Glycoside-metabolizing oxidoreductase D3dgpA from human gut bacterium.

The Gfo/Idh/MocA family enzyme DgpA was known to catalyze the regiospecific oxidation of puerarin to 3"-oxo-puerarin in the presence of 3-oxo-glucose. Here, we discovered that D3dgpA, dgpA cloned from the human gut bacterium Dorea sp. MRG-IFC3, catalyzed the regiospecific oxidation of various C-/O-glycosides, including puerarin, in the presence of methyl ß-D-3-oxo-glucopyranoside. While C-glycosides were converted to 3"- and 2"-oxo-products by D3dgpA, O-glycosides resulted in the formation of aglycones and hexose enediolone from the 3"-oxo-products. From DFT calculations, it was found that isomerization of 3"-oxo-puerarin to 2"-oxo-puerarin required a small activation energy of 9.86 kcal/mol, and the O-glycosidic bond cleavage of 3"-oxo-products was also thermodynamically favored with a small activation energy of 3.49 kcal/mol. In addition, the reaction mechanism of D3dgpA was discussed in comparison to those of Gfo/Idh/MocA and GMC family enzymes. The robust reactivity of D3dgpA was proposed as a new general route for derivatization of glycosides.

3-O-Substituted Quercetin: an Antibiotic-Potentiating Agent against Multidrug-Resistant Gram-Negative Enterobacteriaceae through Simultaneous Inhibition of Efflux Pump and Broad-Spectrum Carbapenemases.

The discovery of safe and efficient inhibitors against efflux pumps as well as metallo-ß-lactamases (MBL) is one of the main challenges in the development of multidrug-resistant (MDR) reversal agents which can be utilized in the treatment of carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria. In this study, we have identified that introduction of an ethylene-linked sterically demanding group at the 3-OH position of the previously reported MDR reversal agent di-F-Q endows the resulting compounds with hereto unknown multitarget inhibitory activity against both efflux pumps and broad-spectrum ß-lactamases including difficult-to-inhibit MBLs. A molecular docking study of the multitarget inhibitors against efflux pump, as well as various classes of ß-lactamases, revealed that the 3-O-alkyl substituents occupy the novel binding sites in efflux pumps as well as carbapenemases. Not surprisingly, the multitarget inhibitors rescued the antibiotic activity of a carbapenem antibiotic, meropenem (MEM), in NDM-1 (New Delhi Metallo-ß-lactamase-1)-producing carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE), and they reduced MICs of MEM more than four-fold (synergistic effect) in 8-9 out of 14 clinical strains. The antibiotic-potentiating activity of the multitarget inhibitors was also demonstrated in CRE-infected mouse model. Taken together, these results suggest that combining inhibitory activity against two critical targets in MDR Gram-negative bacteria, efflux pumps, and ß-lactamases, in one molecule is possible, and the multitarget inhibitors may provide new avenues for the discovery of safe and efficient MDR reversal agents.

Potentiation of Antibiotic Activity of Aztreonam against Metallo-ß-Lactamase-Producing Multidrug-Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa by 3-O-Substituted Difluoroquercetin Derivatives.

