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Updated: Jan 16, 2026
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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-Guided Evolution of Curcumin Reductase for Sustainable Tetrahydrocurcumin Biosynthesis
Jiaying Hao1, Yunju Zhang1, Kaiwei Liu1
1School of Life Sciences and Medicine, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo 255000, China.
Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
|September 30, 2025
Summary
Tetrahydrocurcumin (THC) production is improved using a novel enzymatic platform. This sustainable method enhances enzyme efficiency and simplifies purification for industrial applications.
Area of Science:
- Biocatalysis
- Enzyme Engineering
- Metabolic Engineering
Background:
- Tetrahydrocurcumin (THC), a curcumin metabolite, is valuable for nutraceuticals due to its bioavailability.
- Current THC production methods (chemical, microbial) face challenges with selectivity and purification.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an efficient and sustainable enzymatic platform for tetrahydrocurcumin (THC) biosynthesis.
- To discover and engineer enzymes for improved THC production.
Main Methods:
- Enzyme discovery from *Kosakonia cowanii* and subsequent protein engineering using structure-guided design.
- Characterization of a triple mutant enzyme (M3) through kinetic analysis and molecular dynamics simulations.
- Preparative-scale synthesis of THC using the engineered enzyme.
Main Results:
- A novel enzyme from *Kosakonia cowanii* was identified with good soluble expression.
- A triple mutant (M3) showed an 8.14-fold increase in catalytic efficiency, enhancing substrate binding.
- M3 achieved 99.7% conversion of curcumin within 3 hours, yielding 17.56 g/L THC.
Conclusions:
- An engineered enzymatic platform offers a sustainable and efficient alternative for industrial tetrahydrocurcumin (THC) production.
- This biocatalytic approach avoids toxic metals and complex purification, aligning with green chemistry principles.
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