, Ren J, Pelot KA, Hu X, Diao Y, Chen W, Zerbe P, Zhang L. Discovery and modulation of diterpenoid metabolism improves glandular trichome formation, artemisinin production and stress resilience in Artemisia annua. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2021; 230:2387-2403. [PMID: 33740256 DOI: 10.1111/nph.17351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2020] [Accepted: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Plants synthesize diverse diterpenoids with numerous functions in organ development and stress resistance. However, the role of diterpenoids in glandular trichome (GT) development and GT-localized biosynthesis in plants remains unknown. Here, the identification of 10 diterpene synthases (diTPSs) revealed the diversity of diterpenoid biosynthesis in Artemisia annua. Protein-protein interactions (PPIs) between AaKSL1 and AaCPS2 in the plastids highlighted their potential functions in modulating metabolic flux to gibberellins (GAs) or ent-isopimara-7,15-diene-derived metabolites (IDMs) through metabolic engineering. A phenotypic analysis of transgenic plants suggested a complex repertoire of diterpenoids in Artemisia annua with important roles in GT formation, artemisinin accumulation and stress resilience. Metabolic engineering of diterpenoids simultaneously increased the artemisinin yield and stress resistance. Transcriptome and metabolic profiling suggested that bioactive GA4 /GA1 promote GT formation. Collectively, these results expand our knowledge of diterpenoids and show the potential of diterpenoids to simultaneously improve both the GT-localized metabolite yield and stress resistance, in planta.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruibing Chen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, School of Pharmacy, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Yuejuan Bu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, School of Pharmacy, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Junze Ren
- Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, School of Pharmacy, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Kyle A Pelot
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Xiangyang Hu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Bio-Energy Crops, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, China
| | - Yong Diao
- School of Medicine, Huaqiao University, Quanzhou, 362021, China
| | - Wansheng Chen
- Department of Pharmacy, Changzheng Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200003, China
- Research and Development Center of Chinese Medicine Resources and Biotechnology, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Philipp Zerbe
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Lei Zhang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, School of Pharmacy, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China
- Biomedical Innovation R&D Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, China
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12
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Blaby IK, Cheng JF. Building a custom high-throughput platform at the Joint Genome Institute for DNA construct design and assembly-present and future challenges. Synth Biol (Oxf) 2020; 5:ysaa023. [PMID: 34746437 PMCID: PMC7737003 DOI: 10.1093/synbio/ysaa023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2020] [Revised: 10/20/2020] [Accepted: 10/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The rapid design and assembly of synthetic DNA constructs have become a crucial component of biological engineering projects via iterative design-build-test-learn cycles. In this perspective, we provide an overview of the workflows used to generate the thousands of constructs and libraries produced each year at the U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute. Particular attention is paid to describing pipelines, tools used, types of scientific projects enabled by the platform and challenges faced in further scaling output.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian K Blaby
- US Department of Energy, Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Jan-Fang Cheng
- US Department of Energy, Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
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13
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Yang M, Liu G, Yamamura Y, Chen F, Fu J. Divergent Evolution of the Diterpene Biosynthesis Pathway in Tea Plants ( Camellia sinensis) Caused by Single Amino Acid Variation of ent-Kaurene Synthase. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2020; 68:9930-9939. [PMID: 32841021 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.0c03488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Most plant terpenoids are classified as secondary metabolites. A small portion of them are products of primary metabolism biosynthesized by relatively conserved pathways. Gibberellins (GAs), which are essential for plant growth and development, are diterpenoid phytohormones. (E,E,E)-Geranylgeranyl diphosphate (GGPP) is the precursor for both GAs and other diterpenoids of secondary metabolism. ent-Kaurene biosynthesis from GGPP is a key step of GA formation, which is catalyzed by two sequential and dedicated diterpene synthases (diTPSs): ent-copalyl diphosphate synthase (CPS) and ent-kaurene synthase (KS) of the terpene synthase gene family. Sharing a common evolutionary origin, CPS and KS belong to different TPS subfamilies. Tea plant (Camellia sinensis), the subject of this study, is a leaf-based economic crop. Budbreak mainly manipulated by GAs is a primary factor for targeted tea breeding. The key genes for gibberellin biosynthesis are known; however, they have not yet been characterized in tea plants. Here, we identified and functionally characterized