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Golubova D, Tansley C, Su H, Patron NJ. Engineering Nicotiana benthamiana as a platform for natural product biosynthesis. CURRENT OPINION IN PLANT BIOLOGY 2024; 81:102611. [PMID: 39098308 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbi.2024.102611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2024] [Revised: 06/06/2024] [Accepted: 07/15/2024] [Indexed: 08/06/2024]
Abstract
Nicotiana benthamiana is a model plant, widely used for research. The susceptibility of young plants to Agrobacterium tumefaciens has been utilised for transient gene expression, enabling the production of recombinant proteins at laboratory and commercial scales. More recently, this technique has been used for the rapid prototyping of synthetic genetic circuits and for the elucidation and reconstruction of metabolic pathways. In the last few years, many complex metabolic pathways have been successfully reconstructed in this species. In addition, the availability of improved genomic resources and efficient gene editing tools have enabled the application of sophisticated metabolic engineering approaches to increase the purity and yield of target compounds. In this review, we discuss recent advances in the use of N. benthamiana for understanding and engineering plant metabolism, as well as efforts to improve the utility of this species as a production chassis for natural products.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Golubova
- Earlham Institute, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UZ, UK
| | - C Tansley
- Earlham Institute, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UZ, UK; Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3EA, UK
| | - H Su
- Earlham Institute, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UZ, UK
| | - N J Patron
- Earlham Institute, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UZ, UK; Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3EA, UK.
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2
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Wang L, Chen B, Ma B, Wang Y, Wang H, Sun X, Tan BC. Maize Dek51 encodes a DEAD-box RNA helicase essential for pre-rRNA processing and seed development. Cell Rep 2024; 43:114673. [PMID: 39196780 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114673] [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: 05/13/2024] [Revised: 07/09/2024] [Accepted: 08/08/2024] [Indexed: 08/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Pre-rRNA processing is essential to ribosome biosynthesis. However, the processing mechanism is not fully understood in plants. Here, we report a DEAD-box RNA helicase DEK51 that mediates the 3' end processing of 18S and 5.8S pre-rRNA in maize (Zea mays L.). DEK51 is localized in the nucleolus, and loss of DEK51 arrests maize seed development and blocks the 3' end processing of 18S and 5.8S pre-rRNA. DEK51 interacts with putative key factors in nuclear RNA exosome-mediated pre-rRNA processing, including ZmMTR4, ZmSMO4, ZmRRP44A, and ZmRRP6L2. This suggests that DEK51 facilitates pre-rRNA processing by interacting with the exosome. Loss of ZmMTR4 function arrests seed development and blocks the 3' end processing of 18S and 5.8S pre-rRNA, similar to dek51. DEK51 also interacts with endonucleases ZmUTP24 and ZmRCL1, suggesting that it may also be involved in the cleavage at site A2. These results show the critical role of DEK51 in promoting 3' end processing of pre-rRNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Le Wang
- Key Laboratory of Plant Development and Environmental Adaptation Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Baoyin Chen
- Key Laboratory of Plant Development and Environmental Adaptation Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Bing Ma
- Key Laboratory of Plant Development and Environmental Adaptation Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Yong Wang
- Key Laboratory of Plant Development and Environmental Adaptation Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Hongqiu Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Xiaotong Sun
- Key Laboratory of Plant Development and Environmental Adaptation Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Bao-Cai Tan
- Key Laboratory of Plant Development and Environmental Adaptation Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China.
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Liu XY, Jiang RC, Ma B, Wang Y, Yang YZ, Xu C, Sun F, Tan BC. Maize requires Embryo defective27 for embryogenesis and seedling development. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2024; 195:430-445. [PMID: 38198212 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiae010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
The essential role of plastid translation in embryogenesis has been established in many plants, but a retrograde signal triggered by defective plastid translation machinery that may leads to embryogenesis arrest remains unknown. In this study, we characterized an embryo defective27 (emb27) mutant in maize (Zea mays), and cloning indicates that Emb27 encodes the plastid ribosomal protein S13. The null mutant emb27-1 conditions an emb phenotype with arrested embryogenesis; however, the leaky mutant emb27-2 exhibits normal embryogenesis but an albino seedling-lethal phenotype. The emb27-1/emb27-2 trans-heterozygotes display varying phenotypes from emb to normal seeds but albino seedlings. Analysis of the Emb27 transcription levels in these mutants revealed that the Emb27 expression level in the embryo corresponds with the phenotypic expression of the emb27 mutants. In the W22 genetic background, an Emb27 transcription level higher than 6% of the wild-type level renders normal embryogenesis, whereas lower than that arrests embryogenesis. Mutation of Emb27 reduces the level of plastid 16S rRNA and the accumulation of the plastid-encoded proteins. As a secondary effect, splicing of several plastid introns was impaired in emb27-1 and 2 other plastid translation-defective mutants, emb15 and emb16, suggesting that plastome-encoded factors are required for the splicing of these introns, such as Maturase K (MatK). Our results indicate that EMB27 is essential for plastid protein translation, embryogenesis, and seedling development in maize and reveal an expression threshold of Emb27 for maize embryogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin-Yuan Liu
- Key Lab of Plant Development and Environment Adaptation Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Rui-Cheng Jiang
- Key Lab of Plant Development and Environment Adaptation Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Bing Ma
- Key Lab of Plant Development and Environment Adaptation Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Yong Wang
- Key Lab of Plant Development and Environment Adaptation Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Yan-Zhuo Yang
- Key Lab of Plant Development and Environment Adaptation Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Chunhui Xu
- Key Lab of Plant Development and Environment Adaptation Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Feng Sun
- Key Lab of Plant Development and Environment Adaptation Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Bao-Cai Tan
- Key Lab of Plant Development and Environment Adaptation Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
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Bibik JD, Hamberger B. Plant Engineering to Enable Platforms for Sustainable Bioproduction of Terpenoids. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2760:3-20. [PMID: 38468079 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3658-9_1] [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] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
Terpenoids represent the most diverse class of natural products, with a broad spectrum of industrial relevance including applications in green solvents, flavors and fragrances, nutraceuticals, colorants, and therapeutics. They are typically challenging to extract from their natural sources, where they occur in small amounts and mixtures of related but unwanted byproducts. Formal chemical synthesis, where established, is reliant on petrochemistry. Hence, there is great interest in developing sustainable solutions to assemble biosynthetic pathways in engineered host organisms. Metabolic engineering for chemical production has largely focused on microbial hosts, yet plants offer a sustainable production platform. In addition to containing the precursor pathways that generate the terpenoid building blocks as well as the cell structures and compartments required, or tractable localization for the enzymes involved, plants may provide a low input system to produce these chemicals using carbon dioxide and sunlight only. There have been significant recent advancements in the discovery of pathways to terpenoids of interest as well as strategies to boost yields in host plants. While part of the phytochemical field is focusing on the discovery of biosynthetic pathways, this review will focus on advancements using the pathway toolbox and toward engineering plants for the production of terpenoids. We will highlight strategies currently used to produce target products, optimization of known pathways to improve yields, compartmentalization of pathways within cells, and genetic tools developed to facilitate complex engineering of biosynthetic pathways. These advancements in Synthetic Biology are bringing engineered plant systems closer to commercially relevant hosts for the bioproduction of terpenoids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob D Bibik
- Department of Biochemistry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
- MelaTech, LLC, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Björn Hamberger
- Department of Biochemistry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA.
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Duan A, Liu R, Liu C, Wu F, Su H, Zhou S, Huang M, Tian X, Jia H, Liu Y, Li M, Du H. Mutation of the gene encoding the PHD-type transcription factor SAB23 confers submergence tolerance in rice. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2024; 75:168-179. [PMID: 37798132 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erad388] [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: 04/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
Submergence is a major constraint on rice production in South and Southeast Asia. In this study, we determined that a gene of the Sub1A-binding protein family, SAB23, encodes a plant homeodomain (PHD)-type transcription factor that has a novel function of negatively regulating submergence tolerance in rice. The T-DNA insertion mutant sab23 displayed reduced plant height, delayed seed maturation, and lower percentage seed set. Importantly, this mutant also exhibited enhanced submergence tolerance. In addition, CRISPR/Cas9 knock out of SAB23 resulted in a significant reduction in the content of the gibberellin GA4 and a dramatic increase in the content of GA1 in the plants. SAB23 binds to the promoter of CYTOCHROME P450 714B2 (CYP714B2), which encodes a GA13-oxidase that catalyses the conversion of GA53 to GA19. Disruption of SAB23 function led to increased CYP714B2 transcription, and overexpression of CYP714B2 produced phenotypes similar to those of the SAB23-knockout plants. Taken together, our results reveal that SAB23 negatively regulates rice submergence tolerance by modulating CYP714B2 expression, which has significant potential for use in future breeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ao Duan
- College of Life Science, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, Hubei 434025, P.R. China
| | - Rui Liu
- College of Life Science, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, Hubei 434025, P.R. China
| | - Changchang Liu
- College of Life Science, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, Hubei 434025, P.R. China
| | - Fei Wu
- College of Life Science, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, Hubei 434025, P.R. China
| | - Hang Su
- College of Life Science, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, Hubei 434025, P.R. China
| | - Shuangzhen Zhou
- College of Life Science, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, Hubei 434025, P.R. China
| | - Min Huang
- College of Life Science, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, Hubei 434025, P.R. China
| | - Xiaohai Tian
- Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Grain Crops, Yangzte University, Jingzhou 434025, P.R. China
| | - Haitao Jia
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Food Crop Germplasm and Genetic Improvement, Food Crops Institute, Hubei Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei 430064, P.R. China
| | - Ya Liu
- Maize Research Institute, Beijing Academy of Agriculture & Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, P.R. China
| | - Manfei Li
- College of Life Science, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, Hubei 434025, P.R. China
| | - Hewei Du
- College of Life Science, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, Hubei 434025, P.R. China
- Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Grain Crops, Yangzte University, Jingzhou 434025, P.R. China
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Tang SN, Barnum CR, Szarzanowicz MJ, Sirirungruang S, Shih PM. Harnessing Plant Sugar Metabolism for Glycoengineering. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:1505. [PMID: 38132331 PMCID: PMC10741112 DOI: 10.3390/biology12121505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Plants possess an innate ability to generate vast amounts of sugar and produce a range of sugar-derived compounds that can be utilized for applications in industry, health, and agriculture. Nucleotide sugars lie at the unique intersection of primary and specialized metabolism, enabling the biosynthesis of numerous molecules ranging from small glycosides to complex polysaccharides. Plants are tolerant to perturbations to their balance of nucleotide sugars, allowing for the overproduction of endogenous nucleotide sugars to push flux towards a particular product without necessitating the re-engineering of upstream pathways. Pathways to produce even non-native nucleotide sugars may be introduced to synthesize entirely novel products. Heterologously expressed glycosyltransferases capable of unique sugar chemistries can further widen the synthetic repertoire of a plant, and transporters can increase the amount of nucleotide sugars available to glycosyltransferases. In this opinion piece, we examine recent successes and potential future uses of engineered nucleotide sugar biosynthetic, transport, and utilization pathways to improve the production of target compounds. Additionally, we highlight current efforts to engineer glycosyltransferases. Ultimately, the robust nature of plant sugar biochemistry renders plants a powerful chassis for the production of target glycoconjugates and glycans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophia N. Tang
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA;
- Feedstocks Division, Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA 94608, USA; (M.J.S.)
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94710, USA
| | - Collin R. Barnum
- Biochemistry, Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology Graduate Group, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Matthew J. Szarzanowicz
- Feedstocks Division, Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA 94608, USA; (M.J.S.)
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94710, USA
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Sasilada Sirirungruang
- Feedstocks Division, Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA 94608, USA; (M.J.S.)
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94710, USA
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Patrick M. Shih
- Feedstocks Division, Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA 94608, USA; (M.J.S.)
