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Sousa JM, Ramos MJ, Fernandes PA. QM/MM Study of the Reaction Mechanism of L-Tyrosine Hydroxylation Catalyzed by the Enzyme CYP76AD1. J Phys Chem B 2024; 128:9447-9454. [PMID: 39185757 PMCID: PMC11457145 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.4c05209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2024] [Revised: 08/12/2024] [Accepted: 08/13/2024] [Indexed: 08/27/2024]
Abstract
We have studied the hydroxylation mechanism of l-Tyr by the heme-dependent enzyme CYP76AD1 from the sugar beet (Beta vulgaris). This enzyme has a promising biotechnological application in modified yeast strains to produce medicinal alkaloids, an alternative to the traditional opium poppy harvest. A generative machine learning software based on AlphaFold was used to build the structure of CYP76AD1 since there are no structural data for this specific enzyme. After model validation, l-Tyr was docked in the active site of CYP76AD1 to assemble the reactive complex, whose catalytic distances remained stable throughout the 100 ns of MD simulation. Subsequent QM/MM calculations elucidated that l-Tyr hydroxylation occurs in two steps: hydrogen abstraction from l-Tyr by CpdI, forming an l-Tyr radical, and subsequent radical rebound, corresponding to a rate-limiting step of 16.0 kcal·mol-1. Our calculations suggest that the hydrogen abstraction step should occur in the doublet state, while the radical rebound should happen in the quartet state. The clarification of the reaction mechanism of CYP76AD1 provides insights into the rational optimization of the biosynthesis of alkaloids to eliminate the use of opium poppy.
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Affiliation(s)
- João
P. M. Sousa
- LAQV-REQUIMTE, Departamento
de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade
de Ciências Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, s/n, Porto 4169-007, Portugal
| | - Maria J. Ramos
- LAQV-REQUIMTE, Departamento
de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade
de Ciências Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, s/n, Porto 4169-007, Portugal
| | - Pedro A. Fernandes
- LAQV-REQUIMTE, Departamento
de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade
de Ciências Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, s/n, Porto 4169-007, Portugal
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Yu X, Wang H, Xiang X, Fu J, Wang X, Zhou Y, Xing W. Biosynthesis and Extraction of Chlorophyll, Carotenoids, Anthocyanins, and Betalaine In Vivo and In Vitro. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2024; 46:10662-10676. [PMID: 39329984 PMCID: PMC11431765 DOI: 10.3390/cimb46090633] [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: 08/19/2024] [Revised: 09/17/2024] [Accepted: 09/20/2024] [Indexed: 09/28/2024] Open
Abstract
As natural bioactive compounds, plant pigments play crucial roles not only in plant phenotype, growth, development, and adaptation to stress but also hold unique value in biotechnology, healthcare, and industrial applications. There is growing interest in the biosynthesis and acquisition of plant pigments. Thus, this paper explores emerging extraction methods of natural pigments and elucidates the biosynthesis pathways of four key plant pigments, chlorophylls, carotenoids, anthocyanins, and betalaine in vivo and in vitro. We comprehensively discuss the application of solvent, supercritical fluid [extraction], ultrasonic, and microwave-assisted extraction techniques, as well as introducing key enzymes, precursors, and synthetic pathways involved in pigment synthesis. δ-Aminolevulinic acid represents a pivotal initiating enzyme for chlorophyll synthesis, whereas isopentenylpyrophosphate, (IPP) and dimethylallyl pyrophosphate, (DMAPP) are closely associated with carotenoid biosynthesis. Phenylalanine and tyrosine are critical substances for anthocyanin and betalaine synthesis, respectively. Hence, crucial genes such as chlI, crtB, PGT8, CYP76AD1, and BvDODA can be employed for heterologous biosynthesis in vitro to meet the demand for increased plant pigment amount. As a pivotal determinant of plant coloration, an in-depth exploration into the high-quality acquisition of plant pigments can provide a basis for developing superior pigments and offer new insights into increasing pigment yield.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinxin Yu
- Key Laboratory of Sugar Beet Genetics and Breeding, College of Advanced Agriculture and Ecological Environment, Heilongjiang University, Harbin 150080, China; (X.Y.); (H.W.); (X.X.); (J.F.); (X.W.)
- National Beet Medium-Term Gene Bank, Heilongjiang University, Harbin 150080, China
| | - Hao Wang
- Key Laboratory of Sugar Beet Genetics and Breeding, College of Advanced Agriculture and Ecological Environment, Heilongjiang University, Harbin 150080, China; (X.Y.); (H.W.); (X.X.); (J.F.); (X.W.)
- National Beet Medium-Term Gene Bank, Heilongjiang University, Harbin 150080, China
| | - Xingchun Xiang
- Key Laboratory of Sugar Beet Genetics and Breeding, College of Advanced Agriculture and Ecological Environment, Heilongjiang University, Harbin 150080, China; (X.Y.); (H.W.); (X.X.); (J.F.); (X.W.)
- National Beet Medium-Term Gene Bank, Heilongjiang University, Harbin 150080, China
| | - Jingjing Fu
- Key Laboratory of Sugar Beet Genetics and Breeding, College of Advanced Agriculture and Ecological Environment, Heilongjiang University, Harbin 150080, China; (X.Y.); (H.W.); (X.X.); (J.F.); (X.W.)
- National Beet Medium-Term Gene Bank, Heilongjiang University, Harbin 150080, China
| | - Xin Wang
- Key Laboratory of Sugar Beet Genetics and Breeding, College of Advanced Agriculture and Ecological Environment, Heilongjiang University, Harbin 150080, China; (X.Y.); (H.W.); (X.X.); (J.F.); (X.W.)
- National Beet Medium-Term Gene Bank, Heilongjiang University, Harbin 150080, China
| | - Yuanhang Zhou
- Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Urumqi 830091, China;
| | - Wang Xing
- Key Laboratory of Sugar Beet Genetics and Breeding, College of Advanced Agriculture and Ecological Environment, Heilongjiang University, Harbin 150080, China; (X.Y.); (H.W.); (X.X.); (J.F.); (X.W.)
- National Beet Medium-Term Gene Bank, Heilongjiang University, Harbin 150080, China
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Martínez-Rodríguez P, Henarejos-Escudero P, Pagán-López DJ, Hernández-García S, Guerrero-Rubio MA, Gómez-Pando LR, Gandía-Herrero F. Dopamine-derived pigments in nature: identification of decarboxybetalains in Amaranthaceae species. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2024; 196:446-460. [PMID: 38829803 PMCID: PMC11376341 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiae312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2024] [Revised: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
A unique family of decarboxylated betalains derived from dopamine has recently been discovered. Due to the lack of chemical standards, the existence and distribution of decarboxylated betalains in nature remain unknown. Traditional betalains contain L-dihydroxyphenylalanine as the starting point of the biosynthetic pathway and betalamic acid as a structural and functional unit, while the recently discovered betalains rely on dopamine. Here, 30 dopamine-derived betalains were biotechnologically produced, purified, and characterized, creating an unprecedented library to explore their properties and presence in nature. The maximum absorbance wavelengths for the pigments ranged between 461 and 485 nm. HPLC analysis showed retention times between 0.6 and 2.2 min higher than traditional betalains due to their higher hydrophobicity. The presence of decarboxybetalains in nature was screened using HPLC-ESI-Q-TOF mass spectrometry in various species of the Amaranthaceae family: beetroot (Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris), Swiss chard (B. vulgaris var. cicla), celosia (Celosia argentea var. plumosa), and quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa). The latter species had the highest content of decarboxybetalains (28 compounds in its POEQ-143 variety). Twenty-nine pigments were found distributed among the different analyzed plant sources. The abundance of decarboxybetalains demonstrated in this work highlights these pigments as an important family of phytochemicals in the order Caryophyllales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Martínez-Rodríguez
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular A, Unidad Docente de Biología, Facultad de Veterinaria, Regional Campus of International Excellence "Campus Mare Nostrum", Universidad de Murcia, Murcia 30100, Spain
| | - Paula Henarejos-Escudero
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular A, Unidad Docente de Biología, Facultad de Veterinaria, Regional Campus of International Excellence "Campus Mare Nostrum", Universidad de Murcia, Murcia 30100, Spain
| | - Diego José Pagán-López
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular A, Unidad Docente de Biología, Facultad de Veterinaria, Regional Campus of International Excellence "Campus Mare Nostrum", Universidad de Murcia, Murcia 30100, Spain
| | - Samanta Hernández-García
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular A, Unidad Docente de Biología, Facultad de Veterinaria, Regional Campus of International Excellence "Campus Mare Nostrum", Universidad de Murcia, Murcia 30100, Spain
| | - María Alejandra Guerrero-Rubio
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular A, Unidad Docente de Biología, Facultad de Veterinaria, Regional Campus of International Excellence "Campus Mare Nostrum", Universidad de Murcia, Murcia 30100, Spain
| | - Luz Rayda Gómez-Pando
- Cereal Research Program, National Agricultural University La Molina, Lima 15024, Peru
| | - Fernando Gandía-Herrero
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular A, Unidad Docente de Biología, Facultad de Veterinaria, Regional Campus of International Excellence "Campus Mare Nostrum", Universidad de Murcia, Murcia 30100, Spain
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4
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Winkler TS, Vollmer SK, Dyballa-Rukes N, Metzger S, Stetter MG. Isoform-resolved genome annotation enables mapping of tissue-specific betalain regulation in amaranth. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2024; 243:1082-1100. [PMID: 38584577 DOI: 10.1111/nph.19736] [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: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
Betalains are coloring pigments produced in some families of the order Caryophyllales, where they replace anthocyanins as coloring pigments. While the betalain pathway itself is well studied, the tissue-specific regulation of the pathway remains mostly unknown. We enhance the high-quality Amaranthus hypochondriacus reference genome and produce a substantially more complete genome annotation, incorporating isoform details. We annotate betalain and anthocyanin pathway genes along with their regulators in amaranth and map the genetic control and tissue-specific regulation of the betalain pathway. Our improved genome annotation allowed us to identify causal mutations that lead to a knock-out of red betacyanins in natural accessions of amaranth. We reveal the tissue-specific regulation of flower color via a previously uncharacterized MYB transcription factor, AhMYB2. Downregulation of AhMYB2 in the flower leads to reduced expression of key betalain enzyme genes and loss of red flower color. Our improved amaranth reference genome represents the most complete genome of amaranth to date and is a valuable resource for betalain and amaranth research. High similarity of the flower betalain regulator AhMYB2 to anthocyanin regulators and a partially conserved interaction motif support the co-option of anthocyanin regulators for the betalain pathway as a possible reason for the mutual exclusiveness of the two pigments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom S Winkler
- Institute for Plant Sciences and Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences (CEPLAS), University of Cologne, Cologne, 50674, Germany
| | - Susanne K Vollmer
- Institute for Plant Sciences and Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences (CEPLAS), University of Cologne, Cologne, 50674, Germany
- Heinrich Heine University, Duesseldorf, 40225, Germany
| | - Nadine Dyballa-Rukes
- MS Platform, Institute for Plant Sciences and Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences (CEPLAS), University of Cologne, Cologne, 50674, Germany
| | - Sabine Metzger
- MS Platform, Institute for Plant Sciences and Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences (CEPLAS), University of Cologne, Cologne, 50674, Germany
| | - Markus G Stetter
- Institute for Plant Sciences and Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences (CEPLAS), University of Cologne, Cologne, 50674, Germany
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Berman P, de Haro LA, Cavaco AR, Panda S, Dong Y, Kuzmich N, Lichtenstein G, Peleg Y, Harat H, Jozwiak A, Cai J, Heinig U, Meir S, Rogachev I, Aharoni A. The biosynthetic pathway of the hallucinogen mescaline and its heterologous reconstruction. MOLECULAR PLANT 2024; 17:1129-1150. [PMID: 38835170 DOI: 10.1016/j.molp.2024.05.012] [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: 08/18/2023] [Revised: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024]
Abstract
Mescaline, among the earliest identified natural hallucinogens, holds great potential in psychotherapy treatment. Nonetheless, despite the existence of a postulated biosynthetic pathway for more than half a century, the specific enzymes involved in this process are yet to be identified. In this study, we investigated the cactus Lophophora williamsii (Peyote), the largest known natural producer of the phenethylamine mescaline. We employed a multi-faceted approach, combining de novo whole-genome and transcriptome sequencing with comprehensive chemical profiling, enzymatic assays, molecular modeling, and pathway engineering for pathway elucidation. We identified four groups of enzymes responsible for the six catalytic steps in the mescaline biosynthetic pathway, and an N-methyltransferase enzyme that N-methylates all phenethylamine intermediates, likely modulating mescaline levels in Peyote. Finally, we reconstructed the mescaline biosynthetic pathway in both Nicotiana benthamiana plants and yeast cells, providing novel insights into several challenges hindering complete heterologous mescaline production. Taken together, our study opens up avenues for exploration of sustainable production approaches and responsible utilization of mescaline, safeguarding this valuable natural resource for future generations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Berman
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Luis Alejandro de Haro
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Ana-Rita Cavaco
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Sayantan Panda
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Younghui Dong
- Life Sciences Core Facilities, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Nikolay Kuzmich
- The Maurice and Vivienne Wohl Institute for Drug Discovery, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Gabriel Lichtenstein
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Yoav Peleg
- Life Sciences Core Facilities, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Hila Harat
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Adam Jozwiak
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Jianghua Cai
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Uwe Heinig
- Life Sciences Core Facilities, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Sagit Meir
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Ilana Rogachev
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Asaph Aharoni
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel.
