Cytochrome P450 CYP716A53v2 Catalyzes the Formation of Protopanaxatriol from Protopanaxadiol During Ginsenoside Biosynthesis in Panax Ginseng

Ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) is one of the most popular medicinal herbs, and the root of this plant contains pharmacologically active components, called ginsenosides. Ginsenosides, a class of tetracyclic triterpene saponins, are synthesized from dammarenediol-II after hydroxylation by cytochrome P450 (CYP) and then glycosylation by a glycosyltransferase. Protopanaxadiol synthase, which is a CYP enzyme (CYP716A47) that catalyzes the hydroxylation of dammarenediol-II at the C-12 position to yield protopanaxadiol, was recently characterized. Here, we isolated two additional CYP716A subfamily genes (CYP716A52v2 and CYP716A53v2) and determined that the gene product of CYP716A53v2 is a protopanaxadiol 6-hydroxylase that catalyzes the formation of protopanaxatriol from protopanaxadiol during ginsenoside biosynthesis in P. ginseng. Both CYP716A47 and CYP716A53v2 mRNAs accumulated ubiquitously in all organs of ginseng plants. In contrast, CYP716A52v2 mRNA accumulated only in the rhizome. Methyl jasmonate (MeJA) treatment resulted in the obvious accumulation of CYP716A47 mRNA in adventitious roots. However, neither CYP716A52v2 nor CYP716A53v2 mRNA was affected by MeJA treatment during the entire culture period. The ectopic expression of CYP716A53v2 in recombinant WAT21 yeast resulted in protopanaxatriol production after protopanaxadiol was added to the culture medium. In vitro enzymatic activity assays revealed that CYP716A53v2 catalyzed the oxidation of protopanaxadiol to produce protopanaxatriol. The chemical structures of the protopanaxatriol products were confirmed using liquid chromatography-atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry (LC/APCIMS). Our results indicate that the gene product of CYP716A53v2 is a protopanaxadiol 6-hydroxylase that produces protopanaxatriol from protopanaxadiol, which is an important step in the formation of dammarane-type triterpene aglycones in ginseng saponin biosynthesis.     

Metabolic engineering of Saccharomyces cerevisiae for production of ginsenosides

Ginsenosides are the primary bioactive components of ginseng, which is a popular medicinal herb and exhibits diverse pharmacological activities. Protopanaxadiol is the aglycon of several dammarane-type ginsenosides, which also has anticancer activity. For microbial production of protopanaxadiol, dammarenediol-II synthase and protopanaxadiol synthase genes of Panax ginseng, together with a NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase gene of Arabidopsis thaliana, were introduced into Saccharomyces cerevisiae, resulting in production of 0.05 mg/g DCW protopanaxadiol. Increasing squalene and 2,3-oxidosqualene supplies through overexpressing truncated 3-hydroxyl-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase, farnesyl diphosphate synthase, squalene synthase and 2,3-oxidosqualene synthase genes, together with increasing protopanaxadiol synthase activity through codon optimization, led to 262-fold increase of protopanaxadiol production. Finally, using two-phase extractive fermentation resulted in production of 8.40 mg/g DCW protopanaxadiol (1189 mg/L), together with 10.94 mg/g DCW dammarenediol-II (1548 mg/L). The yeast strains engineered in this work can serve as the basis for creating an alternative way for production of ginsenosides in place of extraction from plant sources.     

Dammarenediol-II synthase, the first dedicated enzyme for ginsenoside biosynthesis, in Panax ginseng

Panax ginseng produces triterpene saponins called ginsenosides, which are classified into two groups by the skeleton of aglycones, namely dammarane type and oleanane type. Dammarane-type ginsenosides dominate over oleanane type not only in amount but also in structural varieties. However, their sapogenin structure is restricted to two aglycones, protopanaxadiol and protopanaxatriol. So far, the genes encoding oxidosqualene cyclase (OSC) responsible for formation of dammarane skeleton have not been cloned, although OSC yielding oleanane skeleton (β-amyrin synthase) has been successfully cloned from this plant. In this study, cDNA cloning of OSC producing dammmarane triterpene was attempted from hairy root cultures of P. ginseng by homology based PCR method. A new OSC gene (named as PNA) obtained was expressed in a lanosterol synthase deficient (erg7) Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain GIL77. LC-MS and NMR analyses identified the accumulated product in the yeast transformant to be dammarenediol-II, demonstrating PNA to encode dammarenediol-II synthase.     