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94710, USA
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
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7
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Zhang Y, Kashkooli AB, Blom S, Zhao T, Bouwmeester HJ, Kappers IF. The Capsicum terpenoid biosynthetic module is affected by spider-mite herbivory. PLANT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2023; 113:303-321. [PMID: 37995005 PMCID: PMC10721696 DOI: 10.1007/s11103-023-01390-0] [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: 04/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023]
Abstract
In response to herbivory, Capsicum annuum leaves adapt their specialized metabolome that may protect the plant against herbivore feeding either directly or indirectly through volatile metabolites acting as cues for natural enemies of the herbivore. The volatile blend of spider-mite infested leaves differs from non-challenged leaves predominantly by a higher contribution of mono- and sesquiterpenes. In addition to these terpenoids released into the headspace, the terpenoid composition of the leaves alters upon herbivory. All this suggests an important role for terpenoids and their biosynthetic machinery in the defence against herbivory. Here, we show that the C. annuum genome contains a terpene synthase (TPS) gene family of 103 putative members of which structural analysis revealed that 27 encode functional enzymes. Transcriptome analysis showed that several TPS loci were differentially expressed upon herbivory in leaves of two C. annuum genotypes, that differ in susceptibility towards spider mites. The relative expression of upstream biosynthetic genes from the mevalonate and the methylerythritol phosphate pathway also altered upon herbivory, revealing a shift in the metabolic flux through the terpene biosynthetic module. The expression of multiple genes potentially acting downstream of the TPSs, including cytochrome P450 monooxygenases, UDP-glucosyl transferases, and transcription factors strongly correlated with the herbivory-induced TPS genes. A selection of herbivory-induced TPS genes was functionally characterized through heterologous expression and the products that these enzymes catalysed matched with the volatile and non-volatile terpenoids induced in response to herbivory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyuan Zhang
- Laboratory of Plant Physiology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- College of Forestry and Landscape Architectures, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Arman B Kashkooli
- Laboratory of Plant Physiology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Suze Blom
- Laboratory of Plant Physiology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Bioscience, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Tao Zhao
- Biosystematics, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University, Xi'an, China
| | - Harro J Bouwmeester
- Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Iris F Kappers
- Laboratory of Plant Physiology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
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Vollheyde K, Dudley QM, Yang T, Oz MT, Mancinotti D, Fedi MO, Heavens D, Linsmith G, Chhetry M, Smedley MA, Harwood WA, Swarbreck D, Geu‐Flores F, Patron NJ. An improved Nicotiana benthamiana bioproduction chassis provides novel insights into nicotine biosynthesis. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2023; 240:302-317. [PMID: 37488711 PMCID: PMC10952274 DOI: 10.1111/nph.19141] [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: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023]
Abstract
The model plant Nicotiana benthamiana is an increasingly attractive organism for the production of high-value, biologically active molecules. However, N. benthamiana accumulates high levels of pyridine alkaloids, in particular nicotine, which complicates the downstream purification processes. Here, we report a new assembly of the N. benthamiana genome as well as the generation of low-nicotine lines by CRISPR/Cas9-based inactivation of berberine bridge enzyme-like proteins (BBLs). Triple as well as quintuple mutants accumulated three to four times less nicotine than the respective control lines. The availability of lines without functional BBLs allowed us to probe their catalytic role in nicotine biosynthesis, which has remained obscure. Notably, chiral analysis revealed that the enantiomeric purity of nicotine was fully lost in the quintuple mutants. In addition, precursor feeding experiments showed that these mutants cannot facilitate the specific loss of C6 hydrogen that characterizes natural nicotine biosynthesis. Our work delivers an improved N. benthamiana chassis for bioproduction and uncovers the crucial role of BBLs in the stereoselectivity of nicotine biosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Vollheyde
- Department of Plant and Environmental SciencesUniversity of Copenhagen1871 FrederiksbergCopenhagenDenmark
| | | | - Ting Yang
- Department of Plant and Environmental SciencesUniversity of Copenhagen1871 FrederiksbergCopenhagenDenmark
| | - Mehmet T. Oz
- Earlham Institute, Norwich Research ParkNorwichNorfolkNR4 7UZUK
| | - Davide Mancinotti
- Department of Plant and Environmental SciencesUniversity of Copenhagen1871 FrederiksbergCopenhagenDenmark
| | | | - Darren Heavens
- Earlham Institute, Norwich Research ParkNorwichNorfolkNR4 7UZUK
| | - Gareth Linsmith
- Earlham Institute, Norwich Research ParkNorwichNorfolkNR4 7UZUK
| | - Monika Chhetry
- John Innes Centre, Norwich Research ParkNorwichNorfolkNR4 7UHUK
| | - Mark A. Smedley
- John Innes Centre, Norwich Research ParkNorwichNorfolkNR4 7UHUK
| | | | - David Swarbreck
- Earlham Institute, Norwich Research ParkNorwichNorfolkNR4 7UZUK
| | - Fernando Geu‐Flores
- Department of Plant and Environmental SciencesUniversity of Copenhagen1871 FrederiksbergCopenhagenDenmark
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De Paola C, Garcia-Carpintero V, Vazquez-Vilar M, Kaminski K, Fernandez-Del-Carmen A, Sierro N, Ivanov NV, Giuliano G, Waterhouse P, Orzaez D. Comparative analysis of the Squamosa Promoter Binding-Like (SPL) gene family in Nicotiana benthamiana and Nicotiana tabacum. PLANT SCIENCE : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2023; 335:111797. [PMID: 37467788 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2023.111797] [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: 03/27/2023] [Revised: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
SQUAMOSA PROMOTER BINDING-LIKE (SPL) proteins constitute a large family of transcription factors known to play key roles in growth and developmental processes, including juvenile-to-adult and vegetative-to-reproductive phase transitions. This makes SPLs interesting targets for precision breeding in plants of the Nicotiana genus used as e.g. recombinant biofactories. We report the identification of 49 SPL genes in Nicotiana tabacum cv. K326 and 43 SPL genes in Nicotiana benthamiana LAB strain, which were classified into eight phylogenetic groups according to the SPL classification in Arabidopsis. Exon-intron gene structure and DNA-binding domains were highly conserved between homeologues and orthologues. Thirty of the NbSPL genes and 33 of the NtSPL genes were found to be possible targets of microRNA 156. The expression of SPL genes in leaves was analysed by RNA-seq at three different stages, revealing that genes not under miR156 control were in general constitutively expressed at high levels, whereas miR156-regulated genes showed lower expression, often developmentally regulated. We selected the N. benthamiana SPL13_1a gene as target for a CRISPR/Cas9 knock-out experiment. We show here that a full knock-out in this single gene leads to a significant delay in flowering time, a trait that could be exploited to increase biomass for recombinant protein production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmine De Paola
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas (CSIC-UPV), Valencia, Spain
| | | | - Marta Vazquez-Vilar
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas (CSIC-UPV), Valencia, Spain
| | | | | | - Nicolas Sierro
- PMI R&D, Philip Morris Products S.A, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | | | | | | | - Diego Orzaez
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas (CSIC-UPV), Valencia, Spain.
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10
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Kallam K, Moreno‐Giménez E, Mateos‐Fernández R, Tansley C, Gianoglio S, Orzaez D, Patron N. Tunable control of insect pheromone biosynthesis in Nicotiana benthamiana. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL 2023; 21:1440-1453. [PMID: 37032497 PMCID: PMC10281601 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.14048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Previous work has demonstrated that plants can be used as production platforms for molecules used in health, medicine, and agriculture. Production has been exemplified in both stable transgenic plants and using transient expression strategies. In particular, species of Nicotiana have been engineered to produce a range of useful molecules, including insect sex pheromones, which are valued for species-specific control of agricultural pests. To date, most studies have relied on strong constitutive expression of all pathway genes. However, work in microbes has demonstrated that yields can be improved by controlling and balancing gene expression. Synthetic regulatory elements that provide control over the timing and levels of gene expression are therefore useful for maximizing yields from heterologous biosynthetic pathways. In this study, we demonstrate the use of pathway engineering and synthetic genetic elements for controlling the timing and levels of production of Lepidopteran sex pheromones in Nicotiana benthamiana. We demonstrate that copper can be used as a low-cost molecule for tightly regulated inducible expression. Further, we show how construct architecture influences relative gene expression and, consequently, product yields in multigene constructs. We compare a number of synthetic orthogonal regulatory elements and demonstrate maximal yields from constructs in which expression is mediated by dCas9-based synthetic transcriptional activators. The approaches demonstrated here provide new insights into the heterologous reconstruction of metabolic pathways in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kalyani Kallam
- Engineering BiologyEarlham Institute, Norwich Research ParkNorwich, NorfolkUK
| | | | | | - Connor Tansley
- Engineering BiologyEarlham Institute, Norwich Research ParkNorwich, NorfolkUK
| | - Silvia Gianoglio
- Institute for Plant Molecular and Cell Biology (IBMCP), UPV‐CSICValenciaSpain
| | - Diego Orzaez
- Institute for Plant Molecular and Cell Biology (IBMCP), UPV‐CSICValenciaSpain
| | - Nicola Patron
- Engineering BiologyEarlham Institute, Norwich Research ParkNorwich, NorfolkUK
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11
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Jirarojwattana P, Shanmugaraj B, Rattanapisit K, Phoolcharoen W. Development of SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody detection assay by using recombinant plant-produced proteins. BIOTECHNOLOGY REPORTS (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2023; 38:e00796. [PMID: 37056791 PMCID: PMC10077816 DOI: 10.1016/j.btre.2023.e00796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Revised: 02/26/2023] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023]
Abstract
Detecting immunity against SARS-CoV-2 is vital for evaluating vaccine response and natural infection, but conventional virus neutralization test (cVNT) requires BSL3 and live viruses, and pseudo-virus neutralization test (pVNT) needs specialized equipment and trained professionals. The surrogate virus neutralization test (sVNT) was developed to overcome these limitations. This study explored the use of angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) produced from Nicotiana benthamiana for the development of an affordable neutralizing antibodies detection assay. The results showed that the plant-produced ACE2 can bind to the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2, and was used to develop sVNT with plant-produced RBD protein. The sVNT developed using plant-produced proteins showed high sensitivity and specificity when validated with a group of 30 RBD vaccinated mice sera and the results were correlated with cVNT titer. This preliminary finding suggests that the plants could offer a cost-effective platform for producing diagnostic reagents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Perawat Jirarojwattana
- Center of Excellence in Plant-produced Pharmaceuticals, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | | | | | - Waranyoo Phoolcharoen
- Center of Excellence in Plant-produced Pharmaceuticals, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
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12
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Habib MA, Islam MM, Islam MM, Hasan MM, Baek KH. Current Status and De Novo Synthesis of Anti-Tumor Alkaloids in Nicotiana. Metabolites 2023; 13:metabo13050623. [PMID: 37233664 DOI: 10.3390/metabo13050623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2023] [Revised: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Alkaloids are the most diversified nitrogen-containing secondary metabolites, having antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, and are extensively used in pharmaceuticals to treat different types of cancer. Nicotiana serves as a reservoir of anti-cancer alkaloids and is also used as a model plant for the de novo synthesis of various anti-cancer molecules through genetic engineering. Up to 4% of the total dry weight of Nicotiana was found to be composed of alkaloids, where nicotine, nornicotine, anatabine, and anabasine are reported as the dominant alkaloids. Additionally, among the alkaloids present in Nicotiana, β-carboline (Harmane and Norharmane) and Kynurenines are found to show anti-tumor effects, especially in the cases of colon and breast cancers. Creating new or shunting of existing biosynthesis pathways in different species of Nicotiana resulted in de novo or increased synthesis of different anti-tumor molecules or their derivatives or precursors including Taxadiane (~22.5 µg/g), Artemisinin (~120 μg/g), Parthenolide (~2.05 ng/g), Costunolide (~60 ng/g), Etoposide (~1 mg/g), Crocin (~400 µg/g), Catharanthine (~60 ng/g), Tabersonine (~10 ng/g), Strictosidine (~0.23 mg/g), etc. Enriching the precursor pool, especially Dimethylallyl Diphosphate (DMAPP), down-regulating other bi-product pathways, compartmentalization or metabolic shunting, or organelle-specific reconstitution of the precursor pool, might trigger the enhanced accumulation of the targeted anti-cancer alkaloid in Nicotiana.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Ahsan Habib
- Department of Plant Pathology, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur 5200, Bangladesh
| | - Md Mobinul Islam