The combination of aztreonam (ATM) and ceftazidime-avibactam (CAZ-AVI; CZA) has shown therapeutic potential against serine-ß-lactamase (SBL)- and metallo-ß-lactamase (MBL)-producing Enterobacterales. However, the ability of CZA to restore the antibiotic activity of ATM is severely limited in MBL-producing multidrug-resistant (MDR) Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains because of the myriad of intrinsic and acquired resistance mechanisms associated with this pathogen. We reasoned that the simultaneous inhibition of multiple targets associated with multidrug resistance mechanisms may potentiate the antibiotic activity of ATM against MBL-producing P. aeruginosa. During a search for the multitarget inhibitors through a molecular docking study, we discovered that di-F-Q, the previously reported efflux pump inhibitor of MDR P. aeruginosa, binds to the active sites of the efflux pump (MexB), as well as various ß-lactamases, and these sites are open to the 3-O-position of di-F-Q. The 3-O-substituted di-F-Q derivatives were thus synthesized and showed hereto unknown multitarget MDR inhibitory activity against various ATM-hydrolyzing ß-lactamases (AmpC, KPC, and New Delhi metallo-ß-lactamase (NDM)) and the efflux pump of P. aeruginosa, presumably by forming additional hydrophobic contacts with the targets. The multitarget MDR inhibitor 27 effectively potentiated the antimicrobial activity of ATM and reduced the MIC of ATM more than four-fold in 19 out of 21 MBL-producing P. aeruginosa clinical strains, including the NDM-producing strains which were highly resistant to various combinations of ATM with ß-lactamase inhibitors and/or efflux pump inhibitors. Our findings suggest that the simultaneous inhibition of multiple MDR targets might provide new avenues for the discovery of safe and efficient MDR reversal agents which can be used in combination with ATM against MBL-producing MDR P. aeruginosa.

Production of Four Flavonoid C-Glucosides in Escherichia coli.

Flavonoid C-glucosides, which are found in several plant families, are characterized by several biological properties, including antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, hepatoprotective, cardioprotective, antibacterial, antihyperalgesic, antiviral, and antinociceptive activities. The biosynthetic pathway of flavonoid C-glucosides in plants has been elucidated. In the present study, a pathway was introduced to Escherichia coli to synthesize four flavonoid C-glucosides, namely, isovitexin, vitexin, kaempferol 6-C-glucoside, and kaempferol 8-C-glucoside. A five- or six-step metabolic pathway for synthesizing flavonoid aglycones from tyrosine was constructed and two regioselective flavonoid C-glycosyltransferases from Wasabia japonica (WjGT1) and Trollius chinensis (TcCGT) were used. Additionally, the best shikimate gene module construct was selected to maximize the titer of each C-glucoside flavonoid. Isovitexin (30.2 mg/L), vitexin (93.9 mg/L), kaempferol 6-C-glucoside (14.4 mg/L), and kaempferol 8-C-glucoside (38.6 mg/L) were synthesized using these approaches. The flavonoid C-glucosides synthesized in this study provide a basis for investigating and unraveling their novel biological properties.

Protection of Skin Fibroblasts from Infrared-A-Induced Photo-Damage Using Ginsenoside Rg3(S)-Incorporated Soybean Lecithin Liposomes.

Protection of skin cells from chronic infrared-A (IRA) irradiation is crucial for anti-photoaging of the skin. In this study, we investigated the protective activity of Rg3(S) and Rg3(S)-incorporated anionic soybean lecithin liposomes (Rg3/Lipo) with a size of approximately 150 nm against IRA-induced photodamage in human fibroblasts. The formulated Rg3/Lipo showed increased solubility in aqueous solution up to a concentration of 200 µg/ml, compared to free Rg3(S). In addition, Rg3/Lipo exhibited superior colloidal stability in aqueous solutions and biocompatibility for normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDFs). After repeated IRA irradiation on NHDFs, elevated levels of cellular and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) were greatly reduced by Rg3(S) and Rg3/Lipo. In addition, cells treated with Rg3/Lipo exhibited noticeably reduced apoptotic signals following IRA irradiation compared to untreated cells. Thus, considering aqueous solubility and cellular responses, Rg3/Lipo could serve as a promising infrared protector for healthy aging of skin cells.

Phenolic C-glycoside synthesis using microbial systems.

Plants produce different types of phenolic compounds. The majority of these compounds are glycosylated. Phenolic O-glycosides are also common. Recently, C-glycosylation of phenolic compounds has received attention because of the biological importance of phenolic C-glycosides. To date, three classes of C-glycosyltransferases (CGTs) have been characterized based on the type of sugar acceptor: flavonoid CGT, coumarin CGT, and xanthone CGT. Phylogenetic analysis of glycosyltransferases has revealed that CGTs form a distinct class that is clearly different from that of O-glycosyltransferases. The characterized CGTs have been introduced into microbial systems to synthesize phenolic C-glycosides. Here, we review recent progress in the development of CGTs and their application in the synthesis of phenolic C-glycosides using microbial systems.