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6
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Jung S, Maeda HA. Debottlenecking the L-DOPA 4,5-dioxygenase step with enhanced tyrosine supply boosts betalain production in Nicotiana benthamiana. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2024; 195:2456-2471. [PMID: 38498597 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiae166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
Synthetic biology provides emerging tools to produce valuable compounds in plant hosts as sustainable chemical production platforms. However, little is known about how supply and utilization of precursors is coordinated at the interface of plant primary and specialized metabolism, limiting our ability to efficiently produce high levels of target specialized metabolites in plants. L-Tyrosine is an aromatic amino acid precursor of diverse plant natural products including betalain pigments, which are used as the major natural food red colorants and more recently a visual marker for plant transformation. Here, we studied the impact of enhanced L-tyrosine supply on the production of betalain pigments by expressing arogenate dehydrogenase (TyrA) from table beet (Beta vulgaris, BvTyrAα), which has relaxed feedback inhibition by L-tyrosine. Unexpectedly, betalain levels were reduced when BvTyrAα was coexpressed with the betalain pathway genes in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves; L-tyrosine and 3,4-dihydroxy-L-phenylalanine (L-DOPA) levels were drastically elevated but not efficiently converted to betalains. An additional expression of L-DOPA 4,5-dioxygenase (DODA), but not CYP76AD1 or cyclo-DOPA 5-O-glucosyltransferase, together with BvTyrAα and the betalain pathway, drastically enhanced betalain production, indicating that DODA is a major rate-limiting step of betalain biosynthesis in this system. Learning from this initial test and further debottlenecking the DODA step maximized betalain yield to an equivalent or higher level than that in table beet. Our data suggest that balancing between enhanced supply ("push") and effective utilization ("pull") of precursor by alleviating a bottleneck step is critical in successful plant synthetic biology to produce high levels of target compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soyoung Jung
- Department of Botany, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Hiroshi A Maeda
- Department of Botany, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
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Nishihara M, Hirabuchi A, Teshima T, Uesugi S, Takahashi H. Flower color modification in Torenia fournieri by genetic engineering of betacyanin pigments. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2024; 24:614. [PMID: 38937670 PMCID: PMC11210153 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-024-05284-1] [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: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Betalains are reddish and yellow pigments that accumulate in a few plant species of the order Caryophyllales. These pigments have antioxidant and medicinal properties and can be used as functional foods. They also enhance resistance to stress or disease in crops. Several plant species belonging to other orders have been genetically engineered to express betalain pigments. Betalains can also be used for flower color modification in ornamental plants, as they confer vivid colors, like red and yellow. To date, betalain engineering to modify the color of Torenia fournieri-or wishbone flower-a popular ornamental plant, has not been attempted. RESULTS We report the production of purple-reddish-flowered torenia plants from the purple torenia cultivar "Crown Violet." Three betalain-biosynthetic genes encoding CYP76AD1, dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) 4,5-dioxygenase (DOD), and cyclo-DOPA 5-O-glucosyltransferase (5GT) were constitutively ectopically expressed under the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S promoter, and their expression was confirmed by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis. The color traits, measured by spectrophotometric colorimeter and spectral absorbance of fresh petal extracts, revealed a successful flower color modification from purple to reddish. Red pigmentation was also observed in whole plants. LC-DAD-MS and HPLC analyses confirmed that the additional accumulated pigments were betacyanins-mainly betanin (betanidin 5-O-glucoside) and, to a lesser extent, isobetanin (isobetanidin 5-O-glucoside). The five endogenous anthocyanins in torenia flower petals were also detected. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates the possibility of foreign betacyanin accumulation in addition to native pigments in torenia, a popular garden bedding plant. To our knowledge, this is the first report presenting engineered expression of betalain pigments in the family Linderniaceae. Genetic engineering of betalains would be valuable in increasing the flower color variation in future breeding programs for torenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masahiro Nishihara
- Iwate Biotechnology Research Center, 22-174-4 Narita, Kitakami, 024-0003, Iwate, Japan.
- Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Fukui Prefectural University, 4-1-1 Kenjojima, Matsuoka, Eiheiji-cho, Fukui, 910-1195, Japan.
| | - Akiko Hirabuchi
- Iwate Biotechnology Research Center, 22-174-4 Narita, Kitakami, 024-0003, Iwate, Japan
| | - Takuya Teshima
- Iwate Biotechnology Research Center, 22-174-4 Narita, Kitakami, 024-0003, Iwate, Japan
| | - Shota Uesugi
- Iwate Biotechnology Research Center, 22-174-4 Narita, Kitakami, 024-0003, Iwate, Japan
| | - Hideyuki Takahashi
- Iwate Biotechnology Research Center, 22-174-4 Narita, Kitakami, 024-0003, Iwate, Japan
- Department of Agriculture, School of Agriculture, Tokai University, 871-12 Sugidou, Mashikimach, Kamimashiki-gun, Kumamoto, 861-2205, Japan
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Wang Y, Di Z, Qin M, Qu S, Zhong W, Yuan L, Zhang J, Hibberd JM, Yu Z. Advancing Engineered Plant Living Materials through Tobacco BY-2 Cell Growth and Transfection within Tailored Granular Hydrogel Scaffolds. ACS CENTRAL SCIENCE 2024; 10:1094-1104. [PMID: 38799669 PMCID: PMC11117683 DOI: 10.1021/acscentsci.4c00338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2024] [Revised: 04/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
In this study, an innovative approach is presented in the field of engineered plant living materials (EPLMs), leveraging a sophisticated interplay between synthetic biology and engineering. We detail a 3D bioprinting technique for the precise spatial patterning and genetic transformation of the tobacco BY-2 cell line within custom-engineered granular hydrogel scaffolds. Our methodology involves the integration of biocompatible hydrogel microparticles (HMPs) primed for 3D bioprinting with Agrobacterium tumefaciens capable of plant cell transfection, serving as the backbone for the simultaneous growth and transformation of tobacco BY-2 cells. This system facilitates the concurrent growth and genetic modification of tobacco BY-2 cells within our specially designed scaffolds. These scaffolds enable the cells to develop into predefined patterns while remaining conducive to the uptake of exogenous DNA. We showcase the versatility of this technology by fabricating EPLMs with unique structural and functional properties, exemplified by EPLMs exhibiting distinct pigmentation patterns. These patterns are achieved through the integration of the betalain biosynthetic pathway into tobacco BY-2 cells. Overall, our study represents a groundbreaking shift in the convergence of materials science and plant synthetic biology, offering promising avenues for the evolution of sustainable, adaptive, and responsive living material systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujie Wang
- State
Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, College
of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, 30 Puzhu South Road, Nanjing 211816, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhengao Di
- Department
of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EA, U.K.
- Earlham
Institute, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UG, U.K.
| | - Minglang Qin
- State
Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, College
of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, 30 Puzhu South Road, Nanjing 211816, People’s Republic of China
| | - Shenming Qu
- State
Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, College
of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, 30 Puzhu South Road, Nanjing 211816, People’s Republic of China
| | - Wenbo Zhong
- State
Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, College
of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, 30 Puzhu South Road, Nanjing 211816, People’s Republic of China
| | - Lingfeng Yuan
- State
Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, College
of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, 30 Puzhu South Road, Nanjing 211816, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jing Zhang
- State
Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, College
of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, 30 Puzhu South Road, Nanjing 211816, People’s Republic of China
| | - Julian M. Hibberd
- Department
of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EA, U.K.
| | - Ziyi Yu
- State
Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, College
of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, 30 Puzhu South Road, Nanjing 211816, People’s Republic of China
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9
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Sun H, Bai H, Hu Y, He S, Wei R, Meng D, Jiang Q, Pan H, Shen P, Ou Q, Jiang C. Regulatory mechanisms of dopamine metabolism in a marine Meyerozyma guilliermondii GXDK6 under NaCl stress as revealed by integrative multi-omics analysis. Synth Syst Biotechnol 2024; 9:115-126. [PMID: 38292761 PMCID: PMC10825490 DOI: 10.1016/j.synbio.2024.01.002] [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: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Dopamine can be used to treat depression, myocardial infarction, and other diseases. However, few reports are available on the de novo microbial synthesis of dopamine from low-cost substrate. In this study, integrated omics technology was used to explore the dopamine metabolism of a novel marine multi-stress-tolerant aromatic yeast Meyerozyma guilliermondii GXDK6. GXDK6 was found to have the ability to biosynthesize dopamine when using glucose as the substrate. 14 key genes for the biosynthesis of dopamine were identified by whole genome-wide analysis. Transcriptomic and proteomic data showed that the expression levels of gene AAT2 encoding aspartate aminotransferase (regulating dopamine anabolism) were upregulated, while gene AO-I encoding copper amine oxidase (involved in dopamine catabolism) were downregulated under 10 % NaCl stress compared with non-NaCl stress, thereby contributing to biosynthesis of dopamine. Further, the amount of dopamine under 10 % NaCl stress was 2.51-fold higher than that of zero NaCl, which was consistent with the multi-omics results. Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) results confirmed the metabolic model of dopamine. Furthermore, by overexpressing AAT2, AST enzyme activity was increased by 24.89 %, the expression of genes related to dopamine metabolism was enhanced, and dopamine production was increased by 56.36 % in recombinant GXDK6AAT2. In conclusion, Meyerozyma guilliermondii GXDK6 could utilize low-cost carbon source to synthesize dopamine, and NaCl stress promoted the biosynthesis of dopamine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huijie Sun
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, Guangxi Research Center for Microbial and Enzyme Engineering Technology, College of Life Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory for Green Processing of Sugar Resources, College of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Guangxi University of Science and Technology, Liuzhou, 545006, China
| | - Huashan Bai
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, Guangxi Research Center for Microbial and Enzyme Engineering Technology, College of Life Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China
| | - Yonghong Hu
- College of Food Science and Light Industry, Nanjing Tech University, No. 30, South Puzhu Road, Nanjing, 211816, China
| | - Sheng He
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Birth Defects Research and Prevention, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health and Birth Defect Prevention, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Women and Children Health Care Hospital, Nanning, 530033, China
| | - Ruihang Wei
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, Guangxi Research Center for Microbial and Enzyme Engineering Technology, College of Life Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China
| | - Duotao Meng
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, Guangxi Research Center for Microbial and Enzyme Engineering Technology, College of Life Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China
| | - Qiong Jiang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, Guangxi Research Center for Microbial and Enzyme Engineering Technology, College of Life Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China
| | - Hongping Pan
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, Guangxi Research Center for Microbial and Enzyme Engineering Technology, College of Life Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China
| | - Peihong Shen
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, Guangxi Research Center for Microbial and Enzyme Engineering Technology, College of Life Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China
| | - Qian Ou
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, Guangxi Research Center for Microbial and Enzyme Engineering Technology, College of Life Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China
| | - Chengjian Jiang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, Guangxi Research Center for Microbial and Enzyme Engineering Technology, College of Life Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory for Green Processing of Sugar Resources, College of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Guangxi University of Science and Technology, Liuzhou, 545006, China
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10
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Yang R, Huang T, Song W, An Z, Lai Z, Liu S. Identification of WRKY gene family members in amaranth based on a transcriptome database and functional analysis of AtrWRKY42-2 in betalain metabolism. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1300522. [PMID: 38130485 PMCID: PMC10734031 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1300522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Introduction WRKY TFs (WRKY transcription factors) contribute to the synthesis of secondary metabolites in plants. Betalains are natural pigments that do not coexist with anthocyanins within the same plant. Amaranthus tricolor ('Suxian No.1') is an important leaf vegetable rich in betalains. However, the WRKY family members in amaranth and their roles in betalain synthesis and metabolism are still unclear. Methods To elucidate the molecular characteristics of the amaranth WRKY gene family and its role in betalain synthesis, WRKY gene family members were screened and identified using amaranth transcriptome data, and their physicochemical properties, conserved domains, phylogenetic relationships, and conserved motifs were analyzed using bioinformatics methods. Results In total, 72 WRKY family members were identified from the amaranth transcriptome. Three WRKY genes involved in betalain synthesis were screened in the phylogenetic analysis of WRKY TFs. RT-qPCR showed that the expression levels of these three genes in red amaranth 'Suxian No.1' were higher than those in green amaranth 'Suxian No.2' and also showed that the expression level of AtrWRKY42 gene short-spliced transcript AtrWRKY42-2 in Amaranth 'Suxian No.1' was higher than that of the complete sequence AtrWRKY42-1, so the short-spliced transcript AtrWRKY42-2 was mainly expressed in 'Suxian No.2' amaranth. Moreover, the total expression levels of AtrWRKY42-1 and AtrWRKY42-2 were down-regulated after GA3 treatment, so AtrWRKY42-2 was identified as a candidate gene. Therefore, the short splice variant AtrWRKY42-2 cDNA sequence, gDNA sequence, and promoter sequence of AtrWRKY42 were cloned, and the PRI 101-AN-AtrWRKY42-2-EGFP vector was constructed to evaluate subcellular localization, revealing that AtrWRKY42-2 is located in the nucleus. The overexpression vector pRI 101-AN-AtrWRKY42-2-EGFP and VIGS (virus-induced gene silencing) vector pTRV2-AtrWRKY42-2 were transferred into leaves of 'Suxian No.1' by an Agrobacterium-mediated method. The results showed that AtrWRKY42-2 overexpression could promote the expression of AtrCYP76AD1 and increase betalain synthesis. A yeast one-hybrid assay demonstrated that AtrWRKY42-2 could bind to the AtrCYP76AD1 promoter to regulate betalain synthesis. Discussion This study lays a foundation for further exploring the function of AtrWRKY42-2 in betalain metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Shengcai Liu
- Institute of Horticultural Biotechnology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
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11
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Nishihara M, Hirabuchi A, Goto F, Nishizaki Y, Uesugi S, Watanabe A, Tasaki K, Washiashi R, Sasaki N. Production of yellow-flowered gentian plants by genetic engineering of betaxanthin pigments. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2023; 240:1177-1188. [PMID: 37606277 DOI: 10.1111/nph.19218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023]
Abstract
