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Lee S, Park NI, Park Y, Park KC, Kim ES, Son YK, Choi BS, Kim NS, Choi IY. O- and N-Methyltransferases in benzylisoquinoline alkaloid producing plants. Genes Genomics 2024; 46:367-378. [PMID: 38095842 DOI: 10.1007/s13258-023-01477-4] [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: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Secondary metabolites such as benzylisoquinoline alkaloids (BIA) have attracted considerable attention because of their pharmacological properties and potential therapeutic applications. Methyltransferases (MTs) can add methyl groups to alkaloid molecules, altering their physicochemical properties and bioactivity, stability, solubility, and recognition by other cellular components. Five types of O-methyltransferases and two types of N-methyltransferases are involved in BIA biosynthesis. OBJECTIVE Since MTs may be the source for the discovery and development of novel biomedical, agricultural, and industrial compounds, we performed extensive molecular and phylogenetic analyses of O- and N-methyltransferases in BIA-producing plants. METHODS MTs involved in BIA biosynthesis were isolated from transcriptomes of Berberis koreana and Caulophyllum robustum. We also mined the methyltransferases of Coptis japonica, Papaver somniferum, and Nelumbo nucifera from the National Center for Biotechnology Information protein database. Then, we analyzed the functional motifs and phylogenetic analysis. RESULT We mined 42 O-methyltransferases and 8 N-methyltransferases from the five BIA-producing plants. Functional motifs for S-adenosyl-L-methionine-dependent methyltransferases were retained in most methyltransferases, except for the three O-methyltransferases from N. nucifera. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the methyltransferases were grouped into four clades, I, II, III and IV. The clustering patterns in the phylogenetic analysis suggested a monophyletic origin of methyltransferases and gene duplication within species. The coexistence of different O-methyltransferases in the deep branch subclade might support some cases of substrate promiscuity. CONCLUSIONS Methyltransferases may be a source for the discovery and development of novel biomedical, agricultural, and industrial compounds. Our results contribute to further understanding of their structure and reaction mechanisms, which will require future functional studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seungki Lee
- Biological Resources Assessment Division, National Institute of Biological Resources, Incheon, 22689, Republic of Korea
| | - Nam-Il Park
- Department of Plant Science, Gangneung-Wonju National University, Gangneung, 25457, Republic of Korea
| | - Yeri Park
- Department of Plant Science, Gangneung-Wonju National University, Gangneung, 25457, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyong-Cheul Park
- Department of Smart Farm and Agricultural Industry, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, 24341, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun Sil Kim
- Biological Resources Assessment Division, National Institute of Biological Resources, Incheon, 22689, Republic of Korea
| | - Youn Kyoung Son
- Biological Resources Assessment Division, National Institute of Biological Resources, Incheon, 22689, Republic of Korea
| | | | - Nam-Soo Kim
- NBIT Co., Ltd, Chuncheon, 24341, Republic of Korea.
| | - Ik-Young Choi
- Department of Smart Farm and Agricultural Industry, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, 24341, Republic of Korea.
