Anthriscus sylvestris Deoxypodophyllotoxin Synthase Involved in the Podophyllotoxin Biosynthesis

Tetrahydrofuran ring formation from dibenzylbutyrolactone lignans is a key step in the biosynthesis of aryltetralin lignans including deoxypodophyllotoxin and podophyllotoxin. Previously, Fe(II)- and 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenase (2-ODD) from Podophyllum hexandrum (Himalayan mayapple, Berberidaceae) was found to catalyze the cyclization of a dibenzylbutyrolactone lignan, yatein, to give deoxypodophyllotoxin and designated as deoxypodophyllotoxin synthase (DPS). Recently, we reported that the biosynthesis of deoxypodophyllotoxin and podophyllotoxin evolved in a lineage-specific manner in phylogenetically unrelated plant species such as P. hexandrum and Anthriscus sylvestris (cow parsley, Apiaceae). Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of the characteristics of DPSs that catalyze the cyclization of yatein to deoxypodophyllotoxin in various plant species is important. However, for plant species other than P. hexandrum, the isolation of the DPS enzyme gene and the type of the enzyme, e.g. whether it is 2-ODD or another type of enzyme such as cytochrome P-450, have not been reported. In this study, we report the identification and characterization of A. sylvestris DPS (AsDPS). Phylogenetic analysis showed that AsDPS belonged to the 2-ODD superfamily and shared moderate amino acid sequence identity (40.8%) with P. hexandrum deoxypodophyllotoxin synthase (PhDPS). Recombinant protein assay indicated that AsDPS and PhDPS differ in terms of the selectivity of substrate enantiomers. Protein modeling using AlphaFold2 and site-directed mutagenesis indicated that the Tyr305 residue of AsDPS probably contributes to substrate recognition. This study advances our understanding of the podophyllotoxin biosynthetic pathway in A. sylvestris and provides new insight into 2-ODD involved in plant secondary (specialized) metabolism.