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Hu Y, Chen L, Huang L, Wang G. The expression of AcIDI1 reveals diterpenoid alkaloids' allocation strategies in the roots of Aconitum carmichaelii Debx. Gene 2024; 920:148529. [PMID: 38703864 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2024.148529] [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: 12/10/2023] [Revised: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024]
Abstract
Isopentenyl diphosphate isomerase (IDI), a key enzyme in the biosynthetic pathway of diterpenoid alkaloids (DAs), plays an essential regulatory role in the synthesis and accumulation of DAs. In this study, the coding sequence (CDS) of AcIDI1 was isolated from the mother roots of Aconitum carmichaelii Debx. (GeneBank accession number OR915879). Bioinformatics analysis showed that the CDS of AcIDI1 was 894 bp, encoding a protein with 297 amino acids and the putative protein localized in the chloroplast. AcIDI1 exhibited significant homology with sequences encoding IDI in other species, and was most closely related to Aconitum vilmorinianum. Furthermore, the fusion protein has been successfully expressed in Escherichia coli (E. coli), providing a basis for future functional studies of AcIDI1. The expression pattern of AcIDI1 was analyzed by real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR), which demonstrates that AcIDI1 is a tissue-specific gene in the roots of A. carmichaelii and exhibits high expression in both daughter and mother roots. By comparing the expression levels of AcIDI1 in three tissues of the roots of A. carmichaelii at different growth stages, we propose that the mother roots (MRs) are the centers of resources allocation. The roots of A. carmichaelii continuously absorb the energy from external environment, while resources transfer behavior from MRs to both daughter roots (DRs) and axillary buds (ABs) occurs as the plant grows. This study establishes a foundation for applying the IDI gene to regulate the biosynthesis and accumulation of DAs in A. carmichaelii.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiwen Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China; School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China.
| | - Lijuan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China; School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China.
| | - Li Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China; School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China.
| | - Guangzhi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China; School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China.
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Chen T, Xu T, Wang J, Zhang T, Yang J, Feng L, Song T, Yang J, Wu Y. Transcriptomic and free monoterpene analyses of aroma reveal that isopentenyl diphosphate isomerase inhibits monoterpene biosynthesis in grape (Vitis vinifera L.). BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2024; 24:595. [PMID: 38914931 PMCID: PMC11197285 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-024-05306-y] [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: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/26/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Monoterpenes are among the most important volatile aromatic compounds contributing to the flavor and aroma of grapes and wine. However, the molecular basis of monoterpene biosynthesis has not yet been fully elucidated. RESULTS In our study, transcriptomics and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) were used to mine candidate genes and transcription factors involved in monoterpene biosynthesis between high-monoterpene and zero-monoterpene table grape cultivars. We found that monoterpene biosynthesis was positively correlated by the expression of five genes encoding 1-deoxy-D-xylulose-5-phosphate synthase (VvDXSs), one encoding 4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl diphosphate reductase (VvHDR), three hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA synthases (VvHMGSs) and one mevalonate kinase (VvMVK), whereas the expression of one isopentenyl diphosphate isomerase (VvIDI) and one 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (VvHMGR) negatively correlated monoterpene biosynthesis. Of these genes, VvIDI was selected to validate its function in monoterpene accumulation through a transient overexpression experiment, and was shown to inhibit the biosynthesis of grape linalool and α-terpineol. Meanwhile, we found that a 64-amino acid extension sequence at the N-terminus can guide the VvIDI protein to target the chloroplast. CONCLUSIONS The findings of this study should help to guide future functional analysis of key genes as well as mining the potential regulatory mechanism of monoterpene biosynthesis in grapes and grape products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianchi Chen
- College of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang Wanli University, Ningbo, 315100, China
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Tao Xu
- College of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang Wanli University, Ningbo, 315100, China
| | - Jinnan Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Institute of Plant Virology, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China
| | - Tianye Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Institute of Plant Virology, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China
| | - Jin Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Institute of Plant Virology, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China
| | - Lixiao Feng
- State Key Laboratory for Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Institute of Plant Virology, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China
| | - Tiefeng Song
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Jian Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Institute of Plant Virology, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China.
| | - Yueyan Wu
- College of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang Wanli University, Ningbo, 315100, China.
