Identification of UDP-glycosyltransferases involved in the biosynthesis of astringent taste compounds in tea (Camellia sinensis).

Galloylated catechins and flavonol 3-O-glycosides are characteristic astringent taste compounds in tea (Camellia sinensis). The mechanism involved in the formation of these metabolites remains unknown in tea plants. In this paper, 178 UGT genes (CsUGTs) were identified inC. sinensis based on an analysis of tea transcriptome data. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that 132 of these genes were clustered into 15 previously established phylogenetic groups (A to M, O and P) and a newly identified group R. Three of the 11 recombinant UGT proteins tested were found to be involved in the in vitro biosynthesis of ß-glucogallin and glycosylated flavonols. CsUGT84A22 exhibited catalytic activity toward phenolic acids, in particular gallic acid, to produce ß-glucogallin, which is the immediate precursor of galloylated catechin biosynthesis in tea plants. CsUGT78A14 and CsUGT78A15 were found to be responsible for the biosynthesis of flavonol 3-O-glucosides and flavonol 3-O-galactosides, respectively. Site-directed mutagenesis of the Q373H substitution for CsUGT78A14 indicated that the Q (Gln) residue played a catalytically crucial role for flavonoid 3-O-glucosyltransferase activity. The expression profiles of the CsUGT84A22, CsUGT78A14, and CsUGT78A15 genes were correlated with the accumulation patterns of ß-glucogallin and the glycosylated flavonols which indicated that these three CsUGT genes were involved in the biosynthesis of astringent compounds inC. sinensis.

Expression Profile and Localization of SARS-CoV-2 Nonstructural Replicase Proteins in Infected Cells.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV)-2 is responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic that has caused unprecedented loss of life and economic trouble all over the world, though the mechanism of its replication remains poorly understood. In this study, antibodies were generated and used to systematically determine the expression profile and subcellular distribution of 11 SARS-CoV-2 nonstructural replicase proteins (nsp1, nsp2, nsp3, nsp5, nsp7, nsp8, nsp9, nsp10, nsp13, nsp14, and nsp15) by Western blot and immunofluorescence assay. Nsp3, nsp5, and nsp8 were detected in perinuclear foci at different time points, with diffusion and stronger fluorescence observed over time. In particular, colocalization of nsp8 and nsp13 with different replicase proteins suggested viral protein-protein interaction, which may be key to understanding their functions and potential molecular mechanisms. Viral intermediate dsRNA was detected in perinuclear foci as early as 2-h postinfection, indicating the initiation of virus replication. With the passage of time, these perinuclear dsRNA foci became larger and brighter, and nearly all colocalized with N protein, consistent with viral growth over time. Thus, the development of these anti-nsp antibodies provides basic tools for the further study of replication and diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2. IMPORTANCE The intracellular localization of SARS-CoV-2 replicase nonstructural proteins (nsp) during infection has not been fully elucidated. In this study, we systematically analyzed the expression and subcellular localization of 11 distinct viral nsp and dsRNA over time in SARS-CoV-2-infected cells by using individual antibody against these replicase proteins. The data indicated that nsp gene expression is highly regulated in space and time, which could be useful to understand the function of viral replicases and future development of diagnostics and potential antiviral strategies against SARS-CoV-2.

Functional Characterization of a New Tea (Camellia sinensis) Flavonoid Glycosyltransferase.

Tea (Camellia sinensis) is an important commercial crop, in which the high content of flavonoids provides health benefits. A flavonoid glycosyltransferase (CsUGT73A20), belonging to cluster IIIa, was isolated from tea plant. The recombinant CsUGT73A20 in Escherichia coli exhibited a broad substrate tolerance toward multiple flavonoids. Among them, kaempferol was the optimal substrate compared to quercetin, myricetin, naringenin, apigenin, and kaempferide. However, no product was detected when UDP-galactose was used as the sugar donor. The reaction assay indicated that rCsUGT73A20 performed multisite glycosidation toward flavonol compounds, mainly forming 3-O-glucoside and 7-O-glucoside in vitro. The biochemical characterization analysis of CsUGT73A20 showed more K7G product accumulated at pH 8.0, but K3G was the main product at pH 9.0. Kinetic analysis demonstrated that high pH repressed the glycosylation reaction at the 7-OH site in vitro. Besides, the content of five flavonol-glucosides was increased in CsUGT73A20-overexpressing tobaccos (Nicotiana tabacum).

Analysis of stereochemistry and biosynthesis of epicatechin in tea plants by chiral phase high performance liquid chromatography.

Tea (Camellia sinensis) is rich in flavan-3-ols (catechins), especially epicatechin (EC), which is the predominant extension unit of polymeric proanthocyanidins (PAs). However, studies assessing EC's stereochemistry are scarce. Here, a high performance liquid chromatography column using amylose tris-(3, 5-dimethylphenylcarbamate) immobilized on silica-gel as chiral stationary phases (CSPs) was applied to explore its stereochemistry and biosynthetic pathway in tea plants. The results revealed (-)-epicatechin [(-)-EC] was the predominant di-hyroxy-non-galloylated-catechins, while (+)-epicatechin [(+)-EC] was not detected. Interestingly, (-)-EC was the only product obtained from cyanidin using the partially purified native C. sinensis anthocyanidin reductase (CsANR) in the presence of reduction nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH); meanwhile, (+)-EC was the main product using recombinant CsANR in the same conditions. In addition, (-)-EC could be obtained from (+)-catechin [(+)-C] using recombinant CsANR, which displayed C3-epimerase activity in the presence of oxidation nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP(+)). But the partially purified native CsANR did not possess this function. Finally, (-)-EC could result from the de-gallate acid reaction of epicatechin gallate (ECG) catalyzed by a novel partially purified native galloylated catechins hydrolase (GCH) from tea leaves. In summary, (-)-EC is likely the product of native protein from the tea plants, and (+)-EC is only produced in a reaction catalyzed by recombinant CsANR in vitro.