近三年环烯醚萜类新化合物的研究进展

环烯醚萜类化合物是一类具有镇静、止痛、抗氧化、抗肿瘤等多种生理活性的天然活性分子。本文以环烯醚萜类化合物的母核结构特征进行分类,对近三年为主文献报导的新环烯醚萜类化合物进行了综述。     

植物萜类生物合成中的后修饰酶

萜类化合物由于其结构类型丰富多样而被称为"terpenome".除了参与植物生长发育、环境应答等生理过程,萜类化合物还应用于医药、有机化工等领域.萜类的生物合成大致可分为前体形成、骨架构建以及后修饰三部分,基本骨架通常由萜类合酶催化形成,进一步在后修饰酶的作用下产生数以万计的萜类化合物.结合我们对香茶菜二萜生物合成的初步研究结果,本文主要针对近年来植物萜类生物合成中的一些有代表性的后修饰酶包括P450单氧酶、双键还原酶、酰基转移酶和糖基转移酶,进行研究现状分析与展望.     

大戟二萜结构及其生理活性研究进展（Ⅰ）：曼西醇及其相关碳骨 …

从大戟属植物中已发现１５种碳骨架类型的二萜化合物。本文综述了其中曼西醇二萜类及其相关碳骨架二萜醇类（１４β－羟基曼醇,阿勒颇测大戟醇和鸡肠狼毒大戟醇型）的结构及它们的刺激性、抗癌性和杀菌作用等生理活性和生命合成关系的研究。其中包括５种新碳骨架醇的３３个高氧化型二萜多酯类。     

大戟二萜结构及其生理活性研究进展(Ⅰ)——曼西醇及其相关碳骨架二萜醇类

从大戟属植物中已发现 15种碳骨架类型的二萜化合物。本文综述了其中曼西醇二萜类及其相关碳骨架二萜醇类 ( 14β-羟基曼西醇 ,阿勒颇测大戟醇和鸡肠狼毒大戟醇型 )的结构及它们的刺激性、抗癌性和杀菌作用等生理活性和生物合成关系的研究。其中包括 4种新碳骨架醇的 33个高氧化型二萜多酯类。     

单萜类化合物的微生物合成

单萜类化合物是萜类化合物的一种,一般具有挥发性和较强的香气,部分单萜还具有抗氧化、抗菌、抗炎等生理活性,是医药、食品和化妆品工业的重要原料.近年来,利用微生物异源合成单萜类化合物的研究引起了科研人员的广泛关注,但因产量低、生产成本高等限制了其大规模应用.合成生物学的迅猛发展为微生物生产单萜类化合物提供了新的手段,通过改...     

大肠杆菌微细胞工厂生产萜类化合物研究进展

萜类化合物(terpenoids)是自然界中分布最广泛的天然产物,因其多样的生理活性和经济价值而被人们认识和开发。近年来,代谢工程及合成生物学的发展使得生物合成萜类化合物备受关注。本文中,笔者总结了萜类化合物合成的路线及其在大肠杆菌研究中取得的进展,探讨和展望了可能的发展方向,为大肠杆菌微细胞工厂合成萜类产物的研究提供参考和启示。     

台湾扁柏化学成分研究进展

从植物台湾扁柏（Chamaecyparis obtusa var．formosana）中提取分离得到一百多种化合物,这些化合物大多结构新颖、具有较强生理活性,主要有倍半萜类、双萜类、木酚素类、固醇类以及其它化合物。本文综述了从该植物中得到的各类化学成分的结构和^13C NMR谱图数据。     