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Wang ZX, Li PP, Jia YJ, Wen LX, Tang ZS, Wang YP, Cui F, Hu FD. Integrated metabolomic and transcriptomic analysis of triterpenoid accumulation in the roots of Codonopsis pilosula var. modesta (Nannf.) L.T.Shen at different altitudes. PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS : PCA 2024. [PMID: 38764207 DOI: 10.1002/pca.3362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Revised: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/21/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Codonopsis Radix is a beneficial traditional Chinese medicine, and triterpenoid are the major bioactive constituents. Codonopsis pilosula var. modesta (Nannf.) L.T.Shen (CPM) is a precious variety of Codonopsis Radix, which is distributed at high mountain areas. The environment plays an important role in the synthesis and metabolism of active ingredients in medicinal plants, but there is no report elaborating on the effect of altitude on terpenoid metabolites accumulation in CPM. OBJECTIVES This study aims to analyse the effects of altitude on triterpenoid biosynthetic pathways and secondary metabolite accumulation in CPM. MATERIAL AND METHODS The untargeted metabolomics based on liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and 10 triterpenoids based on ultra-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) method were analysed at the low-altitude (1480 m) and high-altitude (2300 m) CPM fresh roots. The transcriptome based on high-throughput sequencing technology were combined to analyse the different altitude CPM triterpenoid biosynthetic pathways. RESULTS A total of 17,351 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 55 differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) were detected from the different altitude CPM, and there are significant differences in the content of the 10 triterpenoids. The results of transcriptome study showed that CPM could significantly up-regulate the gene expression levels of seven key enzymes in the triterpenoid biosynthetic pathway. CONCLUSIONS The CPM at high altitude is more likely to accumulate triterpenes than those at low altitude, which was related to the up-regulation of the gene expression levels of seven key enzymes. These results expand our understanding of how altitude affects plant metabolite biosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zi-Xia Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
- Codonopsis Radix Research Institute in Gansu Province, Lanzhou, China
| | - Peng-Peng Li
- School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
- Codonopsis Radix Research Institute in Gansu Province, Lanzhou, China
| | - Yan-Jun Jia
- School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
- Codonopsis Radix Research Institute in Gansu Province, Lanzhou, China
| | - Long-Xia Wen
- School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
- Codonopsis Radix Research Institute in Gansu Province, Lanzhou, China
| | - Zhuo-Shi Tang
- School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
- Codonopsis Radix Research Institute in Gansu Province, Lanzhou, China
| | - Yan-Ping Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
- Codonopsis Radix Research Institute in Gansu Province, Lanzhou, China
| | - Fang Cui
- School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
- Codonopsis Radix Research Institute in Gansu Province, Lanzhou, China
| | - Fang-Di Hu
- School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
- Codonopsis Radix Research Institute in Gansu Province, Lanzhou, China
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Kang L, Kaur J, Winkeler K, Kubiak D, Hill JE. How the volatile organic compounds emitted by corpse plant change through flowering. Sci Rep 2023; 13:372. [PMID: 36611048 PMCID: PMC9825558 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-27108-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2022] [Accepted: 12/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The corpse plant (Amorphophallus titanum) is so named because it produces a pungent, foul odor when flowering. Little is known about how the emitted volatiles change throughout the two-day flowering period. In this study, the comprehensive monitoring of the presence and change in volatile molecules during the female and the male flowering phases of A. titanum was conducted, and the plant temperature was monitored. A total of 422 volatile features were detected over the entire sampling period, of which 118 features were statistically significantly different between the pre-flowering and both flowering phases, and an additional 304 features were found present throughout the flowering period. A total of 45 molecules could be assigned putative names. The volatile profile of A. titanum changes over the two-day flowering period, with the S-containing molecules and aldehydes dominant in the female flowering phase, and the alcohols and hydrocarbons dominant in the male flowering phase. The two-dimensional gas chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC × GC-TOFMS) enabled us to identify 32 new molecules produced by A. titanum. Each of these molecules alone, and in combination, likely contribute to the different odors emitted during the flowering phase of A. titanum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lili Kang
- grid.254880.30000 0001 2179 2404Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755 USA
| | - Jasmeen Kaur
- grid.17091.3e0000 0001 2288 9830Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, 2360 E Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3 Canada
| | - Kelsey Winkeler
- grid.254880.30000 0001 2179 2404Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755 USA
| | - Daniella Kubiak
- grid.254880.30000 0001 2179 2404Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755 USA
| | - Jane E. Hill
- grid.254880.30000 0001 2179 2404Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755 USA ,grid.17091.3e0000 0001 2288 9830Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, 2360 E Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3 Canada
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5
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Zhao L, Zhu Y, Jia H, Han Y, Zheng X, Wang M, Feng W. From Plant to Yeast-Advances in Biosynthesis of Artemisinin. MOLECULES (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 27:molecules27206888. [PMID: 36296479 PMCID: PMC9609949 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27206888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Malaria is a life-threatening disease. Artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) is the preferred choice for malaria treatment recommended by the World Health Organization. At present, the main source of artemisinin is extracted from Artemisia annua; however, the artemisinin content in A. annua is only 0.1-1%, which cannot meet global demand. Meanwhile, the chemical synthesis of artemisinin has disadvantages such as complicated steps, high cost and low yield. Therefore, the application of the synthetic biology approach to produce artemisinin in vivo has magnificent prospects. In this review, the biosynthesis pathway of artemisinin was summarized. Then we discussed the advances in the heterologous biosynthesis of artemisinin using microorganisms (Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae) as chassis cells. With yeast as the cell factory, the production of artemisinin was transferred from plant to yeast. Through the optimization of the fermentation process, the yield of artemisinic acid reached 25 g/L, thereby producing the semi-synthesis of artemisinin. Moreover, we reviewed the genetic engineering in A. annua to improve the artemisinin content, which included overexpressing artemisinin biosynthesis pathway genes, blocking key genes in competitive pathways, and regulating the expression of transcription factors related to artemisinin biosynthesis. Finally, the research progress of artemisinin production in other plants (Nicotiana, Physcomitrella, etc.) was discussed. The current advances in artemisinin biosynthesis may help lay the foundation for the remarkable up-regulation of artemisinin production in A. annua through gene editing or molecular design breeding in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Le Zhao
- School of Pharmacy, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, China
- Co-Construction Collaborative Innovation Center for Chinese Medicine and Respiratory Diseases by Henan and Education Ministry of P. R. China, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, China
| | - Yunhao Zhu
- School of Pharmacy, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, China
- Co-Construction Collaborative Innovation Center for Chinese Medicine and Respiratory Diseases by Henan and Education Ministry of P. R. China, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, China
| | - Haoyu Jia
- School of Pharmacy, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, China
| | - Yongguang Han
- School of Pharmacy, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, China
| | - Xiaoke Zheng
- School of Pharmacy, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, China
- Co-Construction Collaborative Innovation Center for Chinese Medicine and Respiratory Diseases by Henan and Education Ministry of P. R. China, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, China
| | - Min Wang
- College of Chemistry and Materials Engineering, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Plant Research and Development, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China
- Correspondence: (M.W.); (W.F.); Tel.: +86-134-2629-2115 (M.W.); +86-371-60190296 (W.F.)
| | - Weisheng Feng
- School of Pharmacy, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, China
- Co-Construction Collaborative Innovation Center for Chinese Medicine and Respiratory Diseases by Henan and Education Ministry of P. R. China, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, China
- Correspondence: (M.W.); (W.F.); Tel.: +86-134-2629-2115 (M.W.); +86-371-60190296 (W.F.)