three diterpene biosynthesis-related genes, including one CPS and two highly similar KSs in tea plants. These genes were initially identified through transcriptome sequencing. The functional characterization determined by enzymatic activity assay indicated that CsCPS could catalyze GGPP to form ent-copalyl diphosphate (ent-CPP), which was further used as the substrate by CsKS1 to produce ent-kaurene or by CsKS2 to produce 16α-hydroxy-ent-kaurane with ent-kaurene as a minor product, respectively. We demonstrated that the divergent evolution of diterpene biosynthesis in tea plants resulted from gene duplication of KSs, followed by functional divergence caused by single amino acid variation. This study would provide an insight into the diterpenoid metabolism and GA biosynthesis in tea plants to further understand leaf bud development or insect resistance and to provide a genetic basis for tea plant breeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei Yang
- Tea Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310008, China
- Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
- Key Laboratory of Tea Quality and Safety Control, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Hangzhou 310008, China
| | - Guanhua Liu
- Tea Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310008, China
- Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
- Key Laboratory of Tea Quality and Safety Control, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Hangzhou 310008, China
- College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Yoshimi Yamamura
- Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences for Research, University of Toyama, Toyama 9300194, Japan
| | - Feng Chen
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
| | - Jianyu Fu
- Tea Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310008, China
- Key Laboratory of Tea Quality and Safety Control, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Hangzhou 310008, China
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14
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Evolution of Labdane-Related Diterpene Synthases in Cereals. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 61:1850-1859. [DOI: 10.1093/pcp/pcaa106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 08/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Gibberellins (GAs) are labdane-related diterpenoid phytohormones that regulate various aspects of higher plant growth. A biosynthetic intermediate of GAs is ent-kaurene, a tetra-cyclic diterpene that is produced through successive cyclization of geranylgeranyl diphosphate catalyzed by the two distinct monofunctional diterpene synthases—ent-copalyl diphosphate synthase (ent-CPS) and ent-kaurene synthase (KS). Various homologous genes of the two diterpene synthases have been identified in cereals, including rice (Oryza sativa), wheat (Triticum aestivum) and maize (Zea mays), and are believed to have been derived from GA biosynthetic ent-CPS and KS genes through duplication and neofunctionalization. They play roles in specialized metabolism, giving rise to diverse labdane-related diterpenoids for defense because a variety of diterpene synthases generate diverse carbon-skeleton structures. This review mainly describes the diterpene synthase homologs that have been identified and characterized in rice, wheat and maize and shows the evolutionary history of various homologs in rice inferred by comparative genomics studies using wild rice species, such as Oryza rufipogon and Oryza brachyantha. In addition, we introduce labdane-related diterpene synthases in bryophytes and gymnosperms to illuminate the macroscopic evolutionary history of diterpene synthases in the plant kingdom—bifunctional enzymes possessing both CPS and KS activities are present in bryophytes; gymnosperms possess monofunctional CPS and KS responsible for GA biosynthesis and also possess bifunctional diterpene synthases facilitating specialized metabolism for defense.
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15
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Koch KG, Palmer NA, Donze-Reiner T, Scully ED, Seravalli J, Amundsen K, Twigg P, Louis J, Bradshaw JD, Heng-Moss TM, Sarath G. Aphid-Responsive Defense Networks in Hybrid Switchgrass. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2020; 11:1145. [PMID: 32849703 PMCID: PMC7412557 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.01145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2020] [Accepted: 07/14/2020] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Aphid herbivory elicits plant defense-related networks that are influenced by host genetics. Plants of the upland switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) cultivar Summer can be a suitable host for greenbug aphids (Schizaphis graminum; GB), and yellow sugarcane aphids (Sipha flava, YSA), whereas the lowland cultivar Kanlow exhibited multi-species resistance that curtails aphid reproduction. However, stabilized hybrids of Summer (♀) x Kanlow (♂) (SxK) with improved agronomics can be damaged by both aphids. Here, hormone and metabolite analyses, coupled with RNA-Seq analysis of plant transcriptomes, were utilized to delineate defense networks induced by aphid feeding in SxK switchgrass and pinpoint plant transcription factors (TFs), such as WRKYs that potentially regulate these responses. Abscisic acid (ABA) levels were significantly higher in GB infested plants at 5 and 10 days after infestation (DAI). ABA levels were highest at 15DAI in YSA infested plants. Jasmonic acid levels were significantly elevated under GB infestation, while salicylic acid levels were signifi40cantly elevated only at 15 DAI in YSA infested plants. Similarly, levels of several metabolites were altered in common or specifically to each aphid. YSA infestation induced a significant enrichment of flavonoids consistent with an upregulation of many genes associated with flavonoid biosynthesis at 15DAI. Gene co-expression modules that responded singly to either aphid or in common to both aphids were differentiated and linked to specific TFs. Together, these data provide important clues into the interplay of metabolism and transcriptional remodeling accompanying defense responses to aphid herbivory in hybrid switchgrass.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle G. Koch