Production of bioactive ginsenosides Rh2 and Rg3 by metabolically engineered yeasts

Ginsenosides Rh2 and Rg3 represent promising candidates for cancer prevention and therapy and have low toxicity. However, the concentrations of Rh2 and Rg3 are extremely low in the bioactive constituents (triterpene saponins) of ginseng. Despite the available heterologous biosynthesis of their aglycone (protopanaxadiol, PPD) in yeast, production of Rh2 and Rg3 by a synthetic biology approach was hindered by the absence of bioparts to glucosylate the C3 hydroxyl of PPD. In this study, two UDP-glycosyltransferases (UGTs) were cloned and identified from Panax ginseng. UGTPg45 selectively transfers a glucose moiety to the C3 hydroxyl of PPD and its ginsenosides. UGTPg29 selectively transfers a glucose moiety to the C3 glucose of Rh2 to form a 1–2-glycosidic bond. Based on the two UGTs and a yeast chassis to produce PPD, yeast cell factories were built to produce Rh2 and/or Rg3 from glucose. The turnover number (k_cat) of UGTPg29 was more than 2500-fold that of UGTPg45, which might explain the higher Rg3 yield than that of Rh2 in the yeast cell factories. Building yeast cell factories to produce Rh2 or Rg3 from simple sugars by microbial fermentation provides an alternative approach to replace the traditional method of extracting ginsenosides from Panax plants.     

三七叶、人参叶和西洋参叶皂苷类成分的研究(英文)

三七叶、人参叶和西洋参叶其皂苷类成分相近,但专属性成分各异,皂苷类成分的分布比例也各不相同。本文建立了HPLC-UV法测定上述皂苷成分的方法,经过方法学考察,各种皂苷成分精密度好、加样回收率高,方法可靠。11种皂苷成分总含量顺序为:西洋参叶>人参叶>三七叶;二醇组皂苷成分含量:西洋参叶>三七叶>人参叶;三醇组皂苷成分含量:人参叶>西洋参叶>三七叶。西洋参叶中二醇组皂苷和人参叶中三醇组皂苷含量明显高于其他。西洋参叶中人参皂苷Rb3和Rd的含量之和占11种皂苷成分的60%以上。鉴于其中人参皂苷的高含量,三七叶、人参叶和西洋参叶应该作为皂苷来源得到充分利用;不同的皂苷成分有不同的药理活性,应基于它们的皂苷组成和比例选择性进行研究和开发。     

Protopanaxadiol 6-hydroxylase and its role in regulating the ginsenoside heterogeneity in Panax notoginseng cells

Various structure-similar plant secondary metabolites like ginseng saponins (ginsenosides) possess different or even totally opposite biological activities. Intentional manipulation of the ginsenoside heterogeneity in cellular biosynthesis is of great interest and significance [Zhong and Yue (2005); Adv Biochem Eng Biotechnol 100:53-88]. In this work, CO-binding spectra of microsomes prepared from the suspended cells of Panax notoginseng showed increases in absorption at 450 nm compared with the control without CO sparging, and protopanaxadiol 6-hydroxylase (P6H), a new enzyme catalyzing the conversion of ginsenoside aglycone protopanaxadiol into protopanaxatriol, was found. P6H was dependent on NADPH and molecular oxygen. The enzymatic reaction was inhibited by carbon monoxide and partially reversible upon illumination with blue light, and sensitive to cytochrome P450 inhibitors. The results supported the contention that P6H was a cytochrome P450-dependent hydroxylase, whose catalytic product was confirmed to be protopanaxatriol by HPLC-MS. Induction of P6H activity by phenobarbital, a cytochrome P450 inducer, was observed. A maximal activity of P6H was obtained with addition of 0.5 mM phenobarbital on day 4 of shake-flask cultivation. The maximum content of protopanaxatriol-type ginsenosides (Rg(1) and Re, Rg group) and the maximum ratio of the content of protopanaxatriol: protopanaxadiol reached 6.88 +/- 0.21 mg g(-1) dry weight and 7.0, respectively, which was about 1.4 and 2.0-fold that of respective controls (without addition of phenobarbital). Oxidative burst was also observed in the cell cultures with addition of phenobarbital. P6H was concluded as a key enzyme in regulating Rg-group ginsenoside biosynthesis in P. notoginseng cells.     