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Metabolic Engineering of the Isopentenol Utilization Pathway Enhanced the Production of Terpenoids in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Mar Drugs 2022; 20:md20090577. [PMID: 36135766 PMCID: PMC9505001 DOI: 10.3390/md20090577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Revised: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Eukaryotic green microalgae show considerable promise for the sustainable light-driven biosynthesis of high-value fine chemicals, especially terpenoids because of their fast and inexpensive phototrophic growth. Here, the novel isopentenol utilization pathway (IUP) was introduced into Chlamydomonas reinhardtii to enhance the hemiterpene (isopentenyl pyrophosphate, IPP) titers. Then, diphosphate isomerase (IDI) and limonene synthase (MsLS) were further inserted for limonene production. Transgenic algae showed 8.6-fold increase in IPP compared with the wild type, and 23-fold increase in limonene production compared with a single MsLS expressing strain. Following the culture optimization, the highest limonene production reached 117 µg/L, when the strain was cultured in a opt2 medium supplemented with 10 mM isoprenol under a light: dark regimen. This demonstrates that transgenic algae expressing the IUP represent an ideal chassis for the high-value terpenoid production. The IUP will facilitate further the metabolic and enzyme engineering to enhance the terpenoid titers by significantly reducing the number of enzyme steps required for an optimal biosynthesis.
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Li Y, Chen T, Liu H, Qin W, Yan X, Wu-Zhang K, Peng B, Zhang Y, Yao X, Fu X, Li L, Tang K. The truncated AaActin1 promoter is a candidate tool for metabolic engineering of artemisinin biosynthesis in Artemisia annua L. JOURNAL OF PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 274:153712. [PMID: 35644103 DOI: 10.1016/j.jplph.2022.153712] [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] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Revised: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Malaria is a devastating parasitic disease with high levels of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Artemisinin, the active substance against malaria, is a sesquiterpenoid produced by Artemisia annua. To improve artemisinin content in the native A. annua plants, considerable efforts have been attempted, with genetic transformation serving as an effective strategy. Although, the most frequently-used cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S (CaMV35S) promoter has proved to be efficient in A. annua transgenic studies, it appears to show weak activity in peltate glandular secretory trichomes (GSTs) of A. annua plants. Here, we characterized the 1727 bp fragment upstream from the translation start codon (ATG) of AaActin1, however, found it was inactive in tobacco. After removal of the 5' intron, the truncated AaActin1 promoter (tpACT) showed 69% and 50% activity of CaMV35S promoter in transiently transformed tobacco and stably transformed A. annua, respectively. β-glucuronidase (GUS) staining analysis showed that the tpACT promoter was capable of directing the constant expression of a foreign gene in peltate GSTs of transgenic A. annua, representing higher activity than CaMV35S promoter. Collectively, our study provided a novel promoter available for metabolic engineering of artemisinin biosynthesis in A. annua.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongpeng Li
- Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, Key Laboratory of Urban Agriculture (South) Ministry of Agriculture, Plant Biotechnology Research Center, Fudan-SJTU-Nottingham Plant Biotechnology R&D Center, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Tiantian Chen
- Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, Key Laboratory of Urban Agriculture (South) Ministry of Agriculture, Plant Biotechnology Research Center, Fudan-SJTU-Nottingham Plant Biotechnology R&D Center, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Hang Liu
- Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, Key Laboratory of Urban Agriculture (South) Ministry of Agriculture, Plant Biotechnology Research Center, Fudan-SJTU-Nottingham Plant Biotechnology R&D Center, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Wei Qin
- Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, Key Laboratory of Urban Agriculture (South) Ministry of Agriculture, Plant Biotechnology Research Center, Fudan-SJTU-Nottingham Plant Biotechnology R&D Center, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Xin Yan
- Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, Key Laboratory of Urban Agriculture (South) Ministry of Agriculture, Plant Biotechnology Research Center, Fudan-SJTU-Nottingham Plant Biotechnology R&D Center, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Kuanyu Wu-Zhang
- Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, Key Laboratory of Urban Agriculture (South) Ministry of Agriculture, Plant Biotechnology Research Center, Fudan-SJTU-Nottingham Plant Biotechnology R&D Center, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Bowen Peng
- Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, Key Laboratory of Urban Agriculture (South) Ministry of Agriculture, Plant Biotechnology Research Center, Fudan-SJTU-Nottingham Plant Biotechnology R&D Center, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Yaojie Zhang
- Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, Key Laboratory of Urban Agriculture (South) Ministry of Agriculture, Plant Biotechnology Research Center, Fudan-SJTU-Nottingham Plant Biotechnology R&D Center, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Xinghao Yao
- Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, Key Laboratory of Urban Agriculture (South) Ministry of Agriculture, Plant Biotechnology Research Center, Fudan-SJTU-Nottingham Plant Biotechnology R&D Center, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Xueqing Fu
- Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, Key Laboratory of Urban Agriculture (South) Ministry of Agriculture, Plant Biotechnology Research Center, Fudan-SJTU-Nottingham Plant Biotechnology R&D Center, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Ling Li
- Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, Key Laboratory of Urban Agriculture (South) Ministry of Agriculture, Plant Biotechnology Research Center, Fudan-SJTU-Nottingham Plant Biotechnology R&D Center, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Kexuan Tang
- Frontiers Science Center for Transformative Molecules, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, Key Laboratory of Urban Agriculture (South) Ministry of Agriculture, Plant Biotechnology Research Center, Fudan-SJTU-Nottingham Plant Biotechnology R&D Center, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.
