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Frey M, Bathe U, Meink L, Balcke GU, Schmidt J, Frolov A, Soboleva A, Hassanin A, Davari MD, Frank O, Schlagbauer V, Dawid C, Tissier A. Combinatorial biosynthesis in yeast leads to over 200 diterpenoids. Metab Eng 2024; 82:193-200. [PMID: 38387676 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymben.2024.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
Diterpenoids form a diverse group of natural products, many of which are or could become pharmaceuticals or industrial chemicals. The modular character of diterpene biosynthesis and the promiscuity of the enzymes involved make combinatorial biosynthesis a promising approach to generate libraries of diverse diterpenoids. Here, we report on the combinatorial assembly in yeast of ten diterpene synthases producing (+)-copalyl diphosphate-derived backbones and four cytochrome P450 oxygenases (CYPs) in diverse combinations. This resulted in the production of over 200 diterpenoids. Based on literature and chemical database searches, 162 of these compounds can be considered new-to-Nature. The CYPs accepted most substrates they were given but remained regioselective with few exceptions. Our results provide the basis for the systematic exploration of the diterpenoid chemical space in yeast using sequence databases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maximilian Frey
- Department of Cell and Metabolic Biology, Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Weinberg 3, 06120, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Ulschan Bathe
- Department of Cell and Metabolic Biology, Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Weinberg 3, 06120, Halle (Saale), Germany; Department of Horticultural Sciences, University of Florida, 2550 Hull Road, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Luca Meink
- Department of Cell and Metabolic Biology, Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Weinberg 3, 06120, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Gerd U Balcke
- Department of Cell and Metabolic Biology, Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Weinberg 3, 06120, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Jürgen Schmidt
- Department of Bioorganic Chemistry Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Weinberg 3, 06120, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Andrej Frolov
- Department of Bioorganic Chemistry Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Weinberg 3, 06120, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Alena Soboleva
- Department of Bioorganic Chemistry Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Weinberg 3, 06120, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Ahmed Hassanin
- Department of Bioorganic Chemistry Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Weinberg 3, 06120, Halle (Saale), Germany; Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Assiut University, Assiut 71526, Egypt
| | - Mehdi D Davari
- Department of Bioorganic Chemistry Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Weinberg 3, 06120, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Oliver Frank
- Food Chemistry and Molecular Sensory Science, Technical University of Munich, Lise-Meitner-Straße 34, 85354 Freising, Germany
| | - Verena Schlagbauer
- Food Chemistry and Molecular Sensory Science, Technical University of Munich, Lise-Meitner-Straße 34, 85354 Freising, Germany
| | - Corinna Dawid
- Food Chemistry and Molecular Sensory Science, Technical University of Munich, Lise-Meitner-Straße 34, 85354 Freising, Germany
| | - Alain Tissier
- Department of Cell and Metabolic Biology, Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Weinberg 3, 06120, Halle (Saale), Germany; Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Institute of Pharmacy, Kurt-Mothes-Strasse 3, 06120 Halle, Germany.
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Zhao Y, Liang Y, Luo G, Li Y, Han X, Wen M. Sequence-Structure Analysis Unlocking the Potential Functional Application of the Local 3D Motifs of Plant-Derived Diterpene Synthases. Biomolecules 2024; 14:120. [PMID: 38254720 PMCID: PMC10813164 DOI: 10.3390/biom14010120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 12/31/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Plant-derived diterpene synthases (PdiTPSs) play a critical role in the formation of structurally and functionally diverse diterpenoids. However, the specificity or functional-related features of PdiTPSs are not well understood. For a more profound insight, we collected, constructed, and curated 199 functionally characterized PdiTPSs and their corresponding 3D structures. The complex correlations among their sequences, domains, structures, and corresponding products were comprehensively analyzed. Ultimately, our focus narrowed to the geometric arrangement of local structures. We found that local structural alignment can rapidly localize product-specific residues that have been validated by mutagenesis experiments. Based on the 3D motifs derived from the residues around the substrate, we successfully searched diterpene synthases (diTPSs) from the predicted terpene synthases and newly characterized PdiTPSs, suggesting that the identified 3D motifs can serve as distinctive signatures in diTPSs (I and II class). Local structural analysis revealed the PdiTPSs with more conserved amino acid residues show features unique to class I and class II, whereas those with fewer conserved amino acid residues typically exhibit product diversity and specificity. These results provide an attractive method for discovering novel or functionally equivalent enzymes and probing the product specificity in cases where enzyme characterization is limited.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yalan Zhao
- National Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China; (Y.Z.); (Y.L.); (G.L.); (X.H.)
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Diversity in Southwest China, Ministry of Education, Yunnan Institute of Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China
| | - Yupeng Liang
- National Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China; (Y.Z.); (Y.L.); (G.L.); (X.H.)
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Diversity in Southwest China, Ministry of Education, Yunnan Institute of Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China
| | - Gan Luo
- National Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China; (Y.Z.); (Y.L.); (G.L.); (X.H.)
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Diversity in Southwest China, Ministry of Education, Yunnan Institute of Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China
| | - Yi Li
- College of Mathematics and Computer Science, Dali University, Dali 671003, China
| | - Xiulin Han
- National Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China; (Y.Z.); (Y.L.); (G.L.); (X.H.)
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Diversity in Southwest China, Ministry of Education, Yunnan Institute of Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China
| | - Mengliang Wen
- National Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China; (Y.Z.); (Y.L.); (G.L.); (X.H.)