细胞区室化调控萜类化合物微生物合成

萜类化合物具有抗炎、抗氧化、抑制肿瘤细胞增殖等药学活性,在医药行业应用广泛。近年来,利用微生物合成萜类化合物受到广泛关注。在微生物中高效合成萜类化合物离不开代谢途径的调控与优化,其中细胞区室化是常用的调控策略之一,在微生物细胞工厂的构建中发挥着重要作用。代谢途径的细胞区室化具有许多优点,如增加酶和底物的局部浓度,抑制其向副产物转移和减少有毒中间体积累等,可实现萜类化合物的高效合成。近年来利用细胞区室化在微生物中合成萜类化合物的研究逐步展开,但目前对于区室化工程在构建细胞工厂中的应用总结较少。因此,围绕代谢途径区室化的作用,各种细胞器的生理特性及其在调控萜类化合物微生物合成中的应用进行了综述,讨论细胞区室化调控策略的发展、存在的问题及前景,以期为萜类化合物的高效微生物合成提供参考。     

中藏药环烯醚萜生物合成途径及其关键酶研究

环烯醚萜类化合物广泛存在于自然界之中,是许多中藏药的主要药用成分。研究发现该类化合物具有许多药理活性,如抗炎镇痛作用、保护心血管作用、保肝作用等。结合近年国内外研究,对中藏药中环烯醚萜类生物合成途径及萜类前体、环烯醚萜骨架合成相关的关键酶（HMGR、DXS、DXR、HDR、IDI、GPPS、GES、G10H、10-HGO、IS）与编码基因的研究进行综述,以期为进一步挖掘基因功能,调控活性成分积累,提高药材品质,对中藏药中环烯醚萜类成分进一步开发利用奠定基础。     

大型担子菌中二萜化合物生物合成研究进展

大型担子菌分布广泛,种类繁多,它们是重要的食药用资源的宝库。萜类化合物是其主要活性成分之一,包括倍半萜、二萜和三萜等,这些化合物具有预防、缓解或治疗癌症、抑郁症、糖尿病和高脂血症等多种疾病的功效。目前,从担子菌中分离出的二萜类化合物基本骨架结构特征主要为鸟巢烷(cyathanes)型、截短侧耳素(pleuromutilins)型、guanacastanes型、海松烷(pimaranes)型、松香烷(abietanes)型和毛皮伞烷(crinipellins)型6大类型。本文综述了担子菌中二萜类化合物的结构特点、生物活性和生物合成的研究进展,对参与担子菌中二萜化合物生物合成的二萜合成酶进行了分类,对两种重要的二萜化合物生物合成途径进行了系统总结和论述。本文将为未知二萜化合物生物合成途径及关键基因功能解析提供参考。     

Antiviral and cytotoxic activities of new derivatives of natural sesquiterpenes and taxol

Common occurrences of serious viral infections and a small number of available antiviral chemotherapeutics necessitate research for new, biologically active substances, which might be of use as antiviral drugs. Natural compounds, e.g., derived from plants and fungi, which show significant and various biological activities, may be a source of potential drugs. Sesquiterpenes, as well as taxol, and their derivatives, may serve as an example. The aim of the present study was to investigate the antiviral, antibacterial and cytotoxic properties of 7 new compounds: derivatives of sesquiterpenes of Lactarius mushroom origin and taxol--N-benzoylphenylisoserinates of sesquiterpenoid alcohols. The cytotoxicity of the tested compounds against Vero, RD, LLC-MK2 and A549 cell lines were assessed using the formazan method. All compounds showed a lower cytotoxicity than taxol. Their antiviral activity in vitro was evaluated by assessing the reduction of virus titre in cells subjected to the compounds in comparison to the cells, which were not subjected to them. It was found that out of 7 investigated compounds 3 exhibited antiviral activity. These compounds inhibited replication of HSV-1 virus in Vero cells. It appears therefore that further investigation of these groups of compounds and their derivatives is justified because they may constitute a potential source of chemotherapeutics.     