- Department of Plant Pathology, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur 5200, Bangladesh
| | - Md Mukul Islam
- Department of Plant Pathology, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur 5200, Bangladesh
| | - Md Mohidul Hasan
- Department of Plant Pathology, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur 5200, Bangladesh
| | - Kwang-Hyun Baek
- Department of Biotechnology, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan 38541, Republic of Korea
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13
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Du Z, Peng Z, Yang H, Wu H, Sun J, Huang L. Identification and functional characterization of three cytochrome P450 genes for the abietane diterpenoid biosynthesis in Isodon lophanthoides. PLANTA 2023; 257:90. [PMID: 36991182 DOI: 10.1007/s00425-023-04125-z] [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: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
We identify two ferruginol synthases and a 11-hydroxyferruginol synthase from a traditional Chinese medicinal herb Isodon lophanthoides and propose their involvement in two independent abietane diterpenoids biosynthetic pathways. Isodon lophanthoides is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb rich in highly oxidized abietane-type diterpenoids. These compounds exhibit a wide range of pharmaceutical activities, yet the biosynthesis is barely known. Here, we describe the screening and functional characterization of P450s that oxidize the abietane skeleton abietatriene. We mainly focused on CYP76 family and identified 12 CYP76AHs by mining the RNA-seq data of I. lophanthoides. Among the 12 CYP76AHs, 6 exhibited similar transcriptional expression features as upstream diterpene synthases, including root or leaf-preferential expression pattern and highly MeJA inducibility. These six P450s were considered as first-tier candidates and functionally characterized in yeast and plant cells. In yeast assays showed that both CYP76AH42 and CYP76AH43 were ferruginol synthases hydroxylating the C12 position of abietatriene, whereas CYP76AH46 was characterized as a 11-hydroxyferruginol synthase which catalyzes two successive oxidations at C12 and C11 of abietatriene. Heterologous expression of three CYP76AHs in Nicotiana benthamiana resulted in the formation of ferruginol. qPCR analysis showed CYP76AH42 and CYP76AH43 were mainly expressed in the root, which was consistent with the distribution of ferruginol in the root periderms. CYP76AH46 was primarily expressed in the leaves where barely ferruginol or 11-hydroxyferruginol was detected. In addition to distinct organ-specific expression pattern, three CYP76AHs exhibited different genomic structures (w or w/o introns), low protein sequence identities (51-63%) and were placed in separate subclades in the phylogenetic tree. These results suggest that the identified CYP76AHs may be involved in at least two independent abietane biosynthetic pathways in the aerial and underground parts of I. lophanthoides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zuying Du
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Physiology and Ecology, School of Pharmaceutical Science, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Ziqiu Peng
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Physiology and Ecology, School of Pharmaceutical Science, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Hui Yang
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Physiology and Ecology, School of Pharmaceutical Science, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Haisheng Wu
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Physiology and Ecology, School of Pharmaceutical Science, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Jie Sun
- Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Synthesis of Zhejiang Province, College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Lili Huang
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Physiology and Ecology, School of Pharmaceutical Science, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
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14
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Kurotani KI, Hirakawa H, Shirasawa K, Tanizawa Y, Nakamura Y, Isobe S, Notaguchi M. Genome Sequence and Analysis of Nicotiana benthamiana, the Model Plant for Interactions between Organisms. PLANT & CELL PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 64:248-257. [PMID: 36755428 PMCID: PMC9977260 DOI: 10.1093/pcp/pcac168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Revised: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Nicotiana benthamiana is widely used as a model plant for dicotyledonous angiosperms. In fact, the strains used in research are highly susceptible to a wide range of viruses. Accordingly, these strains are subject to plant pathology and plant-microbe interactions. In terms of plant-plant interactions, N. benthamiana is one of the plants that exhibit grafting affinity with plants from different families. Thus, N. benthamiana is a good model for plant biology and has been the subject of genome sequencing analyses for many years. However, N. benthamiana has a complex allopolyploid genome, and its previous reference genome is fragmented into 141,000 scaffolds. As a result, molecular genetic analysis is difficult to perform. To improve this effort, de novo whole-genome assembly was performed in N. benthamiana with Hifi reads, and 1,668 contigs were generated with a total length of 3.1 Gb. The 21 longest scaffolds, regarded as pseudomolecules, contained a 2.8-Gb sequence, occupying 95.6% of the assembled genome. A total of 57,583 high-confidence gene sequences were predicted. Based on a comparison of the genome structures between N. benthamiana and N. tabacum, N. benthamiana was found to have more complex chromosomal rearrangements, reflecting the age of interspecific hybridization. To verify the accuracy of the annotations, the cell wall modification genes involved in grafting were analyzed, which revealed not only the previously indeterminate untranslated region, intron and open reading frame sequences but also the genomic locations of their family genes. Owing to improved genome assembly and annotation, N. benthamiana would increasingly be more widely accessible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ken-ichi Kurotani
- Bioscience and Biotechnology Center, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, 464-8601 Japan
| | - Hideki Hirakawa
- Department of Frontier Research and Development, Kazusa DNA Research Institute, 2-6-7 Kazusa-kamatari, Kisarazu, Chiba, 292-0818 Japan
| | - Kenta Shirasawa
- Department of Frontier Research and Development, Kazusa DNA Research Institute, 2-6-7 Kazusa-kamatari, Kisarazu, Chiba, 292-0818 Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Tanizawa
- Research Organization of Information and Systems, National Institute of Genetics, Yata, Mishima, 411-8540 Japan
| | - Yasukazu Nakamura
- Research Organization of Information and Systems, National Institute of Genetics, Yata, Mishima, 411-8540 Japan
| | - Sachiko Isobe
- *Corresponding authors: Sachiko Isobe, E-mail, ; Michitaka Notaguchi, E-mail,
| | - Michitaka Notaguchi
- *Corresponding authors: Sachiko Isobe, E-mail, ; Michitaka Notaguchi, E-mail,
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15
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MYC2: A Master Switch for Plant Physiological Processes and Specialized Metabolite Synthesis. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24043511. [PMID: 36834921 PMCID: PMC9963318 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The jasmonic acid (JA) signaling pathway plays important roles in plant defenses, development, and the synthesis of specialized metabolites synthesis. Transcription factor MYC2 is a major regulator of the JA signaling pathway and is involved in the regulation of plant physiological processes and specialized metabolite synthesis. Based on our understanding of the mechanism underlying the regulation of specialized metabolite synthesis in plants by the transcription factor MYC2, the use of synthetic biology approaches to design MYC2-driven chassis cells for the synthesis of specialized metabolites with high medicinal value, such as paclitaxel, vincristine, and artemisinin, seems to be a promising strategy. In this review, the regulatory role of MYC2 in JA signal transduction of plants to biotic and abiotic stresses, plant growth, development and specialized metabolite synthesis is described in detail, which will provide valuable reference for the use of MYC2 molecular switches to regulate plant specialized metabolite biosynthesis.
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16
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Kashkooli AB, van Dijk ADJ, Bouwmeester H, van der Krol A. Individual lipid transfer proteins from Tanacetum parthenium show different specificity for extracellular accumulation of sesquiterpenes. PLANT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2023; 111:153-166. [PMID: 36255594 PMCID: PMC9849177 DOI: 10.1007/s11103-022-01316-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
A highly specialized function for individual LTPs for different products from the same terpenoid biosynthesis pathway is described and the function of an LTP GPI anchor is studied. Sequiterpenes produced in glandular trichomes of the medicinal plant Tanacetum parthenium (feverfew) accumulate in the subcuticular extracellular space. Transport of these compounds over the plasma membrane is presumably by specialized membrane transporters, but it is still not clear how these hydrophobic compounds are subsequently transported over the hydrophilic cell wall. Here we identified eight so-called non-specific Lipid transfer proteins (nsLTPs) genes that are expressed in feverfew trichomes. A putative function of these eight nsLTPs in transport of the lipophilic sesquiterpene lactones produced in feverfew trichomes, was tested in an in-planta transport assay using transient expression in Nicotiana benthamiana. Of eight feverfew nsLTP candidate genes analyzed, two (TpLTP1 and TpLTP2) can specifically improve extracellular accumulation of the sesquiterpene costunolide, while one nsLTP (TpLTP3) shows high specificity towards export of parthenolide. The specificity of the nsLTPs was also tested in an assay that test for the exclusion capacity of the nsLTP for influx of extracellular substrates. In such assay, TpLTP3 was identified as most effective in blocking influx of both costunolide and parthenolide, when these substrates are infiltrated into the apoplast. The TpLTP3 is special in having a GPI-anchor domain, which is essential for the export activity of TpLTP3. However, addition of the TpLTP3 GPI-anchor domain to TpLTP1 resulted in loss of TpLTP1 export activity. These novel export and exclusion assays thus provide new means to test functionality of plant nsLTPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arman Beyraghdar Kashkooli
- Laboratory of Plant Physiology, Wageningen University and Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Department of Horticultural Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University, PO Box 14115-336, Tehran, Iran
| | - Aalt D J van Dijk
- Applied Bioinformatics, Bioscience, Plant Sciences Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Harro Bouwmeester
- Laboratory of Plant Physiology, Wageningen University and Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Plant Hormone Biology Group, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Alexander van der Krol
- Laboratory of Plant Physiology, Wageningen University and Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, 6708 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
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17
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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: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [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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18
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Dudley QM, Jo S, Guerrero DAS, Chhetry M, Smedley MA, Harwood WA, Sherden NH, O'Connor SE, Caputi L, Patron NJ. Reconstitution of monoterpene indole alkaloid biosynthesis in genome engineered Nicotiana benthamiana. Commun Biol 2022; 5:949. [PMID: 36088516 PMCID: PMC9464250 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03904-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Monoterpene indole alkaloids (MIAs) are a diverse class of plant natural products that include a number of medicinally important compounds. We set out to reconstitute the pathway for strictosidine, a key intermediate of all MIAs, from central metabolism in Nicotiana benthamiana. A disadvantage of this host is that its rich background metabolism results in the derivatization of some heterologously produced molecules. Here we use transcriptomic analysis to identify glycosyltransferases that are upregulated in response to biosynthetic intermediates and produce plant lines with targeted mutations in the genes encoding them. Expression of the early MIA pathway in these lines produces a more favorable product profile. Strictosidine biosynthesis was successfully reconstituted, with the best yields obtained by the co-expression of 14 enzymes, of which a major latex protein-like enzyme (MLPL) from Nepeta (catmint) is critical for improving flux through the iridoid pathway. The removal of endogenous glycosyltransferases does not impact the yields of strictosidine, highlighting that the metabolic flux of the pathway enzymes to a stable biosynthetic intermediate minimizes the need to engineer the endogenous metabolism of the host. The production of strictosidine in planta expands the range of MIA products amenable to biological synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quentin M Dudley
- Engineering Biology, Earlham Institute, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, Norfolk, NR4 7UZ, UK
| | - Seohyun Jo
- Engineering Biology, Earlham Institute, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, Norfolk, NR4 7UZ, UK
| | - Delia Ayled Serna Guerrero
- Department of Natural Product Biosynthesis, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, 07745, Germany
| | - Monika Chhetry
- John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - Mark A Smedley
- John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - Wendy A Harwood
- John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - Nathaniel H Sherden
- John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK
- Octagon Therapeutics Ltd, 700 Main Street, North Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Sarah E O'Connor
- Department of Natural Product Biosynthesis, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, 07745, Germany
| | - Lorenzo Caputi
- Department of Natural Product Biosynthesis, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, 07745, Germany.
| | - Nicola J Patron
- Engineering Biology, Earlham Institute, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, Norfolk, NR4 7UZ, UK.
