Identification of Three Monofunctional Diterpene Synthases with Specific Enzyme Activities Expressed during Heartwood Formation in Western Redcedar (<i>Thuja plicata</i>) Trees
Upon harvest, Western redcedar (WRC; <i>Thuja plicata</i>) trees have a high incidence and extent of heartwood rot. While monoterpenoids and lignans have been linked to rot resistance in this species, other specialized metabolites, such as diterpenes, are likely to contribute to rot resi...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2020-08-01
|
| Series: | Plants |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/9/8/1018 |
| _version_ | 1797558513206034432 |
|---|---|
| author | Sifat Tasnim Regine Gries Jim Mattsson |
| author_facet | Sifat Tasnim Regine Gries Jim Mattsson |
| author_sort | Sifat Tasnim |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Upon harvest, Western redcedar (WRC; <i>Thuja plicata</i>) trees have a high incidence and extent of heartwood rot. While monoterpenoids and lignans have been linked to rot resistance in this species, other specialized metabolites, such as diterpenes, are likely to contribute to rot resistance. Here we report the cloning and functional assessment of three putative diterpene synthase (TpdiTPS) genes expressed during heartwood formation in WRC. The predicted proteins of the three genes lack either of the two catalytically independent active sites typical of most diTPS, indicating monofunctional rather than bifunctional activity. To identify potential catalytic activities of these proteins, we expressed them in genetically engineered <i>Escherichia coli</i> strains that produce four potential substrates, geranylgeranyl diphosphate (GGDP), <i>ent, syn,</i> and normal stereoisomers of copalyl diphosphate (CDP). We found that TpdiTPS3 used GGDP to produce CDP. TpdiTPS2 used normal CDP to produce levopimaradiene. TpdiTPS1 showed stereoselectivity as it used normal CDP to produce sandaracopimaradiene and <i>syn</i>-CDP to produce <i>syn</i>-stemod-13(17)-ene. These genes and protein enzymatic activities have not been previously reported in WRC and provide an opportunity to assess their potential roles in heartwood rot resistance in this economically important species. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T17:32:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-408653cc16e248a39c39291f23537f47 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2223-7747 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T17:32:25Z |
| publishDate | 2020-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Plants |
| spelling | doaj.art-408653cc16e248a39c39291f23537f472023-11-20T09:58:29ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472020-08-0198101810.3390/plants9081018Identification of Three Monofunctional Diterpene Synthases with Specific Enzyme Activities Expressed during Heartwood Formation in Western Redcedar (<i>Thuja plicata</i>) TreesSifat Tasnim0Regine Gries1Jim Mattsson2Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, CanadaDepartment of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, CanadaDepartment of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, CanadaUpon harvest, Western redcedar (WRC; <i>Thuja plicata</i>) trees have a high incidence and extent of heartwood rot. While monoterpenoids and lignans have been linked to rot resistance in this species, other specialized metabolites, such as diterpenes, are likely to contribute to rot resistance. Here we report the cloning and functional assessment of three putative diterpene synthase (TpdiTPS) genes expressed during heartwood formation in WRC. The predicted proteins of the three genes lack either of the two catalytically independent active sites typical of most diTPS, indicating monofunctional rather than bifunctional activity. To identify potential catalytic activities of these proteins, we expressed them in genetically engineered <i>Escherichia coli</i> strains that produce four potential substrates, geranylgeranyl diphosphate (GGDP), <i>ent, syn,</i> and normal stereoisomers of copalyl diphosphate (CDP). We found that TpdiTPS3 used GGDP to produce CDP. TpdiTPS2 used normal CDP to produce levopimaradiene. TpdiTPS1 showed stereoselectivity as it used normal CDP to produce sandaracopimaradiene and <i>syn</i>-CDP to produce <i>syn</i>-stemod-13(17)-ene. These genes and protein enzymatic activities have not been previously reported in WRC and provide an opportunity to assess their potential roles in heartwood rot resistance in this economically important species.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/9/8/1018diterpene synthaseheartwoodsecondary metaboliteswestern redcedar |
| spellingShingle | Sifat Tasnim Regine Gries Jim Mattsson Identification of Three Monofunctional Diterpene Synthases with Specific Enzyme Activities Expressed during Heartwood Formation in Western Redcedar (<i>Thuja plicata</i>) Trees Plants diterpene synthase heartwood secondary metabolites western redcedar |
| title | Identification of Three Monofunctional Diterpene Synthases with Specific Enzyme Activities Expressed during Heartwood Formation in Western Redcedar (<i>Thuja plicata</i>) Trees |
| title_full | Identification of Three Monofunctional Diterpene Synthases with Specific Enzyme Activities Expressed during Heartwood Formation in Western Redcedar (<i>Thuja plicata</i>) Trees |
| title_fullStr | Identification of Three Monofunctional Diterpene Synthases with Specific Enzyme Activities Expressed during Heartwood Formation in Western Redcedar (<i>Thuja plicata</i>) Trees |
| title_full_unstemmed | Identification of Three Monofunctional Diterpene Synthases with Specific Enzyme Activities Expressed during Heartwood Formation in Western Redcedar (<i>Thuja plicata</i>) Trees |
| title_short | Identification of Three Monofunctional Diterpene Synthases with Specific Enzyme Activities Expressed during Heartwood Formation in Western Redcedar (<i>Thuja plicata</i>) Trees |
| title_sort | identification of three monofunctional diterpene synthases with specific enzyme activities expressed during heartwood formation in western redcedar i thuja plicata i trees |
| topic | diterpene synthase heartwood secondary metabolites western redcedar |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/9/8/1018 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT sifattasnim identificationofthreemonofunctionalditerpenesynthaseswithspecificenzymeactivitiesexpressedduringheartwoodformationinwesternredcedarithujaplicataitrees AT reginegries identificationofthreemonofunctionalditerpenesynthaseswithspecificenzymeactivitiesexpressedduringheartwoodformationinwesternredcedarithujaplicataitrees AT jimmattsson identificationofthreemonofunctionalditerpenesynthaseswithspecificenzymeactivitiesexpressedduringheartwoodformationinwesternredcedarithujaplicataitrees |