The organ-specific differential roles of rice DXS and DXR, the first two enzymes of the MEP pathway, in carotenoid metabolism in Oryza sativa leaves and seeds

BACKGROUND

Deoxyxylulose 5-phosphate synthase (DXS) and deoxyxylulose 5-phosphate reductoisomerase (DXR) are the enzymes that catalyze the first two enzyme steps of the methylerythritol 4-phosphate (MEP) pathway to supply the isoprene building-blocks of carotenoids. Plant DXR and DXS enzymes have been reported to function differently depending on the plant species. In this study, the differential roles of rice DXS and DXR genes in carotenoid metabolism were investigated.

RESULTS

The accumulation of carotenoids in rice seeds co-expressing OsDXS2 and stPAC was largely enhanced by 3.4-fold relative to the stPAC seeds and 315.3-fold relative to non-transgenic (NT) seeds, while the overexpression of each OsDXS2 or OsDXR caused no positive effect on the accumulation of either carotenoids or chlorophylls in leaves and seeds, suggesting that OsDXS2 functions as a rate-limiting enzyme supplying IPP/DMAPPs to seed carotenoid metabolism, but OsDXR doesn't in either leaves or seeds. The expressions of OsDXS1, OsPSY1, OsPSY2, and OsBCH2 genes were upregulated regardless of the reductions of chlorophylls and carotenoids in leaves; however, there was no significant change in the expression of most carotenogenic genes, even though there was a 315.3-fold increase in the amount of carotenoid in rice seeds. These non-proportional expression patterns in leaves and seeds suggest that those metabolic changes of carotenoids were associated with overexpression of the OsDXS2, OsDXR and stPAC transgenes, and the capacities of the intermediate biosynthetic enzymes might be much more important for those metabolic alterations than the transcript levels of intermediate biosynthetic genes are. Taken together, we propose a 'Three Faucets and Cisterns Model' about the relationship among the rate-limiting enzymes OsDXSs, OsPSYs, and OsBCHs as a "Faucet", the biosynthetic capacity of intermediate metabolites as a "Cistern", and the carotenoid accumulations as the content of "Cistern".

CONCLUSION

Our study suggests that OsDXS2 plays an important role as a rate-limiting enzyme supplying IPP/DMAPPs to the seed-carotenoid accumulation, and rice seed carotenoid metabolism could be largely enhanced without any significant transcriptional alteration of carotenogenic genes. Finally, the "Three Faucets and Cisterns model" presents the extenuating circumstance to elucidate rice seed carotenoid metabolism.

Enzymatic Synthesis of Methylated Terpene Analogues Using the Plasticity of Bacterial Terpene Synthases

Methylated analogues of isopentenyl diphosphate were synthesised and enzymatically incorporated into methylated terpenes. A detailed stereochemical analysis of the obtained products is presented. The methylated terpene precursors were also used in conjunction with various isotopic labellings to gain insights into the mechanisms of their enzymatic formation.

Synthesis of deuterium-labeled derivatives of dimethylallyl diphosphate

Short practical syntheses for five deuterium-labeled derivatives of dimethylallyl diphosphate (DMAPP) useful for enzymological studies are reported. These include the preparation of the C1-labeled derivatives (R)-[1-2H]3-methylbut-2-enyl diphosphate ((R)-[1-2H]1-OPP) and (S)-[1-2H]3-methylbut-2-enyl diphosphate ((S)-[1-2H]1-OPP), the C2-labeled derivative [2-2H]3-methylbut-2-enyl diphosphate ([2-2H]1-OPP), and the methyl-labeled derivatives (E)-[4,4,4-2H3]3-methylbut-2-enyl diphosphate ((E)-[4,4,4-2H3]1-OPP) and (Z)-[4,4,4-2H3]3-methyl-but-2-enyl diphosphate ((Z)-[4,4,4-2H3]1-OPP).