Genetic engineering of flower color provides biotechnological products such as blue carnations or roses by accumulating delphinidin-based anthocyanins not naturally existing in these plant species. Betalains are another class of pigments that in plants are only synthesized in the order Caryophyllales. Although they have been engineered in several plant species, especially red-violet betacyanins, the yellow betaxanthins have yet to be engineered in ornamental plants. We attempted to produce yellow-flowered gentians by genetic engineering of betaxanthin pigments. First, white-flowered gentian lines were produced by knocking out the dihydroflavonol 4-reductase (DFR) gene using CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing. Beta vulgaris BvCYP76AD6 and Mirabilis jalapa MjDOD, driven by gentian petal-specific promoters, flavonoid 3',5'-hydroxylase (F3'5'H) and anthocyanin 5,3'-aromatic acyltransferase (AT), respectively, were transformed into the above DFR-knockout white-flowered line; the resultant gentian plants had vivid yellow flowers. Expression analysis and pigment analysis revealed petal-specific expression and accumulation of seven known betaxanthins in their petals to c. 0.06-0.08 μmol g FW-1 . Genetic engineering of vivid yellow-flowered plants can be achieved by combining genome editing and a suitable expression of betaxanthin-biosynthetic genes in ornamental plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masahiro Nishihara
- Iwate Biotechnology Research Center, 22-174-4, Narita, Kitakami, Iwate, 024-0003, Japan
| | - Akiko Hirabuchi
- Iwate Biotechnology Research Center, 22-174-4, Narita, Kitakami, Iwate, 024-0003, Japan
| | - Fumina Goto
- Iwate Biotechnology Research Center, 22-174-4, Narita, Kitakami, Iwate, 024-0003, Japan
| | - Yuzo Nishizaki
- Division of Food Additives, National Institute of Health Sciences, 3-25-26, Tonomachi, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa, 210-9501, Japan
| | - Shota Uesugi
- Iwate Biotechnology Research Center, 22-174-4, Narita, Kitakami, Iwate, 024-0003, Japan
| | - Aiko Watanabe
- Iwate Biotechnology Research Center, 22-174-4, Narita, Kitakami, Iwate, 024-0003, Japan
| | - Keisuke Tasaki
- Iwate Biotechnology Research Center, 22-174-4, Narita, Kitakami, Iwate, 024-0003, Japan
- Department of Agriculture, Faculty of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture, 1737, Funako, Atsugi, Kanagawa, 243-0034, Japan
| | - Rie Washiashi
- Iwate Biotechnology Research Center, 22-174-4, Narita, Kitakami, Iwate, 024-0003, Japan
| | - Nobuhiro Sasaki
- Iwate Biotechnology Research Center, 22-174-4, Narita, Kitakami, Iwate, 024-0003, Japan
- Department of Agricultural Biology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Osaka Metropolitan University, 1-1 Gakuen-cho, Naka-ku, Sakai, Osaka, 599-8531, Japan
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12
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Watkins JL, Li Q, Yeaman S, Facchini PJ. Elucidation of the mescaline biosynthetic pathway in peyote (Lophophora williamsii). THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2023; 116:635-649. [PMID: 37675639 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.16447] [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: 05/24/2023] [Revised: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023]
Abstract
Peyote (Lophophora williamsii) is an entheogenic and medicinal cactus native to the Chihuahuan desert. The psychoactive and hallucinogenic properties of peyote are principally attributed to the phenethylamine derivative mescaline. Despite the isolation of mescaline from peyote over 120 years ago, the biosynthetic pathway in the plant has remained undiscovered. Here, we use a transcriptomics and homology-guided gene discovery strategy to elucidate a near-complete biosynthetic pathway from l-tyrosine to mescaline. We identified a cytochrome P450 that catalyzes the 3-hydroxylation of l-tyrosine to l-DOPA, a tyrosine/DOPA decarboxylase yielding dopamine, and four substrate-specific and regiospecific substituted phenethylamine O-methyltransferases. Biochemical assays with recombinant enzymes or functional analyses performed by feeding putative precursors to engineered yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) strains expressing candidate peyote biosynthetic genes were used to determine substrate specificity, which served as the basis for pathway elucidation. Additionally, an N-methyltransferase displaying broad substrate specificity and leading to the production of N-methylated phenethylamine derivatives was identified, which could also function as an early step in the biosynthesis of tetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloids in peyote.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacinta L Watkins
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Qiushi Li
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Sam Yeaman
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Peter J Facchini
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada
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13
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Rollwage L, Maiss E, Menzel W, Hossain R, Varrelmann M. Beet mosaic virus expression of a betalain transcription factor allows visual virus tracking in Beta vulgaris. MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY 2023; 24:1319-1329. [PMID: 37410356 PMCID: PMC10502864 DOI: 10.1111/mpp.13372] [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: 03/13/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023]
Abstract
In the field of plant virology, the usage of reverse genetic systems has been reported for multiple purposes. One is understanding virus-host interaction by labelling viral cDNA clones with fluorescent protein genes to allow visual virus tracking throughout a plant, albeit this visualization depends on technical devices. Here we report the first construction of an infectious cDNA full-length clone of beet mosaic virus (BtMV) that can be efficiently used for Agrobacterium-mediated leaf inoculation with high infection rate in Beta vulgaris, being indistinguishable from the natural virus isolate regarding symptom development and vector transmission. Furthermore, the BtMV clone was tagged with the genes for the monomeric red fluorescent protein or the Beta vulgaris BvMYB1 transcription factor, which activates the betalain biosynthesis pathway. The heterologous expression of BvMYB1 results in activation of betalain biosynthesis genes in planta, allowing visualization of the systemic BtMV spread with the naked eye as red pigmentation emerging throughout beet leaves. In the case of BtMV, the BvMYB1 marker system is stable over multiple mechanical host passages, allows qualitative as well as quantitative virus detection and offers an excellent opportunity to label viruses in plants of the order Caryophyllales, allowing an in-depth investigation of virus-host interactions on the whole plant level.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Edgar Maiss
- Institute of Horticultural Production SystemsLeibniz University HannoverHannoverGermany
| | - Wulf Menzel
- Plant Virus DepartmentLeibniz Institute DSMZ – German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell CulturesBraunschweigGermany
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14
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Shah K, Chen J, Chen J, Qin Y. Pitaya Nutrition, Biology, and Biotechnology: A Review. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13986. [PMID: 37762287 PMCID: PMC10530492 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241813986] [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: 08/08/2023] [Revised: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Pitaya (Hylocereus spp.) is a member of the cactus family that is native to Central and South America but is now cultivated throughout the sub-tropical and tropical regions of the world. It is of great importance due to its nutritional, ornamental, coloring, medicinal, industrial, and high consumption values. In order to effectively utilize and develop the available genetic resources, it is necessary to appreciate and understand studies pertaining to the usage, origin, nutrition, diversity, evaluation, characterization, conservation, taxonomy, and systematics of the genus Hylocereus. Additionally, to gain a basic understanding of the biology of the plant, this review has also discussed how biotechnological tools, such as cell and tissue culture, micropropagation (i.e., somatic embryogenesis, organogenesis, somaclonal variation, mutagenesis, androgenesis, gynogenesis, and altered ploidy), virus-induced gene silencing, and molecular marker technology, have been used to enhance pitaya germplasm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamran Shah
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Postharvest Science of Fruits and Vegetables, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; (K.S.); (J.C.); (J.C.)
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Horticultural Crops, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Jiayi Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Postharvest Science of Fruits and Vegetables, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; (K.S.); (J.C.); (J.C.)
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Horticultural Crops, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Jiaxuan Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Postharvest Science of Fruits and Vegetables, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; (K.S.); (J.C.); (J.C.)
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Horticultural Crops, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Yonghua Qin
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Postharvest Science of Fruits and Vegetables, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; (K.S.); (J.C.); (J.C.)
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Horticultural Crops, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
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15
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Guerrero-Rubio MA, Walker-Hale N, Guo R, Sheehan H, Timoneda A, Gandia-Herrero F, Brockington SF. Are seven amino acid substitutions sufficient to explain the evolution of high l-DOPA 4,5-dioxygenase activity leading to betalain pigmentation? Revisiting the gain-of-function mutants of Bean et al. (2018). THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2023; 239:2265-2276. [PMID: 37243529 DOI: 10.1111/nph.18981] [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: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
This work revisits a publication by Bean et al. (2018) that reports seven amino acid substitutions are essential for the evolution of l-DOPA 4,5-dioxygenase (DODA) activity in Caryophyllales. In this study, we explore several concerns which led us to replicate the analyses of Bean et al. (2018). Our comparative analyses, with structural modelling, implicate numerous residues additional to those identified by Bean et al. (2018), with many of these additional residues occurring around the active site of BvDODAα1. We therefore replicated the analyses of Bean et al. (2018) to re-observe the effect of their original seven residue substitutions in a BvDODAα2 background, that is the BvDODAα2-mut3 variant. Multiple in vivo assays, in both Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Nicotiana benthamiana, did not result in visible DODA activity in BvDODAα2-mut3, with betalain production always 10-fold below BvDODAα1. In vitro assays also revealed substantial differences in both catalytic activity and pH optima between BvDODAα1, BvDODAα2 and BvDODAα2-mut3 proteins, explaining their differing performance in vivo. In summary, we were unable to replicate the in vivo analyses of Bean et al. (2018), and our quantitative in vivo and in vitro analyses suggest a minimal effect of these seven residues in altering catalytic activity of BvDODAα2. We conclude that the evolutionary pathway to high DODA activity is substantially more complex than implied by Bean et al. (2018).
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nathanael Walker-Hale
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, CB2 3EA, Cambridge, UK
| | - Rui Guo
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, CB2 3EA, Cambridge, UK
| | - Hester Sheehan
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, CB2 3EA, Cambridge, UK
| | - Alfonso Timoneda
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, CB2 3EA, Cambridge, UK
| | - Fernando Gandia-Herrero
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular A, Unidad Docente de Biología, Facultad de Veterinaria, Regional Campus of International Excellence 'Campus Mare Nostrum', Universidad de Murcia, 30100, Murcia, Spain
| | - Samuel F Brockington
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, CB2 3EA, Cambridge, UK
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16
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Wang B, Wang YH, Deng YJ, Yao QH, Xiong AS. Effect of betanin synthesis on photosynthesis and tyrosine metabolism in transgenic carrot. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2023; 23:402. [PMID: 37620775 PMCID: PMC10464428 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-023-04383-9] [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: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Betalain is a natural pigment with important nutritional value and broad application prospects. Previously, we produced betanin biosynthesis transgenic carrots via expressing optimized genes CYP76AD1S, cDOPA5GTS and DODA1S. Betanin can accumulate throughout the whole transgenic carrots. But the effects of betanin accumulation on the metabolism of transgenic plants and whether it produces unexpected effects are still unclear. RESULTS The accumulation of betanin in leaves can significantly improve its antioxidant capacity and induce a decrease of chlorophyll content. Transcriptome and metabolomics analysis showed that 14.0% of genes and 33.1% of metabolites were significantly different, and metabolic pathways related to photosynthesis and tyrosine metabolism were markedly altered. Combined analysis showed that phenylpropane biosynthesis pathway significantly enriched the differentially expressed genes and significantly altered metabolites. CONCLUSIONS Results showed that the metabolic status was significantly altered between transgenic and non-transgenic carrots, especially the photosynthesis and tyrosine metabolism. The extra consumption of tyrosine and accumulation of betanin might be the leading causes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics & Germplasm Enhancement and Utilization, College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Agricultural Genetics and Breeding, Biotechnology Research Institute, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Science, Shanghai, 201106, China
| | - Ya-Hui Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics & Germplasm Enhancement and Utilization, College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Yuan-Jie Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics & Germplasm Enhancement and Utilization, College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Quan-Hong Yao
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Agricultural Genetics and Breeding, Biotechnology Research Institute, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Science, Shanghai, 201106, China.
| | - Ai-Sheng Xiong
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics & Germplasm Enhancement and Utilization, College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China.
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17
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Babaei M, Thomsen PT, Dyekjær JD, Glitz CU, Pastor MC, Gockel P, Körner JD, Rago D, Borodina I. Combinatorial engineering of betalain biosynthesis pathway in yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS AND BIOPRODUCTS 2023; 16:128. [PMID: 37592353 PMCID: PMC10436450 DOI: 10.1186/s13068-023-02374-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Betalains, comprising red-violet betacyanins and yellow-orange betaxanthins, are the hydrophilic vacuolar pigments that provide bright coloration to roots, fruits, and flowers of plants of the Caryophyllales order. Betanin extracted from red beets is permitted quantum satis as a natural red food colorant (E162). Due to antioxidant activity, betanin has potential health benefits. RESULTS We applied combinatorial engineering to find the optimal combination of a dozen tyrosine hydroxylase (TyH) and 4,5-dopa-estradiol-dioxygenase (DOD) variants. The best-engineered Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains produced over six-fold higher betaxanthins than previously reported. By genome-resequencing of these strains, we found out that two copies of DOD enzyme from Bougainvillea glabra together with TyH enzymes from Abronia nealleyi, Acleisanthes obtusa, and Cleretum bellidiforme were present in the three high-betaxanthin-producing isolates. Next, we expressed four variants of glucosyltransferases from Beta vulgaris for betanin biosynthesis. The highest titer of betanin (30.8 ± 0.14 mg/L after 48 h from 20 g/L glucose) was obtained when completing the biosynthesis pathway with UGT73A36 glucosyltransferase from Beta vulgaris. Finally, we investigated betalain transport in CEN.PK and S288C strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and identified a possible role of transporter genes QDR2 and APL1 in betanin transport. CONCLUSIONS This study shows the potential of combinatorial engineering of yeast cell factories for the biotechnological production of betanin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahsa Babaei
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet Building 220, 2800 Kgs., Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Philip Tinggaard Thomsen
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet Building 220, 2800 Kgs., Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Jane Dannow Dyekjær
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet Building 220, 2800 Kgs., Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Christiane Ursula Glitz
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet Building 220, 2800 Kgs., Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Marc Cernuda Pastor
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet Building 220, 2800 Kgs., Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Peter Gockel
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet Building 220, 2800 Kgs., Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Johann Dietmar Körner
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet Building 220, 2800 Kgs., Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Daniela Rago
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet Building 220, 2800 Kgs., Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Irina Borodina
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet Building 220, 2800 Kgs., Lyngby, Denmark.