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19
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Selma S, Gianoglio S, Uranga M, Vázquez‐Vilar M, Espinosa‐Ruiz A, Drapal M, Fraser PD, Daròs J, Orzáez D. Potato virus X-delivered CRISPR activation programs lead to strong endogenous gene induction and transient metabolic reprogramming in Nicotiana benthamiana. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2022; 111:1550-1564. [PMID: 35822533 PMCID: PMC9541417 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.15906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Revised: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Programmable transcriptional regulators based on CRISPR architecture are promising tools for the induction of plant gene expression. In plants, CRISPR gene activation is effective with respect to modulating development processes, such as the flowering time or customizing biochemical composition. The most widely used method for delivering CRISPR components into the plant is Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated genetic transformation, either transient or stable. However, as a result of their versatility and their ability to move, virus-derived systems have emerged as an interesting alternative for supplying the CRISPR components to the plant, in particular guide RNA (gRNA), which represents the variable component in CRISPR strategies. In the present study, we describe a Potato virus X-derived vector that, upon agroinfection in Nicotiana benthamiana, serves as a vehicle for delivery of gRNAs, producing highly specific virus-induced gene activation. The system works in combination with a N. benthamiana transgenic line carrying the remaining complementary CRISPR gene activation components, specifically the dCasEV2.1 cassette, which has been shown previously to mediate strong programmable transcriptional activation in plants. Using an easily scalable, non-invasive spraying method, we show that gRNA-mediated activation programs move locally and systemically, generating a strong activation response in different target genes. Furthermore, by activating three different endogenous MYB transcription factors, we demonstrate that this Potato virus X-based virus-induced gene reprogramming strategy results in program-specific metabolic fingerprints in N. benthamiana leaves characterized by distinctive phenylpropanoid-enriched metabolite profiles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Selma
- Instituto Biología Molecular y celular de PlantasCSIC‐Universitat Politècnica de ValènciaValencia46022Spain
| | - Silvia Gianoglio
- Instituto Biología Molecular y celular de PlantasCSIC‐Universitat Politècnica de ValènciaValencia46022Spain
| | - Mireia Uranga
- Instituto Biología Molecular y celular de PlantasCSIC‐Universitat Politècnica de ValènciaValencia46022Spain
| | - Marta Vázquez‐Vilar
- Instituto Biología Molecular y celular de PlantasCSIC‐Universitat Politècnica de ValènciaValencia46022Spain
| | - Ana Espinosa‐Ruiz
- Instituto Biología Molecular y celular de PlantasCSIC‐Universitat Politècnica de ValènciaValencia46022Spain
| | | | | | - José‐Antonio Daròs
- Instituto Biología Molecular y celular de PlantasCSIC‐Universitat Politècnica de ValènciaValencia46022Spain
| | - Diego Orzáez
- Instituto Biología Molecular y celular de PlantasCSIC‐Universitat Politècnica de ValènciaValencia46022Spain
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20
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Hansen NL, Kjaerulff L, Heck QK, Forman V, Staerk D, Møller BL, Andersen-Ranberg J. Tripterygium wilfordii cytochrome P450s catalyze the methyl shift and epoxidations in the biosynthesis of triptonide. Nat Commun 2022; 13:5011. [PMID: 36008399 PMCID: PMC9411204 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32667-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The diterpenoid triepoxides triptolide and triptonide from Tripterygium wilfordii (thunder god wine) exhibit unique bioactivities with potential uses in disease treatment and as a non-hormonal male contraceptives. Here, we show that cytochrome P450s (CYPs) from the CYP71BE subfamily catalyze an unprecedented 18(4→3) methyl shift required for biosynthesis of the abeo-abietane core structure present in diterpenoid triepoxides and in several other plant diterpenoids. In combination with two CYPs of the CYP82D subfamily, four CYPs from T. wilfordii are shown to constitute the minimal set of biosynthetic genes that enables triptonide biosynthesis using Nicotiana benthamiana and Saccharomyces cerevisiae as heterologous hosts. In addition, co-expression of a specific T. wilfordii cytochrome b5 (Twcytb5-A) increases triptonide output more than 9-fold in S. cerevisiae and affords isolation and structure elucidation by NMR spectroscopic analyses of 18 diterpenoids, providing insights into the biosynthesis of diterpenoid triepoxides. Our findings pave the way for diterpenoid triepoxide production via fermentation. How triptonide is made in the medicinal plant Tripterygium wilfordii is largely unknown. Here, the authors report the identification and characterization of a suite of cytochrome P450s and show their function in catalyzing the formation of triptonide from miltriadiene in tobacco and baker’s yeast.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolaj Lervad Hansen
- Plant Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Plant and Environment Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, DK-1871, Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Louise Kjaerulff
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Quinn Kalby Heck
- Plant Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Plant and Environment Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, DK-1871, Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Victor Forman
- Plant Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Plant and Environment Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, DK-1871, Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Dan Staerk
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Birger Lindberg Møller
- Plant Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Plant and Environment Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, DK-1871, Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Johan Andersen-Ranberg
- Plant Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Plant and Environment Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, DK-1871, Frederiksberg C, Denmark.
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21
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Han X, Chai Y, Lv C, Chen Q, Liu J, Wang Y, Chou G. Sesquiterpenes from Artemisia annua and Their Cytotoxic Activities. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27165079. [PMID: 36014318 PMCID: PMC9414659 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27165079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Revised: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Artemisia annua is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine. Due to its highest antimalarial efficacy, China has a long history of cultivating A. annua, and it is used for “clearing heat and detoxicating”. Several, studies have shown that the A. annua extract exerts cytotoxicity. In order to clarify the basis of the cytotoxic effect of A. annua, 18 sesquiterpenes were isolated from the herb, including 2 new sesquiterpenes and 16 known analogues. The structures of new compounds were elucidated by comprehensive spectroscopic analyses, including HR-ESI-MS, NMR experiments, single-crystal X-ray, and DP4+ and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations. Cytotoxic activity screening revealed three compounds that exhibited cytotoxicity in a dose-dependent manner. Additional exploration showed that compound 5 significantly inhibited the proliferation of CT26 and HCT116 cells and induced apoptosis of HCT116 cells after 24 h. These chemical constituents contributed to elucidating the mechanism of action of the cytotoxic activity of A. annua.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Han
- The MOE Key Laboratory of Standardization of Chinese Medicines and SATCM Key Laboratory of New Resources and Quality Evaluation of Chinese Medicines, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica (ICMM), Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (SHUTCM), Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Yao Chai
- Shanghai University(SHU), Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Cheng Lv
- The MOE Key Laboratory of Standardization of Chinese Medicines and SATCM Key Laboratory of New Resources and Quality Evaluation of Chinese Medicines, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica (ICMM), Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (SHUTCM), Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Qianqian Chen
- The MOE Key Laboratory of Standardization of Chinese Medicines and SATCM Key Laboratory of New Resources and Quality Evaluation of Chinese Medicines, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica (ICMM), Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (SHUTCM), Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Jinling Liu
- The MOE Key Laboratory of Standardization of Chinese Medicines and SATCM Key Laboratory of New Resources and Quality Evaluation of Chinese Medicines, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica (ICMM), Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (SHUTCM), Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Yongli Wang
- The MOE Key Laboratory of Standardization of Chinese Medicines and SATCM Key Laboratory of New Resources and Quality Evaluation of Chinese Medicines, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica (ICMM), Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (SHUTCM), Shanghai 201203, China
- Shanghai R & D Center for Standardization of Chinese Medicines, Shanghai 201203, China
- Correspondence: (Y.W.); (G.C.)
| | - Guixin Chou
- The MOE Key Laboratory of Standardization of Chinese Medicines and SATCM Key Laboratory of New Resources and Quality Evaluation of Chinese Medicines, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica (ICMM), Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (SHUTCM), Shanghai 201203, China
- Shanghai R & D Center for Standardization of Chinese Medicines, Shanghai 201203, China
- Correspondence: (Y.W.); (G.C.)
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22
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Deguchi M, Dhir S, Potlakayala S, Dhir S, Curtis WR, Rudrabhatla S. In planta Female Flower Agroinfiltration Alters the Cannabinoid Composition in Industrial Hemp ( Cannabis sativa L.). FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:921970. [PMID: 35941940 PMCID: PMC9356322 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.921970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Industrial hemp is a diploid (2n = 20), dioecious plant, and an essential source of various phytochemical productions. More than 540 phytochemicals have been described, some of which proved helpful in the remedial treatment of human diseases. Therefore, further study of hemp phytochemicals in medicine is highly anticipated. Previously, we developed the vacuum agroinfiltration method, which allows the transient gene expression in hemp tissues including female flowers, where cannabinoids are produced and accumulated. In this study, we attempted to alter the composition of total CBD and THC. The RT-PCR and sanger sequence identified eleven copies of the CBDAS gene, two copies of the THCAS gene, and one CBCAS gene. Binary vectors were constructed to overexpress the CBDAS gene and silence the THCAS gene via RNA interference. The Transcript level of the CBDAS gene was increased by more than 10 times than the plants used as a control, which led to a 54% higher total CBD content. The silencing of the THCAS gene led to downregulation of the THCAS gene, with an 80% reduction in transcript levels, and total THC content was reduced to 43% compared with mock plant. These results suggest that hemp vacuum infiltration is highly effective for metabolic engineering of cannabinoids in hemp.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michihito Deguchi
- The Central Pennsylvania Research and Teaching Laboratory for Biofuels, Penn State Harrisburg, Middletown, PA, United States
| | - Seema Dhir
- Biology Department, Fort Valley State University, Fort Valley, GA, United States
| | - Shobha Potlakayala
- The Central Pennsylvania Research and Teaching Laboratory for Biofuels, Penn State Harrisburg, Middletown, PA, United States
| | - Sarwan Dhir
- Family Sciences and Technology, College of Agriculture, Fort Valley State University, Fort Valley, GA, United States
| | - Wayne R. Curtis
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
| | - Sairam Rudrabhatla
- The Central Pennsylvania Research and Teaching Laboratory for Biofuels, Penn State Harrisburg, Middletown, PA, United States
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Sirirungruang S, Markel K, Shih PM. Plant-based engineering for production of high-valued natural products. Nat Prod Rep 2022; 39:1492-1509. [PMID: 35674317 DOI: 10.1039/d2np00017b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Covering: up to March 2022Plants are a unique source of complex specialized metabolites, many of which play significant roles in human society. In many cases, however, the availability of these metabolites from naturally occurring sources fails to meet current demands. Thus, there is much interest in expanding the production capacity of target plant molecules. Traditionally, plant breeding, chemical synthesis, and microbial fermentation are considered the primary routes towards large scale production of natural products. Here, we explore the advances, challenges, and future of plant engineering as a complementary path. Although plants are an integral part of our food and agricultural systems and sustain an extensive array of chemical constituents, their complex genetics and physiology have prevented the optimal exploitation of plants as a production chassis. We highlight emerging engineering tools and scientific advances developed in recent years that have improved the prospects of using plants as a sustainable and scalable production platform. We also discuss technological limitations and overall economic outlook of plant-based production of natural products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sasilada Sirirungruang
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA. .,Feedstocks Division, Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA, USA.,Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA.,Center for Biomolecular Structure, Function and Application, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand
| | - Kasey Markel
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA. .,Feedstocks Division, Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA, USA.,Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Patrick M Shih
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA. .,Feedstocks Division, Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA, USA.,Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA.,Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
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24
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Shen Q, Huang H, Xie L, Hao X, Kayani SI, Liu H, Qin W, Chen T, Pan Q, Liu P, Tang K. Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors AabHLH2 and AabHLH3 Function Antagonistically With AaMYC2 and Are Negative Regulators in Artemisinin Biosynthesis. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:885622. [PMID: 35734250 PMCID: PMC9207477 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.885622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Plants have evolved sophisticated systems for regulating the biosynthesis of specialized phytochemicals. Artemisinin, which is a sesquiterpene lactone widely used in anti-malaria treatment, is produced by the Artemisia annua L. plant. However, the artemisinin content in A. annua is low and difficult to meet market demands. Studies have shown that artemisinin biosynthesis in A. annua has complex temporal and spatial specificity and is under tightly transcriptional regulation. However, the mechanism of transcriptional regulation of artemisinin biosynthesis remains unclear. In this study, we identified two MYC-type bHLH transcription factors (AabHLH2 and AabHLH3) as novel regulators of artemisinin biosynthesis. These bHLH TFs act as transcription repressors and function redundantly to negatively regulate artemisinin biosynthesis. Furthermore, AabHLH2 and AabHLH3 are nuclear proteins that bind to DNA elements with similar specificity to that of AaMYC2, but lack the conserved activation domain, suggesting that repression is achieved by competition for the same cis-regulatory elements. Together, our findings reveal a novel artemisinin biosynthesis regulatory network, provide new insight into how specialized metabolites are modulated in plants, and propose a model in which different bHLH TFs coordinated in regulating artemisinin production in the plant. Finally, this study provides some useful target genes for metabolic engineering of artemisinin production via CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Shen
- Plant Biotechnology Research Center, SJTU–Fudan–Nottingham Plant Biotechnology R&D Center, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Huayi Huang
- Plant Biotechnology Research Center, SJTU–Fudan–Nottingham Plant Biotechnology R&D Center, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lihui Xie
- Plant Biotechnology Research Center, SJTU–Fudan–Nottingham Plant Biotechnology R&D Center, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaolong Hao
- Plant Biotechnology Research Center, SJTU–Fudan–Nottingham Plant Biotechnology R&D Center, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- Laboratory of Medicinal Plant Biotechnology, College of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Sadaf-Ilyas Kayani
- Plant Biotechnology Research Center, SJTU–Fudan–Nottingham Plant Biotechnology R&D Center, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hang Liu
- Plant Biotechnology Research Center, SJTU–Fudan–Nottingham Plant Biotechnology R&D Center, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei Qin
- Plant Biotechnology Research Center, SJTU–Fudan–Nottingham Plant Biotechnology R&D Center, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Tiantian Chen
- Plant Biotechnology Research Center, SJTU–Fudan–Nottingham Plant Biotechnology R&D Center, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qifang Pan
- Plant Biotechnology Research Center, SJTU–Fudan–Nottingham Plant Biotechnology R&D Center, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Pin Liu
- Plant Biotechnology Research Center, SJTU–Fudan–Nottingham Plant Biotechnology R&D Center, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Kexuan Tang
- Plant Biotechnology Research Center, SJTU–Fudan–Nottingham Plant Biotechnology R&D Center, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
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25
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Tian C, Zhang Y, Li J, Wang Y. Benchmarking Intrinsic Promoters and Terminators for Plant Synthetic Biology Research. BIODESIGN RESEARCH 2022; 2022:9834989. [PMID: 37850139 PMCID: PMC10521690 DOI: 10.34133/2022/9834989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 10/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The emerging plant synthetic metabolic engineering has been exhibiting great promise to produce either value-added metabolites or therapeutic proteins. However, promoters for plant pathway engineering are generally selected empirically. The quantitative characterization of plant-based promoters is essential for optimal control of gene expression in plant chassis. Here, we used N. benthamiana leaves and BY2 suspension cells to quantitatively characterize a library of plant promoters by transient expression of firefly/Renilla luciferase. We validated the dual-luciferase reporter system by examining the correlation between reporter protein and mRNA levels. In addition, we investigated the effects of terminator-promoter combinations on gene expression and found that the combinations of promoters and terminators resulted in a 326-fold difference between the strongest and weakest performance, as reflected in reporter gene expression. As a proof of concept, we used the quantitatively characterized promoters to engineer the betalain pathway in N. benthamiana. Seven selected plant promoters with different expression strengths were used orthogonally to express CYP76AD1 and DODA, resulting in a final betalain production range of 6.0-362.4 μg/g fresh weight. Our systematic approach not only demonstrates the various intensities of multiple promoter sequences in N. benthamiana and BY2 cells but also adds to the toolbox of plant promoters for plant engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenfei Tian
- CAS-Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100039, China
| | - Yixin Zhang
- College of Life Science, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
| | - Jianhua Li
- CAS-Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Yong Wang
- CAS-Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
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26
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Biotechnological Approaches for Production of Artemisinin, an Anti-Malarial Drug from Artemisia annua L. MOLECULES (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 27:molecules27093040. [PMID: 35566390 PMCID: PMC9103073 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27093040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Revised: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Artemisinin is an anti-malarial sesquiterpene lactone derived from Artemisia annua L. (Asteraceae family). One of the most widely used modes of treatment for malaria is an artemisinin-based combination therapy. Artemisinin and its associated compounds have a variety of pharmacological qualities that have helped achieve economic prominence in recent years. So far, research on the biosynthesis of this bioactive metabolite has revealed that it is produced in glandular trichomes and that the genes responsible for its production must be overexpressed in order to meet demand. Using biotechnological applications such as tissue culture, genetic engineering, and bioreactor-based approaches would aid in the upregulation of artemisinin yield, which is needed for the future. The current review focuses on the tissue culture aspects of propagation of A. annua and production of artemisinin from A. annua L. cell and organ cultures. The review also focuses on elicitation strategies in cell and organ cultures, as well as artemisinin biosynthesis and metabolic engineering of biosynthetic genes in Artemisia and plant model systems.
