1. Synthesis of C-Glucosylated Octaketide Anthraquinones in Nicotiana benthamiana by Using a Multispecies-Based Biosynthetic Pathway
- Author
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Kenneth T. Kongstad, Dan Staerk, Majse Nafisi, Rubini Kannangara, Johan Andersen-Ranberg, Birger Lindberg Møller, Finn Thyge Okkels, Uffe Hasbro Mortensen, and Rasmus John Normand Frandsen
- Subjects
0106 biological sciences ,0301 basic medicine ,Glycosylation ,Stereochemistry ,Nicotiana benthamiana ,Anthraquinones ,01 natural sciences ,Biochemistry ,Streptomyces ,Anthraquinone ,03 medical and health sciences ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,Biosynthesis ,Polyketide synthase ,Tobacco ,Molecular Biology ,chemistry.chemical_classification ,biology ,Carminic acid ,fungi ,Organic Chemistry ,biology.organism_classification ,Biosynthetic Pathways ,030104 developmental biology ,Enzyme ,chemistry ,biology.protein ,Molecular Medicine ,Polyketide Synthases ,010606 plant biology & botany - Abstract
Carminic acid is a C-glucosylated octaketide anthraquinone and the main constituent of the natural dye carmine (E120), possessing unique coloring, stability, and solubility properties. Despite being used since ancient times, longstanding efforts to elucidate its route of biosynthesis have been unsuccessful. Herein, a novel combination of enzymes derived from a plant (Aloe arborescens, Aa), a bacterium (Streptomyces sp. R1128, St), and an insect (Dactylopius coccus, Dc) that allows for the biosynthesis of the C-glucosylated anthraquinone, dcII, a precursor for carminic acid, is reported. The pathway, which consists of AaOKS, StZhuI, StZhuJ, and DcUGT2, presents an alternative biosynthetic approach for the production of polyketides by using a type III polyketide synthase (PKS) and tailoring enzymes originating from a type II PKS system. The current study showcases the power of using transient expression in Nicotiana benthamiana for efficient and rapid identification of functional biosynthetic pathways, including both soluble and membrane-bound enzymes.
- Published
- 2017