- Department of Entomology, University of Nebraska at Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, United States
| | - Nathan A. Palmer
- Wheat, Sorghum, and Forage Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Lincoln, NE, United States
- Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska at Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, United States
| | - Teresa Donze-Reiner
- Biology Department, West Chester University of Pennsylvania, West Chester, PA, United States
| | - Erin D. Scully
- Stored Product Insect and Engineering Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Manhattan, KS, United States
| | - Javier Seravalli
- Redox Biology Center, Department of Biochemistry, University of Nebraska at Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, United States
| | - Keenan Amundsen
- Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska at Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, United States
| | - Paul Twigg
- Biology Department, University of Nebraska at Kearney, Kearney, NE, United States
| | - Joe Louis
- Department of Entomology, University of Nebraska at Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, United States
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, United States
| | - Jeffrey D. Bradshaw
- Department of Entomology, University of Nebraska at Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, United States
| | | | - Gautam Sarath
- Wheat, Sorghum, and Forage Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Lincoln, NE, United States
- Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska at Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, United States
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16
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Karunanithi PS, Berrios DI, Wang S, Davis J, Shen T, Fiehn O, Maloof JN, Zerbe P. The foxtail millet (Setaria italica) terpene synthase gene family. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2020; 103:781-800. [PMID: 32282967 PMCID: PMC7497057 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.14771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2020] [Revised: 03/15/2020] [Accepted: 03/24/2020] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Terpenoid metabolism plays vital roles in stress defense and the environmental adaptation of monocot crops. Here, we describe the identification of the terpene synthase (TPS) gene family of the panicoid food and bioenergy model crop foxtail millet (Setaria italica). The diploid S. italica genome contains 32 TPS genes, 17 of which were biochemically characterized in this study. Unlike other thus far investigated grasses, S. italica contains TPSs producing all three ent-, (+)- and syn-copalyl pyrophosphate stereoisomers that naturally occur as central building blocks in the biosynthesis of distinct monocot diterpenoids. Conversion of these intermediates by the promiscuous TPS SiTPS8 yielded different diterpenoid scaffolds. Additionally, a cytochrome P450 monooxygenase (CYP99A17), which genomically clustered with SiTPS8, catalyzes the C19 hydroxylation of SiTPS8 products to generate the corresponding diterpene alcohols. The presence of syntenic orthologs to about 19% of the S. italica TPSs in related grasses supports a common ancestry of selected pathway branches. Among the identified enzyme products, abietadien-19-ol, syn-pimara-7,15-dien-19-ol and germacrene-d-4-ol were detectable in planta, and gene expression analysis of the biosynthetic TPSs showed distinct and, albeit moderately, inducible expression patterns in response to biotic and abiotic stress. In vitro growth-inhibiting activity of abietadien-19-ol and syn-pimara-7,15-dien-19-ol against Fusarium verticillioides and Fusarium subglutinans may indicate pathogen defensive functions, whereas the low antifungal efficacy of tested sesquiterpenoids supports other bioactivities. Together, these findings expand the known chemical space of monocot terpenoid metabolism to enable further investigations of terpenoid-mediated stress resilience in these agriculturally important species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prema S. Karunanithi
- Department of Plant BiologyUniversity of California–DavisOne Shields AvenueDavis95616CAUSA
| | - David I. Berrios
- Department of Plant BiologyUniversity of California–DavisOne Shields AvenueDavis95616CAUSA
| | - Sadira Wang
- Department of Plant BiologyUniversity of California–DavisOne Shields AvenueDavis95616CAUSA
| | - John Davis
- Department of Plant BiologyUniversity of California–DavisOne Shields AvenueDavis95616CAUSA
| | - Tong Shen
- West Coast Metabolomics CenterUniversity of California–DavisOne Shields AvenueDavis95616CAUSA
| | - Oliver Fiehn
- West Coast Metabolomics CenterUniversity of California–DavisOne Shields AvenueDavis95616CAUSA
| | - Julin N. Maloof
- Department of Plant BiologyUniversity of California–DavisOne Shields AvenueDavis95616CAUSA
| | - Philipp Zerbe
- Department of Plant BiologyUniversity of California–DavisOne Shields AvenueDavis95616CAUSA
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17
