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Shi Y, Si D, Zhang X, Chen D, Han Z. Plant fructans: Recent advances in metabolism, evolution aspects and applications for human health. Curr Res Food Sci 2023; 7:100595. [PMID: 37744554 PMCID: PMC10517269 DOI: 10.1016/j.crfs.2023.100595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Fructans, fructose polymers, are one of the three major reserve carbohydrate in plants. The nutritional and therapeutic benefits of natural fructans in plants have attracted increasing interest by consumers and food industry. In the course of evolution, many plants have developed the ability of regulating plant fructans metabolism to produce fructans with different structures and chain lengths, which are strongly correlated with their survival in harsh environments. Exploring these evolution-related genes in fructans biosynthesis and de novo domestication of fructans-rich plants based on genome editing is a viable and promising approach to improve human dietary quality and reduce the risk of chronic disease. These advances will greatly facilitate breeding and production of tailor-made fructans as a healthy food ingredient from wild plants such as huangjing (Polygonatum cyrtonema). The purpose of this review is to broaden our knowledge on plant fructans biosynthesis, evolution and benefits to human health.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Xinfeng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, 311300, China
| | - Donghong Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, 311300, China
| | - Zhigang Han
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, 311300, China
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Lian D, Zhuang S, Shui C, Zheng S, Ma Y, Sun Z, Porras-Domínguez JR, Öner ET, Liang M, Van den Ende W. Characterization of inulolytic enzymes from the Jerusalem artichoke-derived Glutamicibacter mishrai NJAU-1. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2022; 106:5525-5538. [PMID: 35896838 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-022-12088-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Revised: 07/17/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The rhizosphere context of inulin-accumulating plants, such as Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus), is an ideal starting basis for the discovery of inulolytic enzymes with potential for bio fructose production. We isolated a Glutamicibacter mishrai NJAU-1 strain from this context, showing exo-inulinase activity, releasing fructose from fructans. The growth conditions (pH 9.0; 15 °C) were adjusted, and the production of inulinase by Glutamicibacter mishrai NJAU-1 increased by 90% (0.32 U/mL). Intriguingly, both levan and inulin, but not fructose and sucrose, induced the production of exo-inulinase activity. Two exo-inulinase genes (inu1 and inu2) were cloned and heterologously expressed in Pichia pastoris. While INU2 preferentially hydrolyzed longer inulins, the smallest fructan 1-kestose appeared as the preferred substrate for INU1, also efficiently degrading nystose and sucrose. Active site docking studies with GFn- and Fn-type small inulins (G is glucose, F is fructose, and n is the number of β (2-1) bound fructose moieties) revealed subtle substrate differences between INU1 and INU2. A possible explanation about substrate specificity and INU's protein structure is then suggested. KEY POINTS: • A Glutamicibacter mishrai strain harbored exo-inulinase activity. • Fructans induced the inulolytic activity in G. mishrai while the inulolytic activity was optimized at pH 9.0 and 15 °C. • Two exo-inulinases with differential substrate specificity were characterized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Lian
- Jiangsu Key Lab of Marine Biology, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, Jiangsu, China
| | - Shuo Zhuang
- Jiangsu Key Lab of Marine Biology, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, Jiangsu, China
| | - Chen Shui
- Jiangsu Key Lab of Marine Biology, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, Jiangsu, China
| | - Shicheng Zheng
- Jiangsu Key Lab of Marine Biology, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yanhong Ma
- Institute of Agro-Product Processing, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, 210014, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zongjiu Sun
- College of Grassland and Environmental Sciences, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Ürümqi, 830052, Xinjiang, China
| | - Jaime R Porras-Domínguez
- Laboratory of Molecular Plant Biology and KU Leuven Plant Institute, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 31, 3001, Louvain, Belgium
| | - Ebru Toksoy Öner
- Department of Bioengineering, Faculty of Engineering, Marmara University, Istanbul, 34722, Turkey
| | - Mingxiang Liang
- Jiangsu Key Lab of Marine Biology, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Wim Van den Ende
- Laboratory of Molecular Plant Biology and KU Leuven Plant Institute, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 31, 3001, Louvain, Belgium
