Metabolic Engineering of Plant L-Ascorbic Acid Biosynthesis: Recent Trends and Applications

ABSTRACT

Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid; AsA) is the major soluble antioxidant found in plants and is also an essential component of human nutrition. Although numerous biotechnological methods have been exploited to increase its yield, pressures such as commercial competition and environmental concerns make it urgent to find a new way for industrial production of plant-derived AsA. Engineering plant AsA has now become feasible because of our increased understanding of its biosynthetic pathway. Several possible strategies could be followed to increase AsA production, such as overcoming the rate limiting steps in the biosynthetic pathway, promoting recycling, and reducing catabolism. For these purposes, genes of plant, microbial and animal origins have been successfully used. Several examples will be given to illustrate these various approaches. The existing and potential achievements in increasing AsA production would provide the opportunity for enhancing nutritional quality and stress tolerance of crop plants.     

Ascorbic Acid in Plants: Biosynthesis and Function

ABSTRACT

Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) is an abundant component of plants. It reaches a concentration of over 20 mM in chloroplasts and occurs in all cell compartments, including the cell wall. It has proposed functions in photosynthesis as an enzyme cofactor (including synthesis of ethylene, gibberellins and anthocyanins) and in control of cell growth. A biosynthetic pathway via GDP-mannose, GDP-L-galactose, L-galactose, and L-galactono-1,4-lactone has been proposed only recently and is supported by molecular genetic evidence from the ascorbate-deficient vtcl mutant of Arabidopsis thaliana. Other pathways via uronic acids could provide minor sources of ascorbate. Ascorbate, at least in some species, is a precursor of tartrate and oxalate. It has a major role in photosynthesis, acting in the Mehler peroxidase reaction with ascorbate peroxidase to regulate the redox state of photosynthetic electron carriers and as a cofactor for violaxanthin de-epoxidase, an enzyme involved in xanthophyll cycle-mediated photoprotection. The hypersensitivity of some of the vtc mutants to ozone and UV-B radiation, the rapid response of ascorbate peroxidase expression to (photo)-oxidative stress, and the properties of transgenic plants with altered ascorbate peroxidase activity all support an important antioxidative role for ascorbate. In relation to cell growth, ascorbate is a cofactor for prolyl hydroxylase that posttranslationally hydroxylates proline residues in cell wall hydroxyproline-rich glycoproteins required for cell division and expansion. Additionally, high ascorbate oxidase activity in the cell wall is correlated with areas of rapid cell expansion. It remains to be determined if this is a causal relationship and, if so, what is the mechanism. Identification of the biosynthetic pathway now opens the way to manipulating ascorbate biosynthesis in plants, and, along with the vtc mutants, this should contribute to a deeper understanding of the proposed functions of this multifacetted molecule.     

Changes in Abscisic Acid Biosynthesis and Catabolism during Dormancy Breaking in Fagus sylvatica Embryo

At harvest, embryos of Fagus sylvatica are dormant. A cold pretreatment without medium at 30% moisture content allowed them to germinate. A comparison of the abscisic acid (ABA) content before and after the pretreatment has no significant relevance since dormancy is expressed during the culture at 23°C. During this culture, both de novo biosynthesis and conjugate hydrolysis contributed to maintain a high level of ABA in the dormant axis. The level of conjugates and the rate of hydrolysis were not modified substantially by the cold pretreatment. In contrast, the dormancy release was associated with a strong decrease in the capacity for ABA synthesis. Moreover, feeding (+)-[³H]ABA to untreated and pretreated embryos proved that the cold treatment also induced a hastening of ABA catabolism. Received August 15, 1996; accepted December 6, 1996     

Formation of Tartaric Acid in Vitaceous Plants: Relative Contributions of L-Ascorbic Acid-inclusive and -noninclusive Pathways