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Zhou F, Pichersky E. More is better: the diversity of terpene metabolism in plants. CURRENT OPINION IN PLANT BIOLOGY 2020; 55:1-10. [PMID: 32088555 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbi.2020.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2019] [Revised: 01/15/2020] [Accepted: 01/21/2020] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
All plants synthesize a diverse array of terpenoid metabolites. Some are common to all, but many are synthesized only in specific taxa and presumably evolved as adaptations to specific ecological conditions. While the basic terpenoid biosynthetic pathways are common in all plants, recent discoveries have revealed many variations in the way plants synthesized specific terpenes. A major theme is the much greater number of substrates that can be used by enzymes belonging to the terpene synthase (TPS) family. Other recent discoveries include non-TPS enzymes that catalyze the formation of terpenes, and novel transport mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Zhou
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Eran Pichersky
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
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18
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Tiedge K, Muchlinski A, Zerbe P. Genomics-enabled analysis of specialized metabolism in bioenergy crops: current progress and challenges. Synth Biol (Oxf) 2020; 5:ysaa005. [PMID: 32995549 PMCID: PMC7445794 DOI: 10.1093/synbio/ysaa005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2020] [Revised: 05/03/2020] [Accepted: 05/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Plants produce a staggering diversity of specialized small molecule metabolites that play vital roles in mediating environmental interactions and stress adaptation. This chemical diversity derives from dynamic biosynthetic pathway networks that are often species-specific and operate under tight spatiotemporal and environmental control. A growing divide between demand and environmental challenges in food and bioenergy crop production has intensified research on these complex metabolite networks and their contribution to crop fitness. High-throughput omics technologies provide access to ever-increasing data resources for investigating plant metabolism. However, the efficiency of using such system-wide data to decode the gene and enzyme functions controlling specialized metabolism has remained limited; due largely to the recalcitrance of many plants to genetic approaches and the lack of 'user-friendly' biochemical tools for studying the diverse enzyme classes involved in specialized metabolism. With emphasis on terpenoid metabolism in the bioenergy crop switchgrass as an example, this review aims to illustrate current advances and challenges in the application of DNA synthesis and synthetic biology tools for accelerating the functional discovery of genes, enzymes and pathways in plant specialized metabolism. These technologies have accelerated knowledge development on the biosynthesis and physiological roles of diverse metabolite networks across many ecologically and economically important plant species and can provide resources for application to precision breeding and natural product metabolic engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kira Tiedge
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Andrew Muchlinski
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Philipp Zerbe
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
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19
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Murphy KM, Zerbe P. Specialized diterpenoid metabolism in monocot crops: Biosynthesis and chemical diversity. PHYTOCHEMISTRY 2020; 172:112289. [PMID: 32036187 DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2020.112289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2019] [Revised: 01/24/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2020] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Among the myriad specialized metabolites that plants employ to mediate interactions with their environment, diterpenoids form a chemically diverse group with vital biological functions. A few broadly abundant diterpenoids serve as core pathway intermediates in plant general metabolism. The majority of plant diterpenoids, however, function in specialized metabolism as often species-specific chemical defenses against herbivores and microbial diseases, in below-ground allelopathic interactions, as well as abiotic stress responses. Dynamic networks of anti-microbial diterpenoids were first demonstrated in rice (Oryza sativa) over four decades ago, and more recently, unique diterpenoid blends with demonstrated antibiotic bioactivities were also discovered in maize (Zea mays). Enabled by advances in -omics and biochemical approaches, species-specific diterpenoid-diversifying enzymes have been identified in these and other Poaceous species, including wheat (Triticum aestivum) and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), and are discussed in this article with an emphasis on the critical diterpene synthase and cytochrome P450 monooxygenase families and their products. The continued investigation of the biosynthesis, diversity, and function of terpenoid-mediated crop defenses provides foundational knowledge to enable the development of strategies for improving crop resistance traits in the face of impeding pest, pathogen, and climate pressures impacting global agricultural production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine M Murphy
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California-Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Philipp Zerbe
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California-Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
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20