Artepillin C isoprenomics: design and synthesis of artepillin C isoprene analogues as lipid peroxidation inhibitor having low mitochondrial toxicity

We designed and synthesized isoprene analogues of artepillin C, a major component of Brazilian propolis, and investigated the inhibitory activity on lipid peroxidation of rat liver mitochondria (RLM) and RLM toxicity based on isoprenomics. We succeeded in the synthesis of artepillin C isoprene analogues using regioselective prenylation within the range from 22% to 53% total yield. Reactivity of artepillin C and its isoprene analogues with ABTS (2,2'-Azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate)) radical cations showed only a slight difference among the molecules. The isoprene side-chain elongation analogues of artepillin C showed almost the same inhibitory activity against RLM lipid peroxidation as artepillin C. Artepillin C and its isoprene analogues had very weak RLM uncoupling activity. Moreover, artepillin C and its isoprene analogues exhibited a lower inhibitory activity against adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) synthesis by about two orders of magnitude than the effective inhibitory activity against RLM lipid peroxidation. From these results we conclude that artepillin C isoprene analogues could be potent lipid peroxidation inhibitors having low mitochondrial toxicity. We also conclude that elongation of the isoprene side chain of artepillin C to increase lipophilicity had little influence on the inhibitory activity toward RLM lipid peroxidation.

Stereochemical Analysis of Isopentenyl Diphosphate Isomerase Type II from Staphylococcus aureus Using Chemically Synthesized (S)- and (R)-[2-2H]Isopentenyl Diphosphates

[chemical reaction: see text]. To study the catalysis of isopentenyl diphosphate (IPP) isomerase type II from Staphylococcus aureus, which is a flavoprotein catalyzing the interconversion of IPP and dimethylallyl diphosphate, we have chemically synthesized (S)- and (R)-[2-2H]IPP and carried out stereochemical analysis of the reaction. Our results show that the C-2 deprotonation of IPP by this enzyme is pro-R stereospecific, suggesting a similar stereochemical course as the type I enzyme.

Synthesis of chiral phosphoantigens and their activity in gamma delta T cell stimulation

Gammadelta T cells expressing Vgamma2Vdelta2 T cell receptors are activated by a broad range of phosphorus-containing small molecules, termed phosphoantigens, and are of interest in the context of the chemotherapy of B cell malignancies. Here, we report the synthesis of four pairs of chiral phosphoantigens: the bromohydrins of isopentenyl diphosphate (Phosphostim), the epoxides of isopentenyl diphosphate (EIPP); and the corresponding bromohydrin and epoxide analogs of but-3-enyl diphosphate. The ability of each compound to stimulate human Vgamma2Vdelta2 T cells was determined by TNF-alpha release and cell proliferation. In these assays, the (R)-bromohydrin diphosphates were, on average, about twice as active as the (S)-bromohydrin diphosphates. In contrast, the (S)-form of EIPP was about twice as active as (R)-EIPP. The activities of the epoxy but-3-enyl diphosphates were both very low. These results suggest that chiral phosphoantigens, as opposed to racemic mixtures, may have utility in immunotherapy.

Multienzyme mevalonate pathway bioreactor

The five-carbon metabolic intermediate isopentenyl diphosphate constitutes the basic building block for the biosynthesis of all isoprenoids in all forms of life. Two distinct pathways lead from amphibolic intermediates to isopentenyl diphosphate. The Gram-positive cocci and certain other pathogenic bacteria employ exclusively the mevalonate pathway, a set of six enzyme-catalyzed reactions that convert 3 mol of acetyl-CoA to 1 mol each of carbon dioxide and isopentenyl diphosphate. The survival of the Gram-positive cocci requires a fully functional set of mevalonate pathway enzymes. These enzymes therefore represent potential targets of inhibitors that might be employed as antibiotics directed against multidrug-resistant strains of certain bacterial pathogens. A rapid throughput, bioreactor-based assay to assess the effects of potential inhibitors on several enzymes simultaneously should prove useful for the survey of candidate inhibitors. To approach this goal, and as a proof of concept, we employed enzymes from the Gram-positive pathogen Enterococcus faecalis. Purified recombinant enzymes that catalyze the first three reactions of the mevalonate pathway were immobilized in two kinds of continuous flow enzyme bioreactors: a classical hollow fiber bioreactor and an immobilized plug flow bioreactor that exploited a novel method of enzyme immobilization. Both bioreactor types employed recombinant acetoacetyl-CoA thiolase, HMG-CoA synthase, and HMG-CoA reductase from E. faecalis to convert acetyl-CoA to mevalonate, the central intermediate of the mevalonate pathway. Reactor performance was monitored continuously by spectrophotometric measurement of the concentration of NADPH in the reactor effluent. Additional potential applications of an Ni(++) affinity support bioreactor include using recombinant enzymes from extremophiles for biosynthetic applications. Finally, linking a Ni(++) affinity support bioreactor to an HPLC-mass spectrometer would provide an experimental and pedagogical tool for study of metabolite flux and pool sizes of intermediates to model regulation in intact cells.