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27
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Chuang L, Franke J. Rapid Combinatorial Coexpression of Biosynthetic Genes by Transient Expression in the Plant Host Nicotiana benthamiana. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2489:395-420. [PMID: 35524061 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2273-5_20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Metabolic engineering of heterologous hosts requires coexpression of multiple genes, often more than ten for a single pathway. Traditional approaches to create genetic constructs for this purpose are highly inflexible and suffer from very low throughput. In this book chapter, we describe a powerful method to overcome this bottleneck, namely, combinatorial co-expression in the Australian tobacco plant Nicotiana benthamiana. This system is based on Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transient gene expression, often called agroinfiltration. Herein, instead of creating complex multigenic constructs, coexpression is achieved by simply mixing different plasmid-bearing Agrobacterium strains without the need for different selection markers. We present a practical guide for coexpressing multiple biosynthetic genes followed by GC-MS analysis, using production of the plant triterpene β-amyrin as an example. Our chapter provides a guideline to harness the potential of this versatile expression system in the natural product community for studying and engineering metabolic pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Chuang
- Institute of Botany, Leibniz University Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Jakob Franke
- Institute of Botany, Leibniz University Hannover, Hannover, Germany.
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28
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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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29
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Wang F, Park YL, Gutensohn M. Epidermis-Specific Metabolic Engineering of Sesquiterpene Formation in Tomato Affects the Performance of Potato Aphid Macrosiphum euphorbiae. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:793313. [PMID: 35003184 PMCID: PMC8727598 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.793313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Tomato produces a number of terpenes in their glandular trichomes that contribute to host plant resistance against pests. While glandular trichomes of cultivated tomato Solanum lycopersicum primarily accumulate a blend of monoterpenes, those of the wild tomato species Solanum habrochaites produce various sesquiterpenes. Recently, we have identified two groups of sesquiterpenes in S. habrochaites accessions that negatively affect the performance and choice behavior of the potato aphid (Macrosiphum euphorbiae). Aphids are piercing-sucking herbivores that use their mouthpart to penetrate and probe plant tissues in order to ultimately access vascular tissue and ingest phloem sap. Because secondary metabolites produced in glandular trichomes can affect the initial steps of the aphid feeding behavior, introducing the formation of defensive terpenes into additional plant tissues via metabolic engineering has the potential to reduce tissue penetration by aphids and in consequence virus transmission. Here, we have developed two multicistronic expression constructs based on the two sesquiterpene traits with activity toward M. euphorbiae previously identified in S. habrochaites. Both constructs are composed of sequences encoding a prenyl transferase and a respective S. habrochaites terpene synthase, as well as enhanced green fluorescent protein as a visible marker. All three coding sequences were linked by short nucleotide sequences encoding the foot-and-mouth disease virus 2A self-processing oligopeptide which allows their co-expression under the control of one promoter. Transient expression of both constructs under the epidermis-specific Arabidopsis CER5-promoter in tomato leaves demonstrated that formation of the two sets of defensive sesquiterpenes, β-caryophyllene/α-humulene and (-)-endo-α-bergamotene/(+)-α-santalene/(+)-endo-β-bergamotene, can be introduced into new tissues in tomato. The epidermis-specific transgene expression and terpene formation were verified by fluorescence microscopy and tissue fractionation with subsequent analysis of terpene profiles, respectively. In addition, the longevity and fecundity of M. euphorbiae feeding on these engineered tomato leaves were significantly reduced, demonstrating the efficacy of this novel aphid control strategy.
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30
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Evolution-aided engineering of plant specialized metabolism. ABIOTECH 2021; 2:240-263. [PMID: 36303885 PMCID: PMC9590541 DOI: 10.1007/s42994-021-00052-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The evolution of new traits in living organisms occurs via the processes of mutation, recombination, genetic drift, and selection. These processes that have resulted in the immense biological diversity on our planet are also being employed in metabolic engineering to optimize enzymes and pathways, create new-to-nature reactions, and synthesize complex natural products in heterologous systems. In this review, we discuss two evolution-aided strategies for metabolic engineering-directed evolution, which improves upon existing genetic templates using the evolutionary process, and combinatorial pathway reconstruction, which brings together genes evolved in different organisms into a single heterologous host. We discuss the general principles of these strategies, describe the technologies involved and the molecular traits they influence, provide examples of their use, and discuss the roadblocks that need to be addressed for their wider adoption. A better understanding of these strategies can provide an impetus to research on gene function discovery and biochemical evolution, which is foundational for improved metabolic engineering. These evolution-aided approaches thus have a substantial potential for improving our understanding of plant metabolism in general, for enhancing the production of plant metabolites, and in sustainable agriculture.
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31
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Amorpha-4,11-diene synthase: a key enzyme in artemisinin biosynthesis and engineering. ABIOTECH 2021; 2:276-288. [PMID: 36303880 PMCID: PMC9590458 DOI: 10.1007/s42994-021-00058-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Amorpha-4,11-diene synthase (ADS) catalyzes the first committed step in the artemisinin biosynthetic pathway, which is the first catalytic reaction enzymatically and genetically characterized in artemisinin biosynthesis. The advent of ADS in Artemisia annua is considered crucial for the emergence of the specialized artemisinin biosynthetic pathway in the species. Microbial production of amorpha-4,11-diene is a breakthrough in metabolic engineering and synthetic biology. Recently, numerous new techniques have been used in ADS engineering; for example, assessing the substrate promiscuity of ADS to chemoenzymatically produce artemisinin. In this review, we discuss the discovery and catalytic mechanism of ADS, its application in metabolic engineering and synthetic biology, as well as the role of sesquiterpene synthases in the evolutionary origin of artemisinin.
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32
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Heterologous Biosynthesis of Artemisinin in Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat. SEPARATIONS 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/separations8060075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Artemisinin-based drugs are the most effective medicine against multidrug-resistant Plasmodium spp., the parasite that causes malaria. To this day, wormwood A. annua L. is the sole commercial source of artemisinin, where it is produced in minor amounts. The artemisinin yield depends on numerous poorly regulated agricultural factors and the genetic variability of this non-domesticated plant. This has aroused significant interest in the development of heterologous expression platforms for artemisinin production. Previously, we obtained lines of Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat. (C. morifolium Ramat.), cvs. White Snowdon and Egyptianka, transformed with artemisinin biosynthesis genes. Here, we report the results of an analysis of artemisinin production in transgenic chrysanthemums. Transcription of heterologous amorpha-4,11-diene monooxygenase and cytochrome P450 reductase genes in transgenic lines was confirmed using high-resolution melting analysis. Artemisinin accumulation was detected using GC-MS in White Snowdon plants, but not in Egyptianka ones, thereby demonstrating the possibility of transplanting active artemisinin biosynthetic pathway into chrysanthemum. Ways of increasing its content in producer plants are discussed.
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33
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Andersen TB, Llorente B, Morelli L, Torres‐Montilla S, Bordanaba‐Florit G, Espinosa FA, Rodriguez‐Goberna MR, Campos N, Olmedilla‐Alonso B, Llansola‐Portoles MJ, Pascal AA, Rodriguez‐Concepcion M. An engineered extraplastidial pathway for carotenoid biofortification of leaves. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL 2021; 19:1008-1021. [PMID: 33314563 PMCID: PMC8131046 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.13526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2020] [Accepted: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Carotenoids are lipophilic plastidial isoprenoids highly valued as nutrients and natural pigments. A correct balance of chlorophylls and carotenoids is required for photosynthesis and therefore highly regulated, making carotenoid enrichment of green tissues challenging. Here we show that leaf carotenoid levels can be boosted through engineering their biosynthesis outside the chloroplast. Transient expression experiments in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves indicated that high extraplastidial production of carotenoids requires an enhanced supply of their isoprenoid precursors in the cytosol, which was achieved using a deregulated form of the main rate-determining enzyme of the mevalonic acid (MVA) pathway. Constructs encoding bacterial enzymes were used to convert these MVA-derived precursors into carotenoid biosynthetic intermediates that do not normally accumulate in leaves, such as phytoene and lycopene. Cytosolic versions of these enzymes produced extraplastidial carotenoids at levels similar to those of total endogenous (i.e. chloroplast) carotenoids. Strategies to enhance the development of endomembrane structures and lipid bodies as potential extraplastidial carotenoid storage systems were not successful to further increase carotenoid contents. Phytoene was found to be more bioaccessible when accumulated outside plastids, whereas lycopene formed cytosolic crystalloids very similar to those found in the chromoplasts of ripe tomatoes. This extraplastidial production of phytoene and lycopene led to an increased antioxidant capacity of leaves. Finally, we demonstrate that our system can be adapted for the biofortification of leafy vegetables such as lettuce.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trine B. Andersen
- Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG)CSIC‐IRTA‐UAB‐UBBarcelonaSpain
- Present address:
Great Lakes Bioenergy Research CenterMichigan State UniversityEast LansingMI48824USA
| | - Briardo Llorente
- Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG)CSIC‐IRTA‐UAB‐UBBarcelonaSpain
- Department of Molecular Sciences, ARC Center of Excellence in Synthetic BiologyMacquarie UniversitySydneyNSWAustralia
- CSIRO Synthetic Biology Future Science PlatformSydneyNSWAustralia
| | - Luca Morelli
- Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG)CSIC‐IRTA‐UAB‐UBBarcelonaSpain
| | | | | | - Fausto A. Espinosa
- Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG)CSIC‐IRTA‐UAB‐UBBarcelonaSpain
| | | | - Narciso Campos
- Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG)CSIC‐IRTA‐UAB‐UBBarcelonaSpain
- Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia MolecularUniversitat de BarcelonaBarcelona08028Spain
| | | | | | - Andrew A. Pascal
- CEA, CNRSInstitute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC)Université Paris‐SaclayGif‐sur‐YvetteFrance
| | - Manuel Rodriguez‐Concepcion
- Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG)CSIC‐IRTA‐UAB‐UBBarcelonaSpain
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular y Celular de Plantas (IBMCP)CSIC‐Universitat Politècnica de ValènciaValenciaSpain
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Enfissi EMA, Drapal M, Perez-Fons L, Nogueira M, Berry HM, Almeida J, Fraser PD. New plant breeding techniques and their regulatory implications: An opportunity to advance metabolomics approaches. JOURNAL OF PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2021; 258-259:153378. [PMID: 33631493 DOI: 10.1016/j.jplph.2021.153378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2020] [Revised: 01/31/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Over the previous decades, biotechnological innovations have led to improved agricultural productivity, more nutritious foods and lower chemical usage. Both in western societies and Low Medium Income Countries (LMICs). However, the projected increases in the global population, means the production of nutritious food stuffs must increase dramatically. Building on existing genetic modification technologies a series of New Plant Breeding Technologies (NPBT) has recently emerged. These approaches include, Agro-infiltration, grafting, cis and intragenesis and gene editing technologies. How these new techniques should be regulated has fostered considerable debate. Concerns have also been raised, to ensure over-regulation does not arise, creating administrative and economic burden. In this article the existing landscape of genetically modified crops is reviewed and the potential of several New Plant Breeding Techniques (NPBT) described. Metabolomics is an omic technology that has developed in a concurrent manner with biotechnological advances in plant breeding. There is potentially further opportunities to advance our metabolomic technologies to characterise the outputs of New Plant Breeding Technologies, in a manner that is beneficial both from an academic, biosafety and industrial perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eugenia M A Enfissi
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Life Sciences and the Environment, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, TW20 0EX, United Kingdom
| | - Margit Drapal
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Life Sciences and the Environment, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, TW20 0EX, United Kingdom
| | - Laura Perez-Fons
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Life Sciences and the Environment, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, TW20 0EX, United Kingdom
| | - Marilise Nogueira
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Life Sciences and the Environment, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, TW20 0EX, United Kingdom
| | - Harriet M Berry
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Life Sciences and the Environment, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, TW20 0EX, United Kingdom
| | - Juliana Almeida
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Life Sciences and the Environment, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, TW20 0EX, United Kingdom
| | - Paul D Fraser
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Life Sciences and the Environment, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, TW20 0EX, United Kingdom.