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Ma LT, Lee YR, Tsao NW, Wang SY, Zerbe P, Chu FH. Biochemical characterization of diterpene synthases of Taiwania cryptomerioides expands the known functional space of specialized diterpene metabolism in gymnosperms. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2019; 100:1254-1272. [PMID: 31448467 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.14513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2019] [Revised: 08/13/2019] [Accepted: 08/19/2019] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Taiwania cryptomerioides is a monotypic gymnosperm species, valued for the high decay resistance of its wood. This durability has been attributed to the abundance of terpenoids, especially the major diterpenoid metabolite ferruginol, with antifungal and antitermite activity. Specialized diterpenoid metabolism in gymnosperms primarily recruits bifunctional class-I/II diterpene synthases (diTPSs), whereas monofunctional class-II and class-I enzymes operate in angiosperms. In this study, we identified a previously unrecognized group of monofunctional diTPSs in T. cryptomerioides, which suggests a distinct evolutionary divergence of the diTPS family in this species. Specifically, five monofunctional diTPS functions not previously observed in gymnosperms were characterized, including monofunctional class-II enzymes forming labda-13-en-8-ol diphosphate (LPP, TcCPS2) and (+)-copalyl diphosphate (CPP, TcCPS4), and three class-I diTPSs producing biformene (TcKSL1), levopimaradiene (TcKSL3) and phyllocladanol (TcKSL5), respectively. Methyl jasmonate (MeJA) elicited the accumulation of levopimaradiene and the corresponding biosynthetic diTPS genes, TcCPS4 and TcKSL3, is consistent with a possible role in plant defense. Furthermore, TcCPS4 and TcKSL3 are likely to contribute to abietatriene biosynthesis via levopimaradiene as an intermediate in ferruginol biosynthesis in Taiwania. In conclusion, this study provides deeper insight into the functional landscape and molecular evolution of specialized diterpenoid metabolism in gymnosperms as a basis to better understand the role of these metabolites in tree chemical defense.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Ting Ma
- School of Forestry and Resource Conservation, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Ru Lee
- School of Forestry and Resource Conservation, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan
| | - Nai-Wen Tsao
- Department of Forestry, National Chung-Hsing University, Taichung, 402, Taiwan
| | - Sheng-Yang Wang
- Department of Forestry, National Chung-Hsing University, Taichung, 402, Taiwan
| | - Philipp Zerbe
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Fang-Hua Chu
- School of Forestry and Resource Conservation, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan
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21
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Ding Y, Murphy KM, Poretsky E, Mafu S, Yang B, Char SN, Christensen SA, Saldivar E, Wu M, Wang Q, Ji L, Schmitz RJ, Kremling KA, Buckler ES, Shen Z, Briggs SP, Bohlmann J, Sher A, Castro-Falcon G, Hughes CC, Huffaker A, Zerbe P, Schmelz EA. Multiple genes recruited from hormone pathways partition maize diterpenoid defences. NATURE PLANTS 2019; 5:1043-1056. [PMID: 31527844 DOI: 10.1038/s41477-019-0509-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2019] [Accepted: 07/26/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Duplication and divergence of primary pathway genes underlie the evolution of plant specialized metabolism; however, mechanisms partitioning parallel hormone and defence pathways are often speculative. For example, the primary pathway intermediate ent-kaurene is essential for gibberellin biosynthesis and is also a proposed precursor for maize antibiotics. By integrating transcriptional coregulation patterns, genome-wide association studies, combinatorial enzyme assays, proteomics and targeted mutant analyses, we show that maize kauralexin biosynthesis proceeds via the positional isomer ent-isokaurene formed by a diterpene synthase pair recruited from gibberellin metabolism. The oxygenation and subsequent desaturation of ent-isokaurene by three promiscuous cytochrome P450s and a new steroid 5α reductase indirectly yields predominant ent-kaurene-associated antibiotics required for Fusarium stalk rot resistance. The divergence and differential expression of pathway branches derived from multiple duplicated hormone-metabolic genes minimizes dysregulation of primary metabolism via the circuitous biosynthesis of ent-kaurene-related antibiotics without the production of growth hormone precursors during defence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yezhang Ding
- Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Katherine M Murphy
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Elly Poretsky
- Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Sibongile Mafu
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Bing Yang
- Department of Genetics, Development and Cell Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Si Nian Char
- Department of Genetics, Development and Cell Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Shawn A Christensen
- Chemistry Research Unit, Center for Medical, Agricultural, and Veterinary Entomology, US Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Evan Saldivar
- Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Mengxi Wu
- Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Qiang Wang
- Institute of Ecological Agriculture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Lexiang Ji
- Institute of Bioinformatics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | | | - Karl A Kremling
- Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Edward S Buckler
- Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