Ginseng and obesity: observations and understanding in cultured cells,animals and humans

Ginseng, a traditional medical herb, has been reported having beneficial effects in fatigue, heart diseases, diabetes, immune function and erectile dysfunction. In recent years, increasing investigations have been conducted on ginseng in preventing and treating of obesity, one of the major worldwide escalating public health concerns. However, the effect and the relevant mechanisms behind how ginseng works as an antiobesity treatment are still controversial. In this review, we briefly discussed the chemical structures, metabolism and pharmacokinetics of ginseng and its major bioactive components ginsenosides. The major focus is on the antiobesity effects and the physiological, cellular and molecular mechanisms of ginseng and its ginsenosides in cultured cells, animal models and humans. We particularly compared the ginsenosides profiles, the antiobesity effects and the mechanisms between Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng) and American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius), the two major ginseng species having opposite medical effects in traditional Chinese medicine. Our unpublished data on the ginseng antiobesity in cultured cells and mice were also included. We further addressed the current problems and future directions of the ginseng antiobesity research.     

Different chilling stresses stimulated the accumulation of different types of ginsenosides in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Panax ginseng</Emphasis> cells

Ginseng (Panax ginseng) is one of the most medically important plants in the world. Dammarane-type ginsenosides, which mainly include protopanaxatriol-type (PPT-type) and protopanaxadiol-type (PPD-type) ginsenosides, are the major pharmacologically relevant compounds that are produced by ginseng. Dammarenediol-II synthase (DDS) is the first committed enzyme in the ginsenoside biosynthetic pathway for dammarane-type ginsenosides, and PPD-type and PPT-type ginsenosides are catalyzed by protopanaxadiol synthase (PPDS) and protopanaxatriol synthase (PPTS), respectively. Ginseng cells are often used in stress studies. During their growth and development, ginseng plants are often exposed to cold stress. This study evaluated the effects of different chilling stresses on the accumulation of ginsenosides and the expressions of the DDS, PPDS and PPTS genes in ginseng cells. The results showed that continuous chilling (5 °C for 12 h) induced the PPT-type ginsenosides; whereas intermittent chilling (25 °C for 12 h and 5 °C for 12 h) stimulated the accumulation of PPD-type ginsenosides. The expression levels of DDS, PPDS and PPTS were clearly consistent with the accumulation pattern for PPT-type ginsenosides under continuous chilling stress or PPD-type ginsenosides under intermittent chilling stress, as was their order of involvement in the PPT-type or PPD-type biosynthetic pathway. These results indicate that different chilling treatments stimulated the accumulation of different types of ginsenosides, suggesting that cold stress may be one of the reasons for ginsenoside accumulation in ginseng cells.     

Quantitative Comparison of Ginsenosides and Polyacetylenes in Wild and Cultivated American Ginseng

Quantitative comparison of seven ginsenosides in wild and cultivated American ginseng revealed that the Rg₁/Rd ratio presented a significantly large difference between cultivated and type‐I (one of the defined chemotypes) wild American ginseng, facilitating this ratio as a characteristic marker for differentiating these two groups. Similarly, the ratio (Rg₁+Re)/Rd, and the ratio of protopanaxatriol (PPT)‐type ginsenosides to protopanaxadiol (PPD)‐type ginsenosides showed a large difference between these two groups. On the other hand, type‐II wild samples were found to have high Rg₁/Rb₁ and Rg₁/Re ratios and low panaxydol/panaxynol ratio, which is entirely different from Type‐I American ginseng, but is very similar to that of Asian ginseng. This not only suggests that the chemotype should be taken into consideration properly when using these parameters for differentiating American and Asian ginseng, but also indicates that type‐II wild American ginseng may have distinct pharmacological activities and therapeutic effects.     

