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Fanani MZ, Sawai S, Seki H, Ishimori M, Ohyama K, Fukushima EO, Sudo H, Saito K, Muranaka T. Allylic Hydroxylation Activity Is a Source of Saponin Chemodiversity in the Genus Glycyrrhiza. Plant Cell Physiol 2021; 62:262-271. [PMID: 33439252 DOI: 10.1093/pcp/pcaa173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2020] [Accepted: 12/18/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Licorice (Glycyrrhiza) produces glycyrrhizin, a valuable triterpenoid saponin, which exhibits persistent sweetness and broad pharmacological activities. In the genus Glycyrrhiza, three species, Glycyrrhiza uralensis, Glycyrrhiza glabra and Glycyrrhiza inflata, produce glycyrrhizin as their main triterpenoid saponin, which has a ketone group at C-11. Other Glycyrrhiza species produce mainly oleanane-type saponins, which harbor homoannular or heteroannular diene structures that lack the C-11 ketone. Although the glycyrrhizin biosynthetic pathway has been fully elucidated, the pathway involving saponins with diene structures remains unclear. CYP88D6 from G. uralensis is a key enzyme in glycyrrhizin biosynthesis, catalyzing the sequential two-step oxidation of β-amyrin at position C-11 to produce 11-oxo-β-amyrin. In this study, we evaluated the functions of CYP88D6 homologs from the glycyrrhizin-producing species G. glabra and G. inflata and from the non-glycyrrhizin-producing species Glycyrrhiza pallidiflora and Glycyrrhiza macedonica, using yeast engineered to supply β-amyrin as a substrate. Yeast expressing CYP88D6 homologs from glycyrrhizin-producing species produced 11-oxo-β-amyrin. However, yeast expressing CYP88D6 homologs (such as CYP88D15) from the non-glycyrrhizin-producing Glycyrrhiza species accumulated oleana-9(11),12-dien-3β-ol and oleana-11,13(18)-dien-3β-ol; these diene compounds are non-enzymatic or yeast endogenous enzymatic dehydration derivatives of 11α-hydroxy-β-amyrin, a direct reaction product of CYP88D15. These results suggest that the activities of CYP88D6 homologs, particularly their ability to catalyze the second oxidation, could influence glycyrrhizin productivity and diversify the chemical structures of saponins in Glycyrrhiza plants. A synthetic biological approach to engineer CYP88D15 could enable the production of pharmacologically active saponins with diene structures, such as saikosaponins, whose biosynthetic pathways have yet to be fully characterized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Much Z Fanani
- Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, Suita, 565-0871 Japan
| | - Satoru Sawai
- Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, Suita, 565-0871 Japan
- RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Yokohama, 230-0045 Japan
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chiba University, Chiba, 260-8675 Japan
- Tokiwa Phytochemical Co., Ltd, Chiba, 285-0801 Japan
| | - Hikaru Seki
- Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, Suita, 565-0871 Japan
- RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Yokohama, 230-0045 Japan
| | - Masato Ishimori
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chiba University, Chiba, 260-8675 Japan
| | - Kiyoshi Ohyama
- RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Yokohama, 230-0045 Japan
- Department of Chemistry and Materials Science, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo, 152-8551 Japan
| | - Ery O Fukushima
- Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, Suita, 565-0871 Japan
- Translational Plant Research Group, Universidad Regional Amaz�nica IKIAM, Tena, Ecuador
| | - Hiroshi Sudo
- Tokiwa Phytochemical Co., Ltd, Chiba, 285-0801 Japan
| | - Kazuki Saito
- RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Yokohama, 230-0045 Japan
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chiba University, Chiba, 260-8675 Japan
| | - Toshiya Muranaka
- Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, Suita, 565-0871 Japan
- RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Yokohama, 230-0045 Japan
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Srisawat P, Yasumoto S, Fukushima EO, Robertlee J, Seki H, Muranaka T. Production of the bioactive plant-derived triterpenoid morolic acid in engineered Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Biotechnol Bioeng 2020; 117:2198-2208. [PMID: 32311084 DOI: 10.1002/bit.27357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2019] [Revised: 04/16/2020] [Accepted: 04/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Morolic acid is a plant-derived triterpenoid that possesses pharmacological properties such as cytotoxicity, as well as anti-HIV, anti-HSV, anti-inflammatory, and antidiabetic effects. The significant therapeutic properties of morolic acid are desirable in the context of pharmacological and drug development research, but the low accessibility of morolic acid from natural resources limits its applications. In the present study, we developed a microbial system for the production of morolic acid. Using a combinatorial biosynthesis approach, a novel production pathway was constructed in Saccharomycescerevisiae by coexpressing BfOSC2 (germanicol synthase) from Bauhinia forficata and CYP716A49 (triterpene C-28 oxidase) from Beta vulgaris. Moreover, we reconstructed the cellular galactose regulatory network by introducing a chimeric transcriptional activator (fusion of Gal4dbd.ER.VP16) to overdrive the genes under the control of the galactose promoter. We also overexpressed truncated HMG1, encoding feedback-inhibition-resistant form of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase 1 and sterol-regulating transcription factor upc2-1, to increase the isoprenoid precursors in the mevalonate pathway. Using this yeast system, we achieved morolic acid production up to 20.7 ± 1.8 mg/L in batch culture. To our knowledge, this is the highest morolic acid titer reported from a heterologous host, indicating a promising approach for obtaining rare natural triterpenoids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pisanee Srisawat
- Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan.,RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Wako, Saitama, Japan
| | - Shuhei Yasumoto
- Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Ery O Fukushima
- Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan.,Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Universidad Regional Amazónica IKIAM, Tena, Ecuador
| | - Jekson Robertlee
- Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan.,Department of Frontier Research, Kazusa DNA Research Institute, Kisarazu, Chiba, Japan
| | - Hikaru Seki
- Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Toshiya Muranaka
- Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
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Muangphrom P, Seki H, Matsumoto S, Nishiwaki M, Fukushima EO, Muranaka T. Identification and characterization of a novel sesquiterpene synthase, 4-amorphen-11-ol synthase, from Artemisia maritima. Plant Biotechnol (Tokyo) 2018; 35:113-121. [PMID: 31819713 PMCID: PMC6879386 DOI: 10.5511/plantbiotechnology.18.0324a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2018] [Accepted: 03/24/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Artemisinin, a sesquiterpene lactone exhibiting effective antimalarial activity, is produced by only Artemisia annua plant. A key step in artemisinin biosynthesis is the cyclization of farnesyl pyrophosphate (FPP) to amorpha-4,11-diene catalyzed by amorpha-4,11-diene synthase (AaADS). Intriguingly, several non-artemisinin-producing Artemisia plants also express genes highly homologous to AaADS. Our previous functional analysis of these homologous enzymes revealed that they catalyzed the synthesis of rare natural sesquiterpenoids. In this study, we analyzed the function of another putative sesquiterpene synthase highly homologous to AaADS from A. maritima. Unlike AaADS, in vivo enzymatic assay showed that this enzyme cyclized FPP to 4-amorphen-11-ol, a precursor of several gastroprotective agents. The discovery of 4-amorphen-11-ol synthase (AmAOS) and the successful de novo production of 4-amorphen-11-ol in engineered yeast demonstrated herein provides insights into the methods used to enhance its production for future application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paskorn Muangphrom
- Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, 2-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871 Japan
| | - Hikaru Seki
- Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, 2-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871 Japan
| | - Seiya Matsumoto
- Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, 2-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871 Japan
| | - Mika Nishiwaki
- Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, 2-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871 Japan
| | - Ery O. Fukushima
- Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, 2-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871 Japan
- Center for Open Innovation Research and Education, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, 2-1,Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871 Japan
| | - Toshiya Muranaka
- Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, 2-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871 Japan
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Yasumoto S, Seki H, Shimizu Y, Fukushima EO, Muranaka T. Functional Characterization of CYP716 Family P450 Enzymes in Triterpenoid Biosynthesis in Tomato. Front Plant Sci 2017; 8:21. [PMID: 28194155 PMCID: PMC5278499 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2017.00021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2016] [Accepted: 01/04/2017] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Triterpenoids are a group of structurally diverse specialized metabolites that frequently show useful bioactivities. These chemicals are biosynthesized from the common precursor 2,3-oxidosqualene in plants. The carbon skeletons produced by oxidosqualene cyclase (OSC) are usually modified by cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (P450s) and UDP-dependent glycosyltransferases. These biosynthetic enzymes contribute to the structural diversification of plant triterpenoids. Until now, many P450 enzymes have been characterized as triterpenoid oxidases. Among them, the CYP716 family P450 enzymes, which have been isolated from a wide range of plant families, seem to contribute to the triterpenoid structural diversification. Many CYP716 family P450 enzymes have been characterized as the multifunctional triterpene C-28 oxidases, which oxidize α-amyrin and β-amyrin to the widely distributed triterpenoids ursolic and oleanolic acids, respectively. Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is one of the most important solanaceous crops in the world. However, little information is known regarding its triterpenoid biosynthesis. To understand the mechanism of triterpenoid biosynthesis in tomato, we focused on the function of CYP716 family enzymes as triterpenoid oxidases. We isolated all six CYP716 family genes from the Micro-Tom cultivar of tomato, and functionally characterized them in the heterologous yeast expression system. The in vivo enzymatic assays showed that CYP716A44 and CYP716A46 exhibited the ordinary C-28 oxidation activity against α-amyrin and β-amyrin to produce ursolic and oleanolic acids, respectively. Interestingly, one CYP716E subfamily enzyme, CYP716E26, exhibited the previously unreported C-6β hydroxylation activity against β-amyrin to produce a rare bioactive triterpenoid, daturadiol (olean-12-ene-3β,6β-diol). To determine the roles of the CYP716 family genes in tomato triterpenoid biosynthesis, we analyzed the gene expression and triterpenoid accumulation patterns in different plant tissues by performing the quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analyses, respectively. High levels of the CYP716A44 gene expression and the accumulation of C-28-oxidized triterpenoids, ursolic acid, and oleanolic acid were observed in the roots, indicating a significant contribution of the CYP716A44 gene in the triterpenoid biosynthesis in tomato. Thus, our study partially elucidated the mechanism of triterpenoid biosynthesis in tomato, and identified CYP716E26 as a novel C-6β hydroxylase for its subsequent use in the combinatorial biosynthesis of bioactive triterpenoids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuhei Yasumoto
- Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka UniversitySuita, Japan
| | - Hikaru Seki
- Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka UniversitySuita, Japan
| | - Yuko Shimizu
- Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka UniversitySuita, Japan
| | - Ery O. Fukushima
- Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka UniversitySuita, Japan
- Center for Open Innovation Research and Education, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka UniversitySuita, Japan
| | - Toshiya Muranaka
- Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka UniversitySuita, Japan
- *Correspondence: Toshiya Muranaka
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Yasumoto S, Fukushima EO, Seki H, Muranaka T. Novel triterpene oxidizing activity ofArabidopsis thalianaCYP716A subfamily enzymes. FEBS Lett 2016; 590:533-40. [DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.12074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2015] [Revised: 01/01/2016] [Accepted: 01/15/2016] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Shuhei Yasumoto
- Department of Biotechnology; Graduate School of Engineering; Osaka University; Suita Osaka Japan
| | - Ery O. Fukushima
- Department of Biotechnology; Graduate School of Engineering; Osaka University; Suita Osaka Japan
- Frontier Research Base for Global Young Researchers; Graduate School of Engineering; Osaka University; Suita Osaka Japan
| | - Hikaru Seki
- Department of Biotechnology; Graduate School of Engineering; Osaka University; Suita Osaka Japan
| | - Toshiya Muranaka
- Department of Biotechnology; Graduate School of Engineering; Osaka University; Suita Osaka Japan
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Fukushima EO, Seki H, Sawai S, Suzuki M, Ohyama K, Saito K, Muranaka T. Combinatorial Biosynthesis of Legume Natural and Rare Triterpenoids in Engineered Yeast. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013; 54:740-9. [DOI: 10.1093/pcp/pct015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
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Fukushima EO, Seki H, Ohyama K, Ono E, Umemoto N, Mizutani M, Saito K, Muranaka T. CYP716A subfamily members are multifunctional oxidases in triterpenoid biosynthesis. Plant Cell Physiol 2011; 52:2050-61. [PMID: 22039103 DOI: 10.1093/pcp/pcr146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 174] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2023]
Abstract
Triterpenoids are a diverse group of secondary metabolites that are associated with a variety of biological activities. Oleanolic acid, ursolic acid and betulinic acid are common triterpenoids in plants with diverse biological activities, including antifungal, antibacterial, anti-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and/or antitumor activities. In the present study, using the gene co-expression analysis tool of Medicago truncatula, we found a strong correlation between CYP716A12 and β-amyrin synthase (bAS), which encodes the enzyme responsible for the initial cyclization of 2,3-oxidosqualene to β-amyrin (the basic structural backbone of most triterpenoid saponins). Through an in vitro assay, we identified CYP716A12 as a β-amyrin 28-oxidase able to modify β-amyrin to oleanolic acid (through erythrodiol and, possibly, oleanolic aldehyde). We also confirmed its activity in vivo, by expressing CYP716A12 in transgenic yeast that endogenously produce β-amyrin. In addition, CYP716A12 was evaluated for its potential α-amyrin- and lupeol-oxidizing activities. Interestingly, CYP716A12 was able to generate ursolic acid (through uvaol and, possibly, ursolic aldehyde) and betulinic acid (through betulin). Hence, CYP716A12 was characterized as a multifunctional enzyme with β-amyrin 28-oxidase, α-amyrin 28-oxidase and lupeol 28-oxidase activities. We also identified homologs of CYP716A12 in grape (CYP716A15 and CYP716A17) that are involved in triterpenoid biosynthesis, which indicates the highly conserved functionality of the CYP716A subfamily among plants. These findings will be useful in the heterologous production of pharmacologically and industrially important triterpenoids, including oleanolic acid, ursolic acid and betulinic acid.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ery O Fukushima
- Kihara Institute for Biological Research, Yokohama City University, Maioka-cho 641-12, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 244-0813 Japan
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