Exosome-mediated delivery of transforming growth factor-ß receptor 1 kinase inhibitors and toll-like receptor 7/8 agonists for combination therapy of tumors.

In this study, combination therapy with the transforming growth factor-ß receptor I (TGFßRI) kinase inhibitor SD-208 and a toll-like receptor (TLR)-7/8 agonist resiquimod (R848) was examined along with serum-derived exosomes (EXOs) as versatile carriers. SD-208-encapsulated EXOs (SD-208/EXOs) and R848-encapsulated EXOs (R848/EXOs) were successfully prepared with a size of 87 ± 8 nm and 51 ± 4 nm, respectively, which were stable in aqueous solution at pH 7.4. SD-208/EXOs and R848/EXOs reduced the migration of cancer cells (B16F10 and PC-3) and triggered the release of proinflammatory cytokines from stimulated macrophages and dendritic cells, respectively. The fluorescent dye-labeled EXOs showed significantly improved penetration through the PC-3/fibroblast co-culture spheroids and enhanced accumulation in the B16F10 mouse tumor model compared with the free fluorescent dye. In addition, the combination therapy of R848/EXOs (R848 dose of 0.36 mg/kg) and SD-208/EXOs (SD-208 dose of 0.75 mg/kg) reduced tumor growth and improved survival rate at low doses in the B16F10 tumor xenograft model. Taken together, the combination therapy using the TGFßRI kinase inhibitor and TLR 7/8 agonist with EXOs may serve as a promising strategy to treat melanoma and prostate cancer. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Owing to the prevalence of several non-responding cancers that resist treatment, it is necessary to identify a novel combined treatment strategy with biomaterials to maximize therapeutic efficacy and minimize the undesirable side effects. In this study, we aimed to examine the use of the TGFßRI kinase inhibitor SD-208 and the TLR7/8 agonist resiquimod (R848) encapsulated within serum-derived EXOs for their synergistic antitumor effects. We first demonstrated that combined treatment with SD-208 and R848 can be a convincing strategy to circumvent tumor growth in vivo using serum-derived exosomes as promising carriers. Therefore, we believe this manuscript would be of great interest to the biomaterial communities especially who are studying immunotherapy.

Synthesis of chlorogenic acid and p-coumaroyl shikimate by expressing shikimate gene modules in Escherichia coli.

AIM: Chlorogenic acid and p-coumaroyl shikimate are hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives. These compounds are nutraceutical supplements due to their biological activities including prevention of cardiovascular disease and cancers. These two compounds were synthesized in Escherichia coli through two-culture system using two mutants, which are biochemically interdependent. The aim of this work was to improve the titres of their production in a single E. coli mutant in which all necessary genes were introduced. This was done by testing various shikimate gene combinations to determine the optimal gene combination for the synthesis of chlorogenic acid and p-coumaroyl shikimate. METHODS AND RESULTS: A series of gene modules harbouring shikimate pathway genes were constructs. Six gene module constructs for chlorogenic acid synthesis and eight constructs for p-coumaric acid synthesis were tested in order to find the best one. Chlorogenic acid synthesis showed highest with the gene module construct containing ydiB, aroB, aroGf , ppsA and tktA. Using the E. coli strain, 109.7 mg L-1 chlorogenic acid was synthesized. The best gene module construct for the p-coumaroyl shikimate synthesis contained aroD and aroGf . In addition, we used two E. coli deletion mutant strains (ΔaroK and ΔaroL) to increase the final titre. The E. coli ΔaroK mutant harbouring this gene module construct synthesized 713.4 mg L-1 of p-coumaroyl shikimate. CONCLUSION: The chlorogenic acid synthesis using the current system was approximately 35.4% higher of the titre than titres obtained with an alternative method that depends on co-cultivation of two mutants. At the same time, production of p-coumaroyl shikimate increased 5.8 times. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The current study's findings indicate that our selection of the shikimate gene module contributed to increases in the levels of the substrates and could be applied to synthesize other compounds whose synthesis requires intermediates of the shikimate pathway.

