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Genotyping of Plant and Animal Samples without Prior DNA Purification
Published on: September 24, 2012
Genome mining to identify new plant triterpenoids
Gia C Fazio1, Ran Xu, Seiichi P T Matsuda
1Department of Chemistry and Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, USA.
Journal of the American Chemical Society
|May 6, 2004
Summary
Researchers identified a new plant compound, thalianol, using Arabidopsis thaliana's genome. This genome mining approach efficiently discovers novel terpenoids and other metabolites.
Area of Science:
- Plant genetics
- Metabolomics
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Arabidopsis thaliana is a key model organism in plant genetics.
- Its sequenced genome contains numerous genes for secondary metabolite biosynthesis.
- Identifying novel compounds requires exploring this genomic information.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify novel terpenoids in Arabidopsis thaliana by exploiting genomic data.
- To characterize the function of a predicted oxidosqualene cyclase enzyme.
Main Methods:
- Genome mining to identify candidate genes.
- Heterologous expression of a predicted oxidosqualene cyclase.
- Biochemical assays using 3(S)-oxidosqualene as a substrate.
Main Results:
- A novel triterpene alcohol, thalianol ((3S,13S,14R)-malabarica-8,17,21-trien-3-ol), was identified.
- The enzyme encoded by the identified gene converts 3(S)-oxidosqualene to thalianol.
- Genome mining proved more sensitive than traditional methods for metabolite discovery.
Conclusions:
- Genome mining coupled with heterologous expression is a powerful strategy for discovering novel plant metabolites.
- This approach enables systematic characterization of an organism's biosynthetic potential.
- It is particularly effective for identifying rare or trace compounds.
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