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De La Peña R, Sattely ES. Rerouting plant terpene biosynthesis enables momilactone pathway elucidation. Nat Chem Biol 2021; 17:205-212. [PMID: 33106662 PMCID: PMC7990393 DOI: 10.1038/s41589-020-00669-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2020] [Accepted: 09/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Momilactones from rice have allelopathic activity, the ability to inhibit growth of competing plants. Transferring momilactone production to other crops is a potential approach to combat weeds, yet a complete momilactone biosynthetic pathway remains elusive. Here, we address this challenge through rapid gene screening in Nicotiana benthamiana, a heterologous plant host. This required us to solve a central problem: diminishing intermediate and product yields remain a bottleneck for multistep diterpene pathways. We increased intermediate and product titers by rerouting diterpene biosynthesis from the chloroplast to the cytosolic, high-flux mevalonate pathway. This enabled the discovery and reconstitution of a complete route to momilactones (>10-fold yield improvement in production versus rice). Pure momilactone B isolated from N. benthamiana inhibited germination and root growth in Arabidopsis thaliana, validating allelopathic activity. We demonstrated the broad utility of this approach by applying it to forskolin, a Hedgehog inhibitor, and taxadiene, an intermediate in taxol biosynthesis (~10-fold improvement in production versus chloroplast expression).
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo De La Peña
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Elizabeth S Sattely
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford, CA, USA.
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36
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Gülck T, Booth JK, Carvalho Â, Khakimov B, Crocoll C, Motawia MS, Møller BL, Bohlmann J, Gallage NJ. Synthetic Biology of Cannabinoids and Cannabinoid Glucosides in Nicotiana benthamiana and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. JOURNAL OF NATURAL PRODUCTS 2020; 83:2877-2893. [PMID: 33000946 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.0c00241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Phytocannabinoids are a group of plant-derived metabolites that display a wide range of psychoactive as well as health-promoting effects. The production of pharmaceutically relevant cannabinoids relies on extraction and purification from cannabis (Cannabis sativa) plants yielding the major constituents, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol. Heterologous biosynthesis of cannabinoids in Nicotiana benthamiana or Saccharomyces cerevisiae may provide cost-efficient and rapid future production platforms to acquire pure and high quantities of both the major and the rare cannabinoids as well as novel derivatives. Here, we used a meta-transcriptomic analysis of cannabis to identify genes for aromatic prenyltransferases of the UbiA superfamily and chalcone isomerase-like (CHIL) proteins. Among the aromatic prenyltransferases, CsaPT4 showed CBGAS activity in both N. benthamiana and S. cerevisiae. Coexpression of selected CsaPT pairs and of CHIL proteins encoding genes with CsaPT4 did not affect CBGAS catalytic efficiency. In a screen of different plant UDP-glycosyltransferases, Stevia rebaudiana SrUGT71E1 and Oryza sativa OsUGT5 were found to glucosylate olivetolic acid, cannabigerolic acid, and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid. Metabolic engineering of N. benthamiana for production of cannabinoids revealed intrinsic glucosylation of olivetolic acid and cannabigerolic acid. S. cerevisiae was engineered to produce olivetolic acid glucoside and cannabigerolic acid glucoside.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thies Gülck
- Plant Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871 Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - J K Booth
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, 2185 East Mall, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z4
| | - Â Carvalho
- River Stone Biotech ApS, Fruebjergvej 3, 2100 København Ø, Denmark
| | - B Khakimov
- Chemometrics & Analytical Technology, Department of Food Science, University of Copenhagen, Rolighedsvej 26, 1958 Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - C Crocoll
- Copenhagen Plant Science Centre, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871 Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - M S Motawia
- Plant Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871 Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - B L Møller
- Plant Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871 Frederiksberg C, Denmark
- Copenhagen Plant Science Centre, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871 Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - J Bohlmann
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, 2185 East Mall, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z4
| | - N J Gallage
- Plant Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871 Frederiksberg C, Denmark
- Octarine Bio, Fruebjergvej 3, 2100 København Ø, Denmark
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37
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Arya SS, Rookes JE, Cahill DM, Lenka SK. Next-generation metabolic engineering approaches towards development of plant cell suspension cultures as specialized metabolite producing biofactories. Biotechnol Adv 2020; 45:107635. [PMID: 32976930 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2020.107635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Revised: 09/04/2020] [Accepted: 09/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Plant cell suspension culture (PCSC) has emerged as a viable technology to produce plant specialized metabolites (PSM). While Taxol® and ginsenoside are two examples of successfully commercialized PCSC-derived PSM, widespread utilization of the PCSC platform has yet to be realized primarily due to a lack of understanding of the molecular genetics of PSM biosynthesis. Recent advances in computational, molecular and synthetic biology tools provide the opportunity to rapidly characterize and harness the specialized metabolic potential of plants. Here, we discuss the prospects of integrating computational modeling, artificial intelligence, and precision genome editing (CRISPR/Cas and its variants) toolboxes to discover the genetic regulators of PSM. We also explore how synthetic biology can be applied to develop metabolically optimized PSM-producing native and heterologous PCSC systems. Taken together, this review provides an interdisciplinary approach to realize and link the potential of next-generation computational and molecular tools to convert PCSC into commercially viable PSM-producing biofactories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sagar S Arya
- TERI-Deakin Nano Biotechnology Centre, The Energy and Resources Institute, Gurugram, Haryana 122001, India; Deakin University, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Waurn Ponds Campus, Geelong, Victoria 3216, Australia
| | - James E Rookes
- Deakin University, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Waurn Ponds Campus, Geelong, Victoria 3216, Australia
| | - David M Cahill
- Deakin University, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Waurn Ponds Campus, Geelong, Victoria 3216, Australia
| | - Sangram K Lenka
- TERI-Deakin Nano Biotechnology Centre, The Energy and Resources Institute, Gurugram, Haryana 122001, India.
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38
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Arlotta C, Puglia GD, Genovese C, Toscano V, Karlova R, Beekwilder J, De Vos RCH, Raccuia SA. MYB5-like and bHLH influence flavonoid composition in pomegranate. PLANT SCIENCE : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2020; 298:110563. [PMID: 32771164 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2020.110563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2020] [Revised: 05/25/2020] [Accepted: 06/11/2020] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
The fruit of the pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is an important nutraceutical food rich in polyphenolic compounds, including hydrolysable tannins, anthocyanins and flavonols. Their composition varies according to cultivar, tissue and fruit development stage and is probably regulated by a combination of MYB and bHLH type transcription factors (TFs). In this study, metabolomics analysis during fruit developmental stages in the main pomegranate cultivars, Wonderful and Valenciana with contrasting colour of their ripe fruits, showed that flavonols were mostly present in flowers while catechins were highest in unripe fruits and anthocyanins in late fruit maturation stages. A novel MYB TF, PgMYB5-like, was identified, which differs from previously isolated pomegranate TFs by unique C-terminal protein motifs and lack of the amino-acid residues conserved among anthocyanins promoting MYBs. In both pomegranate cultivars the expression of PgMYB5-like was high at flowering stage, while it decreased during fruit ripening. A previously identified bHLH-type TF, PgbHLH, also showed high transcript levels at flowering stage in both cultivars, while it showed a decrease in expression during fruit ripening in cv. Valenciana, but not in cv. Wonderful. Functional analysis of both TFs was performed by agro-infiltration into Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. Plants infiltrated with the PgMYB5-like+PgbHLH combined construct showed a specific and significant accumulation of intermediates of the flavonoid pathway, especially dihydroflavonols, while anthocyanins were not produced. Thus, we propose a role for PgMYB5-like and PgbHLH in the first steps of flavonoid production in flowers and in unripe fruits. The expression patterns of these two TFs may be key in determining the differential flavonoid composition in both flowers and fruits of the pomegranate varieties Wonderful and Valenciana.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Arlotta
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto per i Sistemi Agricoli e Forestali del Mediterraneo (CNR-ISAFOM) U.O.S. Catania, Via Empedocle, 58, 95128, Catania, Italy
| | - Giuseppe D Puglia
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto per i Sistemi Agricoli e Forestali del Mediterraneo (CNR-ISAFOM) U.O.S. Catania, Via Empedocle, 58, 95128, Catania, Italy.
