The metabolite chemotype of Nicotiana benthamiana transiently expressing artemisinin biosynthetic pathway genes is a function of CYP71AV1 type and relative gene dosage. Issue 2 (2nd May 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ting, Hieng‐Ming; Wang, Bo; Rydén, Anna‐Margareta; Woittiez, Lotte; van, Teun; Verstappen, Francel W. A.; Ruyter‐Spira, Carolien; Beekwilder, Jules; Bouwmeester, Harro J.; van der, Alexander
• Is Part Of: New phytologist. Volume 199:Issue 2(2013)
• Page Start: 352
• Page End: 366
• Publication Date: 2013-05-02
• Subjects: Botany -- Periodicals; 580
• DOI: 10.1111/nph.12274
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0028-646X

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="nph12274-abs-0001"> <title>Summary</title> <p> <list id="nph12274-list-0001" list-type="bullet"> <list-item> <p> <italic>Artemisia annua</italic>, which produces the anti‐malaria compound artemisinin, occurs as high‐artemisinin production (HAP) and low‐artemisinin production (LAP) chemotypes. Understanding the basis of the difference between these chemotypes would assist breeding and optimising artemisinin biosynthesis.</p> </list-item> <list-item> <p>Here we present a systematic comparison of artemisinin biosynthesis genes that may be involved in determining the chemotype (<italic>CYP71AV1</italic>, <italic> DBR2</italic> and <italic>ALDH1</italic>). These genes were isolated from the two chemotypes and characterized using transient expression <italic>in planta</italic>. The enzyme activity of DBR2 and ALDH1 from the two chemotypes did not differ, but structural differences in CYP71AV1 from LAP and HAP chemotypes (AMOLAP and AMOHAP, respectively) resulted in altered enzyme activity.</p> </list-item> <list-item> <p>AMOLAP displays a seven amino acids N‐terminal extension compared with AMOHAP. The GFP fusion of both proteins show equal localization to the ER but AMOHAP may have reduced stability.</p> </list-item> <list-item> <p>Upon transient expression in <italic>Nicotiana benthamiana</italic>, AMOLAP displayed a higher enzyme activity than AMOHAP. However, expression in combination with the other pathway genes also resulted in a qualitatively different product profile ('chemotype'); that is, in a shift in the ratio between the unsaturated and saturated (dihydro) branch of the pathway.</p> </list-item> </list> </p> </abstract>