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8
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Deng YA, Li L, Peng Q, Feng LF, Yang JF, Zhan RT, Ma DM. Isolation and characterization of AaZFP1, a C2H2 zinc finger protein that regulates the AaIPPI1 gene involved in artemisinin biosynthesis in Artemisia annua. PLANTA 2022; 255:122. [PMID: 35554686 DOI: 10.1007/s00425-022-03892-5] [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] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
AaZFP1, a C2H2-type transcription factor, was found to bind the AGT-N1-10-AGT box of AaIPPI1pro and activate the expression of AaIPPI1 involved in artemisinin biosynthesis. Artemisinin, an endoperoxide sesquiterpene lactone, is a widely used antimalarial drug isolated from Artemisia annua L. Isopentenyl pyrophosphate isomerase (AaIPPI1) catalyzes the interconversion of isopentenyl diphosphate and dimethylallyl diphosphate and is the key gene involved in the biosynthesis of artemisinin. However, the AaIPPI1 gene regulation network remains largely unknown. Here, we isolated the AaIPPI1 promoter (AaIPPI1pro) and predicted that it contains cis-elements involved in stress responses, including the TGACG motif (a methyl jasmonate-responsive element), GARE motif (a gibberellin-responsive element), ABRE (an abscisic acid-responsive element), TC-rich repeats (a stress-responsive element), and the AGT-N1-10-AGT box, which is the binding site of Cys/His2 zinc finger protein (C2H2 ZFP). The C2H2 ZFP gene AaZFP1 was discovered by screening a cDNA library using AaIPPI1pro as bait in yeast. AaZFP1 contains two conserved C2H2 regions, a nuclear localization domain (B box), a Leu-rich domain (L box), and a conserved DLN sequence (DLN box) close to its C terminus. A subcellular localization assay indicated that AaZFP1 protein is localized in the nucleus and cytoplasm. An electrophoretic mobility shift assay demonstrated that AaZFP1 binds to the AGT-N1-10-AGT box of AaIPPI1pro. A dual-luciferase assay indicated that AaZFP1 enhanced the promoter activity of AaIPPI1 in vivo. Transient overexpression of AaZFP1 in A. annua increased the expression of AaIPPI1 and the content of artemisinin. Our data demonstrated that AaZFP1 functions as a transcriptional activator that regulates the expression of AaIPPI1 by directly binding to its promoter. The present study provides insights into the transcriptional regulation of genes involved in artemisinin biosynthesis in A. annua.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yin-Ai Deng
- Research Center of Chinese Herbal Resource Science and Engineering, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicinal Resource from Lingnan (Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine), Ministry of Education, Joint Laboratory of National Engineering Research Center for the Pharmaceutics of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Guangzhou, 510006, People's Republic of China
| | - Li Li
- Research Center of Chinese Herbal Resource Science and Engineering, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicinal Resource from Lingnan (Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine), Ministry of Education, Joint Laboratory of National Engineering Research Center for the Pharmaceutics of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Guangzhou, 510006, People's Republic of China
| | - Qian Peng
- Research Center of Chinese Herbal Resource Science and Engineering, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicinal Resource from Lingnan (Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine), Ministry of Education, Joint Laboratory of National Engineering Research Center for the Pharmaceutics of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Guangzhou, 510006, People's Republic of China
| | - Ling-Fang Feng
- Research Center of Chinese Herbal Resource Science and Engineering, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicinal Resource from Lingnan (Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine), Ministry of Education, Joint Laboratory of National Engineering Research Center for the Pharmaceutics of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Guangzhou, 510006, People's Republic of China
| | - Jin-Fen Yang
- Research Center of Chinese Herbal Resource Science and Engineering, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicinal Resource from Lingnan (Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine), Ministry of Education, Joint Laboratory of National Engineering Research Center for the Pharmaceutics of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Guangzhou, 510006, People's Republic of China
| | - Ruo-Ting Zhan
- Research Center of Chinese Herbal Resource Science and Engineering, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicinal Resource from Lingnan (Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine), Ministry of Education, Joint Laboratory of National Engineering Research Center for the Pharmaceutics of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Guangzhou, 510006, People's Republic of China.
| | - Dong-Ming Ma
- Research Center of Chinese Herbal Resource Science and Engineering, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicinal Resource from Lingnan (Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine), Ministry of Education, Joint Laboratory of National Engineering Research Center for the Pharmaceutics of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Guangzhou, 510006, People's Republic of China.