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18
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Li H, Wang W, Liu R, Tong B, Dai X, Lu Y, Yu Y, Dai S, Ruan L. Long non-coding RNA-mediated competing endogenous RNA regulatory network during flower development and color formation in Melastoma candidum. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1215044. [PMID: 37575929 PMCID: PMC10415103 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1215044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
M. candidum, an evergreen shrubby flower known for its superior adaptation ability in South China, has gained increased attention in garden applications. However, scant attention has been paid to its flower development and color formation process at the non-coding RNA level. To fill this gap, we conducted a comprehensive analysis based on long non-coding RNA sequencing (lncRNA-seq), RNA-seq, small RNA sequencing (sRNA-seq), and widely targeted metabolome detection of three different flower developmental stages of M. candidum. After differentially expressed lncRNAs (DElncRNAs), differentially expressed mRNAs (DEmRNAs), differentially expressed microRNAs (DEmiRNAs), and differentially synthesized metabolites (DSmets) analyses between the different flower developmental stages, Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) were conducted to identify some key genes and metabolites in flavonoid, flavone, anthocyanin, carotenoid, and alkaloid-related GO terms and biosynthetic pathways. Three direct-acting models, including antisense-acting, cis-acting, and trans-acting between lncRNAs and mRNAs, were detected to illustrate the direct function of lncRNAs on target genes during flower development and color formation. Based on the competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) regulatory theory, we constructed a lncRNA-mediated regulatory network composed of DElncRNAs, DEmiRNAs, DEmRNAs, and DSmets to elucidate the indirect role of lncRNAs in the flower development and color formation of M. candidum. By utilizing correlation analyses between DERNAs and DSmets within the ceRNA regulatory network, alongside verification trials of the ceRNA regulatory mechanism, the study successfully illustrated the significance of lncRNAs in flower development and color formation process. This research provides a foundation for improving and regulating flower color at the lncRNA level in M. candidum, and sheds light on the potential applications of non-coding RNA in studies of flower development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Li
- Department of Botany, Guangzhou Institute of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, Guangzhou, China
- College of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Botany, Guangzhou Institute of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, Guangzhou, China
| | - Rui Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China
| | - Botong Tong
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China
| | - Xinren Dai
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China
| | - Yan Lu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for the Research and Utilization of Plant Resources, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yixun Yu
- College of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Seping Dai
- Department of Botany, Guangzhou Institute of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lin Ruan
- Department of Botany, Guangzhou Institute of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, Guangzhou, China
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Liu S, Wang X, Peng L. Comparative Transcriptomic Analysis of the Metabolism of Betalains and Flavonoids in Red Amaranth Hypocotyl under Blue Light and Dark Conditions. Molecules 2023; 28:5627. [PMID: 37570597 PMCID: PMC10420052 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28155627] [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: 06/19/2023] [Revised: 07/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Amaranth plants contain abundant betalains and flavonoids. Anthocyanins are important flavonoids; however, they cannot coexist in the same plant with betalains. Blue light influences metabolite synthesis and hypocotyl elongation; accordingly, analyses of its effects on betalain and flavonoid biosynthesis in Amaranthus tricolor may provide insight into the distribution of these plant pigments. We analyzed the betalain and flavonoid content and transcriptome profiles in amaranth hypocotyls under blue light and dark conditions. Furthermore, we analyzed the expression patterns of key genes related to betalains and flavonoids. Amaranth hypocotyls were shorter and redder and showed higher betalain and flavonoid content under blue light than in dark conditions. Key genes involved in the synthesis of betalains and flavonoids were upregulated under blue light. The gene encoding DELLA was also upregulated. These results suggest that blue light favors the synthesis of both betalains and flavonoids via the suppression of bioactive gibberellin and the promotion of DELLA protein accumulation, which also suppresses hypocotyl elongation. The metabolite profiles differed between plants under blue light and dark conditions. These findings improve our understanding of the environmental cues and molecular mechanisms underlying pigment variation in Amaranthus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengcai Liu
- Institute of Horticultural Biotechnology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China;
| | - Xiao Wang
- Institute of Horticultural Biotechnology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China;
| | - Liyun Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, College of Life Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning 530005, China;
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20
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Ohno S, Kokado R, Makishima R, Doi M. BpCYP76AD15 is involved in betaxanthin biosynthesis in bougainvillea callus. PLANTA 2023; 258:47. [PMID: 37474871 DOI: 10.1007/s00425-023-04202-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023]
Abstract
MAIN CONCLUSION BpCYP76AD15 is involved in betaxanthin biosynthesis in callus, but not in bracts, in bougainvillea. Bougainvillea (Bougainvillea peruviana) is a climbing tropical ornamental tree belonging to Nyctaginaceae. Pigments that are conferring colorful bracts in bougainvillea are betalains, and that conferring yellow color are betaxanthins. In general, for red-to-purple betacyanin biosynthesis, α clade CYP76AD that has tyrosine hydroxylase and DOPA oxygenase activity is required, while for betaxanthin biosynthesis, β clade CYP76AD that has only tyrosine hydroxylase is required. To date, betaxanthin biosynthesis pathway genes have not been identified yet in bougainvillea. Since bougainvillea is phylogenetically close to four-O-clock (Mirabilis jalapa), and it was reported that β clade CYP76AD, MjCYP76AD15, is involved in floral betaxanthin biosynthesis in four-O-clock. Thus, we hypothesized that orthologous gene of MjCYP76AD15 in bougainvillea might be involved in bract betaxanthin biosynthesis. To test the hypothesis, we attempted to identify β clade CYP76AD gene from yellow bracts by RNA-seq; however, we could not. Instead, we found that callus accumulated betaxanthin and that β clade CYP76AD gene, BpCYP76AD15, were expressed in callus. We validated BpCYP76AD15 function by transgenic approach (agro-infiltration and over-expression in transgenic tobacco), and it was suggested that BpCYP76AD15 is involved in betaxanthin biosynthesis in callus, but not in bracts in bougainvillea. Interestingly, our data also indicate the existence of two pathways for betaxanthin biosynthesis (β clade CYP76AD-dependent and -independent), and the latter pathway is important for betaxanthin biosynthesis in bougainvillea bracts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sho Ohno
- Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan.
| | - Rika Kokado
- Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan
| | - Rikako Makishima
- Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan
| | - Motoaki Doi
- Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan
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21
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Dong J, Jiang W, Gao P, Yang T, Zhang W, Huangfu M, Zhang J, Che D. Comparison of betalain compounds in two Beta vulgaris var. cicla and BvCYP76AD27 function identification in betalain biosynthesis. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY : PPB 2023; 199:107711. [PMID: 37116227 DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2023.107711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2023] [Revised: 03/26/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Beta vulgaris var. cicla is an edible, ornamental and horticultural plant. However, the difference of components and contents of betalain in beets with different leaf color are not well understood. Here, the stress resistance and metabolites of two B. vulgaris var. cicla cultivars were determined. The differences in stress resistance between red leaf-colored chard (RC) and yellow leaf-colored chard (YC) were positively related to betacyanins (BC) and betaxathins (BX) content in the leaves. Furthermore, a total of 3615 distinct metabolites were identified by UPLC-QTOF-MS in two cultivars, including 70 alkaloids and their derivatives, 249 flavonoids, and 264 terpenoids. There were 17 metabolites attributed to betalain biosynthesis pathway, seven of nine BC were up-regulated, and eight BX showed no significant difference in RC compared with YC. The contents of celosianin II and betanin were the highest BC in RC, at approximately 84.38 and 19.97 times that of YC, respectively. The content of portulacaxanthin II was the highest BX in two beets. Additionally, the BvCYP450 genes were identified based on genome, and the members that might be involved in betalain biosynthesis were screened. BvCYP76AD27, a member of the BvCYP76AD subfamily, had a higher expression level in RC than YC under freezing, drought and shading stress. In yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, BvCYP76AD5 and BvCYP76AD27 only hydroxylated tyrosine to L-DOPA, which was transformed into portulacaxanthin II by 4,5-DOPA extradiol dioxygenase. The results contribute to illustrating the molecular mechanism of betalain biosynthesis and provide useful information for further investigation of beet chemistry and sufficient utilization of this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Dong
- College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, 150030, China; Key Laboratory of Cold Region Landscape Plants and Applications, Harbin, 150030, China
| | - Wan Jiang
- College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, 150030, China; Key Laboratory of Cold Region Landscape Plants and Applications, Harbin, 150030, China
| | - Peng Gao
- College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, 150030, China; Key Laboratory of Cold Region Landscape Plants and Applications, Harbin, 150030, China
| | - Tao Yang
- College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, 150030, China; Key Laboratory of Cold Region Landscape Plants and Applications, Harbin, 150030, China
| | - Wuhua Zhang
- College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, 150030, China; Key Laboratory of Cold Region Landscape Plants and Applications, Harbin, 150030, China
| | - Minge Huangfu
- College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, 150030, China; Key Laboratory of Cold Region Landscape Plants and Applications, Harbin, 150030, China
| | - Jinzhu Zhang
- College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, 150030, China; Key Laboratory of Cold Region Landscape Plants and Applications, Harbin, 150030, China.
| | - Daidi Che
- College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, 150030, China; Key Laboratory of Cold Region Landscape Plants and Applications, Harbin, 150030, China.
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22
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Saito S, Nishihara M, Kohakura M, Kimura K, Yashiro T, Takasawa S, Arimura GI. Metabolic engineering of betacyanin in vegetables for anti-inflammatory therapy. Biotechnol Bioeng 2023; 120:1357-1365. [PMID: 36702621 DOI: 10.1002/bit.28335] [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: 09/19/2022] [Revised: 12/29/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Betalains, which consist of the subgroups betaxanthins and betacyanins, are hydrophilic pigments that have classically been used for food colorants. Owing to their strong antioxidant property, their usefulness for application for therapeutic use is also expected. In addition, as betalains are mainly naturally available from plants of the order Caryophyllales, including beet (Beta vulgaris), metabolic engineering for betalain production in crops such as vegetables, fruits and cereals may provide new food resources useful for healthcare. Here we conducted metabolic engineering of betacyanins in tomato fruits and potato tubers. The transgenic tomato fruits and potato tubers with coexpression of betacyanin biosynthesis genes, CYP76AD1 from B. vulgaris, DOD (DOPA 4,5-dioxygenase) and 5GT (cyclo-DOPA 5-O-glucosyltransferase) from Mirabilis jalapa, under control of suitable specific promoters, possessed dark red tissues with enriched accumulation of betacyanins (betanin and isobetanin). The anti-inflammatory activity of transgenic tomato fruit extract was superior to that of wild-type fruit extract on macrophage RAW264.7 cells stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), as a result of decreased LPS-stimulated transcript levels of proinflammatory genes. These findings were in accord with the observation that administration of the transgenic tomato fruits ameliorated dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis as well as body weight loss and disease activity index in mice, via suppression of DSS-stimulated transcript levels of pro-inflammatory genes, including Tnf (encoding TNF-alpha), Il6, and Ptgs2 (encoding cyclooxygenae 2). Intriguingly, given the fact that the transgenic potato tuber extract failed to enrich the anti-inflammatory activity of macrophage cells, it is likely that metabolic engineering of betacyanins will be a powerful way of increasing the anti-inflammatory property of ordinary foods such as tomato.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiori Saito
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, Faculty of Advanced Engineering, Tokyo University of Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | - Masato Kohakura
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, Faculty of Advanced Engineering, Tokyo University of Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kosuke Kimura
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, Faculty of Advanced Engineering, Tokyo University of Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takuya Yashiro
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, Faculty of Advanced Engineering, Tokyo University of Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Seidai Takasawa
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, Faculty of Advanced Engineering, Tokyo University of Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Gen-Ichiro Arimura
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, Faculty of Advanced Engineering, Tokyo University of Science, Tokyo, Japan
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23
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Martínez-Rodríguez P, Guerrero-Rubio MA, Hernández-García S, Henarejos-Escudero P, García-Carmona F, Gandía-Herrero F. Characterization of betalain-loaded liposomes and its bioactive potential in vivo after ingestion. Food Chem 2023; 407:135180. [PMID: 36521390 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2022.135180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Betalains are plant pigments characterized by showing a wide range of beneficial properties for health. Its bioactive potential has been studied for the first time after its encapsulation in liposomes and subsequent administration to the animal model Caenorhabditis elegans. Phenylalanine-betaxanthin and indoline carboxylic acid-betacyanin encapsulated at concentrations of 25 and 500 μM managed to reduce lipid accumulation and oxidative stress in the nematodes. Highly antioxidant betalains dopaxanthin and betanidin were also included in the survival analyses. The results showed that phenylalanine-betaxanthin was the most effective betalain by increasing the lifespan of C. elegans by 21.8%. In addition, the administration of encapsulated natural betanidin increased the nematodes' survival rate by up to 13.8%. The preservation of the bioactive properties of betalains manifested in this study means that the stabilization of the plant pigments through encapsulation in liposomes can be postulated as a new way for administration in pharmacological and food applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Martínez-Rodríguez
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular A, Unidad Docente de Biología, Facultad de Veterinaria. Regional Campus of International Excellence "Campus Mare Nostrum", Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
| | - M Alejandra Guerrero-Rubio
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular A, Unidad Docente de Biología, Facultad de Veterinaria. Regional Campus of International Excellence "Campus Mare Nostrum", Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
| | - Samanta Hernández-García
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular A, Unidad Docente de Biología, Facultad de Veterinaria. Regional Campus of International Excellence "Campus Mare Nostrum", Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
| | - Paula Henarejos-Escudero
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular A, Unidad Docente de Biología, Facultad de Veterinaria. Regional Campus of International Excellence "Campus Mare Nostrum", Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
| | - Francisco García-Carmona
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular A, Unidad Docente de Biología, Facultad de Veterinaria. Regional Campus of International Excellence "Campus Mare Nostrum", Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
| | - Fernando Gandía-Herrero