- Robert W. Holley Center for Agriculture and Health, US Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Zhouxin Shen
- Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Steven P Briggs
- Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Jörg Bohlmann
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Andrew Sher
- Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Gabriel Castro-Falcon
- Center for Marine Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Chambers C Hughes
- Center for Marine Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Alisa Huffaker
- Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Philipp Zerbe
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Eric A Schmelz
- Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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22
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Conserved bases for the initial cyclase in gibberellin biosynthesis: from bacteria to plants. Biochem J 2019; 476:2607-2621. [PMID: 31484677 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20190479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2019] [Revised: 09/02/2019] [Accepted: 09/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
All land plants contain at least one class II diterpene cyclase (DTC), which utilize an acid-base catalytic mechanism, for the requisite production of ent-copalyl diphosphate (ent-CPP) in gibberellin A (GA) phytohormone biosynthesis. These ent-CPP synthases (CPSs) are hypothesized to be derived from ancient bacterial origins and, in turn, to have given rise to the frequently observed additional DTCs utilized in more specialized plant metabolism. However, such gene duplication and neo-functionalization has occurred repeatedly, reducing the utility of phylogenetic analyses. Support for evolutionary scenarios can be found in more specific conservation of key enzymatic features. While DTCs generally utilize a DxDD motif as the catalytic acid, the identity of the catalytic base seems to vary depending, at least in part, on product outcome. The CPS from Arabidopsis thaliana has been found to utilize a histidine-asparagine dyad to ligate a water molecule that serves as the catalytic base, with alanine substitution leading to the production of 8β-hydroxy-ent-CPP. Here this dyad and effect of Ala substitution is shown to be specifically conserved in plant CPSs involved in GA biosynthesis, providing insight into plant DTC evolution and assisting functional assignment. Even more strikingly, while GA biosynthesis arose independently in plant-associated bacteria and fungi, the catalytic base dyad also is specifically found in the relevant bacterial, but not fungal, CPSs. This suggests functional conservation of CPSs from bacteria to plants, presumably reflecting an early role for derived diterpenoids in both plant development and plant-microbe interactions, eventually leading to GA, and a speculative evolutionary scenario is presented.
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23
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Jia M, Mishra SK, Tufts S, Jernigan RL, Peters RJ. Combinatorial biosynthesis and the basis for substrate promiscuity in class I diterpene synthases. Metab Eng 2019; 55:44-58. [PMID: 31220664 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymben.2019.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2019] [Revised: 06/04/2019] [Accepted: 06/14/2019] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Terpene synthases are capable of mediating complex reactions, but fundamentally simply catalyze lysis of allylic diphosphate esters with subsequent deprotonation. Even with the initially generated tertiary carbocation this offers a variety of product outcomes, and deprotonation further can be preceded by the addition of water. This is particularly evident with labdane-related diterpenes (LRDs) where such lysis follows bicyclization catalyzed by class II diterpene cyclases (DTCs) that generates preceding structural variation. Previous investigation revealed that two diterpene synthases (DTSs), one bacterial and the other plant-derived, exhibit extreme substrate promiscuity, but yet still typically produce exo-ene or tertiary alcohol LRD derivatives, respectively (i.e., demonstrating high catalytic specificity), enabling rational combinatorial biosynthesis. Here two DTSs that produce either cis or trans endo-ene LRD derivatives, also plant and bacterial (respectively), were examined for their potential analogous utility. Only the bacterial trans-endo-ene forming DTS was found to exhibit significant substrate promiscuity (with moderate catalytic specificity). This further led to investigation of the basis for substrate promiscuity, which was found to be more closely correlated with phylogenetic origin than reaction complexity. Specifically, bacterial DTSs exhibited significantly more substrate promiscuity than those from plants, presumably reflecting their distinct evolutionary context. In particular, plants typically have heavily elaborated LRD metabolism, in contrast to the rarity of such natural products in bacteria, and the lack of potential substrates presumably alleviates selective pressure against such promiscuity. Regardless of such speculation, this work provides novel biosynthetic access to almost 19 LRDs, demonstrating the power of the combinatorial approach taken here.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meirong Jia
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA
| | - Sambit K Mishra
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA
| | - Samuel Tufts
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA
| | - Robert L Jernigan
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA
| | - Reuben J Peters
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA.