| | - Claudia Genovese
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto per i Sistemi Agricoli e Forestali del Mediterraneo (CNR-ISAFOM) U.O.S. Catania, Via Empedocle, 58, 95128, Catania, Italy
| | - Valeria Toscano
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto per i Sistemi Agricoli e Forestali del Mediterraneo (CNR-ISAFOM) U.O.S. Catania, Via Empedocle, 58, 95128, Catania, Italy
| | - Rumyana Karlova
- Wageningen Plant Research, Bioscience, 6700 AA, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Jules Beekwilder
- Wageningen Plant Research, Bioscience, 6700 AA, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Ric C H De Vos
- Wageningen Plant Research, Bioscience, 6700 AA, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Salvatore A Raccuia
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto per i Sistemi Agricoli e Forestali del Mediterraneo (CNR-ISAFOM) U.O.S. Catania, Via Empedocle, 58, 95128, Catania, Italy
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Elfahmi E, Cahyani FM, Kristianti T, Suhandono S. Transformation of Amorphadiene Synthase and Antisilencing P19 Genes into Artemisia annua L. and its Effect on Antimalarial Artemisinin Production. Adv Pharm Bull 2020; 10:464-471. [PMID: 32665907 PMCID: PMC7335994 DOI: 10.34172/apb.2020.057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2019] [Revised: 01/12/2020] [Accepted: 01/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose: The low content of artemisinin related to the biosynthetic pathway is influenced by the role of certain enzymes in the formation of artemisinin. The regulation of genes involved in artemisinin biosynthesis through genetic engineering is a choice to enhance the content. This research aims to transform ads and p19 gene as an antisilencing into Artemisia annua and to see their effects on artemisinin production. Methods: The presence of p19 and ads genes was confirmed through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products and sequencing analysis. The plasmids, which contain ads and/or p19 genes, were transformed into Agrobacterium tumefaciens, and then inserted into leaves and hairy roots of A. annua by vacuum and syringe infiltration methods. The successful transformation was checked through the GUS histochemical test and the PCR analysis. Artemisinin levels were measured using HPLC. Results: The percentages of the blue area on leaves by using vacuum and syringe infiltration method and on hairy roots were up to 98, 92.55%, and 99.00% respectively. The ads-p19 sample contained a higher level of artemisinin (0.18%) compared to other samples. Transformed hairy root with co-transformation of ads-p19 contained 0.095% artemisinin, where no artemisinin was found in the control hairy root. The transformation of ads and p19 genes into A. annua plant has been successfully done and could enhance the artemisinin content on the transformed leaves with ads-p19 up to 2.57 folds compared to the untransformed leaves, while for p19, cotransformed and ads were up to 2.25, 1.29, and 1.14 folds respectively. Conclusion: Antisilencing p19 gene could enhance the transformation efficiency of ads and artemisinin level in A. annua.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elfahmi Elfahmi
- School of Pharmacy, Bandung Institute of Technology, Bandung, Indonesia.,Biosciences and Biotechnology Research Center, Bandung Institute of Technology, Bandung, Indonesia
| | | | | | - Sony Suhandono
- School of Life Sciences and Technology, Bandung Institute of Technology, Bandung, Indonesia
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40
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Wang HC, Sayyed A, Liu XY, Yang YZ, Sun F, Wang Y, Wang M, Tan BC. SMALL KERNEL4 is required for mitochondrial cox1 transcript editing and seed development in maize. JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY 2020; 62:777-792. [PMID: 31332949 DOI: 10.1111/jipb.12856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2019] [Accepted: 07/04/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
In land plants, cytidine-to-uridine (C-to-U) editing of organellar transcripts is an important post-transcriptional process, which is considered to remediate DNA genetic mutations to restore the coding of functional proteins. Pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) proteins have key roles in C-to-U editing. Owing to its large number, however, the biological functions of many PPR proteins remain to be identified. Through characterizing a small kernel4 (smk4) mutant, here we report the function of Smk4 and its role in maize growth and development. Null mutation of Smk4 slows plant growth and development, causing small plants, delayed flowering time, and small kernels. Cloning revealed that Smk4 encodes a new E-subclass PPR protein, and localization indicated that SMK4 is exclusively localized in mitochondria. Loss of Smk4 function abolishes C-to-U editing at position 1489 of the cytochrome c oxidase1 (cox1) transcript, causing an amino acid change from serine to proline at 497 in Cox1. Cox1 is a core component of mitochondrial complex IV. Indeed, complex IV activity is reduced in the smk4, along with drastically elevated expression of alternative oxidases (AOX). These results indicate that SMK4 functions in the C-to-U editing of cox1-1489, and this editing is crucial for mitochondrial complex IV activity, plant growth, and kernel development in maize.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong-Chun Wang
- Key Laboratory of Plant Development and Environment Adaptation Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, China
| | - Aqib Sayyed
- Key Laboratory of Plant Development and Environment Adaptation Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, China
| | - Xin-Yuan Liu
- Key Laboratory of Plant Development and Environment Adaptation Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, China
| | - Yan-Zhuo Yang
- Key Laboratory of Plant Development and Environment Adaptation Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, China
| | - Feng Sun
- Key Laboratory of Plant Development and Environment Adaptation Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, China
| | - Yong Wang
- Key Laboratory of Plant Development and Environment Adaptation Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, China
| | - Miaodi Wang
- Key Laboratory of Plant Development and Environment Adaptation Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, China
| | - Bao-Cai Tan
- Key Laboratory of Plant Development and Environment Adaptation Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, China
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Fernández-Santos R, Izquierdo Y, López A, Muñiz L, Martínez M, Cascón T, Hamberg M, Castresana C. Protein Profiles of Lipid Droplets during the Hypersensitive Defense Response of Arabidopsis against Pseudomonas Infection. PLANT & CELL PHYSIOLOGY 2020; 61:1144-1157. [PMID: 32219438 DOI: 10.1093/pcp/pcaa041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2019] [Accepted: 03/19/2020] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Lipid droplets (LDs) have classically been viewed as seed storage particles, yet they are now emerging as dynamic organelles associated with developmental and stress responses. Nevertheless, their involvement in plant immunity has still been little studied. Here, we found LD accumulation in Arabidopsis thaliana leaves that induced a hypersensitive response (HR) after Pseudomonas infection. We established a protocol to reproducibly isolate LDs and to analyze their protein content. The expression of GFP fusion proteins in Nicotiana benthamiana and in transgenic Arabidopsis lines validated the LD localization of glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase 4 (GPAT4) and 8 (GPAT8), required for cutin biosynthesis. Similarly, we showed LD localization of α-dioxygenase1 (α-DOX1) and caleosin3 (CLO3), involved in the synthesis of fatty acid derivatives, and that of phytoalexin-deficient 3 (PAD3), which is involved in camalexin synthesis. We found evidence suggesting the existence of different populations of LDs, with varying protein contents and distributions. GPAT4 and GPAT8 were associated with LDs inside stomata and surrounding cells of untreated leaves, yet they were mainly confined to LDs in guard cells after bacterial inoculation. By contrast, α-DOX1 and PAD3 were associated with LDs in the epidermal cells of HR-responding leaves, with PAD3 mostly restricted to cells near dead tissue, while CLO3 had a more ubiquitous distribution. As such, the nature of the proteins identified, together with the phenotypic examination of selected mutants, suggests that LDs participate in lipid changes and in the production and transport of defense components affecting the interaction of plants with invading pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yovanny Izquierdo
- Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CNB-CSIC), Darwin 3, E-28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana López
- Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CNB-CSIC), Darwin 3, E-28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Luis Muñiz
- Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CNB-CSIC), Darwin 3, E-28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Marta Martínez
- Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CNB-CSIC), Darwin 3, E-28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Tomás Cascón
- Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CNB-CSIC), Darwin 3, E-28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Mats Hamberg
- Division of Physiological Chemistry II, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, S-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Carmen Castresana
- Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CNB-CSIC), Darwin 3, E-28049 Madrid, Spain
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Schiavinato M, Marcet‐Houben M, Dohm JC, Gabaldón T, Himmelbauer H. Parental origin of the allotetraploid tobacco Nicotiana benthamiana. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2020; 102:541-554. [PMID: 31833111 PMCID: PMC7317763 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.14648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2019] [Revised: 11/25/2019] [Accepted: 11/28/2019] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Nicotiana section Suaveolentes is an almost all-Australian clade of allopolyploid tobacco species including the important plant model Nicotiana benthamiana. The homology relationships of this clade and its formation are not completely understood. To address this gap, we assessed phylogenies of all individual genes of N. benthamiana and the well studied N. tabacum (section Nicotiana) and their homologues in six diploid Nicotiana species. We generated sets of 44 424 and 65 457 phylogenetic trees of N. benthamiana and N. tabacum genes, respectively, each collectively called a phylome. Members of Nicotiana sections Noctiflorae and Sylvestres were represented as the species closest to N. benthamiana in most of the gene trees. Analyzing the gene trees of the phylome we: (i) dated the hybridization event giving rise to N. benthamiana to 4-5 MyA, and (ii) separated the subgenomes. We assigned 1.42 Gbp of the genome sequence to section Noctiflorae and 0.97 Gbp to section Sylvestres based on phylome analysis. In contrast, read mapping of the donor species did not succeed in separating the subgenomes of N. benthamiana. We show that the maternal progenitor of N. benthamiana was a member of section Noctiflorae, and confirm a member of section Sylvestres as paternal subgenome donor. We also demonstrate that the advanced stage of long-term genome diploidization in N. benthamiana is reflected in its subgenome organization. Taken together, our results underscore the usefulness of phylome analysis for subgenome characterization in hybrid species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Schiavinato
- Department of BiotechnologyInstitute of Computational BiologyUniversity of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU)1190ViennaAustria
| | - Marina Marcet‐Houben
- Bioinformatics and Genomics ProgrammeCentre for Genomic Regulation (CRG)The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology08003BarcelonaSpain
- ICREABarcelonaSpain
| | - Juliane C. Dohm
- Department of BiotechnologyInstitute of Computational BiologyUniversity of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU)1190ViennaAustria
| | - Toni Gabaldón
- Bioinformatics and Genomics ProgrammeCentre for Genomic Regulation (CRG)The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology08003BarcelonaSpain
- ICREABarcelonaSpain
- Present address:
Barcelona Supercomputing Centre (BSC‐CNS) and Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB)BarcelonaSpain
| | - Heinz Himmelbauer
- Department of BiotechnologyInstitute of Computational BiologyUniversity of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU)1190ViennaAustria
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43
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Muthusamy S, Vetukuri RR, Lundgren A, Ganji S, Zhu LH, Brodelius PE, Kanagarajan S. Transient expression and purification of β-caryophyllene synthase in Nicotiana benthamiana to produce β-caryophyllene in vitro. PeerJ 2020; 8:e8904. [PMID: 32377446 PMCID: PMC7194099 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.8904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2019] [Accepted: 03/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The sesquiterpene β-caryophyllene is an ubiquitous component in many plants that has commercially been used as an aroma in cosmetics and perfumes. Recent studies have shown its potential use as a therapeutic agent and biofuel. Currently, β-caryophyllene is isolated from large amounts of plant material. Molecular farming based on the Nicotiana benthamiana transient expression system may be used for a more sustainable production of β-caryophyllene. In this study, a full-length cDNA of a new duplicated β-caryophyllene synthase from Artemisia annua (AaCPS1) was isolated and functionally characterized. In order to produce β-caryophyllene in vitro, the AaCPS1 was cloned into a plant viral-based vector pEAQ-HT. Subsequently, the plasmid was transferred into the Agrobacterium and agroinfiltrated into N. benthamiana leaves. The AaCPS1 expression was analyzed by quantitative PCR at different time points after agroinfiltration. The highest level of transcripts was observed at 9 days post infiltration (dpi). The AaCPS1 protein was extracted from the leaves at 9 dpi and purified by cobalt–nitrilotriacetate (Co-NTA) affinity chromatography using histidine tag with a yield of 89 mg kg−1 fresh weight of leaves. The protein expression of AaCPS1 was also confirmed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and western blot analyses. AaCPS1 protein uses farnesyl diphosphate (FPP) as a substrate to produce β-caryophyllene. Product identification and determination of the activity of purified AaCPS1 were done by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). GC–MS results revealed that the AaCPS1 produced maximum 26.5 ± 1 mg of β-caryophyllene per kilogram fresh weight of leaves after assaying with FPP for 6 h. Using AaCPS1 as a proof of concept, we demonstrate that N. benthamiana can be considered as an expression system for production of plant proteins that catalyze the formation of valuable chemicals for industrial applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saraladevi Muthusamy
- Department of Chemistry and Biomedical Sciences, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden
| | - Ramesh R Vetukuri
- Department of Plant Breeding, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Alnarp, Sweden
| | - Anneli Lundgren
- Department of Chemistry and Biomedical Sciences, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden
| | - Suresh Ganji
- Department of Chemistry and Biomedical Sciences, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden
| | - Li-Hua Zhu
- Department of Plant Breeding, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Alnarp, Sweden
| | - Peter E Brodelius
- Department of Chemistry and Biomedical Sciences, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden
| | - Selvaraju Kanagarajan
- Department of Chemistry and Biomedical Sciences, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden.,Department of Plant Breeding, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Alnarp, Sweden
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Frey M. Traps and Pitfalls-Unspecific Reactions in Metabolic Engineering of Sesquiterpenoid Pathways. Molecules 2020; 25:E1935. [PMID: 32331245 PMCID: PMC7221646 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25081935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2020] [Revised: 04/19/2020] [Accepted: 04/21/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The characterization of plant enzymes by expression in prokaryotic and eukaryotic (yeast and plants) heterologous hosts has widely been used in recent decades to elucidate metabolic pathways in plant secondary metabolism. Yeast and plant systems provide the cellular environment of a eukaryotic cell and the subcellular compartmentalization necessary to facilitate enzyme function. The expression of candidate genes in these cell systems and the identification of the resulting products guide the way for the identification of enzymes with new functions. However, in many cases, the detected compounds are not the direct enzyme products but are caused by unspecific subsequent reactions. Even if the mechanisms for these unspecific reactions are in many cases widely reported, there is a lack of overview of potential reactions that may occur to provide a guideline for researchers working on the characterization of new enzymes. Here, an across-the-board summary of rearrangement reactions of sesquiterpenes in metabolic pathway engineering is presented. The different kinds of unspecific reactions as well as their chemical and cellular background are explained and strategies how to spot and how to avoid these unspecific reactions are given. Also, a systematic approach of classification of unspecific reactions is introduced. It is hoped that this mini-review will stimulate a discussion on how to systematically classify unspecific reactions in metabolic engineering and to expand this approach to other classes of plant secondary metabolites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maximilian Frey
- Institute of Biology, Dept. of Biochemistry of Plant Secondary Metabolism (190b), University of Hohenheim, Garbenstraße 30, 70593 Stuttgart, Germany
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Firsov A, Mitiouchkina T, Shaloiko L, Pushin A, Vainstein A, Dolgov S. Agrobacterium-Mediated Transformation of Chrysanthemum with Artemisinin Biosynthesis Pathway Genes. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2020; 9:plants9040537. [PMID: 32326167 PMCID: PMC7238074 DOI: 10.3390/plants9040537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2020] [Revised: 04/16/2020] [Accepted: 04/17/2020] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Artemisinin-based drugs are the most effective medicine for the malaria treatment. To date, the main method of artemisinin production is its extraction from wormwood plants Artemisia annua L. Due to the limitation of this source, considerable efforts are now directed to the development of methods for artemisinin production using heterologous expression systems. Artemisinin is a sesquiterpene lactone, synthesized through the cyclization of farnesyl diphosphate involved in other sesquiterpene biosynthetic systems. Chrysanthemum species as well as A. annua, belong to Asteraceae family, and had been characterized by containing highly content of sesquiterpenes and their precursors. This makes chrysanthemum a promising target for the production of artemisinin in heterologous host plants. Chrysanthemum (C. morifolium Ramat.) was transformed by Agrobacterium tumefaciens carrying with the binary vectors p1240 and p1250, bearing artemisinin biosynthesis genes coding: amorpha-4,11-diene synthase, artemisinic aldehyde Δ11(13) reductase, amorpha-4,11-diene monooxygenase (p1240 was targeted to the mitochondria and p1250 was targeted to the cytosol), cytochrome P450 reductase from A. annua, as well as yeast truncated 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutarylcoenzyme A reductase. This study obtained 8 kanamycin-resistant lines after transformation with the p1240 and 2 lines from p1250. All target genes were detected in 2 and 1 transgenic lines of the 2 vectors. The transformation frequency of all target genes were 0.33% and 0.17% for p1240 and p1250, relative to the total transformed explant numbers. RT-PCR analysis revealed the transcription of all transferred genes in two lines obtained after transformation with the p1240 vector, confirming the possibility of transferring genetic modules encoding entire biochemical pathways into the chrysanthemum genome. This holds promise for the development of a chrysanthemum-based expression system to produce non-protein substances, such as artemisinin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksey Firsov
- Branch of the Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the RAS, Moscow Region, 142290 Pushchino, Russia; (T.M.); (L.S.); (A.P.); (S.D.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Tatiana Mitiouchkina
- Branch of the Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the RAS, Moscow Region, 142290 Pushchino, Russia; (T.M.); (L.S.); (A.P.); (S.D.)