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Farmanpour-Kalalagh K, Beyraghdar Kashkooli A, Babaei A, Rezaei A, van der Krol AR. Artemisinins in Combating Viral Infections Like SARS-CoV-2, Inflammation and Cancers and Options to Meet Increased Global Demand. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:780257. [PMID: 35197994 PMCID: PMC8859114 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.780257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Artemisinin is a natural bioactive sesquiterpene lactone containing an unusual endoperoxide 1, 2, 4-trioxane ring. It is derived from the herbal medicinal plant Artemisia annua and is best known for its use in treatment of malaria. However, recent studies also indicate the potential for artemisinin and related compounds, commonly referred to as artemisinins, in combating viral infections, inflammation and certain cancers. Moreover, the different potential modes of action of artemisinins make these compounds also potentially relevant to the challenges the world faces in the COVID-19 pandemic. Initial studies indicate positive effects of artemisinin or Artemisia spp. extracts to combat SARS-CoV-2 infection or COVID-19 related symptoms and WHO-supervised clinical studies on the potential of artemisinins to combat COVID-19 are now in progress. However, implementing multiple potential new uses of artemisinins will require effective solutions to boost production, either by enhancing synthesis in A. annua itself or through biotechnological engineering in alternative biosynthesis platforms. Because of this renewed interest in artemisinin and its derivatives, here we review its modes of action, its potential application in different diseases including COVID-19, its biosynthesis and future options to boost production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karim Farmanpour-Kalalagh
- Department of Horticultural Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Arman Beyraghdar Kashkooli
- Department of Horticultural Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
- *Correspondence: Arman Beyraghdar Kashkooli,
| | - Alireza Babaei
- Department of Horticultural Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ali Rezaei
- Department of Horticultural Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
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10
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Sui C, Han WJ, Zhu CR, Wei JH. Recent Progress in Saikosaponin Biosynthesis in Bupleurum. Curr Pharm Biotechnol 2021; 22:329-340. [PMID: 32957882 DOI: 10.2174/1389201021999200918101248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2020] [Revised: 04/14/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chaihu is a popular traditional Chinese medicine that has been used for centuries. It is traditionally used to treat cold fever and liver-related diseases. Saikosaponins (SSs) are one of the main active components of chaihu, in addition to essential oils, flavonoids, and polysaccharides. Considerable effort is needed to reveal the biosynthesis and regulation of SSs on the basis of current progress. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to provide a reference for further studies and arouse attention by summarizing the recent achievements of SS biosynthesis. METHODS All the data compiled and presented here were obtained from various online resources, such as PubMed Scopus and Baidu Scholar in Chinese, up to October 2019. RESULTS A few genes of the enzymes of SSs participating in the biosynthesis of SSs were isolated. Among these genes, only the P450 gene was verified to catalyze the SS skeleton β-amyrin synthase. Several UDP-glycosyltransferase genes were predicted to be involved in the biosynthesis of SSs. SSs could be largely biosynthesized in the phloem and then transported from the protoplasm, which is the biosynthetic site, to the vacuoles to avoid self-poisoning. As for the other secondary metabolites, the biosynthesis of SSs was strongly affected by environmental factors and the different species belonging to the genus of Bupleurum. Transcriptional regulation was studied at the molecular level. CONCLUSION Profound discoveries in SSs may elucidate the mechanism of diverse the monomer formation of SSs and provide a reference for maintaining the stability of SS content in Radix Bupleuri.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun Sui
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development (IMPLAD), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College (Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Resources Utilization of Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ministry of Education & National Engineering Laboratory for Breeding of Endangered Medicinal Materials), Beijing 100193, China
| | - Wen-Jing Han
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development (IMPLAD), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College (Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Resources Utilization of Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ministry of Education & National Engineering Laboratory for Breeding of Endangered Medicinal Materials), Beijing 100193, China
| | - Chu-Ran Zhu
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development (IMPLAD), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College (Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Resources Utilization of Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ministry of Education & National Engineering Laboratory for Breeding of Endangered Medicinal Materials), Beijing 100193, China
| | - Jian-He Wei
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development (IMPLAD), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College (Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Resources Utilization of Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ministry of Education & National Engineering Laboratory for Breeding of Endangered Medicinal Materials), Beijing 100193, China
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11
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Identification and the potential involvement of miRNAs in the regulation of artemisinin biosynthesis in A. annua. Sci Rep 2020; 10:13614. [PMID: 32788629 PMCID: PMC7423619 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-69707-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2020] [Accepted: 06/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Micro RNAs (miRNAs) play crucial regulatory roles in multiple biological processes. Recently they have garnered the attention for their strong influence on the secondary metabolite production in plants. Their role in the regulation of artemisinin (ART) biosynthesis is, however, not fully elucidated. ART is a potent anti-malarial compound recommended by WHO for the treatment of drug-resistant malaria. It is produced by Artemisia annua (A. annua). The lower in planta content of ART necessitates a deep understanding of regulatory mechanisms involved in the biosynthesis of this metabolite. In this study, using modern high throughput small RNA-sequencing by Illumina Nextseq 500 platform for identification and stem-loop RT PCR for validation, miRNAs were identified in the leaf sample of A. annua plant. Here, we report a total of 121 miRNAs from A. annua that target several important genes and transcription factors involved in the biosynthesis of ART. This study revealed the presence of some important conserved miRNA families, miR396, miR319, miR399, miR858, miR5083 and miR6111 not identified so far in A. annua. The expression patterns and correlation between miRNAs and their corresponding targets at different developmental stages of the plant using real-time PCR indicate that they may influence ART accumulation. These findings thus, open new possibilities for the rational engineering of the secondary metabolite pathways in general and ART biosynthesis in particular.