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Karunanithi PS, Zerbe P. Terpene Synthases as Metabolic Gatekeepers in the Evolution of Plant Terpenoid Chemical Diversity. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2019; 10:1166. [PMID: 31632418 PMCID: PMC6779861 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2019.01166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 133] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2019] [Accepted: 08/26/2019] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Terpenoids comprise tens of thousands of small molecule natural products that are widely distributed across all domains of life. Plants produce by far the largest array of terpenoids with various roles in development and chemical ecology. Driven by selective pressure to adapt to their specific ecological niche, individual species form only a fraction of the myriad plant terpenoids, typically representing unique metabolite blends. Terpene synthase (TPS) enzymes are the gatekeepers in generating terpenoid diversity by catalyzing complex carbocation-driven cyclization, rearrangement, and elimination reactions that enable the transformation of a few acyclic prenyl diphosphate substrates into a vast chemical library of hydrocarbon and, for a few enzymes, oxygenated terpene scaffolds. The seven currently defined clades (a-h) forming the plant TPS family evolved from ancestral triterpene synthase- and prenyl transferase-type enzymes through repeated events of gene duplication and subsequent loss, gain, or fusion of protein domains and further functional diversification. Lineage-specific expansion of these TPS clades led to variable family sizes that may range from a single TPS gene to families of more than 100 members that may further function as part of modular metabolic networks to maximize the number of possible products. Accompanying gene family expansion, the TPS family shows a profound functional plasticity, where minor active site alterations can dramatically impact product outcome, thus enabling the emergence of new functions with minimal investment in evolving new enzymes. This article reviews current knowledge on the functional diversity and molecular evolution of the plant TPS family that underlies the chemical diversity of bioactive terpenoids across the plant kingdom.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prema S Karunanithi
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Philipp Zerbe
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, United States
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25
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Muchlinski A, Chen X, Lovell JT, Köllner TG, Pelot KA, Zerbe P, Ruggiero M, Callaway L, Laliberte S, Chen F, Tholl D. Biosynthesis and Emission of Stress-Induced Volatile Terpenes in Roots and Leaves of Switchgrass ( Panicum virgatum L.). FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2019; 10:1144. [PMID: 31608090 PMCID: PMC6761604 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2019.01144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2019] [Accepted: 08/21/2019] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.), a perennial C4 grass, represents an important species in natural and anthropogenic grasslands of North America. Its resilience to abiotic and biotic stress has made switchgrass a preferred bioenergy crop. However, little is known about the mechanisms of resistance of switchgrass against pathogens and herbivores. Volatile compounds such as terpenes have important activities in plant direct and indirect defense. Here, we show that switchgrass leaves emit blends of monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes upon feeding by the generalist insect herbivore Spodoptera frugiperda (fall armyworm) and in a systemic response to the treatment of roots with defense hormones. Belowground application of methyl jasmonate also induced the release of volatile terpenes from roots. To correlate the emission of terpenes with the expression and activity of their corresponding biosynthetic genes, we identified a gene family of 44 monoterpene and sesquiterpene synthases (mono- and sesqui-TPSs) of the type-a, type-b, type-g, and type-e subfamilies, of which 32 TPSs were found to be functionally active in vitro. The TPS genes are distributed over the K and N subgenomes with clusters occurring on several chromosomes. Synteny analysis revealed syntenic networks for approximately 30-40% of the switchgrass TPS genes in the genomes of Panicum hallii, Setaria italica, and Sorghum bicolor, suggesting shared TPS ancestry in the common progenitor of these grass lineages. Eighteen switchgrass TPS genes were substantially induced upon insect and hormone treatment and the enzymatic products of nine of these genes correlated with compounds of the induced volatile blends. In accordance with the emission of volatiles, TPS gene expression was induced systemically in response to belowground treatment, whereas this response was not observed upon aboveground feeding of S. frugiperda. Our results demonstrate complex above and belowground responses of induced volatile terpene metabolism in switchgrass and provide a framework for more detailed investigations of the function of terpenes in stress resistance in this monocot crop.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Muchlinski
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | - Xinlu Chen