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Valipour M, Zakeri Khatir Z, Abdollahi E, Ayati A. Recent Applications of Protoberberines as Privileged Starting Materials for the Development of Novel Broad-Spectrum Antiviral Agents: A Concise Review (2017-2023). ACS Pharmacol Transl Sci 2024; 7:48-71. [PMID: 38230282 PMCID: PMC10789142 DOI: 10.1021/acsptsci.3c00292] [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: 10/21/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
Berberine is a well-known phytochemical with significant antiviral activity against a wide range of viruses. Due to having a unique backbone consisting of four interconnected rings, it can be used as a platform for the design and development of novel semisynthetic antiviral agents. The question here is whether novel broad-spectrum antiviral drugs with enhanced activity and toxicity potential can be obtained by attempting to modify the structure of this privileged lead compound. The present study aims to review the results of recent studies in which berberine and its close analogues (protoberberine alkaloids) have been used as starting materials for the production of new semisynthetic antiviral structures. For this purpose, relevant studies published in high-quality journals indexed in databases such as Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, etc. in the time frame of 2017 to 2023 were collected. Our selection criterion in the current review focuses on the studies in which protoberberines were used as starting materials for the production of semisynthetic agents with antiviral activity during the indicated time period. Correspondingly, studies were identified in which semisynthetic derivatives with significant inhibitory activity against a wide range of viruses including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), enterovirus 71 (EV71), zika virus (ZIKV), influenza A/B, cytomegalovirus (CMV), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and coxsackieviruses were designed and synthesized. Our conclusion is that, despite the introduction of diverse semisynthetic derivatives of berberine with improved activity profiles compared to the parent natural leads, sufficient derivatization has not been done yet and more studies are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehdi Valipour
- Razi
Drug Research Center, Iran University of
Medical Sciences, Tehran 1449614535, Iran
| | - Zahra Zakeri Khatir
- Department
of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari 6964114483, Iran
- Student
Research Committee, Mazandaran University
of Medical Sciences, Sari 6964114483, Iran
| | - Elaheh Abdollahi
- Department
of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1449614535, Iran
| | - Adileh Ayati
- Department
of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Research Center, Tehran University of Medical
Sciences, Tehran 1416753955, Iran
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Park NI, Roy NS, Park Y, Choi BS, Jeon MJ, Oh JY, Kim BY, Kim YD, Kim YI, Um T, Kwak HJ, Kim NS, Kim S, Choi IY. Isolation and Characterization of the Genes Involved in the Berberine Synthesis Pathway in Asian Blue Cohosh, Caulophyllum robustum. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:1483. [PMID: 37050109 PMCID: PMC10096549 DOI: 10.3390/plants12071483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Caulophyllum robustum, commonly named Asian blue cohosh, is a perennial herb in the family Berberidaceae. It has traditionally been used for folk medicine in China. We isolated berberine from the leaves, stem, roots, and fruits of C. robustum, and this is the first report on berberine in this species. Transcriptome analysis was conducted for the characterization of berberine biosynthesis genes in C. robustum, in which, all the genes for berberine biosynthesis were identified. From 40,094 transcripts, using gene ontology (GO) analysis, 26,750 transcripts were assigned their functions in the categories of biological process, molecular function, and cellular component. In the analysis of genes expressed in different tissues, the numbers of genes in the categories of intrinsic component of membrane and transferase activity were up-regulated in leaves versus stem. The berberine synthesis genes in C. robustum were characterized by phylogenetic analysis with corresponding genes from other berberine-producing species. The co-existence of genes from different plant families in the deepest branch subclade implies that the differentiation of berberine synthesis genes occurred early in the evolution of berberine-producing plants. Furthermore, the copy number increment of the berberine synthesis genes was detected at the species level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nam-Il Park
- Department of Plant Science, Gangneung-Wonju National University, Gangneung 25457, Republic of Korea
| | - Neha Samir Roy
- Agriculture and Life Sciences Research Institute, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Republic of Korea
| | - Yeri Park
- Agriculture and Life Sciences Research Institute, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Republic of Korea
| | - Beom-Soon Choi
- Next Bio Information Technology, Bodeumkwan 504, Kangwon National University, Gangwondaehakgil-1, Chuncheon 24341, Republic of Korea
| | - Mi Jin Jeon
- Microorganism Resources Division, National Institute of Biological Resources, Incheon 22689, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji Yeon Oh
- Microorganism Resources Division, National Institute of Biological Resources, Incheon 22689, Republic of Korea
| | - Bo-Yun Kim
- Plant Resources Division, National Institute of Biological Resources, Incheon 22689, Republic of Korea
| | - Young-Dong Kim
- Department of Life Science, Multidisciplinary Genome Institute, Hallym University, Chuncheon 24252, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong-In Kim
- On Biological Resource Research Institute, Chuncheon 24239, Republic of Korea
| | - Taeyoung Um
- Agriculture and Life Sciences Research Institute, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Republic of Korea
| | - Hwan Jong Kwak
- Agriculture and Life Sciences Research Institute, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Republic of Korea
| | - Nam-Soo Kim
- Next Bio Information Technology, Bodeumkwan 504, Kangwon National University, Gangwondaehakgil-1, Chuncheon 24341, Republic of Korea
| | - Soonok Kim
- Department of Life Science, Multidisciplinary Genome Institute, Hallym University, Chuncheon 24252, Republic of Korea
| | - Ik-Young Choi
- Agriculture and Life Sciences Research Institute, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Republic of Korea
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