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Tan QW, Mutwil M. Inferring biosynthetic and gene regulatory networks from Artemisia annua RNA sequencing data on a credit card-sized ARM computer. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-GENE REGULATORY MECHANISMS 2019; 1863:194429. [PMID: 31634636 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagrm.2019.194429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2019] [Revised: 09/06/2019] [Accepted: 09/06/2019] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Prediction of gene function and gene regulatory networks is one of the most active topics in bioinformatics. The accumulation of publicly available gene expression data for hundreds of plant species, together with advances in bioinformatical methods and affordable computing, sets ingenuity as one of the major bottlenecks in understanding gene function and regulation. Here, we show how a credit card-sized computer retailing for <50 USD can be used to rapidly predict gene function and infer regulatory networks from RNA sequencing data. To achieve this, we constructed a bioinformatical pipeline that downloads and allows quality-control of RNA sequencing data; and generates a gene co-expression network that can reveal enzymes and transcription factors participating and controlling a given biosynthetic pathway. We exemplify this by first identifying genes and transcription factors involved in the biosynthesis of secondary cell wall in the plant Artemisia annua, the main natural source of the anti-malarial drug artemisinin. Networks were then used to dissect the artemisinin biosynthesis pathway, which suggest potential transcription factors regulating artemisinin biosynthesis. We provide the source code of our pipeline (https://github.com/mutwil/LSTrAP-Lite) and envision that the ubiquity of affordable computing, availability of biological data and increased bioinformatical training of biologists will transform the field of bioinformatics. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Transcriptional Profiles and Regulatory Gene Networks edited by Dr. Dr. Federico Manuel Giorgi and Dr. Shaun Mahony.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiao Wen Tan
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637551, Singapore
| | - Marek Mutwil
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637551, Singapore.
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Kayani SI, Shen Q, Ma Y, Fu X, Xie L, Zhong Y, Tiantian C, Pan Q, Li L, Rahman SU, Sun X, Tang K. The YABBY Family Transcription Factor AaYABBY5 Directly Targets Cytochrome P450 Monooxygenase (CYP71AV1) and Double-Bond Reductase 2 (DBR2) Involved in Artemisinin Biosynthesis in Artemisia Annua. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2019; 10:1084. [PMID: 31552076 PMCID: PMC6746943 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2019.01084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2019] [Accepted: 08/09/2019] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Artemisinin is an effective antimalarial sesquiterpene lactone synthesized in Artemisia annua. Various transcription factors have been previously reported that can influence the biosynthesis of artemisinin; however, the effect of YABBY family transcription factors on artemisinin biosynthesis was unknown. In the present study, we cloned and characterized AaYABBY5: a homolog of MsYABBY5 in Mentha spicata which is involved in modulating the monoterpenes, as a positive regulator of artemisinin biosynthesis in A. annua. AaYABBY5 was found localized to the nucleus, and its expression was found to be induced by exogenous methyl jasmonic acid (MeJA) treatment. In the dual-luciferase reporter assay, it was found that AaYABBY5 significantly increased the activities of promoters of amorpha-4,11-diene synthase (ADS), cytochrome P450 monooxygenase (CYP71AV1), double-bond reductase 2 (DBR2), and aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1) genes. Yeast one hybrid assay showed that AaYABBY5 directly bonds to the promoters of CYP71AV1 and DBR2 genes. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) of AaYABBY5 overexpression and AaYABBY5 antisense plants revealed a significant increase in the expression of ADS, CYP71AV1, DBR2, and ALDH1 in AaYABBY5 overexpression plants and a significant decrease in the expression of these genes in AaYABBY5 antisense A. annua, respectively. Furthermore, the results of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) showed that the artemisinin and its precursor dihydroartemisinic acid were significantly increased in the AaYABBY5 overexpression plants while AaYABBY5 downregulation resulted in a significant decrease in the concentration of artemisinin. Taken together, these results explicitly represent that AaYABBY5 is a positive regulator of artemisinin biosynthesis in A. annua.
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Judd R, Bagley MC, Li M, Zhu Y, Lei C, Yuzuak S, Ekelöf M, Pu G, Zhao X, Muddiman DC, Xie DY. Artemisinin Biosynthesis in Non-glandular Trichome Cells of Artemisia annua. MOLECULAR PLANT 2019; 12:704-714. [PMID: 30851440 DOI: 10.1016/j.molp.2019.02.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2019] [Revised: 02/12/2019] [Accepted: 02/28/2019] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) forms the first line of malaria treatment. However, the yield fluctuation of artemisinin has remained an unsolved problem in meeting the global demand for ACT. This problem is mainly caused by the glandular trichome (GT)-specific biosynthesis of artemisinin in all currently used Artemisia annua cultivars. Here, we report that non-GT cells of self-pollinated inbred A. annua plants can express the artemisinin biosynthetic pathway. Gene expression analysis demonstrated the transcription of six known pathway genes in GT-free leaves and calli of inbred A. annua plants. LC-qTOF-MS/MS analysis showed that these two types of GT-free materials produce artemisinin, artemisinic acid, and arteannuin B. Detailed IR-MALDESI image profiling revealed that these three metabolites and dihydroartemisinin are localized in non-GT cells of leaves of inbred A. annua plants. Moreover, we employed all the above approaches to examine artemisinin biosynthesis in the reported A. annua glandless (gl) mutant. The resulting data demonstrated that leaves of regenerated gl plantlets biosynthesize artemisinin. Collectively, these findings not only add new knowledge leading to a revision of the current dogma of artemisinin biosynthesis in A. annua but also may expedite innovation of novel metabolic engineering approaches for high and stable production of artemisinin in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rika Judd
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - M Caleb Bagley
- Department of Chemistry, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Mingzhuo Li
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Yue Zhu
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Caiyan Lei
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Seyit Yuzuak
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Måns Ekelöf
- Department of Chemistry, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Gaobin Pu
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Xiting Zhao
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - David C Muddiman
- Department of Chemistry, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - De-Yu Xie
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA.