Role of ginseng in the neurovascular unit of neuroinflammatory diseases focused on the blood-brain barrier.

Ginseng has long been considered as an herbal medicine. Recent data suggest that ginseng has anti-inflammatory properties and can improve learning- and memory-related function in the central nervous system (CNS) following the development of CNS neuroinflammatory diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, cerebral ischemia, and other neurological disorders. In this review, we discuss the role of ginseng in the neurovascular unit, which is composed of endothelial cells surrounded by astrocytes, pericytes, microglia, neural stem cells, oligodendrocytes, and neurons, especially their blood-brain barrier maintenance, anti-inflammatory effects and regenerative functions. In addition, cell-cell communication enhanced by ginseng may be attributed to regeneration via induction of neurogenesis and angiogenesis in CNS diseases. Thus, ginseng may have therapeutic potential to exert cognitive improvement in neuroinflammatory diseases such as stroke, traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease.

Synthesis of 4-Hydroxybenzoic Acid Derivatives in Escherichia coli.

Hydroxybenzoic acids (HBAs) such as 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (4-HBA) and 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHB; protocatechuic acid) and its ester with methanol (methylparaben [MP]) are known to have various functional biological properties, including antibacterial, anticancer, antidiabetic, antiaging, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory activities. Since these compounds are widely used in cosmetic, food, and pharmaceutical industries, the use of renewable feedstocks for the production of HBAs is an area of growing interest. In this study, we used Escherichia coli to synthesize these three hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives (4-HBA, DHB, and MP). We overexpressed ubiC in E. coli to synthesize 4-HBA from chorismate, a substrate that is produced by the shikimate pathway in E. coli. For the synthesis of DHB, an additional gene (pobA) was introduced, while hbad and EHT1 were co-expressed to synthesize MP. To supply more chorismate, we introduced the shikimate gene module construct and selected the best construct for increased yields. Using this approach, 723.5 mg/L 4-HBA, 942.0 mg/L DHB, and 347.7 mg/L MP were synthesized. Our study showed that the shikimate gene module constructs can be applicable to increase the yields of HBA derivatives in HBA-tolerant microorganisms.

Synthesis of acridone derivatives via heterologous expression of a plant type III polyketide synthase in Escherichia coli.

BACKGROUND: Acridone alkaloids are heterocyclic compounds that exhibit a broad-range of pharmaceutical and chemotherapeutic activities, including anticancer, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antimalarial, and antimicrobial effects. Certain plant species such as Citrus microcarpa, Ruta graveolens, and Toddaliopsis bremekampii synthesize acridone alkaloids from anthranilate and malonyl-CoA. RESULTS: We synthesized two acridones in Escherichia coli. Acridone synthase (ACS) and anthraniloyl-CoA ligase genes were transformed into E. coli, and the synthesis of acridone was examined. To increase the levels of endogenous anthranilate, we tested several constructs expressing proteins involved in the shikimate pathway and selected the best construct. To boost the supply of malonyl-CoA, genes coding for acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase (ACC) from Photorhabdus luminescens were overexpressed in E. coli. For the synthesis of 1,3-dihydroxy-10-methylacridone, we utilized an N-methyltransferase gene (NMT) to supply N-methylanthranilate and a new N-methylanthraniloyl-CoA ligase. After selecting the best combination of genes, approximately 17.3 mg/L of 1,3-dihydroxy-9(10H)-acridone (DHA) and 26.0 mg/L of 1,3-dihydroxy-10-methylacridone (NMA) were synthesized. CONCLUSIONS: Two bioactive acridone derivatives were synthesized by expressing type III plant polyketide synthases and other genes in E. coli, which increased the supplement of substrates. This study showed that is possible to synthesize diverse polyketides in E. coli using plant polyketide synthases.