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Diversity in Southwest China, Ministry of Education, Yunnan Institute of Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China
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Sun Y, Shao J, Liu H, Wang H, Wang G, Li J, Mao Y, Chen Z, Ma K, Xu L, Wang Y. A chromosome-level genome assembly reveals that tandem-duplicated CYP706V oxidase genes control oridonin biosynthesis in the shoot apex of Isodon rubescens. MOLECULAR PLANT 2023; 16:517-532. [PMID: 36518072 DOI: 10.1016/j.molp.2022.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Revised: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The ent-kaurenoids (e.g., oridonin and enmein) from the Isodon genus (Lamiaceae) are one class of diterpenoids with rich structural diversity and intriguing pharmaceutical activity. In contrast to the well-established gibberellin pathway, oxidative modifications diversifying the ent-kaurene skeleton in Isodon have remained undetermined for half a century. Here we report a chromosome-level genome assembly of I. rubescens, a well-recognized oridonin producer long favored by Asian people as a traditional herb with antitumor effects. The shoot apex was confirmed to be the actual region actively producing ent-kaurene diterpenoids. Through comparative genomics and phylogenetic analyses, we discovered a cluster of tandem-duplicated CYP706V oxygenase-encoding genes located on an ancient genomic block widely distributed in eudicots, whereas almost exclusively emerged in Isodon plants. In the shoot apex, IrCYP706V2 and IrCYP706V7 oxidized the ent-kaurene core in the initial stage of oridonin biosynthesis. Loss of CYP706Vs in other Lamiaceae plants offered an explanation for the specific kaurenoid production in Isodon plants. Moreover, we found that the Isodon genomes encode multiple diterpenoid synthases that are potentially involved in generating diterpenoid diversity. These findings provided new insights into the evolution of the lineage-specific diterpenoid pathway and laid a foundation for improving production of bioactive ent-kaurene-type diterpenoids by molecular breeding and synthetic biology approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuwei Sun
- CAS-Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Jie Shao
- CAS-Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100039, China
| | - Haili Liu
- CAS-Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Hua Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Guangyi Wang
- CAS-Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100039, China
| | - Jianhua Li
- CAS-Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Yaping Mao
- CAS-Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100039, China
| | - Zhuo Chen
- CAS-Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100039, China
| | - Ke Ma
- CAS-Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100039, China
| | - Lin Xu
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Yong Wang
- CAS-Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China.
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Lee JB, Ohmura T, Yamamura Y. Functional Characterization of Three Diterpene Synthases Responsible for Tetracyclic Diterpene Biosynthesis in Scoparia dulcis. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 12:69. [PMID: 36616198 PMCID: PMC9824296 DOI: 10.3390/plants12010069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Scoparia dulcis produces unique biologically active diterpenoids such as scopadulcic acid B (SDB). They are biosynthesized from geranylgeranyl diphosphate (GGPP) via syn-copalyl diphosphate (syn-CPP) and scopadulanol as an important key intermediate. In this paper, we functionally characterized three diterpene synthases, SdCPS2, SdKSL1 and SdKSL2, from S. dulcis. The SdCPS2 catalyzed a cyclization reaction from GGPP to syn-CPP, and SdKSL1 did from syn-CPP to scopadulan-13α-ol. On the other hand, SdKSL2 was found to incorporate a non-sense mutation at 682. Therefore, we mutated the nucleotide residue from A to G in SdKSL2 to produce SdKSL2mut, and it was able to recover the catalytic function from syn-CPP to syn-aphidicol-16-ene, the precursor to scopadulin. From our results, SdCPS2 and SdKSL1 might be important key players for SDB biosynthesis in S. dulcis.
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5
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Design, Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Lophanic Acid Derivatives as Antifungal and Antibacterial Agents. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27206836. [PMID: 36296430 PMCID: PMC9611534 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27206836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Revised: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
In order to discover more promising antifungal and antibacterial agents, a series of new derivatives were designed and synthesized by structure modification based on the naturally occurring antimicrobial compound lophanic acid. The structures of all the target compounds were well characterized by spectroscopic data. The stereochemistry of these compounds was further determined through the X-ray diffraction analysis of 6a. The synthetic compounds were evaluated for their antimicrobial activities against filamentous fungi (T. rubrum, T. mentagrophytes), yeasts (C. neoformans, C. albicans) and Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria (MRSA, S. mutans, S. sobrinus, and E. coli). Among them, 3d and 3i are found as the most promising leads that showed potent inhibitory effects against all the tested fungal and bacterial strains except for E. coli. The presence of the C-20 carboxylic ester groups and the free hydroxy group at C-13 was found to be essential for the antifungal and antibacterial activities of the lophanic acid derivatives.