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Guerriero G, Berni R, Muñoz-Sanchez JA, Apone F, Abdel-Salam EM, Qahtan AA, Alatar AA, Cantini C, Cai G, Hausman JF, Siddiqui KS, Hernández-Sotomayor SMT, Faisal M. Production of Plant Secondary Metabolites: Examples, Tips and Suggestions for Biotechnologists. Genes (Basel) 2018; 9:E309. [PMID: 29925808 PMCID: PMC6027220 DOI: 10.3390/genes9060309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 120] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2018] [Revised: 06/12/2018] [Accepted: 06/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Plants are sessile organisms and, in order to defend themselves against exogenous (a)biotic constraints, they synthesize an array of secondary metabolites which have important physiological and ecological effects. Plant secondary metabolites can be classified into four major classes: terpenoids, phenolic compounds, alkaloids and sulphur-containing compounds. These phytochemicals can be antimicrobial, act as attractants/repellents, or as deterrents against herbivores. The synthesis of such a rich variety of phytochemicals is also observed in undifferentiated plant cells under laboratory conditions and can be further induced with elicitors or by feeding precursors. In this review, we discuss the recent literature on the production of representatives of three plant secondary metabolite classes: artemisinin (a sesquiterpene), lignans (phenolic compounds) and caffeine (an alkaloid). Their respective production in well-known plants, i.e., Artemisia, Coffea arabica L., as well as neglected species, like the fibre-producing plant Urtica dioica L., will be surveyed. The production of artemisinin and caffeine in heterologous hosts will also be discussed. Additionally, metabolic engineering strategies to increase the bioactivity and stability of plant secondary metabolites will be surveyed, by focusing on glycosyltransferases (GTs). We end our review by proposing strategies to enhance the production of plant secondary metabolites in cell cultures by inducing cell wall modifications with chemicals/drugs, or with altered concentrations of the micronutrient boron and the quasi-essential element silicon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gea Guerriero
- Research and Innovation Department, Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology, 5 avenue des Hauts-Fourneaux, L-4362 Esch/Alzette, Luxembourg.
| | - Roberto Berni
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, via P.A. Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena, Italy.
- Trees and timber institute-National research council of Italy (CNR-IVALSA), via Aurelia 49, 58022 Follonica (GR), Italy.
| | - J Armando Muñoz-Sanchez
- Unidad de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular de Plantas, Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán, Calle 43 # 130 X 32 y 34, Col. Chuburná de Hidalgo, Mérida, Yucatán 97205, Mexico.
| | - Fabio Apone
- Arterra Biosciences srl/Vitalab srl, via B. Brin 69, 80142 Naples, Italy.
| | - Eslam M Abdel-Salam
- Department of Botany & Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Ahmad A Qahtan
- Department of Botany & Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Abdulrahman A Alatar
- Department of Botany & Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Claudio Cantini
- Trees and timber institute-National research council of Italy (CNR-IVALSA), via Aurelia 49, 58022 Follonica (GR), Italy.
| | - Giampiero Cai
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, via P.A. Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena, Italy.
| | - Jean-Francois Hausman
- Research and Innovation Department, Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology, 5 avenue des Hauts-Fourneaux, L-4362 Esch/Alzette, Luxembourg.
| | - Khawar Sohail Siddiqui
- Life Sciences Department, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM), 31261 Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.
| | - S M Teresa Hernández-Sotomayor
- Unidad de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular de Plantas, Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán, Calle 43 # 130 X 32 y 34, Col. Chuburná de Hidalgo, Mérida, Yucatán 97205, Mexico.
| | - Mohammad Faisal
- Department of Botany & Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia.
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Li G, Xi J, Ji X, Li MZ, Xie DY. Non-plastidial expression of a synthetic insect geranyl pyrophosphate synthase effectively increases tobacco plant biomass. JOURNAL OF PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2018; 221:144-155. [PMID: 29277027 DOI: 10.1016/j.jplph.2017.12.014] [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: 07/14/2017] [Revised: 12/08/2017] [Accepted: 12/16/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Designing effective synthetic genes of interest is a fundamental step in plant synthetic biology for biomass. Geranyl pyrophosphate (diphosphate) synthase (GPPS) catalyzes a bottleneck step toward terpenoid metabolism. We previously designed and synthesized a plant (Arabidopsis thaliana)-insect (Myzus persicae, Mp) GPPS- human influenza hemagglutinin (HA) cDNA, namely PTP-MpGPPS-HA (or PTP-sMpGPPS-HA, s: synthetic), to localize the protein in plastids and improve plant biomass. To better understand the effects of different subcellular localizations on plant performance, herein we report PTP-sMpGPPS-HA re-design to synthesize a new MpGPPS-HA cDNA, namely sMpGPPS-HA, to express a non-plastidial sMpGPPS-HA protein. The sMpGPPS-HA cDNA driven by a 2 × S 35S promoter was introduced into Nicotiana tabacum Xanthi. PTP-MpGPPS-HA and PMDC84 vector transgenic plants were also generated as positive and negative controls, respectively. Eighteen to twenty transgenic T0 lines were generated for each sMpGPPS-HA, PTP-sMpGPPS-HA, and PMDC84. Transcriptional genotyping analysis demonstrated the expression of sMpGPPS-HA in transgenic plants. Confocal microscopy analysis of transgenic progeny demonstrated the non-plastidial localization of sMpGPPS-HA. Growth of T1 transgenic and wild-type control plants showed that the expression of sMpGPPS-HA effectively increased plant height by 50-80%, leaf numbers and sizes, and dry biomass by 60-80%. Calculation of the vegetative growth rates showed that the expression of sMpGPPS-HA increased plant height each week. Moreover, sMpGPPS-HA expression promoted early flowering and reduced leaf carotenoid levels. In conclusion, non-plastidial expression of the novel sMpGPPS-HA was effective for improving tobacco growth and biomass. Our data indicate that research examining different subcellular localizations facilitates a better understanding of in planta functions of proteins encoded by synthetic cDNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gui Li
- Department of Plant & Microbial Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, United States; State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Research Institute of Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Key Laboratory of Tree Breeding and Cultivation of the State Forestry Administration, Beijing, 100091, China
| | - Jing Xi
- Department of Plant & Microbial Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, United States
| | - Xiaoming Ji
- Department of Plant & Microbial Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, United States
| | - Ming-Zhuo Li
- Department of Plant & Microbial Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, United States
| | - De-Yu Xie
- Department of Plant & Microbial Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, United States.