| | - Lyubov Shaloiko
- Branch of the Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the RAS, Moscow Region, 142290 Pushchino, Russia; (T.M.); (L.S.); (A.P.); (S.D.)
| | - Alexander Pushin
- Branch of the Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the RAS, Moscow Region, 142290 Pushchino, Russia; (T.M.); (L.S.); (A.P.); (S.D.)
| | - Alexander Vainstein
- The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, POB 12, Rehovot 76100, Israel;
| | - Sergey Dolgov
- Branch of the Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the RAS, Moscow Region, 142290 Pushchino, Russia; (T.M.); (L.S.); (A.P.); (S.D.)
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Cao GH, Li ZD, Wang XF, Zhang X, Zhao RH, Gu W, Chen D, Yu J, He S. Phosphate transporters, PnPht1;1 and PnPht1;2 from Panax notoginseng enhance phosphate and arsenate acquisition. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2020; 20:124. [PMID: 32197586 PMCID: PMC7083058 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-020-2316-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2019] [Accepted: 02/27/2020] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Panax notoginseng is a medicinally important Chinese herb with a long history of cultivation and clinical application. The planting area is mainly distributed in Wenshan Prefecture, where the quality and safety of P. notoginseng have been threatened by high concentration of arsenic (As) from the soil. The roles of phosphate (Pi) transporters involved in Pi acquisition and arsenate (AsV) tolerance were still unclear in this species. RESULTS In this study, two open reading frames (ORFs) of PnPht1;1 and PnPht1;2 separated from P. notoginseng were cloned based on RNA-seq, which encoded 527 and 541 amino acids, respectively. The results of relative expression levels showed that both genes responded to the Pi deficiency or As exposure, and were highly upregulated. Heterologous expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae MB192 revealed that PnPht1;1 and PnPht1;2 performed optimally in complementing the yeast Pi-transport defect, particularly in PnPht1;2. Cells expressing PnPht1;2 had a stronger AsV tolerance than PnPht1;1-expressing cells, and accumulated less As in cells under a high-Pi concentration. Combining with the result of plasma membrane localization, these data confirmed that transporters PnPht1;1 and PnPht1;2 were putative high-affinity H+/H2PO4- symporters, mediating the uptake of Pi and AsV. CONCLUSION PnPht1;1 and PnPht1;2 encoded functional plasma membrane-localized transporter proteins that mediated a putative high-affinity Pi/H+ symport activity. Expression of PnPht1;1 or PnPht1;2 in mutant strains could enhance the uptake of Pi and AsV, that is probably responsible for the As accumulation in the roots of P. notoginseng.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guan-Hua Cao
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- State Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization for Bioresources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Ze-Dong Li
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Xi-Fu Wang
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Xue Zhang
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Rong-Hua Zhao
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Wen Gu
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Di Chen
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Jie Yu
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
| | - Sen He
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
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Pottier M, Laterre R, Van Wessem A, Ramirez AM, Herman X, Boutry M, Hachez C. Identification of two new trichome-specific promoters of Nicotiana tabacum. PLANTA 2020; 251:58. [PMID: 32020353 DOI: 10.1007/s00425-020-03347-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2019] [Accepted: 01/21/2020] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
MAIN CONCLUSION: pRbcS-T1 and pMALD1, two new trichome-specific promoters of Nicotiana tabacum, were identified and their strength and specificity were compared to those of previously described promoters in this species. Nicotiana tabacum has emerged as a suitable host for metabolic engineering of terpenoids and derivatives in tall glandular trichomes, which actively synthesize and secrete specialized metabolites. However, implementation of an entire biosynthetic pathway in glandular trichomes requires the identification of trichome-specific promoters to appropriately drive the expression of the transgenes needed to set up the desired pathway. In this context, RT-qPCR analysis was carried out on wild-type N. tabacum plants to compare the expression pattern and gene expression level of NtRbcS-T1 and NtMALD1, two newly identified genes expressed in glandular trichomes, with those of NtCYP71D16, NtCBTS2α, NtCPS2, and NtLTP1, which were reported in the literature to be specifically expressed in glandular trichomes. We show that NtRbcS-T1 and NtMALD1 are specifically expressed in glandular trichomes like NtCYP71D16, NtCBTS2α, and NtCPS2, while NtLTP1 is also expressed in other leaf tissues as well as in the stem. Transcriptional fusions of each of the six promoters to the GUS-VENUS reporter gene were introduced in N. tabacum by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Almost all transgenic lines displayed GUS activity in tall glandular trichomes, indicating that the appropriate cis regulatory elements were included in the selected promoter regions. However, unlike for the other promoters, no trichome-specific line was obtained for pNtLTP1:GUS-VENUS, in agreement with the RT-qPCR data. These data thus provide two new transcription promoters that could be used in metabolic engineering of glandular trichomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathieu Pottier
- Louvain Institute of Biomolecular Science and Technology, Université catholique de Louvain, 1348, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
- InBioS-PhytoSYSTEMS, Laboratory of Plant Physiology, University of Liège, 4000, Liège, Belgium
| | - Raphaëlle Laterre
- Louvain Institute of Biomolecular Science and Technology, Université catholique de Louvain, 1348, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Astrid Van Wessem
- Louvain Institute of Biomolecular Science and Technology, Université catholique de Louvain, 1348, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Aldana M Ramirez
- Louvain Institute of Biomolecular Science and Technology, Université catholique de Louvain, 1348, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Xavier Herman
- Louvain Institute of Biomolecular Science and Technology, Université catholique de Louvain, 1348, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Marc Boutry
- Louvain Institute of Biomolecular Science and Technology, Université catholique de Louvain, 1348, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Charles Hachez
- Louvain Institute of Biomolecular Science and Technology, Université catholique de Louvain, 1348, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.
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48
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Yang H, Xiu Z, Wang L, Cao SK, Li X, Sun F, Tan BC. Two Pentatricopeptide Repeat Proteins Are Required for the Splicing of nad5 Introns in Maize. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2020; 11:732. [PMID: 32582256 PMCID: PMC7284535 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.00732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2020] [Accepted: 05/07/2020] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Mitochondrial genes in flowering plants contain predominantly group II introns that require precise splicing before translation into functional proteins. Splicing of these introns is facilitated by various nucleus-encoded splicing factors. Due to lethality of mutants, functions of many splicing factors have not been revealed. Here, we report the function of two P-type PPR proteins PPR101 and PPR231, and their role in maize seed development. PPR101 and PPR231 are targeted to mitochondria. Null mutation of PPR101 and PPR231 arrests embryo and endosperm development, generating empty pericarp and small kernel phenotype, respectively, in maize. Loss-of-function in PPR101 abolishes the splicing of nad5 intron 2, and reduces the splicing of nad5 intron 1. Loss-of-function in PPR231 reduces the splicing of nad5 introns 1, 2, 3 and nad2 intron 3. The absence of Nad5 protein eliminates assembly of complex I, and activates the expression of alternative oxidase AOX2. These results indicate that both PPR101 and PPR231 are required for mitochondrial nad5 introns 1 and 2 splicing, while PPR231 is also required for nad5 intron 3 and nad2 intron 3. Both genes are essential to complex I assembly, mitochondrial function, and maize seed development. This work reveals that the splicing of a single intron involves multiple PPRs.
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49
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Wang HC, Chen Z, Yang YZ, Sun F, Ding S, Li XL, Xu C, Tan BC. PPR14 Interacts With PPR-SMR1 and CRM Protein Zm-mCSF1 to Facilitate Mitochondrial Intron Splicing in Maize. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2020; 11:814. [PMID: 32595685 PMCID: PMC7304344 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.00814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2020] [Accepted: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
In plants, splicing of organellar group II introns involves numerous nucleus-encoded trans-factors. But, how these trans-factors function and interact is not well understood. Here we report the function of a pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) protein PPR14 and its physical relationship with other splicing factors in mitochondria. Null mutations of PPR14 severely arrest the embryo and endosperm development, causing an empty pericarp phenotype. PPR14 is required for the splicing of NADH dehydrogenase 2 (nad2) intron 3 and nad7 introns 1 and 2 in mitochondria. The absence of nad2 and nad7 transcripts leads to disruption of the mitochondrial complex I assembly and abolishes its NADH dehydrogenase activity. This is accompanied with increased levels of other mitochondrial complexes and elevated expression of the alternative oxidase proteins. As the function of PPR14 overlaps with PPR-SMR1 and the CRM-domain containing protein Zm-mCSF1, we tested their interactions. Protein-protein interaction analysis indicated that PPR14 interacts with PPR-SMR1 and Zm-mCSF1, suggesting that these three proteins may form a complex. As PPR proteins and CRM-domain containing proteins have many members in mitochondria and chloroplasts, we propose that organellar group II intron splicing is probably mediated by a dynamic complex that includes different PPR and CRM proteins in plants.
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50
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Xiu Z, Peng L, Wang Y, Yang H, Sun F, Wang X, Cao SK, Jiang R, Wang L, Chen BY, Tan BC. Em pty Pericarp24 and Empty Pericarp25 Are Required for the Splicing of Mitochondrial Introns, Complex I Assembly, and Seed Development in Maize. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2020; 11:608550. [PMID: 33424905 PMCID: PMC7793708 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.608550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Accepted: 11/23/2020] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
RNA splicing is an essential post-transcriptional regulation in plant mitochondria and chloroplasts. As the mechanism of RNA splicing remains obscure, identification and functional elucidation of new splicing factors are necessary. Through a characterization of two maize mutants, we cloned Empty pericarp 24 (Emp24) and Empty pericarp 25 (Emp25). Both Emp24 and Emp25 encode mitochondrion-targeted P-type PPR proteins. EMP24 is required for the splicing of nad4 introns 1 and 3, which was reported (Ren Z. et al., 2019), and EMP25 functions in the splicing of nad5 introns 1, 2, and 3. Absence of either Nad4 or Nad5 proteins blocks the assembly of mitochondrial complex I, resulting in the formation of a sub-sized complex I of similar size in both mutants. Mass spectrometry identification revealed that the subcomplexes in both mutants lack an identical set of proteins of complex I. These results indicate that EMP24 and EMP25 function in the splicing of nad4 and nad5 introns, respectively, and are essential to maize kernel development. The identification of the subcomplexes provides genetic and molecular insights into the modular complex I assembly pathway in maize.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhihui Xiu
- Key Laboratory of Plant Development and Environmental Adaptation Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Ling Peng
- Key Laboratory of Plant Development and Environmental Adaptation Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Yong Wang
- Key Laboratory of Plant Development and Environmental Adaptation Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Huanhuan Yang
- Key Laboratory of Plant Development and Environmental Adaptation Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Feng Sun
- Key Laboratory of Plant Development and Environmental Adaptation Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Xiaomin Wang
- Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Shi-Kai Cao
- Key Laboratory of Plant Development and Environmental Adaptation Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Ruicheng Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Plant Development and Environmental Adaptation Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Le Wang
- Key Laboratory of Plant Development and Environmental Adaptation Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Bao-Yin Chen
- Key Laboratory of Plant Development and Environmental Adaptation Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Bao-Cai Tan
- Key Laboratory of Plant Development and Environmental Adaptation Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
- *Correspondence: Bao-Cai Tan,
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