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Wang J, Mao Y, Ma Y, Yang J, Jin B, Lin H, Tang J, Zeng W, Zhao Y, Gao W, Peters RJ, Guo J, Cui G, Huang L. Diterpene synthases from Leonurus japonicus elucidate epoxy-bridge formation of spiro-labdane diterpenoids. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 189:99-111. [PMID: 35157086 PMCID: PMC9070827 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiac056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Spiro-9,13-epoxy-labdane diterpenoids are commonly found in Leonurus species, particularly in Leonurus japonicus Houtt., which is a medicinal herb of long-standing use in Asia and in which such spiro-heterocycles are present in at least 38 diterpenoids. Here, through generation of a transcriptome and functional characterization of six diterpene synthases (diTPSs) from L. japonicus, including three class II diTPSs (LjTPS1, LjTPS3, and LjTPS4) and three class I diTPSs (LjTPS5, LjTPS6, and LjTPS7), formation of the spiro-9,13-epoxy-labdane backbone was elucidated, along with identification of the relevant diTPSs for production of other labdane-related diterpenes. Similar to what has been found with diTPSs from other plant species, while LjTPS3 specifically produces the carbon-9 (C9) hydroxylated bicycle peregrinol diphosphate (PPP), the subsequently acting LjTPS6 yields a mixture of four products, largely labda-13(16),14-dien-9-ol, but with substantial amounts of viteagnusin D and the C13-S/R epimers of 9,13-epoxy-labda-14-ene. Notably, structure-function analysis identified a critical residue in LjTPS6 (I420) in which single site mutations enable specific production of the 13S epimer. Indeed, extensive mutagenesis demonstrated that LjTPS6:I420G reacts with PPP to both specifically and efficiently produce 9,13S-epoxy-labda-14-ene, providing a specialized synthase for further investigation of derived diterpenoid biosynthesis. The results reported here provide a strong foundation for future studies of the intriguing spiro-9,13-epoxy-labdane diterpenoid metabolism found in L. japonicus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Yaping Mao
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Ying Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Jian Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Baolong Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Huixin Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Jinfu Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Wen Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Yujun Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Wei Gao
- Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 10038, China
| | - Reuben J Peters
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA
| | - Juan Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Guanghong Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Luqi Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
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Wang Z, Peters RJ. Tanshinones: Leading the way into Lamiaceae labdane-related diterpenoid biosynthesis. CURRENT OPINION IN PLANT BIOLOGY 2022; 66:102189. [PMID: 35196638 PMCID: PMC8940693 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbi.2022.102189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Revised: 01/06/2022] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Tanshinones are the bioactive diterpenoid constituents of the traditional Chinese medicinal herb Danshen (Salvia miltiorrhiza), and are examples of the phenolic abietanes widely found within the Lamiaceae plant family. Due to the significant interest in these labdane-related diterpenoid natural products, their biosynthesis has been intensively investigated. In addition to providing the basis for metabolic engineering efforts, this work further yielded pioneering insights into labdane-related diterpenoid biosynthesis in the Lamiaceae more broadly. This includes stereochemical foreshadowing of aromatization, with novel protein domain loss in the relevant diterpene synthase, as well as broader phylogenetic conservation of the relevant enzymes. Beyond such summary of more widespread metabolism, formation of the furan ring that characterizes the tanshinones also has been recently elucidated. Nevertheless, the biocatalysts for the pair of demethylations remain unknown, and the intriguing potential connection of these reactions to the further aromatization observed in the tanshinones are speculated upon here.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhibiao Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China; Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Reuben J Peters
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA.
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Yang R, Du Z, Qiu T, Sun J, Shen Y, Huang L. Discovery and Functional Characterization of a Diverse Diterpene Synthase Family in the Medicinal Herb Isodon lophanthoides Var. gerardiana. PLANT & CELL PHYSIOLOGY 2021; 62:1423-1435. [PMID: 34133748 DOI: 10.1093/pcp/pcab089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2021] [Revised: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Isodon lophanthoides var. gerardiana (Lamiaceae), also named xihuangcao, is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb that exhibits a broad range of pharmacological activities. Abietane-type diterpenoids are the characteristic constituents of I. lophanthoides, yet their biosynthesis has not been elucidated. Although the aerial parts are the most commonly used organs of I. lophanthoides, metabolite profiling by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry showed the underground parts also contain large amounts of labdane diterpenoids including abietatriene, miltiradiene and ferruginol, which are distinct from the 13-hydroxy-8(14)-abietene detected in the aerial parts. Comparative transcriptome analysis of root and leaf samples identified a diverse diterpene synthase family including 6 copalyl diphosphate synthase (IlCPS1-6) and 5 kaurene synthase-like (IlKSL1-5). Here we report the functional characterization of six of these enzymes using yeast heterologous expression system. Both IlCPS1 and IlCPS3 synthesized (+)-copalyl diphosphate (CPP), in combination with IlKSL1 resulted in miltiradiene, precursor of abietane-type diterpenoids, while coupling with IlKSL5 led to the formation of hydroxylated diterpene scaffold nezukol. Expression profiling and phylogenetic analysis further support the distinct evolutionary relationship and spatial distribution of IlCPS1 and IlCPS3. IlCPS2 converted GGPP into labda-7,13E-dien-15-ol diphosphate. IlCPS6 was identified as ent-CPS, indicating a role in gibberellin metabolism. We further identified a single residue that determined the water addition of nezukol synthase IlKSL5. Substitution of alanine 513 with isoleucine completely altered the product outcome from hydroxylated nezukol to isopimara-7,15-diene. Together, these findings elucidated the early steps of bioactive abietane-type diterpenoid biosynthesis in I. lophanthoides and the catalytic mechanism of nezukol synthase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruikang Yang