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular A, Unidad Docente de Biología, Facultad de Veterinaria. Regional Campus of International Excellence "Campus Mare Nostrum", Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
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24
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Deng YJ, Duan AQ, Liu H, Wang YH, Zhang RR, Xu ZS, Xiong AS. Generating colorful carrot germplasm through metabolic engineering of betalains pigments. HORTICULTURE RESEARCH 2023; 10:uhad024. [PMID: 37786858 PMCID: PMC10541523 DOI: 10.1093/hr/uhad024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2022] [Accepted: 02/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023]
Abstract
Betalains are tyrosine-derived plant pigments exclusively found in the Caryophyllales order and some higher fungi and generally classified into two groups: red-violet betacyanins and yellow-orange betaxanthins. Betalains attract great scientific and economic interest because of their relatively simple biosynthesis pathway, attractive colors and health-promoting properties. Co-expressing two core genes BvCYP76AD1 and BvDODA1 with or without a glycosyltransferase gene MjcDOPA5GT allowed the engineering of carrot (an important taproot vegetable) to produce a palette of unique colors. The highest total betalains content, 943.2 μg·g-1 DW, was obtained in carrot taproot transformed with p35S:RUBY which produces all of the necessary enzymes for betalains synthesis. Root-specific production of betalains slightly relieved tyrosine consumption revealing the possible bottleneck in betalains production. Furthermore, a unique volcano-like phenotype in carrot taproot cross-section was created by vascular cambium-specific production of betalains. The betalains-fortified carrot in this study is thus anticipated to be used as functional vegetable and colorful carrot germplasm in breeding to promote health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan-Jie Deng
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement and Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Key Laboratory of Biology and Germplasm Enhancement of Horticultural Crops in East China, College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, 1 Weigang, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Ao-Qi Duan
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement and Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Key Laboratory of Biology and Germplasm Enhancement of Horticultural Crops in East China, College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, 1 Weigang, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Hui Liu
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement and Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Key Laboratory of Biology and Germplasm Enhancement of Horticultural Crops in East China, College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, 1 Weigang, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Ya-Hui Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement and Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Key Laboratory of Biology and Germplasm Enhancement of Horticultural Crops in East China, College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, 1 Weigang, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Rong-Rong Zhang
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement and Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Key Laboratory of Biology and Germplasm Enhancement of Horticultural Crops in East China, College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, 1 Weigang, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Zhi-Sheng Xu
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement and Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Key Laboratory of Biology and Germplasm Enhancement of Horticultural Crops in East China, College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, 1 Weigang, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Ai-Sheng Xiong
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement and Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Key Laboratory of Biology and Germplasm Enhancement of Horticultural Crops in East China, College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, 1 Weigang, Nanjing 210095, China
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25
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Han J, Li S. De novo biosynthesis of berberine and halogenated benzylisoquinoline alkaloids in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Commun Chem 2023; 6:27. [PMID: 36759716 PMCID: PMC9911778 DOI: 10.1038/s42004-023-00821-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Berberine is an extensively used pharmaceutical benzylisoquinoline alkaloid (BIA) derived from plants. Microbial manufacturing has emerged as a promising approach to source valuable BIAs. Here, we demonstrated the complete biosynthesis of berberine in Saccharomyces cerevisiae by engineering 19 genes including 12 heterologous genes from plants and bacteria. Overexpressing bottleneck enzymes, fermentation scale-up, and heating treatment after fermentation increased berberine titer by 643-fold to 1.08 mg L-1. This pathway also showed high efficiency to incorporate halogenated tyrosine for the synthesis of unnatural BIA derivatives that have higher therapeutical potentials. We firstly demonstrate the in vivo biosynthesis of 11-fluoro-tetrahydrocolumbamine via nine enzymatic reactions. The efficiency and promiscuity of our pathway also allow for the simultaneous incorporation of two fluorine-substituted tyrosine derivatives to 8, 3'-di-fluoro-coclaurine. This work highlights the potential of yeast as a versatile microbial biosynthetic platform to strengthen current pharmaceutical supply chain and to advance drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianing Han
- Robert F. Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Sijin Li
- Robert F. Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA.
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26
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Davies KM, Landi M, van Klink JW, Schwinn KE, Brummell DA, Albert NW, Chagné D, Jibran R, Kulshrestha S, Zhou Y, Bowman JL. Evolution and function of red pigmentation in land plants. ANNALS OF BOTANY 2022; 130:613-636. [PMID: 36070407 PMCID: PMC9670752 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcac109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Land plants commonly produce red pigmentation as a response to environmental stressors, both abiotic and biotic. The type of pigment produced varies among different land plant lineages. In the majority of species they are flavonoids, a large branch of the phenylpropanoid pathway. Flavonoids that can confer red colours include 3-hydroxyanthocyanins, 3-deoxyanthocyanins, sphagnorubins and auronidins, which are the predominant red pigments in flowering plants, ferns, mosses and liverworts, respectively. However, some flowering plants have lost the capacity for anthocyanin biosynthesis and produce nitrogen-containing betalain pigments instead. Some terrestrial algal species also produce red pigmentation as an abiotic stress response, and these include both carotenoid and phenolic pigments. SCOPE In this review, we examine: which environmental triggers induce red pigmentation in non-reproductive tissues; theories on the functions of stress-induced pigmentation; the evolution of the biosynthetic pathways; and structure-function aspects of different pigment types. We also compare data on stress-induced pigmentation in land plants with those for terrestrial algae, and discuss possible explanations for the lack of red pigmentation in the hornwort lineage of land plants. CONCLUSIONS The evidence suggests that pigment biosynthetic pathways have evolved numerous times in land plants to provide compounds that have red colour to screen damaging photosynthetically active radiation but that also have secondary functions that provide specific benefits to the particular land plant lineage.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marco Landi
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, Italy
| | - John W van Klink
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited, Department of Chemistry, Otago University, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Kathy E Schwinn
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited, Private Bag 11600, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand
| | - David A Brummell
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited, Private Bag 11600, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand
| | - Nick W Albert
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited, Private Bag 11600, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand
| | - David Chagné
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited, Private Bag 11600, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand
| | - Rubina Jibran
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited, Private Bag 92169, Auckland Mail Centre, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
| | - Samarth Kulshrestha
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited, Private Bag 11600, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand
| | - Yanfei Zhou
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited, Private Bag 11600, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand
| | - John L Bowman
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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27
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Synthesis and Antioxidative Properties of 1,2,3,4-Tetrahydropyridine Derivatives with Different Substituents in 4-Position. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27217423. [DOI: 10.3390/molecules27217423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Revised: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural products are an excellent source of inspiration for the development of new drugs. Among them, betalains have been extensively studied for their antioxidant properties and potential application as natural food dyes. Herein, we describe the seven-step synthesis of new betalamic acid analogs without carboxy groups in the 2- and 6-position with an overall yield of ~70%. The Folin–Ciocalteu assay was used to determine the antioxidant properties of protected intermediate 21. Additionally, the five-step synthesis of betalamic acid analog 35 with three ester moieties was performed. Using NMR techniques, the stability of the obtained compounds towards oxygen was analyzed.
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28
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Zhao X, Zhang Y, Long T, Wang S, Yang J. Regulation Mechanism of Plant Pigments Biosynthesis: Anthocyanins, Carotenoids, and Betalains. Metabolites 2022; 12:871. [PMID: 36144275 PMCID: PMC9506007 DOI: 10.3390/metabo12090871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2022] [Revised: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Anthocyanins, carotenoids, and betalains are known as the three major pigments in the plant kingdom. Anthocyanins are flavonoids derived from the phenylpropanoid pathway. They undergo acylation and glycosylation in the cytoplasm to produce anthocyanin derivatives and deposits in the cytoplasm. Anthocyanin biosynthesis is regulated by the MBW (comprised by R2R3-MYB, basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) and WD40) complex. Carotenoids are fat-soluble terpenoids whose synthetic genes also are regulated by the MBW complex. As precursors for the synthesis of hormones and nutrients, carotenoids are not only synthesized in plants, but also synthesized in some fungi and bacteria, and play an important role in photosynthesis. Betalains are special water-soluble pigments that exist only in Caryophyllaceae plants. Compared to anthocyanins and carotenoids, the synthesis and regulation mechanism of betalains is simpler, starting from tyrosine, and is only regulated by MYB (myeloblastosis). Recently, a considerable amount of novel information has been gathered on the regulation of plant pigment biosynthesis, specifically with respect to aspects. In this review, we summarize the knowledge and current gaps in our understanding with a view of highlighting opportunities for the development of pigment-rich plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuecheng Zhao
- Hainan Yazhou Bay Seed Laboratory, Sanya Nanfan Research Institute of Hainan University, Sanya 572025, China
- College of Tropical Crops, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Yueran Zhang
- Hainan Yazhou Bay Seed Laboratory, Sanya Nanfan Research Institute of Hainan University, Sanya 572025, China
- College of Tropical Crops, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Tuan Long
- Hainan Yazhou Bay Seed Laboratory, Sanya Nanfan Research Institute of Hainan University, Sanya 572025, China
- College of Tropical Crops, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Shouchuang Wang
- Hainan Yazhou Bay Seed Laboratory, Sanya Nanfan Research Institute of Hainan University, Sanya 572025, China
- College of Tropical Crops, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
| | - Jun Yang
- College of Tropical Crops, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
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29
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Machine learning discovery of missing links that mediate alternative branches to plant alkaloids. Nat Commun 2022; 13:1405. [PMID: 35296652 PMCID: PMC8927377 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-28883-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Engineering the microbial production of secondary metabolites is limited by the known reactions of correctly annotated enzymes. Therefore, the machine learning discovery of specialized enzymes offers great potential to expand the range of biosynthesis pathways. Benzylisoquinoline alkaloid production is a model example of metabolic engineering with potential to revolutionize the paradigm of sustainable biomanufacturing. Existing bacterial studies utilize a norlaudanosoline pathway, whereas plants contain a more stable norcoclaurine pathway, which is exploited in yeast. However, committed aromatic precursors are still produced using microbial enzymes that remain elusive in plants, and additional downstream missing links remain hidden within highly duplicated plant gene families. In the current study, machine learning is applied to predict and select plant missing link enzymes from homologous candidate sequences. Metabolomics-based characterization of the selected sequences reveals potential aromatic acetaldehyde synthases and phenylpyruvate decarboxylases in reconstructed plant gene-only benzylisoquinoline alkaloid pathways from tyrosine. Synergistic application of the aryl acetaldehyde producing enzymes results in enhanced benzylisoquinoline alkaloid production through hybrid norcoclaurine and norlaudanosoline pathways. Producing plant secondary metabolites by microbes is limited by the known enzymatic reactions. Here, the authors apply machine learning to predict missing link enzymes of benzylisoquinoline alkaloid (BIA) biosynthesis in Papaver somniferum, and validate the specialized activities through heterologous production.
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Martínez-Rodríguez P, Guerrero-Rubio MA, Henarejos-Escudero P, García-Carmona F, Gandía-Herrero F. Health-promoting potential of betalains in vivo and their relevance as functional ingredients: A review. Trends Food Sci Technol 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tifs.2022.02.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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Zhu T, Zhang M, Su H, Li M, Wang Y, Jin L, Li M. Integrated Metabolomic and Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals Differential Mechanism of Flavonoid Biosynthesis in Two Cultivars of Angelica sinensis. MOLECULES (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 27:molecules27010306. [PMID: 35011537 PMCID: PMC8746331 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27010306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2021] [Revised: 12/30/2021] [Accepted: 01/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Angelica sinensis is a traditional Chinese medicinal plant that has been primarily used as a blood tonic. It largely relies on its bioactive metabolites, which include ferulic acid, volatile oils, polysaccharides and flavonoids. In order to improve the yield and quality of A. sinensis, the two cultivars Mingui 1 (M1), with a purple stem, and Mingui 2 (M2), with a green stem, have been selected in the field. Although a higher root yield and ferulic acid content in M1 than M2 has been observed, the differences of flavonoid biosynthesis and stem-color formation are still limited. In this study, the contents of flavonoids and anthocyanins were determined by spectrophotometer, the differences of flavonoids and transcripts in M1 and M2 were conducted by metabolomic and transcriptomic analysis, and the expression level of candidate genes was validated by qRT-PCR. The results showed that the contents of flavonoids and anthocyanins were 1.5- and 2.6-fold greater in M1 than M2, respectively. A total of 26 differentially accumulated flavonoids (DAFs) with 19 up-regulated (UR) and seven down-regulated (DR) were obtained from the 131 identified flavonoids (e.g., flavonols, flavonoid, isoflavones, and anthocyanins) in M1 vs. M2. A total 2210 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were obtained from the 34,528 full-length isoforms in M1 vs. M2, and 29 DEGs with 24 UR and 5 DR were identified to be involved in flavonoid biosynthesis, with 25 genes (e.g., CHS1, CHI3, F3H, DFR, ANS, CYPs and UGTs) mapped on the flavonoid biosynthetic pathway and four genes (e.g., RL1, RL6, MYB90 and MYB114) belonging to transcription factors. The differential accumulation level of flavonoids is coherent with the expression level of candidate genes. Finally, the network of DAFs regulated by DEGs was proposed. These findings will provide references for flavonoid production and cultivars selection of A. sinensis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiantian Zhu
- College of Pharmacy, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou 730101, China; (T.Z.); (M.Z.); (Y.W.)
