Cloning and functional characterization of a 4-coumarate CoA ligase from liverwort Plagiochasma appendiculatum. (March 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gao, Shuai; Yu, Hai-Na; Xu, Rui-Xue; Cheng, Ai-Xia; Lou, Hong-Xiang
• Is Part Of: Phytochemistry. Volume 111(2015:Mar.)
• Page Start: 48
• Page End: 58
• Publication Date: 2015-03
• Subjects: Liverwort -- Plagiochasma appendiculatum -- Marchantiales -- Aytoniaceae -- 4-Coumarate: coenzyme A ligase -- Phenylpropanoids -- Flavonoids -- Bis-bibenzyls; Botanical chemistry -- Periodicals; Biochemistry -- Periodicals; Botany -- Periodicals; Chimie végétale -- Périodiques; 572.2
• DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2014.12.017
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0031-9422

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Pa4CL1 showed high activity toward p -coumaric acid, along with the conversion of cinnamic acid and caffeic acid to their corresponding CoA thioesters; in particular, the enzyme participates in the conversion of dihydro- p -coumaric acid into dihydro- p -coumaroyl CoA, which is the precursor for bis-bibenzyl synthesis in liverworts. Highlights: A 4-coumarate: coenzyme A ligase ( Pa4CL1 ) gene was isolated from the liverwort Plagiochasma appendiculatum . The biochemical function of the Pa4CL1 was characterized. Pa4CL1 participates in the conversion of dihydro- p -coumaric acid into dihydro- p -coumaroyl CoA. Abstract: Plant phenylpropanoids represent a large group of secondary metabolites which have played an important role in terrestrial plant life, beginning with the evolution of land plants from primitive green algae. 4-Coumarate: coenzyme A ligase (4CL) is a provider of activated thioester substrates within the phenylpropanoid synthesis pathway. Although 4CLs have been extensively characterized in angiosperm, gymnosperm and moss species, little is known of their functions in liverworts. Here, a 4CL homolog (designated as Pa4CL1) was isolated from the liverwort species Plagiochasma appendiculatum . The full-length cDNA sequence of Pa4CL1 contains 1644 bp and is predicted to encode a protein with 547 amino acids. The gene products were 40–50% identical with 4CL sequences reported in public databases. The recombinant protein was heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli and exhibited a high level of 4CL activity, catalyzing formation of hydroxycinnamate-CoA thioesters by a two-step reaction mechanism from corresponding hydroxycinnamic acids. Kinetic analysis indicated that the most favorable substrate for Pa4CL1 is p -coumaric acid. The transcription of Pa4CL1 was induced when P. appendiculatum thallus was treated with either salicylic acid or methyl jasmonate.