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Transient Expression in Nicotiana Benthamiana Leaves for Triterpene Production at a Preparative Scale
Published on: August 16, 2018
From fruit to function: Squalene synthase driven triterpenoids biosynthesis in Gardenia jasminoides for food-active
Wuke Wei1,2, Yilin Mao3, Daxia Chen4
1Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicinal Resource from Lingnan, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510006, China.
Abstract:
The medicinal and edible plant Gardenia jasminoides is attracting attention as a source of natural food-active components. Integrated GC-MS/LC-MS metabolomics revealed that G. jasminoides fruits specifically accumulate bioactive triterpenoids, including the GRAS antioxidant squalene (220 ng/mg FW) and methyl oleanonate, a compound with reported anticancer (PPARγ agonist) activity. As the central biosynthetic hub, GjSQS showed fruit-predominant expression, strongly correlating with triterpenoid abundance. Functional validation confirmed its ER localization and efficient in vitro conversion of FPP to squalene. The dual-ionization LC-MS approach revealed tissue-partitioned acidic triterpenoids that were undetectable using single ionization modes, enhancing the comprehensiveness of metabolomic profiling. These findings underscore G. jasminoides fruits as a sustainable source of food-active triterpenoids and establish GjSQS as a key metabolic engineering target. Its expression in food-grade microbial chassis offers a promising strategy to enhance the production of high-value triterpenoids for functional foods and additives.
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