- Northwest Collaborative Innovation Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Minghui Zhang
- College of Pharmacy, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou 730101, China; (T.Z.); (M.Z.); (Y.W.)
| | - Hongyan Su
- State Key Laboratory of Aridland Crop Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China; (H.S.); (M.L.)
| | - Meiling Li
- State Key Laboratory of Aridland Crop Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China; (H.S.); (M.L.)
| | - Yuanyuan Wang
- College of Pharmacy, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou 730101, China; (T.Z.); (M.Z.); (Y.W.)
- Northwest Collaborative Innovation Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Ling Jin
- College of Pharmacy, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou 730101, China; (T.Z.); (M.Z.); (Y.W.)
- Northwest Collaborative Innovation Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou 730000, China
- Correspondence: (L.J.); (M.L.)
| | - Mengfei Li
- State Key Laboratory of Aridland Crop Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China; (H.S.); (M.L.)
- Correspondence: (L.J.); (M.L.)
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Kiryushkin AS, Ilina EL, Guseva ED, Pawlowski K, Demchenko KN. Hairy CRISPR: Genome Editing in Plants Using Hairy Root Transformation. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 11:51. [PMID: 35009056 PMCID: PMC8747350 DOI: 10.3390/plants11010051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Revised: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
CRISPR/Cas-mediated genome editing is a powerful tool of plant functional genomics. Hairy root transformation is a rapid and convenient approach for obtaining transgenic roots. When combined, these techniques represent a fast and effective means of studying gene function. In this review, we outline the current state of the art reached by the combination of these approaches over seven years. Additionally, we discuss the origins of different Agrobacterium rhizogenes strains that are widely used for hairy root transformation; the components of CRISPR/Cas vectors, such as the promoters that drive Cas or gRNA expression, the types of Cas nuclease, and selectable and screenable markers; and the application of CRISPR/Cas genome editing in hairy roots. The modification of the already known vector pKSE401 with the addition of the rice translational enhancer OsMac3 and the gene encoding the fluorescent protein DsRed1 is also described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexey S. Kiryushkin
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Plant Development, Komarov Botanical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, 197376 Saint Petersburg, Russia; (E.L.I.); (E.D.G.)
| | - Elena L. Ilina
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Plant Development, Komarov Botanical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, 197376 Saint Petersburg, Russia; (E.L.I.); (E.D.G.)
| | - Elizaveta D. Guseva
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Plant Development, Komarov Botanical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, 197376 Saint Petersburg, Russia; (E.L.I.); (E.D.G.)
| | - Katharina Pawlowski
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences, Stockholm University, 10691 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Kirill N. Demchenko
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Plant Development, Komarov Botanical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, 197376 Saint Petersburg, Russia; (E.L.I.); (E.D.G.)
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Abstract
Colchicine (1) is a bioactive plant alkaloid from Colchicum and Gloriosa species that is used as a pharmaceutical treatment for inflammatory diseases, including gouty arthritis and familial Mediterranean fever. The activity of this alkaloid is attributed to its ability to bind tubulin dimers and inhibit microtubule assembly, which not only promotes anti-inflammatory effects, but also makes colchicine a potent mitotic poison. The biochemical origins of colchicine biosynthesis have been investigated for over 50 years, but only recently has the underlying enzymatic machinery become clear. Here, we report the discovery of multiple pathway enzymes from Gloriosa superba that allows for the reconstitution of a complete metabolic route to 1. This includes three enzymes that process a previously established tropolone-containing intermediate into 1 via tailoring of the nitrogen atom. We further demonstrate the total biosynthesis of enantiopure (-)-1 from primary metabolites via heterologous production in a model plant, thus enabling future efforts for the metabolic engineering of this medicinal alkaloid. Additionally, our results provide insight into the timing and tissue specificity for the late stage modifications required in colchicine biosynthesis, which are likely connected to the biological functions for this class of medicinal alkaloids in native producing plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan S. Nett
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Elizabeth S. Sattely
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
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A Genome-Wide Identification Study Reveals That HmoCYP76AD1, HmoDODAα1 and HmocDOPA5GT Involved in Betalain Biosynthesis in Hylocereus. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12121858. [PMID: 34946807 PMCID: PMC8702118 DOI: 10.3390/genes12121858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Revised: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Betalains are water-soluble nitrogen-containing pigments with multiple bioactivities. Pitayas are the only at large-scale commercially grown fruit containing abundant betalains for consumers. Currently, the key genes involved in betalain biosynthesis remain to be fully elucidated. Moreover, genome-wide analyses of these genes in betalain biosynthesis are not available in betalain-producing plant species. In this study, totally 53 genes related to betalain biosynthesis were identified from the genome data of Hylocereus undatus. Four candidate genes i.e., one cytochrome P-450 R gene (HmoCYP76AD1), two L-DOPA 4,5-dioxygenase genes (HmoDODAα1 and HmoDODAα2), and one cyclo-DOPA 5-O glucosyltransferase gene (HmocDOPA5GT) were initially screened according to bioinformatics and qRT-PCR analyses. Silencing HmoCYP76AD1, HmoDODAα1, HmoDODAα2 or HmocDOPA5GT resulted in loss of red pigment. HmoDODAα1 displayed a high level of L-DOPA 4,5-dioxygenase activity to produce betalamic acid and formed yellow betaxanthin. Co-expression of HmoCYP76AD1, HmoDODAα1 and HmocDOPA5GT in Nicotiana benthamiana and yeast resulted in high abundance of betalain pigments with a red color. These results suggested that HmoCYP76AD1, HmoDODAα1, and HmocDOPA5GT play key roles in betalain biosynthesis in Hylocereus. The results of the present study provide novel genes for molecular breeding programs of pitaya.
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Sullivan ML, Knollenberg BJ. Red Clover HDT, a BAHD Hydroxycinnamoyl-Coenzyme A:L-3,4-Dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) Hydroxycinnamoyl Transferase That Synthesizes Clovamide and Other N-Hydroxycinnamoyl-Aromatic Amino Acid Amides. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:727461. [PMID: 34868112 PMCID: PMC8641662 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.727461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Red clover leaves accumulate high levels (up to 1 to 2% of dry matter) of two caffeic acid derivatives: phaselic acid (2-O-caffeoyl-L-malate) and clovamide [N-caffeoyl-L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA)]. These likely play roles in protecting the plant from biotic and abiotic stresses but can also help preserve protein during harvest and storage of the forage via oxidation by an endogenous polyphenol oxidase. We previously identified and characterized, a hydroxycinnamoyl-coenzyme A (CoA):malate hydroxycinnamoyl transferase (HMT) from red clover. Here, we identified a hydroxycinnamoyl-CoA:L-DOPA hydroxycinnamoyl transferase (HDT) activity in unexpanded red clover leaves. Silencing of the previously cloned HMT gene reduced both HMT and HDT activities in red clover, even though the HMT enzyme lacks HDT activity. A combination of PCR with degenerate primers based on BAHD hydroxycinnamoyl-CoA transferase sequences and 5' and 3' rapid amplification of cDNA ends was used to clone two nearly identical cDNAs from red clover. When expressed in Escherichia coli, the encoded proteins were capable of transferring hydroxycinnamic acids (p-coumaric, caffeic, or ferulic) from the corresponding CoA thioesters to the aromatic amino acids L-Phe, L-Tyr, L-DOPA, or L-Trp. Kinetic parameters for these substrates were determined. Stable expression of HDT in transgenic alfalfa resulted in foliar accumulation of p-coumaroyl- and feruloyl-L-Tyr that are not normally present in alfalfa, but not derivatives containing caffeoyl or L-DOPA moieties. Transient expression of HDT in Nicotiana benthamiana resulted in the production of caffeoyl-L-Tyr, but not clovamide. Coexpression of HDT with a tyrosine hydroxylase resulted in clovamide accumulation, indicating the host species' pool of available amino acid (and hydroxycinnamoyl-CoA) substrates likely plays a major role in determining HDT product accumulation in planta. Finally, that HDT and HMT proteins share a high degree of identity (72%), but differ substantially in substrate specificity, is promising for further investigation of structure-function relationships of this class of enzymes, which could allow the rational design of BAHD enzymes with specific and desirable activities.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Benjamin J. Knollenberg
- Department of Plant Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
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Ohno S, Makishima R, Doi M. Post-transcriptional gene silencing of CYP76AD controls betalain biosynthesis in bracts of bougainvillea. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2021; 72:6949-6962. [PMID: 34279632 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erab340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/17/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Betalain is one of four major plant pigments and shares some features with anthocyanin; however, no plant has been found to biosynthesize both pigments. Previous studies have reported that anthocyanin biosynthesis in some plants is regulated by post-transcriptional gene-silencing (PTGS), but the importance of PTGS in betalain biosynthesis remains unclear. In this study, we report the occurrence of PTGS in betalain biosynthesis in bougainvillea (Bougainvillea peruviana) 'Thimma', which produces bracts of three different color on the same plant, namely pink, white, and pink-white. This resembles the unstable anthocyanin pigmentation phenotype that is associated with PTGS, and hence we anticipated the presence of PTGS in the betalain biosynthetic pathway. To test this, we analysed pigments, gene expression, small RNAs, and transient overexpression. Our results demonstrated that PTGS of BpCYP76AD1, a gene encoding one of the betalain biosynthesis enzymes, is responsible for the loss of betalain biosynthesis in 'Thimma'. Neither the genetic background nor DNA methylation in the BpCYP76AD1 sequence could explain the induction of PTGS, implying that another locus controls the unstable pigmentation. Our results indicate that naturally occurring PTGS contributes to the diversification of color patterns not only in anthocyanin biosynthesis but also in betalain biosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sho Ohno
- Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Rikako Makishima
- Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Motoaki Doi
- Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
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Portillo-Nava C, Guerrero-Esperanza M, Guerrero-Rangel A, Guevara-Domínguez P, Martínez-Gallardo N, Nava-Sandoval C, Ordaz-Ortiz J, Sánchez-Segura L, Délano-Frier J. Natural or light-induced pigment accumulation in grain amaranths coincides with enhanced resistance against insect herbivory. PLANTA 2021; 254:101. [PMID: 34669050 DOI: 10.1007/s00425-021-03757-3] [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: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
MAIN CONCLUSION Increased resistance to insect herbivory in grain amaranth plants is associated with increased betalain pigmentation, either naturally acquired or accumulated in response to blue-red light irradiation. Betalains are water-soluble pigments characteristic of plants of the Caryophyllales order. Their abiotic stress-induced accumulation is believed to protect against oxidative damage, while their defensive function against biotic aggressors is scarce. A previous observation of induced betalain-biosynthetic gene expression in stressed grain amaranth plants led to the proposal that these pigments play a defensive role against insect herbivory. This study provided further support for this premise. First, a comparison of "green" and "red" Amaranthus cruentus phenotypes showed that the latter suffered less insect herbivory damage. Coincidentally, growth and vitality of Manduca sexta larvae were more severely affected when fed on red-leafed A. cruentus plants or on an artificial diet supplemented with red-leaf pigment extracts. Second, the exposure of A. cruentus and A. caudatus plants, having contrasting pigmentation phenotypes, to light enriched in the blue and red wavelength spectra led to pigment accumulation throughout the plant and to increased resistance to insect herbivory. These events were accompanied by the induced expression of known betalain-biosynthetic genes, including uncharacterized DODA genes believed to participate in this biosynthetic pathway in a still undefined way. Finally, transient co-expression of different combinations of betalain-biosynthetic genes in Nicotiana benthamiana led to detectable accumulation of betalamic acid and betanidin. This outcome supported the participation of certain AhDODA and other genes in the grain amaranth betalain-biosynthetic pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Portillo-Nava
- Department of Biotechnology and Biochemistry, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del IPN, Unidad Irapuato, Kilómetro 9.6 Libramiento Norte Carretera Irapuato-León, CP, 36821, Irapuato, Guanajuato, México
| | - Moisés Guerrero-Esperanza
- Metabolomics Laboratory, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Unidad de Genómica Avanzada, Kilómetro 9.6 Libramiento Norte Carretera Irapuato-León, CP, 36821, Irapuato, Guanajuato, México
| | - Armando Guerrero-Rangel
- Department of Biotechnology and Biochemistry, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del IPN, Unidad Irapuato, Kilómetro 9.6 Libramiento Norte Carretera Irapuato-León, CP, 36821, Irapuato, Guanajuato, México
| | - Paulina Guevara-Domínguez
- Metabolomics Laboratory, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Unidad de Genómica Avanzada, Kilómetro 9.6 Libramiento Norte Carretera Irapuato-León, CP, 36821, Irapuato, Guanajuato, México
| | - Norma Martínez-Gallardo
- Department of Biotechnology and Biochemistry, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del IPN, Unidad Irapuato, Kilómetro 9.6 Libramiento Norte Carretera Irapuato-León, CP, 36821, Irapuato, Guanajuato, México
| | - Cecilia Nava-Sandoval
- Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Unidad Profesional Lázaro Cárdenas, Prolongación de Carpio y Plan de Ayala S/N,Col. Santo Tomás, CDMX, CP, 11340, Alcaldía Miguel Hidalgo, México
| | - José Ordaz-Ortiz
- Metabolomics Laboratory, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Unidad de Genómica Avanzada, Kilómetro 9.6 Libramiento Norte Carretera Irapuato-León, CP, 36821, Irapuato, Guanajuato, México
| | - Lino Sánchez-Segura
- Department of Biotechnology and Biochemistry, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del IPN, Unidad Irapuato, Kilómetro 9.6 Libramiento Norte Carretera Irapuato-León, CP, 36821, Irapuato, Guanajuato, México
| | - John Délano-Frier
- Department of Biotechnology and Biochemistry, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del IPN, Unidad Irapuato, Kilómetro 9.6 Libramiento Norte Carretera Irapuato-León, CP, 36821, Irapuato, Guanajuato, México.