Proton Exchange in Type II Isopentenyl Diphosphate Isomerase

[reaction: see text] Type II isopentenyl diphosphate:dimethylallyl diphosphate (IPP:DMAPP) isomerase from Synechocystis PCC 6803 catalyzes the interconversion of IPP and DMAPP. Upon incubation of the enzyme with IPP or DMAPP in 2H2O, one deuterium is incorporated into the C2 methylene of IPP, two deuteriums are incorporated at C4, and three deuteriums are incorporated into the (E)-methyl of DMAPP.

Synthesis and biological activity of isopentenyl diphosphate analogues

A series of analogues of isopentenyl diphosphate (IPP) having a dicarboxylate moiety in place of the diphosphate were synthesized and investigated as inhibitors of undecaprenyl diphosphate (UPP) synthase and protein farnesyltransferase (PFTase). PFTase is involved in control of cell proliferation and is known to be inhibited by certain maleic acid derivatives bearing long alkyl substituents (> or =12 carbons, e.g., chaetomellic acid). UPP synthase is a potential target for antimicrobial agents and utilizes isopentenyl diphosphate (IPP) as a substrate. A number of dicarboxylate-containing IPP analogues were prepared in 2-5 steps from commercially available starting materials with good overall yield (20-78%). These syntheses involved the conjugate addition of an organocuprate to dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate (DMAD) followed by basic ester hydrolysis. The E-pentenylbutanedioic acid 32 showed inhibition of UPP synthase with an IC(50) of 135 microM. Compound 30 displays competitive inhibition of PFTase with a K(i) of 287 microM.

Effect of Chemical Oxidation on the Self-Assembly of Organometallic Block Copolymers

The thermodynamic interactions in poly(styrene-block-ferrocenyldimethylsilane) and poly(isoprene-block-ferrocenyldimethylsilane) copolymers were systematically tuned by oxidation of the ferrocene moieties with silver nitrate. Small-angle X-ray scattering experiments show that oxidizing 8% of the ferrocene moieties lowers the order-disorder transition temperature of the copolymers by as much as 40 degrees C.

Spectral pattern recognition of in situ FT-IR spectroscopic reaction data using minimization of entropy and spectral similarity (MESS): application to the homogeneous rhodium catalyzed hydroformylation of isoprene

An improved algorithm using minimization of entropy and spectral similarity (MESS) was tested to recover pure component spectra from in situ experimental Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) reaction spectral data, which were collected from a homogeneous rhodium catalyzed hydroformylation of isoprene. The experimental spectra are complicated and highly overlapping because of the presence of multiple intermediate products in this reaction system. The traditional entropy minimization method fails to resolve real reaction mixture spectra, but MESS can successfully reconstruct pure component spectra of unknown intermediate products for real reaction systems by the addition of minimization of spectral similarity. The quantitative measure of spectral similarity between two spectra was given by their inner products. The results indicate that MESS is a stable and useful algorithm for spectral pattern recognition of highly overlapped experimental reaction spectra. Comparison is also made between MESS, entropy minimization, simple-to-use interactive self-modeling mixture analysis (SIMPLISMA), interactive principle component analysis (IPCA), and orthogonal projection approach-alternating least squares (OPA-ALS).