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Versluys M, Porras-Domínguez JR, De Coninck T, Van Damme EJM, Van den Ende W. A novel chicory fructanase can degrade common microbial fructan product profiles and displays positive cooperativity. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2022; 73:1602-1622. [PMID: 34750605 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erab488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/03/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Fructan metabolism in bacteria and plants relies on fructosyltransferases and fructanases. Plant fructanases (fructan exohydrolase, FEH) only hydrolyse terminal fructose residues. Levan (β-2,6 linkages) is the most abundant fructan type in bacteria. Dicot fructan accumulators, such as chicory (Cichorium intybus), accumulate inulin (β-2,1 linkages), harbouring several 1-FEH isoforms for their degradation. Here, a novel chicory fructanase with high affinity for levan was characterized, providing evidence that such enzymes widely occur in higher plants. It is adapted to common microbial fructan profiles, but has low affinity towards chicory inulin, in line with a function in trimming of microbial fructans in the extracellular environment. Docking experiments indicate the importance of an N-glycosylation site close to the active site for substrate specificity. Optimal pH and temperature for levan hydrolysis are 5.0 and 43.7 °C, respectively. Docking experiments suggested multiple substrate binding sites and levan-mediated enzyme dimerization, explaining the observed positive cooperativity. Alignments show a single amino acid shift in the position of a conserved DXX(R/K) couple, typical for sucrose binding in cell wall invertases. A possible involvement of plant fructanases in levan trimming is discussed, in line with the emerging 'fructan detour' concepts, suggesting that levan oligosaccharides act as signalling entities during plant-microbial interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxime Versluys
- Laboratory of Molecular Plant Biology, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 31, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Tibo De Coninck
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Glycobiology, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Els J M Van Damme
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Glycobiology, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Wim Van den Ende
- Laboratory of Molecular Plant Biology, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 31, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
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Ueno K, Sonoda T, Yoshida M, Kawakami A, Shiomi N, Onodera S. Decreased expression of fructosyltransferase genes in asparagus roots may contribute to efficient fructan degradation during asparagus spear harvesting. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY : PPB 2020; 156:192-200. [PMID: 32971365 DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2020.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Revised: 09/02/2020] [Accepted: 09/02/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.) accumulates inulin and inulin neoseries-type fructans in root, which are synthesized by three fructosyltransferases-sucrose:sucrose 1-fructosyltransferase (1-SST, EC 2.4.1.99), fructan:fructan 1-fructosyltransferase (1-FFT, EC 2.4.1.100), and fructan:fructan 6G-fructosyltransferase (6G-FFT, EC 2.4.1.243). Fructans in roots are considered as energy sources for emerging of spears, and it has been demonstrated that a gradual decrease in root fructan content occurs during the spear harvesting season (budding and shooting up period). However, the roles of certain three fructosyltransferases during the harvest season have not yet been elucidated. Here, we investigated the variation in enzymatic activities and gene expression levels of three fructosyltransferases and examined sugar contents in roots before and during the spear harvest period. Two cDNAs, aoft2 and aoft3, were isolated from the cDNA library of roots. The respective recombinant proteins (rAoFT2 and rAoFT3), produced by Pichia pastoris, were characterized: rAoFT2 showed 1-FFT activity (producing nystose from 1-kestose), whereas rAoFT3 showed 1-SST activity (producing 1-kestose from sucrose). These reaction profiles of recombinant proteins were similar to those of native enzymes purified previously. These results indicate that aoft2 and aoft3 encoding 1-FFT and 1-SST are involved in fructan synthesis in roots. A gradual downregulation of fructosyltransferase genes and activity of respective enzymes was observed in roots during the harvest period, which also coincided with the decrease in fructooligosaccharides and increase in fructose due to fructan exohydrolase activity. These findings suggest that downregulation of fructosyltransferases genes during harvest time may contribute to efficient degradation of fructan required for the emergence of spears.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keiji Ueno
- Department of Food Science and Human Wellness, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment Sciences, Rakuno Gakuen University, 582 Bunkyodai Midorimachi, Ebetsu, 069-8501, Japan; Department of Food Sciences, Faculty of Dairy Science, Rakuno Gakuen University, 582 Bunkyodai Midorimachi, Ebetsu, 069-8501, Japan.
| | - Takahiro Sonoda
- Department of Sustainable Agricultures, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment Sciences, Rakuno Gakuen University, 582 Bunkyodai Midorimachi, Ebetsu, 069-8501, Japan; Department of Food Sciences, Faculty of Dairy Science, Rakuno Gakuen University, 582 Bunkyodai Midorimachi, Ebetsu, 069-8501, Japan.
| | - Midori Yoshida
- NARO Hokkaido Agricultural Research Center, Hitsujigaoka, Sapporo, 062-8555, Japan.
| | - Akira Kawakami
- NARO Western Region Agricultural Research Center, 6-12-1 Nishifukatsu-cho, Fukuyama-shi, Hiroshima, 721-8514, Japan.
| | - Norio Shiomi
- Department of Food Sciences, Faculty of Dairy Science, Rakuno Gakuen University, 582 Bunkyodai Midorimachi, Ebetsu, 069-8501, Japan.
| | - Shuichi Onodera
- Department of Food Science and Human Wellness, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment Sciences, Rakuno Gakuen University, 582 Bunkyodai Midorimachi, Ebetsu, 069-8501, Japan; Department of Food Sciences, Faculty of Dairy Science, Rakuno Gakuen University, 582 Bunkyodai Midorimachi, Ebetsu, 069-8501, Japan.