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Tomizawa E, Ohtomo S, Asai K, Ohta Y, Takiue Y, Hasumi A, Nishihara M, Nakatsuka T. Additional betalain accumulation by genetic engineering leads to a novel flower color in lisianthus ( Eustoma grandiflorum). PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY (TOKYO, JAPAN) 2021; 38:323-330. [PMID: 34782819 PMCID: PMC8562576 DOI: 10.5511/plantbiotechnology.21.0516a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2021] [Accepted: 05/16/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Betalains, comprising violet betacyanins and yellow betaxanthins, are pigments found in plants belonging to the order Caryophyllales. In this study, we induced the accumulation of betalains in ornamental lisianthus (Eustoma grandiflorum) by genetic engineering. Three betalain biosynthetic genes encoding CYP76AD1, dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) 4,5-dioxygenase (DOD), and cyclo-DOPA 5-O-glucosyltransferase (5GT) were expressed under the control of the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S promoter in lisianthus, in which anthocyanin pigments are responsible for the pink flower color. During the selection process on hygromycin-containing media, some shoots with red leaves were obtained. However, most red-colored shoots were suppressed root induction and incapable of further growth. Only clone #1 successfully acclimatized and bloomed, producing pinkish-red flowers, with a slightly greater intensity of red color than that in wild-type flowers. T1 plants derived from clone #1 segregated into five typical flower color phenotypes: wine red, bright pink, pale pink, pale yellow, and salmon pink. Among these, line #1-1 showed high expression levels of all three transgenes and exhibited a novel wine-red flower color. In the flower petals of line #1-1, abundant betacyanins and low-level betaxanthins were coexistent with anthocyanins. In other lines, differences in the relative accumulation of betalain and anthocyanin pigments resulted in flower color variations, as described above. Thus, this study is the first to successfully produce novel flower color varieties in ornamental plants by controlling betalain accumulation through genetic engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eri Tomizawa
- Graduate School of Integrated Science and Technology, Shizuoka University, Shizuoka, Shizuoka 422-8529, Japan
| | - Shogo Ohtomo
- Faculty of Agriculture, Shizuoka University, Shizuoka, Shizuoka 422-8529, Japan
| | - Kanako Asai
- Faculty of Agriculture, Shizuoka University, Shizuoka, Shizuoka 422-8529, Japan
| | - Yuka Ohta
- Graduate School of Integrated Science and Technology, Shizuoka University, Shizuoka, Shizuoka 422-8529, Japan
| | - Yukako Takiue
- Graduate School of Integrated Science and Technology, Shizuoka University, Shizuoka, Shizuoka 422-8529, Japan
| | - Akihiro Hasumi
- Faculty of Agriculture, Shizuoka University, Shizuoka, Shizuoka 422-8529, Japan
| | | | - Takashi Nakatsuka
- Graduate School of Integrated Science and Technology, Shizuoka University, Shizuoka, Shizuoka 422-8529, Japan
- Faculty of Agriculture, Shizuoka University, Shizuoka, Shizuoka 422-8529, Japan
- College of Agriculture, Academic Institute, Shizuoka University, Shizuoka, Shizuoka 422-8529, Japan
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Kasei A, Watanabe H, Ishiduka N, Noda K, Murata M, Sakuta M. Comparative Analysis of the Extradiol Ring-Cleavage Dioxygenase LigB from Arabidopsis and 3,4-Dihydroxyphenylalanine Dioxygenase from Betalain-Producing Plants. PLANT & CELL PHYSIOLOGY 2021; 62:732-740. [PMID: 33638982 DOI: 10.1093/pcp/pcab031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2021] [Revised: 02/14/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Diverse arrays of naturally occurring compounds in plants are synthesized by specialized metabolic enzymes, many of which are distributed taxonomically. Although anthocyanin pigments are widely distributed and ubiquitous, betalains have replaced anthocyanins in most families in Caryophyllales. Anthocyanins and betalains never occur together in the same plant. The formation of betalamic acid, catalyzed by 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) 4,5-extradiol dioxygenase (DOD), is a key step in betalain biosynthesis. DODs in betalain-producing plants are coded by LigB genes, homologs of which have been identified in a wide range of higher plant orders, as well as in certain fungi and bacteria. Two classes of LigB homologs have been reported: those found in anthocyanin-producing species and those found in betalain-producing species, which contain DOD. To gain insight into the evolution of specialized metabolic enzymes involved in betalain biosynthesis, we performed a comparative biochemical analysis of Arabidopsis LigB, an extradiol ring-cleavage dioxygenase in anthocyanin-producing Arabidopsis and Phytolacca DOD1 of betalain-producing Phytolacca americana. We show that Arabidopsis LigB catalyzes 2,3-extradiol cleavage of DOPA to synthesize muscaflavin, whereas Phytolacca DOD1 converts DOPA to betalamic acid via 4,5-extradiol cleavage. Arabidopsis LigB also converts caffeic acid, a ubiquitous phenolic compound in higher plants, to iso-arabidopic acid in vitro via 2,3-extradiol cleavage of the aromatic ring. Amino-acid substitution in Arabidopsis LigB and Phytolacca DOD1 led to variable extradiol ring-cleavage function, supporting the suggestion that catalytic promiscuity serves as a starting point for the divergence of new enzymatic activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akane Kasei
- Department of Biological Sciences, Ochanomizu University, 2-1-1 Otsuka, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 112-8610 Japan
| | - Hanako Watanabe
- Department of Biological Sciences, Ochanomizu University, 2-1-1 Otsuka, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 112-8610 Japan
| | - Natsumi Ishiduka
- Department of Biological Sciences, Ochanomizu University, 2-1-1 Otsuka, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 112-8610 Japan
| | - Kyoko Noda
- Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Ochanomizu University, 2-1-1 Otsuka, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 112-8610 Japan
| | - Masatsune Murata
- Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Ochanomizu University, 2-1-1 Otsuka, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 112-8610 Japan
| | - Masaaki Sakuta
- Department of Biological Sciences, Ochanomizu University, 2-1-1 Otsuka, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 112-8610 Japan
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Hansen CC, Nelson DR, Møller BL, Werck-Reichhart D. Plant cytochrome P450 plasticity and evolution. MOLECULAR PLANT 2021; 14:1244-1265. [PMID: 34216829 DOI: 10.1016/j.molp.2021.06.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 107] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Revised: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
The superfamily of cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes plays key roles in plant evolution and metabolic diversification. This review provides a status on the CYP landscape within green algae and land plants. The 11 conserved CYP clans known from vascular plants are all present in green algae and several green algae-specific clans are recognized. Clan 71, 72, and 85 remain the largest CYP clans and include many taxa-specific CYP (sub)families reflecting emergence of linage-specific pathways. Molecular features and dynamics of CYP plasticity and evolution are discussed and exemplified by selected biosynthetic pathways. High substrate promiscuity is commonly observed for CYPs from large families, favoring retention of gene duplicates and neofunctionalization, thus seeding acquisition of new functions. Elucidation of biosynthetic pathways producing metabolites with sporadic distribution across plant phylogeny reveals multiple examples of convergent evolution where CYPs have been independently recruited from the same or different CYP families, to adapt to similar environmental challenges or ecological niches. Sometimes only a single or a few mutations are required for functional interconversion. A compilation of functionally characterized plant CYPs is provided online through the Plant P450 Database (erda.dk/public/vgrid/PlantP450/).
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilie Cetti Hansen
- Plant Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Plant and Environmental Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; VILLUM Research Center for Plant Plasticity, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - David R Nelson
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Biochemistry, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Birger Lindberg Møller
- Plant Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Plant and Environmental Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; VILLUM Research Center for Plant Plasticity, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Daniele Werck-Reichhart
- Institute of Plant Molecular Biology, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.
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Timoneda A, Yunusov T, Quan C, Gavrin A, Brockington SF, Schornack S. MycoRed: Betalain pigments enable in vivo real-time visualisation of arbuscular mycorrhizal colonisation. PLoS Biol 2021; 19:e3001326. [PMID: 34260583 PMCID: PMC8312983 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Revised: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) are mutualistic interactions formed between soil fungi and plant roots. AM symbiosis is a fundamental and widespread trait in plants with the potential to sustainably enhance future crop yields. However, improving AM fungal association in crop species requires a fundamental understanding of host colonisation dynamics across varying agronomic and ecological contexts. To this end, we demonstrate the use of betalain pigments as in vivo visual markers for the occurrence and distribution of AM fungal colonisation by Rhizophagus irregularis in Medicago truncatula and Nicotiana benthamiana roots. Using established and novel AM-responsive promoters, we assembled multigene reporter constructs that enable the AM-controlled expression of the core betalain synthesis genes. We show that betalain colouration is specifically induced in root tissues and cells where fungal colonisation has occurred. In a rhizotron setup, we also demonstrate that betalain staining allows for the noninvasive tracing of fungal colonisation along the root system over time. We present MycoRed, a useful innovative method that will expand and complement currently used fungal visualisation techniques to advance knowledge in the field of AM symbiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfonso Timoneda
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Temur Yunusov
- Sainsbury Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Clement Quan
- Sainsbury Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Aleksandr Gavrin
- Sainsbury Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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Nakagawa A, Nakamura S, Matsumura E, Yashima Y, Takao M, Aburatani S, Yaoi K, Katayama T, Minami H. Selection of the optimal tyrosine hydroxylation enzyme for (S)-reticuline production in Escherichia coli. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2021; 105:5433-5447. [PMID: 34181032 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-021-11401-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Revised: 05/31/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
We have constructed an Escherichia coli-based platform producing (S)-reticuline, an important intermediate of benzylisoquinoline alkaloids (BIAs), using up to 14 genes. (S)-reticuline was produced from a simple carbon source such as glucose and glycerol via L-DOPA, which is synthesized by hydroxylation of L-tyrosine, one of the rate-limiting steps of the reaction. There are three kinds of enzymes catalyzing tyrosine hydroxylation: tyrosinase (TYR), tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), and 4-hydroxyphenylacetate 3-monooxygenase (HpaBC). Here, to further improve (S)-reticuline production, we chose eight from these three kinds of tyrosine hydroxylation enzymes (two TYRs, four THs, and two HpaBCs) derived from various organisms, and examined which enzyme was optimal for (S)-reticuline production in E. coli. TH from Drosophila melanogaster was the most suitable for (S)-reticuline production under the experimental conditions tested. We improved the productivity by genome integration of a gene set for L-tyrosine overproduction, introducing the regeneration pathway of BH4, a cofactor of TH, and methionine addition to enhance the S-adenosylmethionine supply. As a result, the yield of (S)-reticuline reached up to 384 μM from glucose in laboratory-scale shake flask. Furthermore, we found three inconsistent phenomena: an inhibitory effect due to additional gene expression, conflicts among the experimental conditions, and interference of an upstream enzyme from an additional downstream enzyme. Based on these results, we discuss future perspectives and challenges of integrating multiple enzyme genes for material production using microbes. Graphical abstract The optimal tyrosine hydroxylation enzyme for (S)-reticuline production in Escherichia coli KEY POINTS: • There are three types of enzymes catalyzing tyrosine hydroxylation reaction: tyrosinase, tyrosine hydroxylase, and 4-hydroxyphenylacetate 3-monooxygenase. • Tyrosine hydroxylase from Drosophila melanogaster exhibited the highest activity and was suitable for (S)-reticuline production in E. coli. • New insights were provided on constructing an alkaloid production system with multi-step reactions in E. coli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akira Nakagawa
- Research Institute for Bioresources and Biotechnology, Ishikawa Prefectural University, 1-308 Suematsu, Nonoichi-shi, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Shinya Nakamura
- TechnoPro, Inc., Roppongi Hills Mori Tower 35th floor, 6-10-1 Roppongi, Minatoku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Eitaro Matsumura
- Research Institute for Bioresources and Biotechnology, Ishikawa Prefectural University, 1-308 Suematsu, Nonoichi-shi, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Yurino Yashima
- Research Institute for Bioresources and Biotechnology, Ishikawa Prefectural University, 1-308 Suematsu, Nonoichi-shi, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Mizuki Takao
- Research Institute for Bioresources and Biotechnology, Ishikawa Prefectural University, 1-308 Suematsu, Nonoichi-shi, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Sachiyo Aburatani
- Biotechnology Research Institute for Drug Discovery, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Katsuro Yaoi
- Biotechnology Research Institute for Drug Discovery, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takane Katayama
- Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan
| | - Hiromichi Minami
- Research Institute for Bioresources and Biotechnology, Ishikawa Prefectural University, 1-308 Suematsu, Nonoichi-shi, Ishikawa, Japan.
