Browsing by Person "Frey, Maximilian"

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Metabolomic and gene expression studies reveal the diversity, distribution and spatial regulation of the specialized metabolism of yacón (Smallanthus sonchifolius, Asteraceae)
(2020) Padilla-González, Guillermo F.; Amrehn, Evelyn; Frey, Maximilian; Gómez-Zeledón, Javier; Kaa, Alevtina; Da Costa, Fernando B.; Spring, Otmar
Smallanthus sonchifolius, also known as yacón, is an Andean crop species commercialized for its nutraceutical and medicinal properties. The tuberous roots of yacón accumulate a diverse array of probiotic and bioactive metabolites including fructooligosaccharides and caffeic acid esters. However, the metabolic diversity of yacón remains unexplored, including the site of biosynthesis and accumulation of key metabolite classes. We report herein a multidisciplinary approach involving metabolomics, gene expression and scanning electron microscopy, to provide a comprehensive analysis of the diversity, distribution and spatial regulation of the specialized metabolism in yacón. Our results demonstrate that different metabolic fingerprints and gene expression patterns characterize specific tissues, organs and cultivars of yacón. Manual inspection of mass spectrometry data and molecular networking allowed the tentative identification of 71 metabolites, including undescribed structural analogues of known bioactive compounds. Imaging by scanning electron microscopy revealed the presence of a new type of glandular trichome in yacón bracts, with a distinctive metabolite profile. Furthermore, the high concentration of sesquiterpene lactones in capitate glandular trichomes and the restricted presence of certain flavonoids and caffeic acid esters in underground organs and internal tissues suggests that these metabolites could be involved in protective and ecological functions. This study demonstrates that individual organs and tissues make specific contributions to the highly diverse and specialized metabolome of yacón, which is proving to be a reservoir of previously undescribed molecules of potential significance in human health.
Neue Cytochrom P450 Enzyme des Sesquiterpenlacton Stoffwechsels der Sonnenblume (Helianthus annuus L.)
(2016) Frey, Maximilian; Spring, Otmar
In the present work additional steps towards the elucidation of the biosynthetic pathway of H. annuus sesquiterpene lactones (STL) were achieved. Firstly candidate sequences were retrieved from a transcriptome database by filtering according to expression pattern and similarity to P450 enzymes known to participate in STL biosynthetic pathways. Open reading frames (ORFs) were obtained using 3´-and 5´-RACE-PCR. Previously described and newly identified candidate genes were then transformed in yeast vectors and expressed in combination with different substrate vectors. A high throughput micro approach was developed that allowed the expression and analysis of many yeast strains at the same time. For the transient expression in N. benthamiana the genes of known and putative enzymes were introduced via Agrobacterium mediated transformation. Using the in planta expression system the complete STL pathway of sunflower to costunolide was reconstructed de novo in a step-by-step approach. Previously described Michael-addition reactions of α-methylene-γ-lactone type STL to the thiol group of cysteine or glutathione in tobacco expression systems could be observed for all STL investigated. Chemically synthesized STL adducts were used as reference for the identification of in planta produced STL adducts. Enzyme characterization was conducted in two different in vivo expression systems, in yeast (Saccharomyces cervisiae) and tobacco (Nicotiana benthamiana). For the investigated biosynthetic pathway, differences between these two expression systems were discussed. Candidate gene M4 showed an unexpected product in yeast (farnesyl-δ-lactone) and led in combination with HaG8H to the production of costunolide. In the plant expression system, germacrene A acid was converted to costunolide by M4 in the absence of HaG8H. In both cases, M4 was involved in the synthesis of costunolide and should therefore be assigned Helianthus annuus costunolide synthase the underlying reaction mechanism should however be investigated more thoroughly. Helianthus annuus costunolide 14-hydroxylase HaC14H (candidate M33) was characterized in yeast and tobacco. A classification into subfamily CYP71CB, together with Tp8878 the Tanacetum parthenium costunolide/parthenolide 3β-hydroxylase is proposed. It was shown that in planta the main product of HaG8H exists most likely as inunolide, which would be the entry point for the biosynthesis of 8-epixanthatine and tomentosine. Candidate S2 from Ikezawa et al. (2011) was found to convert 8β-hydroxy-germacrene A acid to 8β-hydroxy-costunolide (eupatolide) in tobacco, but not in yeast, producing several byproducts. The name Helianthus annuus eupatolide synthase HaES is proposed accordingly. HaES has 47 % amino acid identity to the parthenolide synthase from T. parthenium (TpPTS). A classification into a new CYP71 subfamily is proposed. Two alternative metabolic routes led to 8β-hydroxy-costunolide in the expression studies in tobacco, the underlying mechanisms are discussed. Enzymes involved in STL biosynthesis were expressed in inner tissues of young Helianthus annuus plants; the induction of expression of STL biosynthesis enzymes in leaf primordia correlates with the development of capitate glandular trichomes (CGT) and STL synthesis. HaC14H was found in a chromosomal region in proximity to several P450 enzyme candidates, that share the same subfamily and the expression in capitate glandular trichomes (CGT). Therefore involvement of these enzymes in later steps of the biosynthesis of the elaborate STL structures found in CGT is likely.