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Bizzarri M, Delledonne M, Ferrarini A, Tononi P, Zago E, Vittori D, Damiani F, Paolocci F. Whole-Transcriptome Analysis Unveils the Synchronized Activities of Genes for Fructans in Developing Tubers of the Jerusalem Artichoke. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2020; 11:101. [PMID: 32153609 PMCID: PMC7046554 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.00101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2019] [Accepted: 01/23/2020] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Helianthus tuberosus L., known as the Jerusalem artichoke, is a hexaploid plant species, adapted to low-nutrient soils, that accumulates high levels of inulin in its tubers. Inulin is a fructose-based polysaccharide used either as dietary fiber or for the production of bioethanol. Key enzymes involved in inulin biosynthesis are well known. However, the gene networks underpinning tuber development and inulin accumulation in H. tuberous remain elusive. To fill this gap, we selected 6,365 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) from an H. tuberosus library to set up a microarray platform and record their expression across three tuber developmental stages, when rhizomes start enlarging (T0), at maximum tuber elongation rate (T3), and at tuber physiological maturity (Tm), in "VR" and "K8-HS142"clones. The former was selected as an early tuberizing and the latter as a late-tuberizing clone. We quantified inulin and starch levels, and qRT-PCR confirmed the expression of critical genes accounting for inulin biosynthesis. The microarray analysis revealed that the differences in morphological and physiological traits between tubers of the two clones are genetically determined since T0 and that is relatively low the number of differentially expressed ESTs across the stages shared between the clones (93). The expression of ESTs for sucrose:sucrose 1-fructosyltransferase (1-SST) and fructan:fructan 1-fructosyltransferase (1-FFT), the two critical genes for fructans polymerization, resulted to be temporarily synchronized and mirror the progress of inulin accumulation and stretching. The expression of ESTs for starch biosynthesis was insignificant throughout the developmental stages of the clones in line with the negligible level of starch into their mature tubers, where inulin was the dominant polysaccharide. Overall, our study disclosed candidate genes underpinning the development and storage of carbohydrates in the tubers of two H. tuberosus clones. A model according to which the steady-state levels of 1-SST and 1-FFT transcripts are developmentally controlled and might represent a limiting factor for inulin accumulation has been provided. Our finding may have significant repercussions for breeding clones with improved levels of inulin for food and chemical industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Bizzarri
- Department of Science and Technology for Agriculture, Forests, Nature and Energy (DAFNE), University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
| | | | | | - Paola Tononi
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Elisa Zago
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Doriano Vittori
- Department of Science and Technology for Agriculture, Forests, Nature and Energy (DAFNE), University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Francesco Damiani
- Institute of Bioscience and Bioresources (IBBR), National Research Council (CNR), Perugia, Italy
| | - Francesco Paolocci
- Institute of Bioscience and Bioresources (IBBR), National Research Council (CNR), Perugia, Italy
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Zhao H, Greiner S, Scheffzek K, Rausch T, Wang G. A 6&1-FEH Encodes an Enzyme for Fructan Degradation and Interact with Invertase Inhibitor Protein in Maize ( Zea mays L.). Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:E3807. [PMID: 31382684 PMCID: PMC6696269 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20153807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2019] [Revised: 07/14/2019] [Accepted: 07/15/2019] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
About 15% of higher plants have acquired the ability to convert sucrose into fructans. Fructan degradation is catalyzed by fructan exohydrolases (FEHs), which are structurally related to cell wall invertases (CWI). However, the biological function(s) of FEH enzymes in non-fructan species have remained largely enigmatic. In the present study, one maize CWI-related enzyme named Zm-6&1-FEH1, displaying FEH activity, was explored with respect to its substrate specificities, its expression during plant development, and its possible interaction with CWI inhibitor protein. Following heterologous expression in Pichia pastoris and in N. benthamiana leaves, recombinant Zm-6&1-FEH1 revealed substrate specificities of levan and inulin, and also displayed partially invertase activity. Expression of Zm-6&1-FEH1 as monitored by qPCR was strongly dependent on plant development and was further modulated by abiotic stress. To explore whether maize FEH can interact with invertase inhibitor protein, Zm-6&1-FEH1 and maize invertase inhibitor Zm-INVINH1 were co-expressed in N. benthamiana leaves. Bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) analysis and in vitro enzyme inhibition assays indicated productive complex formation. In summary, the results provide support to the hypothesis that in non-fructan species FEH enzymes may modulate the regulation of CWIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongbo Zhao
- College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Steffen Greiner
- Centre for Organismal Studies Heidelberg, Department of Plant Molecular Physiology, University of Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Klaus Scheffzek
- Division Biological Chemistry, Innsbruck Medical University, Biocenter, Innrain 80, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Thomas Rausch
- Centre for Organismal Studies Heidelberg, Department of Plant Molecular Physiology, University of Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Guoping Wang
- College of Horticulture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China.
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