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Codeinone reductase isoforms with differential stability, efficiency and product selectivity in opium poppy.
Mehran Dastmalchi1, Limei Chang1, Miguel A Torres1
1Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada.
The Plant Journal : for Cell and Molecular Biology
|May 21, 2018
Summary
Codeinone reductase (COR) in opium poppy produces unwanted byproducts like neopine and neomorphine, especially in engineered yeast. Identifying key amino acids can help control product selectivity for better opiate production.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Plant Science
- Metabolic Engineering
Background:
- Codeinone reductase (COR) is crucial in morphine biosynthesis, converting codeinone to codeine.
- COR also reduces neopinone to neopine and morphinone to morphine, with neopine/neomorphine formation being irreversible.
- In engineered yeast, COR's activity leads to significant accumulation of neopine and neomorphine.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate the role of COR isoforms in opium poppy's opiate alkaloid biosynthesis.
- Determine sequence-function relationships influencing COR's product selectivity.
- Optimize COR activity for efficient opiate alkaloid production in engineered microorganisms.
Main Methods:
- Isolated and characterized five catalytically distinct COR isoforms (COR1.1-1.4 and COR-B).
- Utilized biochemical characterization and site-directed mutagenesis to identify key residues affecting COR function.
- Analyzed COR activity in vitro and in engineered yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae).
Main Results:
- COR isoform COR-B exhibited higher catalytic activity, primarily yielding neopine.
- Four key residues (V25, K41, F129, W279) were identified as critical for COR stability, velocity, and product selectivity.
- Engineered yeast with native COR isoforms showed accumulation of neopine and neomorphine.
Conclusions:
- COR's catalytic properties can lead to the accumulation of undesired byproducts in engineered systems.
- Specific amino acid residues significantly influence COR's reaction kinetics and product output.
- Improving COR performance and controlling pathway flux are essential for commercial opiate alkaloid production.
Keywords:
Papaver somniferumbenzylisoquinoline alkaloidcodeinecodeinone reductaseenzyme isoformsmorphineneomorphineneopineopiate alkaloid biosynthesisMore Related Videos
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