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States
| | - John T. Lovell
- Genome Sequencing Center, Hudson Alpha Institute for Biotechnology, Huntsville, AL, United States
| | - Tobias G. Köllner
- Department of Biochemistry, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany
| | - Kyle A. Pelot
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Philipp Zerbe
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Meredith Ruggiero
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | - LeMar Callaway
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | - Suzanne Laliberte
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States
| | - Feng Chen
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States
- *Correspondence: Feng Chen, ; Dorothea Tholl,
| | - Dorothea Tholl
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States
- *Correspondence: Feng Chen, ; Dorothea Tholl,
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26
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Ibdah M, Muchlinski A, Yahyaa M, Nawade B, Tholl D. Carrot Volatile Terpene Metabolism: Terpene Diversity and Biosynthetic Genes. THE CARROT GENOME 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-03389-7_16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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27
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Pelot KA, Hagelthorn DM, Hong YJ, Tantillo DJ, Zerbe P. Diterpene Synthase‐Catalyzed Biosynthesis of Distinct Clerodane Stereoisomers. Chembiochem 2018; 20:111-117. [DOI: 10.1002/cbic.201800580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kyle A. Pelot
- Department of Plant Biology University of California Davis One Shields Avenue Davis CA 95616 USA
| | - David M. Hagelthorn
- Department of Plant Biology University of California Davis One Shields Avenue Davis CA 95616 USA
| | - Young J. Hong
- Department of Chemistry University of California Davis One Shields Avenue Davis CA 95616 USA
| | - Dean J. Tantillo
- Department of Chemistry University of California Davis One Shields Avenue Davis CA 95616 USA
| | - Philipp Zerbe
- Department of Plant Biology University of California Davis One Shields Avenue Davis CA 95616 USA
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28
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Murphy KM, Ma LT, Ding Y, Schmelz EA, Zerbe P. Functional Characterization of Two Class II Diterpene Synthases Indicates Additional Specialized Diterpenoid Pathways in Maize ( Zea mays). FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2018; 9:1542. [PMID: 30405674 PMCID: PMC6206430 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2018.01542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2018] [Accepted: 10/02/2018] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
As a major staple food, maize (Zea mays) is critical to food security. Shifting environmental pressures increasingly hamper crop defense capacities, causing expanded harvest loss. Specialized labdane-type diterpenoids are key components of maize chemical defense and ecological adaptation. Labdane diterpenoid biosynthesis most commonly requires the pairwise activity of class II and class I diterpene synthases (diTPSs) that convert the central precursor geranylgeranyl diphosphate into distinct diterpenoid scaffolds. Two maize class II diTPSs, ANTHER EAR 1 and 2 (ZmAN1/2), have been previously identified as catalytically redundant ent-copalyl diphosphate (CPP) synthases. ZmAN1 is essential for gibberellin phytohormone biosynthesis, whereas ZmAN2 is stress-inducible and governs the formation of defensive kauralexin and dolabralexin diterpenoids. Here, we report the biochemical characterization of the two remaining class II diTPSs present in the maize genome, COPALYL DIPHOSPHATE SYNTHASE 3 (ZmCPS3) and COPALYL DIPHOSPHATE SYNTHASE 4 (ZmCPS4). Functional analysis via microbial co-expression assays identified ZmCPS3 as a (+)-CPP synthase, with functionally conserved orthologs occurring in wheat (Triticum aestivum) and numerous dicot species. ZmCPS4 formed the unusual prenyl diphosphate, 8,13-CPP (labda-8,13-dien-15-yl diphosphate), as verified by mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance. As a minor product, ZmCPS4 also produced labda-13-en-8-ol diphosphate (LPP). Root gene expression profiles did not indicate an inducible role of ZmCPS3 in maize stress responses. By contrast, ZmCPS4 showed a pattern of inducible gene expression in roots exposed to oxidative stress, supporting a possible role in abiotic stress responses. Identification of the catalytic activities of ZmCPS3 and ZmCPS4 clarifies the first committed reactions controlling the diversity of defensive diterpenoids in maize, and suggests the existence of additional yet undiscovered diterpenoid pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine M. Murphy
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Li-Ting Ma
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
- School of Forestry and Resource Conservation, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yezhang Ding
- Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Eric A. Schmelz
- Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Philipp Zerbe
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
- *Correspondence: Philipp Zerbe,
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