- Lingnan Medical Research Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, 12 Jichang Rd, Guangzhou 510405, China
| | - Zuying Du
- Lingnan Medical Research Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, 12 Jichang Rd, Guangzhou 510405, China
- The First Clinical Medical School, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510405, China
| | - Ting Qiu
- Lingnan Medical Research Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, 12 Jichang Rd, Guangzhou 510405, China
- The First Clinical Medical School, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510405, China
| | - Jie Sun
- Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Synthesis of Zhejiang Province, College of biotechnology and bioengineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, 18 Chaowang Rd Hangzhou 310014, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yanting Shen
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Physiology and Ecology, School of Pharmaceutical Science, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, 232 Waihuan Rd, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Lili Huang
- Lingnan Medical Research Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, 12 Jichang Rd, Guangzhou 510405, China
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Physiology and Ecology, School of Pharmaceutical Science, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, 232 Waihuan Rd, Guangzhou 510006, China
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9
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Hu Z, Liu X, Tian M, Ma Y, Jin B, Gao W, Cui G, Guo J, Huang L. Recent progress and new perspectives for diterpenoid biosynthesis in medicinal plants. Med Res Rev 2021; 41:2971-2997. [PMID: 33938025 DOI: 10.1002/med.21816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Revised: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Diterpenoids, including more than 18,000 compounds, represent an important class of metabolites that encompass both phytohormones and some industrially relevant compounds. These molecules with complex, diverse structures and physiological activities, have high value in the pharmaceutical industry. Most medicinal diterpenoids are extracted from plants. Major advances in understanding the biosynthetic pathways of these active compounds are providing unprecedented opportunities for the industrial production of diterpenoids by metabolic engineering and synthetic biology. Here, we summarize recent developments in the field of diterpenoid biosynthesis from medicinal herbs. An overview of the pathways and known biosynthetic enzymes is presented. In particular, we look at the main findings from the past decade and review recent progress in the biosynthesis of different groups of ringed compounds. We also discuss diterpenoid production using synthetic biology and metabolic engineering strategies, and draw on new technologies and discoveries to bring together many components into a useful framework for diterpenoid production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhimin Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiuyu Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.,School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China
| | - Mei Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Ying Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Baolong Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Gao
- School of Pharmaceutical, Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Guanghong Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Juan Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Luqi Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
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10
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Mitu SA, Ogbourne SM, Klein AH, Tran TD, Reddell PW, Cummins SF. The P450 multigene family of Fontainea and insights into diterpenoid synthesis. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2021; 21:191. [PMID: 33879061 PMCID: PMC8058993 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-021-02958-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cytochrome P450s (P450s) are enzymes that play critical roles in the biosynthesis of physiologically important compounds across all organisms. Although they have been characterised in a large number of plant species, no information relating to these enzymes are available from the genus Fontainea (family Euphorbiaceae). Fontainea is significant as the genus includes species that produce medicinally significant epoxy-tigliane natural products, one of which has been approved as an anti-cancer therapeutic. RESULTS A comparative species leaf metabolome analysis showed that Fontainea species possess a chemical profile different from various other plant species. The diversity and expression profiles of Fontainea P450s were investigated from leaf and root tissue. A total of 103 and 123 full-length P450 genes in Fontainea picrosperma and Fontainea venosa, respectively (and a further 127/125 partial-length) that were phylogenetically classified into clans, families and subfamilies. The majority of P450 identified are most active within root tissue (66.2% F. picrosperma, 65.0% F. venosa). Representatives within the CYP71D and CYP726A were identified in Fontainea that are excellent candidates for diterpenoid synthesis, of which CYP726A1, CYP726A2 and CYP71D1 appear to be exclusive to Fontainea species and were significantly more highly expressed in root tissue compared to leaf tissue. CONCLUSION This study presents a comprehensive overview of the P450 gene family in Fontainea that may provide important insights into the biosynthesis of the medicinally significant epoxy-tigliane diterpenes found within the genus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shahida A. Mitu
- GeneCology Research Centre, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore DC, Queensland 4558 Australia
- School of Science, Technology and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore DC, Queensland 4558 Australia
| | - Steven M. Ogbourne
- GeneCology Research Centre, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore DC, Queensland 4558 Australia
- School of Science, Technology and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore DC, Queensland 4558 Australia
| | - Anne H. Klein
- GeneCology Research Centre, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore DC, Queensland 4558 Australia
- School of Science, Technology and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore DC, Queensland 4558 Australia
| | - Trong D. Tran
- GeneCology Research Centre, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore DC, Queensland 4558 Australia
| | | | - Scott F. Cummins
- GeneCology Research Centre, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore DC, Queensland 4558 Australia
- School of Science, Technology and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore DC, Queensland 4558 Australia
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11