Tree resin composition, collection behavior and selective filters shape chemical profiles of tropical bees (Apidae: Meliponini)

The diversity of species is striking, but can be far exceeded by the chemical diversity of compounds collected, produced or used by them. Here, we relate the specificity of plant-consumer interactions to chemical diversity applying a comparative network analysis to both levels. Chemical diversity was explored for interactions between tropical stingless bees and plant resins, which bees collect for nest construction and to deter predators and microbes. Resins also function as an environmental source for terpenes that serve as appeasement allomones and protection against predators when accumulated on the bees' body surfaces. To unravel the origin of the bees' complex chemical profiles, we investigated resin collection and the processing of resin-derived terpenes. We therefore analyzed chemical networks of tree resins, foraging networks of resin collecting bees, and their acquired chemical networks. We revealed that 113 terpenes in nests of six bee species and 83 on their body surfaces comprised a subset of the 1,117 compounds found in resins from seven tree species. Sesquiterpenes were the most variable class of terpenes. Albeit widely present in tree resins, they were only found on the body surface of some species, but entirely lacking in others. Moreover, whereas the nest profile of Tetragonula melanocephala contained sesquiterpenes, its surface profile did not. Stingless bees showed a generalized collecting behavior among resin sources, and only a hitherto undescribed species-specific "filtering" of resin-derived terpenes can explain the variation in chemical profiles of nests and body surfaces from different species. The tight relationship between bees and tree resins of a large variety of species elucidates why the bees' surfaces contain a much higher chemodiversity than other hymenopterans.     

Plant Volatilome in Greece: a Review on the Properties,Prospects, and Chemogeography

Knowing plant volatile chemodiversity and its distribution is essential in order to study biological processes, to estimate the plants' value in use, and to establish sustainable exploitation practices. Yet, attempts to collect and assess data on scent diversity and properties in well‐defined geographical areas are rare. Here, we developed a geo‐referenced database of the plant volatilome in Greece by consolidating the results included in 116 research articles published in the last 25 years. The data set compiled includes 999 volatile organic compounds distributed into 178 plant taxa, 59 genera, and 19 families. Distillation is the acquisition method almost exclusively used, whereas headspace techniques that would allow the study of subtle ecological processes are generally lacking. Sesquiterpenes show the greatest richness of compounds, followed by monoterpenes and aliphatics. We assess the volatility of the compounds using the normal boiling point (nBP) as its reverse indicator, and we present the volatility spectra of the blends of the genera studied. Mean nBPs vary among genera, with maximal differences as wide as 118.4°. Finally, we feature basic chemodiversity maps for three aromatic plants, and discuss their importance and prospects as a special case of natural resources maps.     

Composition of essential oils of some lipidote Rhododendrons

Essential oils from leaves of 43 species of Rhododendron comprising 21 subsections were generally complex, and contained a number of compounds that were not identified. Caryophyllene, humulene, and one or more eudesmol isomers were the most commonly identified constituents. α-Pinene was the major component in eight of the oils, and germacrone was the major component in five of the oils. Monoterpenes were the major components of the oils in eight of the 12 species of subsection Triflora that were examined. Sesquiterpenes were major components in about 80% of the other 31 species.     

Chemistry and Biology of the Genus Flourensia (Asteraceae)

Flourensia species are dominant plants that are adapted to semidesertic and desertic regions. It is believed that they are successful plants because they employ several protection mechanisms, including the formation of a waxy film on their aerial parts to protect them from dehydration. This waxy film contains chemical compounds that are capable of inhibiting the growth of other plants and of acting as allelopathic and herbicidal agents and as germination inhibitors. These plants also limit herbivory, and they exhibit insecticidal, insect antifeedant, antibacterial, antifungal, antialgal, and antitermite activities. Sesquiterpenes, flavonoids, benzofurans, chromenes, coumarins, lupan triterpenes, aliphatic lactones, and aromatic and acetilenic compounds have all been isolated from the organic extracts of Flourensia species. Monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, and aliphatic hydrocarbons are the main constituents found in their essential oils. This review is an overview of the chemical constituents and of the biological activities of Flourensia species.     