Biosynthesis of Two Hydroxybenzoic Acid-Amine Conjugates in Engineered Escherichia coli.

Two hydroxybenzoyl amines, 4-hydroxybenzoyl tyramine (4-HBT) and N-2-hydroxybenzoyl tryptamine (2-HBT), were synthesized using Escherichia coli. While 4-HBT was reported to demonstrate anti-atherosclerotic activity, 2-HBT showed anticonvulsant and antinociceptive activities. We introduced genes chorismate pyruvate-lyase (ubiC), tyrosine decarboxylase (TyDC), isochorismate synthase (entC), isochorismate pyruvate lyase (pchB), and tryptophan decarboxylase (TDC) for each substrate, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (4-HBA), tyramine, 2-hydroxybenzoic acid (2-HBA), and tryptamine, respectively, in E. coli. Genes for CoA ligase (hbad) and amide formation (CaSHT and OsHCT) were also introduced to form hydroxybenzoic acid and amine conjugates. In addition, we engineered E. coli to provide increased substrates. These approaches led to the yield of 259.3 mg/l 4-HBT and 227.2 mg/l 2-HBT and could be applied to synthesize diverse bioactive hydroxybenzoyl amine conjugates.

Synthesis of Three Bioactive Aromatic Compounds by Introducing Polyketide Synthase Genes into Engineered Escherichia coli.

Intermediates in aromatic amino acid biosynthesis can serve as substrates for the synthesis of bioactive compounds. In this study we used two intermediates in the shikimate pathway of Escherichia coli, chorismate and anthranilate, to synthesize three bioactive compounds: 4-hydroxycoumarin (4-HC), 2,4-dihydroxyquinoline (DHQ), and 4-hydroxy-1-methyl-2(1H)-quinolone (NMQ). We introduced genes for the synthesis of salicylic acid from chorismate to supply the substrate for 4-HC and the gene encoding N-methyltransferase for the synthesis of N-methylanthranilate from anthranilate. Polyketide synthases and coenzyme (Co)A ligases were tested to determine the optimal combination of genes for the synthesis of each compound. We also tested several constructs and identified the best one for increasing levels of endogenous substrates for chorismate, anthranilate, and malonyl-CoA. With the use of these strategies, 255.4 mg/L 4-HC, 753.7 mg/L DHQ, and 17.5 mg/L NMQ were synthesized. This work provides a basis for the synthesis of diverse coumarin and quinoline derivatives with potential medical applications.

Synthesis of Methylated Anthranilate Derivatives Using Engineered Strains of Escherichia coli.

Anthranilate derivatives have been used as flavoring and fragrant agents for a long time. Recently, these compounds are gaining attention due to new biological functions including antinociceptive and analgesic activities. Three anthranilate derivatives, N-methylanthranilate, methyl anthranilate, and methyl N-methylanthranilate were synthesized using metabolically engineered stains of Escherichia coli. NMT encoding N-methyltransferase from Ruta graveolens, AMAT encoding anthraniloyl-coenzyme A (CoA):methanol acyltransferase from Vitis labrusca, and pqsA encoding anthranilate coenzyme A ligase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa were cloned and E. coli strains harboring these genes were used to synthesize the three desired compounds. E. coli mutants (metJ, trpD, tyrR mutants), which provide more anthranilate and/or S-adenosyl methionine, were used to increase the production of the synthesized compounds. MS/MS analysis was used to determine the structure of the products. Approximately, 185.3 µM N-methylanthranilate and 95.2 µM methyl N-methylanthranilate were synthesized. This is the first report about the synthesis of anthranilate derivatives in E. coli.