Advances in study of ginsenoside biosynthesis pathway in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Panax ginseng</Emphasis> C. A. Meyer

Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer is one of the important nutraceutical and medicinal plants, which is used worldwide. Until now, ginseng has been reported to contain saponins, antioxidants, peptides, polysaccharides, fatty acids, vitamins, alkaloids, lignans, and flavonoids. The saponins, known as ginsenosides, are widely believed to be the major bioactive compounds of ginseng. In this article, ginsenoside biosynthesis pathway and key enzymes regulation are also described. This review provides a reference for improving ginsenoside contents through regulation of ginsenoside biosynthesis pathway.     

Heterologous biosynthesis of triterpenoid dammarenediol-II in engineered <Emphasis Type="Italic">Escherichia coli</Emphasis>

Objectives

To achieve heterologous biosynthesis of dammarenediol-II, which is the precursor of dammarane-type tetracyclic ginsenosides, by reconstituting the 2,3-oxidosqualene-derived triterpenoid biosynthetic pathway in Escherichia coli.

Results

By the strategy of synthetic biology, dammarenediol-II biosynthetic pathway was reconstituted in E. coli by co-expression of squalene synthase (SS), squalene epoxidase (SE), NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase (CPR) from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and SE from Methylococcus capsulatus (McSE), NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase (CPR) from Arabidopsis thaliana. Sequences of transmembrane domains were truncated if necessary in each of the genes. Different sources of SE/CPR combinations were tested, during which two CPRs were detected to be new reductase partners of McSE. When the gene encoding dammarenediol-II synthase was co-expressed with the 2,3-oxidosqualene expression modules, dammarenediol-II was detected and the production was 8.63 mg l^?1 in E. coli under the shake-flask conditions.

Conclusions

Two E. coli chassis for production of dammarenediol-II were established which could be potentially applied in other triterpenoid production in E. coli when different oxidosqualene cyclases (OSCs) introduced into the system.

     

Antimelanogenic Activity of Ocotillol‐Type Saponins from Panax vietnamensis

The ocotillol (OCT)‐type saponins have been known as a tetracyclic triterpenoid, possessing five‐ or six‐membered epoxy ring in the side chain. Interestingly, this type saponin was mostly found in Panax vietnamensis Ha et Grushv ., Araliaceae (VG), hence making VG unique from the other Panax spp. Five OCT‐type saponins, majonoside R2, vina‐ginsenoside R2, majonoside R1, pseudoginsenoside RT4, vina‐ginsenoside R11, together with three protopanaxadiol (PPD)‐type saponins and four protopanaxatriol (PPT)‐type saponins from VG were evaluated for their antimelanogenic activity. All of isolates were found to be active. More importantly, the five OCT‐type saponins inhibited melanin production in B16‐F10 mouse melanoma cells, without showing any cytotoxicity. Besides ginsenoside Rd and ginsenoside Rg3 in PPD and notoginsenoside R1 in PPT‐type saponins, majonoside R2 was the most potent melanogenesis inhibitory activity in OCT‐type saponins. In this article, we highlighted antimelanogenic activity of OCT‐type saponins and potential structure–activity relationship (SAR) of ginsenosides. Our results suggested that OCT‐type saponins could be used as a depigmentation agent.     

Determination of major ginsenosides in Panax quinquefolius (American ginseng) using high-performance liquid chromatography

In order to determine the active ingredients in root extracts of Panax quinquefolius (American ginseng), a gradient HPLC method involving UV photodiode array detection was applied to separate and quantify simultaneously the ginsenosides Rb1, Rb2, Rc, Rd, Re, Rf and Rg1. All ginseng saponins were baseline-resolved under the selected conditions, and the detection limits were 1.0 microg/mL or less. The method has been applied to analyse ginsenosides extracted from American ginseng cultivated in both Wisconsin and Illinois. Ginsenosides Re and Rb1 were the two main ginseng saponins in the root. The amounts of Re in 5- and 7-year Illinois-cultivated samples were greater than those found in ginseng cultivated for 3 or 4 years in Wisconsin, whereas the levels of Rb1 were greater in the younger Wisconsin samples.