Abstract
Saponins are ubiquitous plant natural products, essentially involved in plant defense against biotic stresses, with numerous pharmaceutical and agricultural applications. The common precursor for triterpenoid saponins is squalene (30 carbon molecule) which, via cationic intermediates, is oxidized to 2,3-oxidosqualene. After cyclization, the basic triterpenoid cyclic structure undergoes oxidation by monoxygenases and glycosylations of hydroxyl groups. Chemical synthesis of saponins essentially recapitulates the main biosynthetic steps. However, to date, plants are the most viable source of these molecules. Jasmonic or salicylic acid, as well as their respective methylated derivatives, are important signaling molecules in the responses culminating in triterpenoid saponin production. The current challenges to improve triterpenoid saponin production include a better understanding of the signal transduction pathways leading to their accumulation (with emphasis on late enzymes and “master” regulatory transcription factors), isolation and heterologous expression of biosynthetic genes, and structural and modeling studies of biosynthetic enzymes and their catalytic mechanisms.
Keywords: Biosynthesis, elicitor, enzymes, gene expression, signal transduction, triterpenoid saponins.
Mini-Reviews in Organic Chemistry
Title:Biosynthesis of Plant Triterpenoid Saponins: Genes, Enzymes and their Regulation
Volume: 11 Issue: 3
Author(s): Anna C.A. Yendo, Farnanda de Costa, Cibele T. Da Costa, Luana C. Colling, Grace Gosmann and Arthur G. Fett-Neto
Affiliation:
Keywords: Biosynthesis, elicitor, enzymes, gene expression, signal transduction, triterpenoid saponins.
Abstract: Saponins are ubiquitous plant natural products, essentially involved in plant defense against biotic stresses, with numerous pharmaceutical and agricultural applications. The common precursor for triterpenoid saponins is squalene (30 carbon molecule) which, via cationic intermediates, is oxidized to 2,3-oxidosqualene. After cyclization, the basic triterpenoid cyclic structure undergoes oxidation by monoxygenases and glycosylations of hydroxyl groups. Chemical synthesis of saponins essentially recapitulates the main biosynthetic steps. However, to date, plants are the most viable source of these molecules. Jasmonic or salicylic acid, as well as their respective methylated derivatives, are important signaling molecules in the responses culminating in triterpenoid saponin production. The current challenges to improve triterpenoid saponin production include a better understanding of the signal transduction pathways leading to their accumulation (with emphasis on late enzymes and “master” regulatory transcription factors), isolation and heterologous expression of biosynthetic genes, and structural and modeling studies of biosynthetic enzymes and their catalytic mechanisms.
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Yendo C.A. Anna, Costa de Farnanda, Costa T. Da Cibele, Colling C. Luana, Gosmann Grace and Fett-Neto G. Arthur, Biosynthesis of Plant Triterpenoid Saponins: Genes, Enzymes and their Regulation, Mini-Reviews in Organic Chemistry 2014; 11 (3) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1570193X1103140915111425
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1570193X1103140915111425 |
Print ISSN 1570-193X |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1875-6298 |
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