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Hu T, Zhou J, Tong Y, Su P, Li X, Liu Y, Liu N, Wu X, Zhang Y, Wang J, Gao L, Tu L, Lu Y, Jiang Z, Zhou YJ, Gao W, Huang L. Engineering chimeric diterpene synthases and isoprenoid biosynthetic pathways enables high-level production of miltiradiene in yeast. Metab Eng 2020; 60:87-96. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ymben.2020.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2019] [Revised: 02/25/2020] [Accepted: 03/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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12
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Karunanithi PS, Berrios DI, Wang S, Davis J, Shen T, Fiehn O, Maloof JN, Zerbe P. The foxtail millet (Setaria italica) terpene synthase gene family. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2020; 103:781-800. [PMID: 32282967 PMCID: PMC7497057 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.14771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2020] [Revised: 03/15/2020] [Accepted: 03/24/2020] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Terpenoid metabolism plays vital roles in stress defense and the environmental adaptation of monocot crops. Here, we describe the identification of the terpene synthase (TPS) gene family of the panicoid food and bioenergy model crop foxtail millet (Setaria italica). The diploid S. italica genome contains 32 TPS genes, 17 of which were biochemically characterized in this study. Unlike other thus far investigated grasses, S. italica contains TPSs producing all three ent-, (+)- and syn-copalyl pyrophosphate stereoisomers that naturally occur as central building blocks in the biosynthesis of distinct monocot diterpenoids. Conversion of these intermediates by the promiscuous TPS SiTPS8 yielded different diterpenoid scaffolds. Additionally, a cytochrome P450 monooxygenase (CYP99A17), which genomically clustered with SiTPS8, catalyzes the C19 hydroxylation of SiTPS8 products to generate the corresponding diterpene alcohols. The presence of syntenic orthologs to about 19% of the S. italica TPSs in related grasses supports a common ancestry of selected pathway branches. Among the identified enzyme products, abietadien-19-ol, syn-pimara-7,15-dien-19-ol and germacrene-d-4-ol were detectable in planta, and gene expression analysis of the biosynthetic TPSs showed distinct and, albeit moderately, inducible expression patterns in response to biotic and abiotic stress. In vitro growth-inhibiting activity of abietadien-19-ol and syn-pimara-7,15-dien-19-ol against Fusarium verticillioides and Fusarium subglutinans may indicate pathogen defensive functions, whereas the low antifungal efficacy of tested sesquiterpenoids supports other bioactivities. Together, these findings expand the known chemical space of monocot terpenoid metabolism to enable further investigations of terpenoid-mediated stress resilience in these agriculturally important species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prema S. Karunanithi
- Department of Plant BiologyUniversity of California–DavisOne Shields AvenueDavis95616CAUSA
| | - David I. Berrios
- Department of Plant BiologyUniversity of California–DavisOne Shields AvenueDavis95616CAUSA
| | - Sadira Wang
- Department of Plant BiologyUniversity of California–DavisOne Shields AvenueDavis95616CAUSA
| | - John Davis
- Department of Plant BiologyUniversity of California–DavisOne Shields AvenueDavis95616CAUSA
| | - Tong Shen
- West Coast Metabolomics CenterUniversity of California–DavisOne Shields AvenueDavis95616CAUSA
| | - Oliver Fiehn
- West Coast Metabolomics CenterUniversity of California–DavisOne Shields AvenueDavis95616CAUSA
| | - Julin N. Maloof
- Department of Plant BiologyUniversity of California–DavisOne Shields AvenueDavis95616CAUSA
| | - Philipp Zerbe
- Department of Plant BiologyUniversity of California–DavisOne Shields AvenueDavis95616CAUSA
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13
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Pelot KA, Hagelthorn LM, Addison JB, Zerbe P. Correction: Biosynthesis of the oxygenated diterpene nezukol in the medicinal plant Isodon rubescens is catalyzed by a pair of diterpene synthases. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0224781. [PMID: 31665183 PMCID: PMC6821084 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0224781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
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14
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Karunanithi PS, Dhanota P, Addison JB, Tong S, Fiehn O, Zerbe P. Functional characterization of the cytochrome P450 monooxygenase CYP71AU87 indicates a role in marrubiin biosynthesis in the medicinal plant Marrubium vulgare. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2019; 19:114. [PMID: 30909879 PMCID: PMC6434833 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-019-1702-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2018] [Accepted: 03/06/2019] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Horehound (Marrubium vulgare) is a medicinal plant whose signature bioactive compounds, marrubiin and related furanoid diterpenoid lactones, have potential applications for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases and type II diabetes. Lack of scalable plant cultivation and the complex metabolite profile of M. vulgare limit access to marrubiin via extraction from plant biomass. Knowledge of the marrubiin-biosynthetic enzymes can enable the development of metabolic engineering platforms for marrubiin production. We previously identified two diterpene synthases, MvCPS1 and MvELS, that act sequentially to form 9,13-epoxy-labd-14-ene. Conversion of 9,13-epoxy-labd-14-ene by cytochrome P450 monooxygenase (P450) enzymes can be hypothesized to facilitate key functional modification reactions in the formation of marrubiin and related compounds. RESULTS Mining a M. vulgare leaf transcriptome database identified 95 full-length P450 candidates. Cloning and functional analysis of select P450 candidates showing high transcript abundance revealed a member of the CYP71 family, CYP71AU87, that catalyzed the hydroxylation of 9,13-epoxy-labd-14-ene to yield two isomeric products, 9,13-epoxy labd-14-ene-18-ol and 9,13-epoxy labd-14-ene-19-ol, as verified by GC-MS and NMR analysis. Additional transient Nicotiana benthamiana co-expression assays of CYP71AU87 with different diterpene synthase pairs suggested that CYP71AU87 is specific to the sequential MvCPS1 and MvELS product 9,13-epoxy-labd-14-ene. Although the P450 products were not detectable in planta, high levels of CYP71AU87 gene expression in marrubiin-accumulating tissues supported a role in the formation of marrubiin and related diterpenoids in M. vulgare. CONCLUSIONS In a sequential reaction with the diterpene synthase pair MvCPS1 and MvELS, CYP71AU87 forms the isomeric products 9,13-epoxy labd-14-ene-18/19-ol as probable intermediates in marrubiin biosynthesis. Although its metabolic relevance in planta will necessitate further genetic studies, identification of the CYP71AU87 catalytic activity expands our knowledge of the functional landscape of plant P450 enzymes involved in specialized diterpenoid metabolism and can provide a resource for the formulation of marrubiin and related bioactive natural products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prema S. Karunanithi