The biosynthetic conversion of D-glucose to tartaric acid (TA)was studied in attached leaves and berries of Vitis labruscacv. Delaware (grape), and in leaves of Parthenocissus quinquefoliaL. (Virginia creeper) under light or dark conditions. D-[2-¹⁴C,3-³H]glucose was supplied for a period of 12 h and the ratioof ³H to ¹⁴C in cell wall-derived glucosyl units and TA wasexamined. TA produced via L-ascorbic acid (AA) should lose 3Hduring this conversion while TA produced via D-gluconate shouldretain ³H. In the light, approximately 85 to 91% of the TA presentin grapes and 98% of the TA present in Virginia creeper appearedto be generated via the pathway that involves AA. In the dark,approximately 69 to 74% of the TA in grapes and 87% of the TAin Virginia creeper was synthesized via the AA pathway. When0.5% unlabeled AA was present in the solution of labeled D-glucosethat was supplied to attached leaves of Virginia creeper, agreater proportion of TA was produced via the non-AA pathway.Similarly, detached Virginia creeper leaves produced a greaterproportion of TA via the non-AA pathway. These studies indicatethat vitaceous plants utilize the AA-inclusive pathway to producea major portion of their TA, especially in the light. The valueof P. quinquefolia as a useful model for year-round study ofthe biosynthesis of AA and TA is also discussed. (Received January 23, 1989; Accepted June 19, 1989)     

高等植物脱落酸的生物合成及其调控

介绍了近年来高等植物体内ABA的合成部位,ABA生物合成缺陷型突变体,ABA生物合成途径及其调控的最新研究进展。     

Further Studies on Oxalic Acid Biosynthesis in Oxalate-accumulating Plants

l-Ascorbic acid functions as a precursor of oxalic acid in several oxalate-accumulating plants. The present study extends this observation to include Rumex crispus L. (curly dock), Amaranthus retroflexus L. (red root pigweed), Chenopodium album L. (lamb's-quarters), Beta vulgaris L. (sugar beet), Halogeton glomeratus M. Bieb. (halogeton), and Rheum rhabarbarum L. (rhubarb). Several species with low oxalate content are also examined.     

Local and Systemic Biosynthesis of Salicylic Acid in Infected Cucumber Plants

Radiolabeling studies showed that salicylic acid (SA), an essential component in the signal transduction pathway leading to systemic acquired resistance, is synthesized from phenylalanine (Phe) and benzoic acid in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) plants inoculated with pathogens. Leaf discs from plants inoculated with either tobacco necrosis virus or Pseudomonas lachrymans incorporated more [14C]Phe into [14C]SA than mock-inoculated controls. The identity of SA was confirmed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. No reduction in specific activity of [14C]SA was observed for either free or bound SA between control and infected plants after feeding [14C]Phe. A specific inhibitor of Phe ammonia-lyase, 2-aminoindan-2-phosphonic acid, completely inhibited the incorporation of [14C]Phe into [14C]SA, although plants treated with 2-aminoindan-2-phosphonic acid could still produce [14C]SA from [14C]benzoic acid. Biosynthesis of SA in tissue inoculated with tobacco necrosis virus followed a transient pattern with the highest induction occurring 72 h postinoculation. Uninfected tissues from an infected plant synthesized de novo more SA than did controls. This suggests the involvement of a systemic signal triggering SA synthesis in tissue distant from the site of infection that display systemic acquired resistance.     

高等植物体中植酸合成、代谢及其生理作用

本文对植酸及其存在形式、代谢、调控及在高等植物内的生理作用作了介绍。     

植物抗坏血酸的合成和代谢以及相关酶基因的调控

本文对植物抗坏血酸的生物合成与代谢途径以及相关酶基因调控的研究进展作介绍。     

Ricinoleic Acid Catabolism in Peroxisomes

Peroxisomes from castor bean endosperm and mung bean hypocotyl completely degrade ricinoleic acid (12-D-hydroxy-9-cis-octadecenoic acid) to acetyl-CoA. Concomitant NADH formation occurred with a stoichiometry of 9 nmol NADH formed per 1 nmol ricinoleate degraded. At the C₈-intermediate level, where the hydroxy group of ricinoleic acid forms a barrier to β-oxidation, 2-hydroxyoctanoate and 2-oxooctanoate were detected as intermediates. 2-Hydroxyoctanoate was oxidized to 2-oxooctanoate with H₂O₂ producing a reaction exhibiting 1:1 stoichiometry of the products. The peroxisomes appeared to oxidize both isomers of racemic 2-hydroxyoctanoate. 2-Oxooctanoate was metabolized to heptanoyl-CoA (propionyl-CoA and acetyl-CoA) in a NAD-dependent, but ATP-independent, reaction. Heptanoate was not detected as an intermediate. Imidazole, an inhibitor of α-oxidation, did not effect the degradation of ricinoleate or 2-oxooctanoate. Arsenite, an inhibitor of oxidative decarboxylation, inhibited the metabolism of ricinoleate at the C₈-intermediate level, according to the accumulation of 2-oxooctanoate and the stoichiometry of concomitant NADH formation. Arsenite completely inhibited the metabolism of 2-oxooctanoate. It is concluded that the barrier caused by the hydroxy group of ricinoleic acid and prevention of β-oxidation at the C₈-intermediate level, is circumvented by an α-hydroxy acid oxidase reaction followed by an oxidative decarboxylation allowing return to the β-oxidation track.     