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Kusznierewicz B, Mróz M, Koss-Mikołajczyk I, Namieśnik J. Comparative evaluation of different methods for determining phytochemicals and antioxidant activity in products containing betalains - Verification of beetroot samples. Food Chem 2021; 362:130132. [PMID: 34082297 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2021.130132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2020] [Revised: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
This study presents methods that can be used to assess the health quality of products containing betalains. The paper compares and verifies data on the phytochemical composition of three different pigmented beetroot cultivars using spectrophotometric, HPLC-DAD, HPTLC and LC-Q-Orbitrap-HRMS techniques. Additionally, we compared the total antioxidant activity in both the cell-free and cellular systems. Betalain contribution to antioxidant activity was also determined using post-column derivatization and it was found that in the case of red beetroot it is about 50%. Photometric measurements are recommended for a simple and inexpensive analysis of the total betacyanin and betaxanthin content. Liquid chromatography techniques produced more precise information on phytochemical composition in the tested samples. The combination of liquid chromatography with high-resolution mass spectrometry produced the largest amount of quantitative and qualitative data; in beetroot samples sixty-four phytochemicals have been identified therefore, this approach is recommended for more detailed metabolomics studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Kusznierewicz
- Department of Food Chemistry, Technology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemistry, Gdańsk University of Technology, Narutowicza 11/12 St., 80-233 Gdańsk, Poland; BioTechMed Center, Gdańsk University of Technology, Narutowicza 11/12 St., 80-233 Gdańsk, Poland.
| | - Marika Mróz
- Department of Food Chemistry, Technology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemistry, Gdańsk University of Technology, Narutowicza 11/12 St., 80-233 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Izabela Koss-Mikołajczyk
- Department of Food Chemistry, Technology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemistry, Gdańsk University of Technology, Narutowicza 11/12 St., 80-233 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Jacek Namieśnik
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Gdańsk University of Technology, Narutowicza 11/12 St., 80-233 Gdańsk, Poland
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Torrens-Spence MP, Glinkerman CM, Günther J, Weng JK. Imine chemistry in plant metabolism. CURRENT OPINION IN PLANT BIOLOGY 2021; 60:101999. [PMID: 33450608 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbi.2020.101999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2020] [Revised: 12/25/2020] [Accepted: 12/28/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Imine chemistry represents an important category of chemical reactions involved in the biosynthesis of plant natural products, ranging from the newly discovered mobile defense hormone N-hydroxy-pipecolic acid to the red-to-yellow tyrosine-derived betalain pigments. Spontaneous imine formation reactions have also served as the basis for the evolution of numerous plant metabolic enzymes, such as specialized Pictet-Spenglerases that produce the backbone structures of benzylisoquinoline and monoterpene indole alkaloids and pyridoxal 5'-phosphate-dependent enzymes of diverse functions. Here, we review occurrences of imine chemistry in plant metabolism and their chemical and biochemical mechanisms. A better understanding of plant imine chemistry will ultimately facilitate synthetic biology approaches to further expand the scope of imine natural product biosynthesis for broad biotechnological applications.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jan Günther
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871 Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Jing-Ke Weng
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, 455 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
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Elucidation of the core betalain biosynthesis pathway in Amaranthus tricolor. Sci Rep 2021; 11:6086. [PMID: 33731735 PMCID: PMC7969944 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-85486-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2020] [Accepted: 03/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Amaranthus tricolor L., a vegetable Amaranthus species, is an economically important crop containing large amounts of betalains. Betalains are natural antioxidants and can be classified into betacyanins and betaxanthins, with red and yellow colors, respectively. A. tricolor cultivars with varying betalain contents, leading to striking red to green coloration, have been commercially produced. However, the molecular differences underlying betalain biosynthesis in various cultivars of A. tricolor remain largely unknown. In this study, A. tricolor cultivars with different colors were chosen for comparative transcriptome analysis. The elevated expression of AmCYP76AD1 in a red-leaf cultivar of A. tricolor was proposed to play a key role in producing red betalain pigments. The functions of AmCYP76AD1, AmDODAα1, AmDODAα2, and AmcDOPA5GT were also characterized through the heterologous engineering of betalain pigments in Nicotiana benthamiana. Moreover, high and low L-DOPA 4,5-dioxygenase activities of AmDODAα1 and AmDODAα2, respectively, were confirmed through in vitro enzymatic assays. Thus, comparative transcriptome analysis combined with functional and enzymatic studies allowed the construction of a core betalain biosynthesis pathway of A. tricolor. These results not only provide novel insights into betalain biosynthesis and evolution in A. tricolor but also provide a basal framework for examining genes related to betalain biosynthesis among different species of Amaranthaceae.
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Zhang L, Chen C, Xie F, Hua Q, Zhang Z, Zhang R, Chen J, Zhao J, Hu G, Qin Y. A Novel WRKY Transcription Factor HmoWRKY40 Associated with Betalain Biosynthesis in Pitaya ( Hylocereus monacanthus) through Regulating HmoCYP76AD1. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22042171. [PMID: 33671670 PMCID: PMC7926660 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22042171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2020] [Revised: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Betalains are water-soluble nitrogen-containing pigments with multiple bioactivities. Pitaya is the only large-scale commercially grown fruit containing abundant betalains for consumers. However, the upstream regulators in betalain biosynthesis are still not clear. In this study, HmoWRKY40, a novel WRKY transcription factor, was obtained from the transcriptome data of pitaya (Hylocereus monacanthus). HmoWRKY40 is a member of the Group IIa WRKY family, containing a conserved WRKY motif, and it is located in the nucleus. The betalain contents and expression levels of HmoWRKY40 increased rapidly during the coloration of pitaya and reached their maximums on the 23rd day after artificial pollination (DAAP). Yeast one-hybrid and transient expression assays showed that HmoWRKY40 could bind and activate the promoter of HmoCYP76AD1. Silencing the HmoWRKY40 gene resulted in a significant reduction of betacyanin contents. These results indicate that HmoWRKY40 transcriptionally activates HmoCYP76AD, which is involved in the regulation of pitaya betalain biosynthesis. The results of the present study provide new regulatory networks related to betalain biosynthesis in pitaya.
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47
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Grützner R, Schubert R, Horn C, Yang C, Vogt T, Marillonnet S. Engineering Betalain Biosynthesis in Tomato for High Level Betanin Production in Fruits. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:682443. [PMID: 34177999 PMCID: PMC8220147 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.682443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Betalains are pigments found in plants of the Caryophyllales order, and include the red-purple betacyanins and the yellow-orange betaxanthins. The red pigment from red beets, betanin, is made from tyrosine by a biosynthetic pathway that consists of a cytochrome P450, a L-DOPA dioxygenase, and a glucosyltransferase. The entire pathway was recently reconstituted in plants that do not make betalains naturally including potato and tomato plants. The amount of betanin produced in these plants was however not as high as in red beets. It was recently shown that a plastidic arogenate dehydrogenase gene involved in biosynthesis of tyrosine in plants is duplicated in Beta vulgaris and other betalain-producing plants, and that one of the two encoded enzymes, BvADHα, has relaxed feedback inhibition by tyrosine, contributing to the high amount of betanin found in red beets. We have reconstituted the complete betanin biosynthetic pathway in tomato plants with or without a BvADHα gene, and with all genes expressed under control of a fruit-specific promoter. The plants obtained with a construct containing BvADHα produced betanin at a higher level than plants obtained with a construct lacking this gene. These results show that use of BvADHα can be useful for high level production of betalains in heterologous hosts. Unlike red beets that produce both betacyanins and betaxanthins, the transformed tomatoes produced betacyanins only, conferring a bright purple-fuschia color to the tomato juice.
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48
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Breitel D, Brett P, Alseekh S, Fernie AR, Butelli E, Martin C. Metabolic engineering of tomato fruit enriched in L-DOPA. Metab Eng 2020; 65:185-196. [PMID: 33242649 PMCID: PMC8054910 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymben.2020.11.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2020] [Revised: 11/18/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
L-DOPA, also known as Levodopa or L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine, is a non-standard amino acid, and the gold standard drug for the treatment for Parkinson's Disease (PD). Recently, a gene encoding the enzyme that is responsible for its synthesis, as a precursor of the coloured pigment group betalains, was identified in beetroot, BvCYP76AD6. We have engineered tomato fruit enriched in L-DOPA through overexpression of BvCYP76AD6 in a fruit specific manner. Analysis of the transgenic fruit revealed the feasibility of accumulating L-DOPA in a non-naturally betalain-producing plant. Fruit accumulating L-DOPA also showed major effects on the fruit metabolome. Some of these changes included elevation of amino acids levels, changes in the levels of intermediates of the TCA and glycolysis pathways and reductions in the levels of phenolic compounds and nitrogen-containing specialised metabolites. Furthermore, we were able to increase the L-DOPA levels further by elevating the expression of the metabolic master regulator, MYB12, specifically in tomato fruit, together with BvCYP76AD6. Our study elucidated new roles for L-DOPA in plants, because it impacted fruit quality parameters including antioxidant capacity and firmness. The L-DOPA levels achieved in tomato fruit were comparable to the levels in other non-seed organs of L-DOPA - accumulating plants, offering an opportunity to develop new biological sources of L-DOPA by widening the repertoire of L-DOPA-accumulating plants. These tomato fruit could be used as an alternative source of this important pharmaceutical. Tomato fruit were engineered to synthesise and accumulate L-DOPA. Co-expression of the transcription factor, MYB12, doubled the levels of L-DOPA in tomato fruit. The accumulation of L-DOPA resulted in additional changes in the profile of primary and secondary metabolites in tomatoes. The L-DOPA tomato fruit exhibited improved shelf life and reduced susceptibility to Botrytis cinerea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dario Breitel
- Department of Metabolic Biology and Biological Chemistry, The John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK; Tropic Biosciences, Innovation Centre, Norwich Research Park, NR4 7GJ, UK
| | - Paul Brett
- Department of Metabolic Biology and Biological Chemistry, The John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Saleh Alseekh
- Max-Planck-Institut Fur Molekulare Pflanzenphysiologie, Am Muhlenberg 1, 14476, Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| | - Alisdair R Fernie
- Max-Planck-Institut Fur Molekulare Pflanzenphysiologie, Am Muhlenberg 1, 14476, Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| | - Eugenio Butelli
- Department of Metabolic Biology and Biological Chemistry, The John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Cathie Martin
- Department of Metabolic Biology and Biological Chemistry, The John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK.
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Zhou Z, Gao H, Ming J, Ding Z, Lin X, Zhan R. Combined Transcriptome and Metabolome analysis of Pitaya fruit unveiled the mechanisms underlying Peel and pulp color formation. BMC Genomics 2020; 21:734. [PMID: 33092530 PMCID: PMC7579827 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-020-07133-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2020] [Accepted: 10/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Elucidating the candidate genes and key metabolites responsible for pulp and peel coloration is essential for breeding pitaya fruit with new and improved appeal and high nutritional value. Here, we used transcriptome (RNA-Seq) and metabolome analysis (UPLC-MS/MS) to identify structural and regulatory genes and key metabolites associated with peel and pulp colors in three pitaya fruit types belonging to two different Hylocereus species. RESULT Our combined transcriptome and metabolome analyses suggest that the main strategy for obtaining red color is to increase tyrosine content for downstream steps in the betalain pathway. The upregulation of CYP76ADs is proposed as the color-breaking step leading to red or colorless pulp under the regulation by WRKY44 transcription factor. Supported by the differential accumulation of anthocyanin metabolites in red pulped pitaya fruit, our results showed the regulation of anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway in addition to betalain biosynthesis. However, no color-breaking step for the development of anthocyanins in red pulp was observed and no biosynthesis of anthocyanins in white pulp was found. Together, we propose that red pitaya pulp color is under the strict regulation of CYP76ADs by WRKYs and the anthocyanin coexistence with betalains is unneglectable. We ruled out the possibility of yellow peel color formation due to anthocyanins because of no differential regulation of chalcone synthase genes between yellow and green and no detection of naringenin chalcone in the metabolome. Similarly, the no differential regulation of key genes in the carotenoid pathway controlling yellow pigments proposed that the carotenoid pathway is not involved in yellow peel color formation. CONCLUSIONS Together, our results propose several candidate genes and metabolites controlling a single horticultural attribute i.e. color formation for further functional characterization. This study presents useful genomic resources and information for breeding pitaya fruit with commercially attractive peel and pulp colors. These findings will greatly complement the existing knowledge on the biosynthesis of natural pigments for their applications in food and health industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaoxi Zhou
- Haikou Experimental Station, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences (CATAS), Haikou, China
| | - Hongmao Gao
- Haikou Experimental Station, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences (CATAS), Haikou, China
| | - Jianhong Ming
- Haikou Experimental Station, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences (CATAS), Haikou, China
| | - Zheli Ding
- Haikou Experimental Station, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences (CATAS), Haikou, China
| | - Xing'e Lin
- Haikou Experimental Station, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences (CATAS), Haikou, China.
| | - Rulin Zhan
- Haikou Experimental Station, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences (CATAS), Haikou, China.
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50
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Saranya G, Jiby MV, Jayakumar KS, Padmesh Pillai P, Jayabaskaran C. L-DOPA synthesis in Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC. is regulated by polyphenol oxidase and not CYP 450/tyrosine hydroxylase: An analysis of metabolic pathway using biochemical and molecular markers. PHYTOCHEMISTRY 2020; 178:112467. [PMID: 32771675 DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2020.112467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2019] [Revised: 07/16/2020] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Mucuna pruriens L., commonly known as velvetbean or cow-itch, is a self-pollinated tropical legume of the family Fabaceae, known for its medicinal properties. The active principle L-DOPA extracted from the plant is a potent drug used in the treatment of Parkinson's disease. Although, it is hypothesized that a single step reaction can produce L-DOPA, the presence of optional routes makes the pathway more intricate. For instance, the catecholamine biosynthetic pathway, which leads to L-DOPA production, could occur by hydroxylation of tyrosine to L-DOPA either by polyphenol oxidase (PPO) or tyrosine hydroxylase (TH). Furthermore, Cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes can also cause hydroxylation of tyrosine, resulting in L-DOPA synthesis. Therefore, the present investigation was focused on validating the step, which catalyzes the synthesis of L-DOPA, at the biochemical and molecular levels. Enzyme inhibitor studies showed significant inhibition of PPO enzyme with corresponding decrease in L-DOPA synthesis while TH and CYP inhibition had no effect on L-DOPA synthesis. Activity staining of non-denaturing PAGE gel for PPO and TH showed activity only to PPO enzyme. Following in-gel assay and tryptic digestion of the excised stained gel portion, peptide recovery and LC-MS/MS analysis were performed. Degenerate primers based on peptide sequence resulted in an 800bp amplicon. The subsequent sub-cloning, RACE analysis and BLAST search resulted in the isolation of full-length PPO coding sequence of 1800 bp. Structure prediction and phylogenetic analysis of the obtained sequence revealed strong similarity to other plant PPO's like Glycine max, Vigna radiata and Vicia faba of the same family.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Saranya
- Department of Genomic Science, Central University of Kerala, Kasaragod, Kerala, India; Department of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, India
| | - M V Jiby
- Department of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, India
| | - K S Jayakumar
- Biotechnology and Bioinformatics Division, Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
| | - P Padmesh Pillai
- Department of Genomic Science, Central University of Kerala, Kasaragod, Kerala, India.
| | - C Jayabaskaran
- Department of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, India
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