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California Davis, 1 Shields Avenue, Davis, CA USA
| | - Puja Dhanota
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California Davis, 1 Shields Avenue, Davis, CA USA
| | - J. Bennett Addison
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182 USA
| | - Shen Tong
- West Coast Metabolomics Center, University of California-Davis, 1 Shields Avenue, Davis, CA USA
| | - Oliver Fiehn
- West Coast Metabolomics Center, University of California-Davis, 1 Shields Avenue, Davis, CA USA
- Biochemistry Department, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Philipp Zerbe
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California Davis, 1 Shields Avenue, Davis, CA USA
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15
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Du G, Gong HY, Feng KN, Chen QQ, Yang YL, Fu XL, Lu S, Zeng Y. Diterpene synthases facilitating production of the kaurane skeleton of eriocalyxin B in the medicinal plant Isodon eriocalyx. PHYTOCHEMISTRY 2019; 158:96-102. [PMID: 30496917 DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2018.11.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2018] [Revised: 11/12/2018] [Accepted: 11/18/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The Isodon plants (Lamiaceae) have been used in traditional Chinese medicine to alleviate sufferings from inflammations and cancers. This feature has been attributed to the presence of pharmacologically active ent-kaurane diterpenoids such as eriocalyxin B and oridonin. The Isodon eriocalyx (Dunn) Kudô species native to southwest China can accumulate a particularly high content of ent-kaurane diterpenoids (∼1.5% w/w of dried leaves). We previously identified diterpene synthases IeCPS1 and IeCPS2 as ent-copalyl diphosphate synthases (ent-CPS) potentially involved in Isodon ent-kaurane diterpenoids biosynthesis. In this study, analysis of RNA-seq transcriptome of the I. eriocalyx plant revealed three other diterpene synthase genes (IeCPS3, IeKS1, and IeKSL1). Their functional characterization through coupled in vitro enzyme assays has confirmed that IeCPS3 is an ent-CPS specifically producing ent-copalyl diphosphate (ent-CPP). IeKS1 accepted ent-CPP to produce exclusively ent-kaurene and may thus be defined as an ent-kaurene synthase (ent-KS). When IeKSL1 was combined with IeCPS2 or IeCPS3, no product was detected. Based on tissue-specific expression and metabolic localization studies, the IeCPS3 and IeKS1 transcripts were significantly accumulated in leaves where the ent-kaurane diterpenoid eriocalyxin B dominates, whereas weak expression of both were observed in germinating seeds in which gibberellin biosynthetic pathway is normally active. Our findings suggest that both IeCPS3 and IeKS1 possess dual roles in general (gibberellins) and specialized diterpenoid metabolism, such as that of the Isodon ent-kaurane diterpenoids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gang Du
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Natural Medicinal Chemistry, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, Yunnan, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Hai-Yan Gong
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Natural Medicinal Chemistry, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, Yunnan, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Ke-Na Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Natural Medicinal Chemistry, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, Yunnan, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Qian-Qian Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Natural Medicinal Chemistry, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, Yunnan, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yan-Long Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Natural Medicinal Chemistry, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, Yunnan, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Xiao-Li Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Natural Medicinal Chemistry, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, Yunnan, China
| | - Shan Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Ying Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Natural Medicinal Chemistry, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, Yunnan, China.
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16
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Johnson SR, Bhat WW, Bibik J, Turmo A, Hamberger B, Evolutionary Mint Genomics Consortium, Hamberger B. A database-driven approach identifies additional diterpene synthase activities in the mint family (Lamiaceae). J Biol Chem 2019; 294:1349-1362. [PMID: 30498089 PMCID: PMC6349103 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra118.006025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2018] [Revised: 11/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Members of the mint family (Lamiaceae) accumulate a wide variety of industrially and medicinally relevant diterpenes. We recently sequenced leaf transcriptomes from 48 phylogenetically diverse Lamiaceae species. Here, we summarize the available chemotaxonomic and enzyme activity data for diterpene synthases (diTPSs) in the Lamiaceae and leverage the new transcriptomes to explore the diTPS sequence and functional space. Candidate genes were selected with an intent to evenly sample the sequence homology space and to focus on species in which diTPS transcripts were found, yet from which no diterpene structures have been previously reported. We functionally characterized nine class II diTPSs and 10 class I diTPSs from 11 distinct plant species and found five class II activities, including two novel activities, as well as a spectrum of class I activities. Among the class II diTPSs, we identified a neo-cleroda-4(18),13E-dienyl diphosphate synthase from Ajuga reptans, catalyzing the likely first step in the biosynthesis of a variety of insect-antifeedant compounds. Among the class I diTPSs was a palustradiene synthase from Origanum majorana, leading to the discovery of specialized diterpenes in that species. Our results provide insights into the diversification of diterpene biosynthesis in the mint family and establish a comprehensive foundation for continued investigation of diterpene biosynthesis in the Lamiaceae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean R Johnson
- Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, East Lansing, Michigan 48824
| | - Wajid Waheed Bhat
- Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, East Lansing, Michigan 48824; Pharmacology and Toxicology, East Lansing, Michigan 48824
| | - Jacob Bibik
- Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, East Lansing, Michigan 48824
| | - Aiko Turmo
- Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, East Lansing, Michigan 48824
| | - Britta Hamberger
- Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, East Lansing, Michigan 48824
| | | | - Björn Hamberger
- Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, East Lansing, Michigan 48824.