Synthesis of Diverse Hydroxycinnamoyl Phenylethanoid Esters Using Escherichia coli.

Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) is an ester of a hydroxycinnamic acid (phenylpropanoid) and a phenylethanoid (2-phenylethanol; 2-PE), which has long been used in traditional medicine. Here, we synthesized 54 hydroxycinnamic acid-phenylethanoid esters by feeding 64 combinations of hydroxycinnamic acids and phenylethanols to Escherichia coli harboring the rice genes OsPMT and Os4CL. The same approach was applied for ester synthesis with caffeic acid and eight different phenyl alcohols. Two hydroxycinnamoyl phenethyl esters, p-coumaroyl tyrosol and CAPE, were also synthesized from glucose using engineered E. coli by introducing genes for the synthesis of substrates. Consequently, we synthesized approximately 393.4 mg/L p-coumaroyl tyrosol and 23.8 mg/L CAPE with this approach. Overall, these findings demonstrate that the rice PMT and 4CL proteins can be used for the synthesis of diverse hydroxycinnamoyl phenylethanoid esters owing to their promiscuity and that further exploration of the biological activities of these compounds is warranted.

Stepwise Synthesis of Quercetin Bisglycosides Using Engineered Escherichia coli.

Synthesis of flavonoid glycoside is difficult due to diverse hydroxy groups in flavonoids and sugars. As such, enzymatic synthesis or biotransformation is an approach to solve this problem. In this report, we used stepwise biotransformation to synthesize two quercetin bisglycosides (quercetin 3-O-glucuronic acid 7-O-rhamnoside [Q-GR] and quercetin 3-O-arabinose-7-O-rhamnoside [Q-AR]) because quercetin O-rhamnosides contain antiviral activity. Two sequential enzymatic reactions were required to synthesize these flavonoid glycosides. We first synthesized quercetin 3-O-glucuronic acid [Q-G], and quercetin 3-O-arabinose-[Q-A] from quercetin using E. coli harboring specific uridine diphopsphate glycosyltransferase (UGT) and genes for UDP-glucuronic acid and UDP-arabinose, respectively. With each quercetin 3-O-glycoside, rhamnosylation using E. coli harboring UGT and the gene for UDP-rhamnose was conducted. This approach resulted in the production of 44.8 mg/l Q-GR and 45.1 mg/l Q-AR. This stepwise synthesis could be applicable to synthesize various natural product derivatives in case that the final yield of product was low due to the multistep reaction in one cell or when sequential synthesis is necessary in order to reduce the synthesis of byproducts.

Current Status of Microbial Phenylethanoid Biosynthesis.

Phenylethanoids, including 2-phenylethanol, tyrosol, and salidroside are a group of phenolic compounds with a C6-C2 carbon skeleton synthesized by plants. Phenylethanoids display a variety of biological activities, including antibacterial, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and anti-asthmatic activities. Recently, successful microbial synthesis of phenylethanoids through metabolic engineering and synthetic biology approaches has been reported and could allow phenylethanoid production from alternative microbial sources. Here, we review the recent achievements in the synthesis of phenylethanoids by microorganisms. The work done so far will contribute to the production of diverse phenylethanoids using various microbial systems and facilitate exploration of further diverse biological activities of phenylethanoids.

Synthesis of avenanthramides using engineered Escherichia coli.

