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Updated: Oct 21, 2025
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A Customizable Approach for the Enzymatic Production and Purification of Diterpenoid Natural Products
Published on: October 4, 2019
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Structure-function relationship of terpenoid glycosyltransferases from plants
Elisabeth Kurze1, Matthias Wüst2, Jieren Liao1
1Biotechnology of Natural Products, TUM School of Life Sciences, Technische Universität München, Liesel-Beckmann-Str. 1, 85354 Freising, Germany. wilfried.schwab@tum.de.
Natural Product Reports
|September 6, 2021
Summary
Glycosylation modifies plant terpenoids, impacting their properties and bioactivities. Recent crystal structures of diterpene glycosyltransferase UGT76G1 offer insights into this challenging chemical reaction.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Plant Science
- Organic Chemistry
Background:
- Terpenoids are vital natural products with diverse physiological activities.
- Glycosylation significantly alters terpenoid physicochemical properties (polarity, solubility) and bioactivity.
- Plant glycosyltransferases (UGTs) catalyze regio- and enantioselective glycosylation, a reaction difficult to achieve chemically.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review characterized plant terpenoid glycosyltransferases (UGTs).
- To compare UGT functions, structures, substrate specificities, and product profiles.
- To elaborate on the structural features of newly determined plant UGTs.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of biochemically characterized UGTs.
- Comparative analysis of UGT primary structures and functions.
- Discussion of substrate tolerance (acceptor and donor) and product specificity.
- Elaboration on 3D structural features of UGTs.
Main Results:
- Numerous plant UGTs involved in terpenoid glycosylation have been identified and characterized.
- Significant progress in understanding the mechanism of terpenoid glycosylation, aided by UGT76G1 crystal structures.
- UGTs exhibit varying substrate specificities and product outcomes.
- Structural insights reveal key features of plant UGTs.
Conclusions:
- Terpenoid glycosylation is a crucial modification impacting natural product function.
- Plant UGTs are key enzymes for producing diverse glycosylated terpenoids.
- Structural information on UGTs provides a foundation for understanding and engineering glycosylation reactions.
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