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Karunanithi PS, Zerbe P. Terpene Synthases as Metabolic Gatekeepers in the Evolution of Plant Terpenoid Chemical Diversity. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2019; 10:1166. [PMID: 31632418 PMCID: PMC6779861 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2019.01166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 133] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2019] [Accepted: 08/26/2019] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Terpenoids comprise tens of thousands of small molecule natural products that are widely distributed across all domains of life. Plants produce by far the largest array of terpenoids with various roles in development and chemical ecology. Driven by selective pressure to adapt to their specific ecological niche, individual species form only a fraction of the myriad plant terpenoids, typically representing unique metabolite blends. Terpene synthase (TPS) enzymes are the gatekeepers in generating terpenoid diversity by catalyzing complex carbocation-driven cyclization, rearrangement, and elimination reactions that enable the transformation of a few acyclic prenyl diphosphate substrates into a vast chemical library of hydrocarbon and, for a few enzymes, oxygenated terpene scaffolds. The seven currently defined clades (a-h) forming the plant TPS family evolved from ancestral triterpene synthase- and prenyl transferase-type enzymes through repeated events of gene duplication and subsequent loss, gain, or fusion of protein domains and further functional diversification. Lineage-specific expansion of these TPS clades led to variable family sizes that may range from a single TPS gene to families of more than 100 members that may further function as part of modular metabolic networks to maximize the number of possible products. Accompanying gene family expansion, the TPS family shows a profound functional plasticity, where minor active site alterations can dramatically impact product outcome, thus enabling the emergence of new functions with minimal investment in evolving new enzymes. This article reviews current knowledge on the functional diversity and molecular evolution of the plant TPS family that underlies the chemical diversity of bioactive terpenoids across the plant kingdom.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prema S Karunanithi
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Philipp Zerbe
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, United States
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18
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Pelot KA, Hagelthorn DM, Hong YJ, Tantillo DJ, Zerbe P. Diterpene Synthase‐Catalyzed Biosynthesis of Distinct Clerodane Stereoisomers. Chembiochem 2018; 20:111-117. [DOI: 10.1002/cbic.201800580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kyle A. Pelot
- Department of Plant Biology University of California Davis One Shields Avenue Davis CA 95616 USA
| | - David M. Hagelthorn
- Department of Plant Biology University of California Davis One Shields Avenue Davis CA 95616 USA
| | - Young J. Hong
- Department of Chemistry University of California Davis One Shields Avenue Davis CA 95616 USA
| | - Dean J. Tantillo
- Department of Chemistry University of California Davis One Shields Avenue Davis CA 95616 USA
| | - Philipp Zerbe
- Department of Plant Biology University of California Davis One Shields Avenue Davis CA 95616 USA
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19
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Zhao F, Sun M, Zhang W, Jiang C, Teng J, Sheng W, Li M, Zhang A, Duan Y, Xue J. Comparative transcriptome analysis of roots, stems and leaves of Isodon amethystoides reveals candidate genes involved in Wangzaozins biosynthesis. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2018; 18:272. [PMID: 30409115 PMCID: PMC6225716 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-018-1505-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2018] [Accepted: 10/26/2018] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Isodon amethystoides (Ben-th) Cy Wu et Hsuan is an important traditional medicinal plant endowed with pharmacological properties effective in the treatment of various diseases, including pulmonary tuberculosis. The tetracyclic diterpenoids, Wangzaozins (Wangzaozin A, glaucocalyxin A, glaucocalyxin B), are the major bioactive compounds of I. amethystoides. However, the molecular information about the biosynthesis of these compounds still remains unclear. RESULTS An examination of the accumulated levels of Wangzaozins in I. amethystoides revealed considerable variations in the root, stem, and leaf tissues of this plant, indicating possible differences in metabolite biosynthesis and accumulation among various tissues. To better elucidate the tetracyclic diterpenoid biosynthesis pathway, we generated transcriptome sequences from the root, stem, and leaf tissues, and performed de novo sequence assembly, yielding 230,974 transcripts and 114,488 unigenes, with average N50 lengths of 1914 and 1241 bp, respectively. Putative functions could be assigned to 73,693 transcripts (31.9%) based on BLAST searches against annotation databases, including GO, KEGG, Swiss-Prot, NR, and Pfam. Moreover, the candidate genes involving in the diterpenoid biosynthesis, such as CPS, KSL, were also analyzed. The expression profiles of eight transcripts, involving the tetracyclic diterpenoid biosynthesis, were validated in different I. amethystoides tissues by qRT-PCR, unraveling the gene expression profile of the pathway. The differential expressions of ISPD, ISPF and ISPH (MEP pathway), and IaCPS and IaKSL (diterpenoid pathway) candidate genes in leaves and roots, may contribute to the high accumulation of Wangzaozins in I. amethystoides leaves. CONCLUSION The genomic dataset and analyses reported here lay the foundations for further research on this important medicinal plant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fenglan Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Resource Plant Biology of Anhui Province, College of Life Sciences, Huaibei Normal University, Huaibei City, China
| | - Mengchu Sun
- Key Laboratory of Resource Plant Biology of Anhui Province, College of Life Sciences, Huaibei Normal University, Huaibei City, China
| | - Wanjun Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Resource Plant Biology of Anhui Province, College of Life Sciences, Huaibei Normal University, Huaibei City, China
| | - Chunli Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Resource Plant Biology of Anhui Province, College of Life Sciences, Huaibei Normal University, Huaibei City, China
| | - Jingtong Teng
- Key Laboratory of Resource Plant Biology of Anhui Province, College of Life Sciences, Huaibei Normal University, Huaibei City, China
| | - Wei Sheng
- Key Laboratory of Resource Plant Biology of Anhui Province, College of Life Sciences, Huaibei Normal University, Huaibei City, China
| | - Mingzhi Li
- Genepioneer Biotechnologies Co. Ltd, Nanjing City, China
| | - Aimin Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Resource Plant Biology of Anhui Province, College of Life Sciences, Huaibei Normal University, Huaibei City, China
| | - Yongbo Duan
- Key Laboratory of Resource Plant Biology of Anhui Province, College of Life Sciences, Huaibei Normal University, Huaibei City, China.