Geographical and environment-related variations of essential oils in isolated populations of Thymus richardii Pers. in the Mediterranean basin

Composition of essential oils of different populations of Thymus richardii grex of six localities from Bosnia-Herzegovina (Konjic, Borci), Spain (Majorca, Ibiza, Valencia) and Italy (Marettimo, Sicily) were determined by GC/FID and GC/MS. The main constituents in most of the samples were aromatic monoterpenes corresponding to non-phenolic cyclic compounds (p-cymene, γ-terpinene). The highest monoterpene concentrations were found in the Bosnian samples (70%), and the lowest in samples from the Balearic Islands (<30%; Ibiza and Majorca). Sesquiterpenes were the major component (average > 50%) in samples from Majorca with β-bisabolene (>40%) being the principal constituent. Discriminant analysis (LDA) shows the differentiation of two chemotypes: A (phenol chemotype), with p-cymene and γ-terpinene as characteristic compounds and B, with β-bisabolene and carvacrol, as major and significative compounds. The occurrence of the chemotypes was related to summer positive precipitation and to deep of soils.     

Population divergence in the ontogenetic trajectories of foliar terpenes of a Eucalyptus species

Background and Aims The development of plant secondary metabolites during early life stages can have significant ecological and evolutionary implications for plant–herbivore interactions. Foliar terpenes influence a broad range of ecological interactions, including plant defence, and their expression may be influenced by ontogenetic and genetic factors. This study investigates the role of these factors in the expression of foliar terpene compounds in Eucalyptus globulus seedlings.Methods Seedlings were sourced from ten families each from three genetically distinct populations, representing relatively high and low chemical resistance to mammalian herbivory. Cotyledon-stage seedlings and consecutive leaf pairs of true leaves were harvested separately across an 8-month period, and analysed for eight monoterpene compounds and six sesquiterpene compounds.Key Results Foliar terpenes showed a series of dynamic changes with ontogenetic trajectories differing between populations and families, as well as between and within the two major terpene classes. Sesquiterpenes changed rapidly through ontogeny and expressed opposing trajectories between compounds, but showed consistency in pattern between populations. Conversely, changed expression in monoterpene trajectories was population- and compound-specific.Conclusions The results suggest that adaptive opportunities exist for changing levels of terpene content through ontogeny, and evolution may exploit the ontogenetic patterns of change in these compounds to create a diverse ontogenetic chemical mosaic with which to defend the plant. It is hypothesized that the observed genetically based patterns in terpene ontogenetic trajectories reflect multiple changes in the regulation of genes throughout different terpene biosynthetic pathways.     

Chemical polymorphism of the essential oils from populations of Thymus caespititius grown on the islands Pico,Faial and Graciosa (Azores)

The compositions of the essential oils isolated from the aerial parts of 11 populations of Thymus caespititius collected during the flowering phase on Pico, Faial and Graciosa (Azores) were studied by GC and GC-MS. The monoterpene fraction was dominant in all the oils analysed (55-90%) and consisted mainly of oxygen-containing compounds (44-79%). Sesquiterpenes represented an important fraction of the oils from the populations grown on Graciosa (13-28%). In contrast, this fraction was rather small in the oils from the populations grown on Pico and Faial (6-11%). Despite this, oxygen-containing compounds (4-18%) were always dominant. Cluster analysis of all identified oil components grouped the oils into three main clusters that corresponded with their main components. The oils from the 11 populations studied showed a clear chemical polymorphism that, in some cases, was more evident among populations growing on the same island than among those from different islands.     

Metabolic engineering of Escherichia coli for α-farnesene production

Sesquiterpenes are important materials in pharmaceuticals and industry. Metabolic engineering has been successfully used to produce these valuable compounds in microbial hosts. However, the microbial potential of sesquiterpene production is limited by the poor heterologous expression of plant sesquiterpene synthases and the deficient FPP precursor supply. In this study, we engineered E. coli to produce α-farnesene using a codon-optimized α-farnesene synthase and an exogenous MVA pathway. Codon optimization of α-farnesene synthase improved both the synthase expression and α-farnesene production. Augmentation of the metabolic flux for FPP synthesis conferred a 1.6- to 48.0-fold increase in α-farnesene production. An additional increase in α-farnesene production was achieved by the protein fusion of FPP synthase and α-farnesene synthase. The engineered E. coli strain was able to produce 380.0 mg/L of α-farnesene, which is an approximately 317-fold increase over the initial production of 1.2 mg/L.