BACKGROUND: Hydroxycinnamoyl anthranilates, also known as avenanthramides (avns), are a group of phenolic alkaloids with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-itch, anti-irritant, and antiatherogenic activities. Some avenanthramides (avn A-H and avn K) are conjugates of hydroxycinnamic acids (HC), including p-coumaric acid, caffeic acid, and ferulic acid, and anthranilate derivatives, including anthranilate, 4-hydroxyanthranilate, and 5-hydroxyanthranilate. Avns are primarily found in oat grain, in which they were originally designated as phytoalexins. Knowledge of the avns biosynthesis pathway has now made it possible to synthesize avns through a genetic engineering strategy, which would help to further elucidate their properties and exploit their beneficial biological activities. The aim of the present study was to synthesize natural avns in Escherichia coli to serve as a valuable resource. RESULTS: We synthesized nine avns in E. coli. We first synthesized avn D from glucose in E. coli harboring tyrosine ammonia lyase (TAL), 4-coumarate:coenzyme A ligase (4CL), anthranilate N-hydroxycinnamoyl/benzoyltransferase (HCBT), and anthranilate synthase (trpEG). A trpD deletion mutant was used to increase the amount of anthranilate in E. coli. After optimizing the incubation temperature and cell density, approximately 317.2 mg/L of avn D was synthesized. Avn E and avn F were then synthesized from avn D, using either E. coli harboring HpaBC and SOMT9 or E. coli harboring HapBC alone, respectively. Avn A and avn G were synthesized by feeding 5-hydroxyanthranilate or 4-hydroxyanthranilate to E. coli harboring TAL, 4CL, and HCBT. Avn B, avn C, avn H, and avn K were synthesized from avn A or avn G, using the same approach employed for the synthesis of avn E and avn F from avn D. CONCLUSIONS: Using different HCs, nine avns were synthesized, three of which (avn D, avn E, and avn F) were synthesized from glucose in E. coli. These diverse avns provide a strategy to synthesize both natural and unnatural avns, setting a foundation for exploring the biological activities of diverse avns.

Engineering of Escherichia coli for the synthesis of N-hydroxycinnamoyl tryptamine and serotonin.

Plants synthesize various phenol amides. Among them, hydroxycinnamoyl (HC) tryptamines and serotonins exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-atherogenic activities. We synthesized HC-tryptamines and HC-serotonin from several HCs and either tryptamine or serotonin using Escherichia coli harboring the 4CL (4-coumaroyl CoA ligase) and CaHCTT [hydroxycinnamoyl-coenzyme A:serotonin N-(hydroxycinnamoyl)transferase] genes. E. coli was engineered to synthesize N-cinnamoyl tryptamine from glucose. TDC (tryptophan decarboxylase) and PAL (phenylalanine ammonia lyase) along with 4CL and CaHCTT were introduced into E. coli and the phenylalanine biosynthetic pathway of E. coli was engineered. Using this strategy, approximately 110.6 mg/L of N-cinnamoyl tryptamine was synthesized. By feeding 100 µM serotonin into the E. coli culture, which could induce the synthesis of cinnamic acid or p-coumaric acid, more than 99 µM of N-cinnamoyl serotonin and N-(p-coumaroyl) serotonin were synthesized.

Production of three phenylethanoids, tyrosol, hydroxytyrosol, and salidroside, using plant genes expressing in Escherichia coli.

Polyphenols, which include phenolic acids, flavonoids, stilbenes, and phenylethanoids, are generally known as useful antioxidants. Tyrosol, hydroxytyrosol, and salidroside are typical phenylethanoids. Phenylethanoids are found in plants such as olive, green tea, and Rhodiola and have various biological activities, including the prevention of cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and brain damage. We used Escherichia coli to synthesize three phenylethanoids, tyrosol, hydroxytyrosol, and salidroside. To synthesize tyrosol, the aromatic aldehyde synthase (AAS) was expressed in E. coli. Hydroxytyrosol was synthesized using E. coli harboring AAS and HpaBC, which encodes hydroxylase. In order to synthesize salidroside, 12 uridine diphosphate-dependent glycosyltransferases (UGTs) were screened and UGT85A1 was found to convert tyrosol to salidroside. Using E. coli harboring AAS and UGT85A1, salidroside was synthesized. Through the optimization of these three E. coli strains, we were able to synthesize 531 mg/L tyrosol, 208 mg/L hydroxytyrosol, and 288 mg/L salidroside, respectively.