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Biosynthetic diversity in plant triterpene cyclization
Dereth R Phillips1, Jeanne M Rasbery, Bonnie Bartel
1Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology and Department of Chemistry, Rice University, 6100 Main Street, Houston, TX 77005, USA.
Current Opinion in Plant Biology
|April 4, 2006
Summary
Plant-derived terpenoids have historical uses. Research identifies genes for triterpenoid biosynthesis, with sterol cyclases showing clear phylogenetic links, unlike nonsteroidal triterpene alcohol cyclases which suggest rapid evolution.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Plant Science
Background:
- Plants synthesize diverse terpenoids, including triterpenoids, with a long history of medicinal and practical applications.
- Recent advancements have enabled the identification and characterization of genes involved in triterpenoid biosynthesis pathways.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the phylogenetic relationships of cyclases involved in triterpenoid biosynthesis.
- To compare the evolutionary patterns of sterol-generating cyclases versus those producing nonsteroidal triterpene alcohols.
Main Methods:
- Sequence analysis of cyclase genes.
- Phylogenetic analysis to infer evolutionary relationships.
- Correlation of phylogenetic position with catalytic properties and product profiles.
Main Results:
- Sterol-generating cyclases exhibit predictable product profiles that generally align with their phylogenetic positions.
- Phylogenetic relationships of cyclases producing nonsteroidal triterpene alcohols do not consistently correlate with their catalytic activities.
- These findings suggest rapid evolutionary changes in the catalytic functions of nonsteroidal triterpene alcohol cyclases.
Conclusions:
- Phylogenetic analysis is a valuable tool for understanding cyclase evolution, particularly for sterol-generating enzymes.
- The catalytic evolution of nonsteroidal triterpene alcohol cyclases appears to be more dynamic and rapid compared to sterol cyclases.