高等植物脱落酸生物合成的酶调控

高等植物ABA的生物合成开始于细胞质内的甲瓦龙酸 (MVA)或位于叶绿体内的丙酮酸_硫胺素焦磷酸 (TPP) ,经一系列反应最后在质体或胞质中形成的。除胁迫或植物发育中生理变化引起的诱导外 ,ABA的合成还受到一系列酶的调控 ,其中 ,玉米黄质环氧化酶 (ZE) ,9_顺环氧类胡萝卜素双加氧酶(NCED)和醛氧化酶 (AO)可能起到重要的调节作用。本文介绍近年来ABA生物合成酶调控的研究进展。     

渗透胁迫诱导的植物细胞中脱落酸的合成及其调控机制

植物细胞受到渗透胁迫后,细胞内脱落酸（ABA）迅速积累,文中就渗透胁迫诱导细胞中ABA的合成以及与其有关的信号感觉,转换,转导,相关基因的表达等过程及其调控机制作了概述。     

高等植物脱落酸生物合成的酶调控

高等植物ABA 的生物合成开始于细胞质内的甲瓦龙酸（MVA）或位于叶绿体内的丙酮酸_硫胺素焦磷酸（TPP）,经一系列反应最后在质体或胞质中形成的。除胁迫或植物发育中生理变化引起的诱导外,ABA的合成还受到一系列酶的调控,其中,玉米黄质环氧化酶（ZE）,9_顺环氧类胡萝卜素双加氧酶（NCED）和醛氧化酶（AO）可能起到重要的调节作用。本文介绍近年来ABA生物合成酶调控的研究进展。     

氨基酸生物合成抑制剂类除草剂作用机理及耐除草剂转基因植物研究进展

氨基酸是植物体内必不可少的物质,在植物的生长代谢中发挥着重要作用。与动物不同,植物的氨基酸供给全部靠自身来合成,一旦植物的氨基酸合成受阻,植物便难以继续生存。因此,植物氨基酸合成中的关键酶一直是新型除草剂研发中重要的靶标酶。在目前已经商品化的除草剂中,通过抑制植物氨基酸生物合成中的关键酶活性而发生作用的除草剂占很大比重;与此同时,随着植物转基因技术的不断发展完善,大批耐氨基酸生物合成抑制剂类除草剂转基因植物相继问世,成为了耐除草剂类转基因植物的主体。本文综述了常用的耐氨基酸生物合成抑制剂类除草剂、作用机理及耐除草剂转基因植物的研究进展。     

Decalcification for Electron Microscopy with L-Ascorbic Acid

L-Ascorbic acid decalcification was used for electron microscopy of mammalian tooth germs and bone after fixation in a glutaraldehyde-paraformaldehyde mixture. The recommended decalcifying solution is 2% with respect to L-ascorbic acid and 0.9% with respect to sodium chloride. The method has the advantage that decalcification is complete within a quarter of the time required with EDTA. The fine structure of ameloblasts and hard tissue is preserved as well as with EDTA.     

myo-Inositol 1-Phosphate Synthase Inhibition and Control of Uridine Diphosphate-d-glucuronic Acid Biosynthesis in Plants

Of the eight intermediates associated with the two pathways of UDP-d-glucuronic acid biosynthesis found in plants, only d-glucuronic acid inhibited myo-inositol 1-phosphate synthase (EC 5.5.1.4), formerly referred to as d-glucose 6-phosphate cycloaldolase. Inhibition was competitive. An attempt to demonstrate over-all reversibility of the synthase indicated that it was less than 5% reversible, if at all.