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Updated: Jul 28, 2026

Transient Expression in Nicotiana Benthamiana Leaves for Triterpene Production at a Preparative Scale
Published on: August 16, 2018
Molecular cloning and functional characterization of 2,3-oxidosqualene cyclases from Artemisia argyi
Yaman Chen1, Ruoshi Huang2, Jiabo Chen2
1Key Laboratory of Digital Quality Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica of State Administration of TCM, School of Chinese Materia Medica, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
Abstract:
Artemisia argyi is a traditional medicinal and edible plant, generating various triterpenoids with pharmacological activities, such as anti-virus, anti-cancer, and anti-oxidant. The 2,3-oxidosqualene cyclase family of A. argyi offers novel insights into the triterpenoid pathway, which might contribute to the medicinal value of its tissue extracts. Nevertheless, the biosynthesis of active triterpenoids in Artemisia argyi is still uncertain. In this study, four putative OSC (2,3-oxidosqualene cyclase) genes (AaOSC1-4) were first isolated and identified from A. argyi. Through the yeast heterologous expression system, three AaOSCs were characterized for the biosynthesis of diverse triterpenoids including cycloartenol, β-amyrin, (3S,13R)-malabarica-14(27),17,21-trien-3β-ol, and dammara-20,24-dien-3β-ol. AaOSC1 was a multifunctional dammara-20,24-dien-3β-ol synthase, which yielded 8 different triterpenoids, including tricyclic, and tetracyclic products. AaOSC2 and AaOSC3 were cycloartenol, and β-amyrin synthases, respectively. As a result, these findings provide a deeper understanding of the biosynthesis pathway of triterpenes in A. argyi.
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