| | - Jianping Xue
- Key Laboratory of Resource Plant Biology of Anhui Province, College of Life Sciences, Huaibei Normal University, Huaibei City, China.
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20
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Pelot KA, Chen R, Hagelthorn DM, Young CA, Addison JB, Muchlinski A, Tholl D, Zerbe P. Functional Diversity of Diterpene Synthases in the Biofuel Crop Switchgrass. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2018; 178:54-71. [PMID: 30008447 PMCID: PMC6130043 DOI: 10.1104/pp.18.00590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2018] [Accepted: 07/05/2018] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Diterpenoids constitute a diverse class of metabolites with critical functions in plant development, defense, and ecological adaptation. Major monocot crops, such as maize (Zea mays) and rice (Oryza sativa), deploy diverse blends of specialized diterpenoids as core components of biotic and abiotic stress resilience. Here, we describe the genome-wide identification and functional characterization of stress-related diterpene synthases (diTPSs) in the dedicated bioenergy crop switchgrass (Panicum virgatum). Mining of the allotetraploid switchgrass genome identified an expansive diTPS family of 31 members, and biochemical analysis of 11 diTPSs revealed a modular metabolic network producing a diverse array of diterpenoid metabolites. In addition to ent-copalyl diphosphate (CPP) and ent-kaurene synthases predictably involved in gibberellin biosynthesis, we identified syn-CPP and ent-labda-13-en-8-ol diphosphate (LPP) synthases as well as two diTPSs forming (+)-labda-8,13E-dienyl diphosphate (8,13-CPP) and ent-neo-cis-trans-clerodienyl diphosphate (CT-CLPP) scaffolds not observed previously in plants. Structure-guided mutagenesis of the (+)-8,13-CPP and ent-neo-CT-CLPP synthases revealed residue substitutions in the active sites that altered product outcome, representing potential neofunctionalization events that occurred during diversification of the switchgrass diTPS family. The conversion of ent-CPP, ent-LPP, syn-CPP, and ent-neo-CT-CLPP by promiscuous diTPSs further yielded distinct labdane-type diterpene olefins and alcohols. Of these metabolites, the formation of 9β-hydroxy-syn-pimar-15-ene and the expression of the corresponding genes were induced in roots and leaves in response to oxidative stress and ultraviolet irradiation, indicating their possible roles in abiotic stress adaptation. Together, these findings expand the known chemical space of diterpenoid metabolism in monocot crops toward systematically investigating and ultimately improving stress resilience traits in crop species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle A Pelot
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California, Davis, California 95616
| | - Ruibing Chen
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California, Davis, California 95616
- Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, 200433 Shanghai, China
| | - David M Hagelthorn
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California, Davis, California 95616
| | - Cari A Young
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California, Davis, California 95616
| | - J Bennett Addison
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, San Diego State University, San Diego, California 92182
| | - Andrew Muchlinski
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061
| | - Dorothea Tholl
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061
| | - Philipp Zerbe
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California, Davis, California 95616
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21
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Jia M, O’Brien TE, Zhang Y, Siegel JB, Tantillo DJ, Peters RJ. Changing Face: A Key Residue for the Addition of Water by Sclareol Synthase. ACS Catal 2018; 8:3133-3137. [PMID: 29713562 DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.8b00121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Sclareol synthase from Salvia sclarea (SsSS) naturally acts on 8α-hydroxy-copalyl diphosphate (1), stereoselectively adding water to produce (13R)-sclareol (2a), and similarly yields hydroxylated products with manifold other such bicyclic diterpene precursors. Here a key residue for this addition of water was identified. Strikingly, substitution with glutamine switches stereochemical outcome with 1, leading to selective production of (13S)-sclareol (2b). Moreover, changes to the stereospecificity of water addition with the structurally closely-related substrate copalyl diphosphate (4) could be accomplished with alternative substitutions. Thus, this approach is expected to provide biosynthetic access to both epimers of 13-hydroxylated derivatives of manifold labdane-related diterpenes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meirong Jia
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, United States
| | - Terrence E. O’Brien
- Department of Chemistry, University of California−Davis, Davis, California 95616, United States
| | - Yue Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, University of California−Davis, Davis, California 95616, United States
| | - Justin B. Siegel
- Department of Chemistry, University of California−Davis, Davis, California 95616, United States
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of California−Davis, Davis, California 95616, United States
- Genome Center, University of California−Davis, Davis, California 95616, United States
| | - Dean J. Tantillo
- Department of Chemistry, University of California−Davis, Davis, California 95616, United States
| | - Reuben J. Peters
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, United States
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