The (seco)iridoids and their derivatives, the monoterpenoid indole alkaloids (MIAs), form two large families of plant-derived bioactive compounds with a wide spectrum of high-value pharmacological and insect-repellent activities. Vinblastine and vincristine, MIAs used as anticancer drugs, are produced by Catharanthus roseus in extremely low levels, leading to high market prices and poor availability. Their biotechnological production is hampered by the fragmentary knowledge of their biosynthesis. Here we report the discovery of the last four missing steps of the (seco)iridoid biosynthesis pathway. Expression of the eight genes encoding this pathway, together with two genes boosting precursor formation and two downstream alkaloid biosynthesis genes, in an alternative plant host, allows the heterologous production of the complex MIA strictosidine. This confirms the functionality of all enzymes of the pathway and highlights their utility for synthetic biology programmes towards a sustainable biotechnological production of valuable (seco)iridoids and alkaloids with pharmaceutical and agricultural applications. The (seco)iridoids and their monoterpenoid indole alkaloid (MIA) derivatives are plant-derived compounds with pharmaceutical applications. Here, the authors identify the last four missing steps of the (seco)iridoid pathway, which they reconstitute in an alternative plant host to produce the complex MIA, strictosidine.
(seco)iridoids及其衍
生物、单
萜类吲哚生物碱(MIAs)构成了两大类植物来源的
生物活性化合物,具有广泛的高价值药理和驱虫活性。
长春碱和
长春新碱是MIAs中用作抗癌药物的两种物质,由长春花(Catharanthus roseus)产生,但产量极低,导致市场价格高且供应不足。由于对其
生物合成过程的了解不全面,
生物技术生产受到阻碍。本文报道了(seco)iridoid
生物合成途径最后四个缺失步骤的发现。在替代植物宿主中表达编码该途径的八个
基因,以及两个促进前体形成的
基因和两个下游
生物碱生物合成
基因,可以异源生产复杂的MIA strictosidine。这证实了该途径中所有酶的功能,并突出了它们在合成
生物学计划中的实用性,有助于以可持续的
生物技术生产具有药用和农业应用价值的(seco)iridoids和
生物碱。(seco)iridoids及其单
萜类吲哚生物碱(MIA)衍
生物是具有药用价值的植物来源化合物。作者在此确定了(seco)iridoid途径的最后四个缺失步骤,并在替代植物宿主中重建了这些步骤,以生产复杂的MIA strictosidine。