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Fu R, Martin C, Zhang Y. Next-Generation Plant Metabolic Engineering, Inspired by an Ancient Chinese Irrigation System. MOLECULAR PLANT 2018; 11:47-57. [PMID: 28893713 DOI: 10.1016/j.molp.2017.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2017] [Revised: 08/06/2017] [Accepted: 09/01/2017] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Specialized secondary metabolites serve not only to protect plants against abiotic and biotic challenges, but have also been used extensively by humans to combat diseases. Due to the great importance of medicinal plants for health, we need to find new and sustainable ways to improve the production of the specialized metabolites. In addition to direct extraction, recent progress in metabolic engineering of plants offers an alternative supply option. We argue that metabolic engineering for producing the secondary metabolites in plants may have distinct advantages over microbial production platforms, and thus propose new approaches of plant metabolic engineering, which are inspired by an ancient Chinese irrigation system. Metabolic engineering strategies work at three levels: introducing biosynthetic genes, using transcription factors, and improving metabolic flux including increasing the supply of precursors, energy, and reducing power. In addition, recent progress in biotechnology contributes markedly to better engineering, such as the use of specific promoters and the deletion of competing branch pathways. We propose that next-generation plant metabolic engineering will improve current engineering strategies, for the purpose of producing valuable metabolites in plants on industrial scales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rao Fu
- Key Laboratory of Bio-resource and Eco-environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
| | - Cathie Martin
- Department of Metabolic Biology, John Innes Centre, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Yang Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Bio-resource and Eco-environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China.
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Ma D, Xu C, Alejos-Gonzalez F, Wang H, Yang J, Judd R, Xie DY. Overexpression of Artemisia annua Cinnamyl Alcohol Dehydrogenase Increases Lignin and Coumarin and Reduces Artemisinin and Other Sesquiterpenes. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2018; 9:828. [PMID: 29971081 PMCID: PMC6018409 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2018.00828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2018] [Accepted: 05/28/2018] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Artemisia annua is the only medicinal crop that produces artemisinin for malarial treatment. Herein, we describe the cloning of a cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (AaCAD) from an inbred self-pollinating (SP) A. annua cultivar and its effects on lignin and artemisinin production. A recombinant AaCAD was purified via heterogeneous expression. Enzyme assays showed that the recombinant AaCAD converted p-coumaryl, coniferyl, and sinapyl aldehydes to their corresponding alcohols, which are key intermediates involved in the biosynthesis of lignin. Km, Vmax, and Vmax/Km values were calculated for all three substrates. To characterize its function in planta, AaCAD was overexpressed in SP plants. Quantification using acetyl bromide (AcBr) showed significantly higher lignin contents in transgenics compared with wild-type (WT) plants. Moreover, GC-MS-based profiling revealed a significant increase in coumarin contents in transgenic plants. By contrast, HPLC-MS analysis showed significantly reduced artemisinin contents in transgenics compared with WT plants. Furthermore, GC-MS analysis revealed a decrease in the contents of arteannuin B and six other sesquiterpenes in transgenic plants. Confocal microscopy analysis showed the cytosolic localization of AaCAD. These data demonstrate that AaCAD plays a dual pathway function in the cytosol, in which it positively enhances lignin formation but negatively controls artemisinin formation. Based on these data, crosstalk between these two pathways mediated by AaCAD catalysis is discussed to understand the metabolic control of artemisinin biosynthesis in plants for high production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongming Ma
- Research Center of Chinese Herbal Resource Science and Engineering, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Plant & Microbial Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
| | - Chong Xu
- Research Center of Chinese Herbal Resource Science and Engineering, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Fatima Alejos-Gonzalez
- Department of Plant & Microbial Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
| | - Hong Wang
- Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jinfen Yang
- Research Center of Chinese Herbal Resource Science and Engineering, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Rika Judd
- Department of Plant & Microbial Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
| | - De-Yu Xie
- Department of Plant & Microbial Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
- *Correspondence: De-Yu Xie,
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19
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Ikram NKBK, Simonsen HT. A Review of Biotechnological Artemisinin Production in Plants. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2017; 8:1966. [PMID: 29187859 PMCID: PMC5694819 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2017.01966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2017] [Accepted: 10/31/2017] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Malaria is still an eminent threat to major parts of the world population mainly in sub-Saharan Africa. Researchers around the world continuously seek novel solutions to either eliminate or treat the disease. Artemisinin, isolated from the Chinese medicinal herb Artemisia annua, is the active ingredient in artemisinin-based combination therapies used to treat the disease. However, naturally artemisinin is produced in small quantities, which leads to a shortage of global supply. Due to its complex structure, it is difficult chemically synthesize. Thus to date, A. annua remains as the main commercial source of artemisinin. Current advances in genetic and metabolic engineering drives to more diverse approaches and developments on improving in planta production of artemisinin, both in A. annua and in other plants. In this review, we describe efforts in bioengineering to obtain a higher production of artemisinin in A. annua and stable heterologous in planta systems. The current progress and advancements provides hope for significantly improved production in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nur K. B. K. Ikram
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Henrik T. Simonsen
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
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