A High-Throughput Continuous Spectroscopic Assay to Measure the Activity of Natural Product Methyltransferases.

Natural product methyltransferases (NPMTs) represent an emerging class of enzymes that can be of great use for the structural and functional diversification of bioactive compounds, such as the strategic modification of C-, N-, O- and S-moieties. To assess the activity and the substrate scope of the ever-expanding repertoire of NPMTs, a simple, fast, and robust assay is needed. Here, we report a continuous spectroscopic assay, in which S-adenosyl-L-methionine-dependent methylation is linked to NADH oxidation through the coupled activities of S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine (SAH) deaminase and glutamate dehydrogenase. The assay is highly suitable for a high-throughput evaluation of small molecule methylation and for determining the catalytic parameters of NPMTs under conditions that remove the potent inhibition by SAH. Through the modular design, the assay can be extended to match the needs of different aspects of methyltransferase cascade reactions and respective applications.

Engineering of a borneol dehydrogenase from P. putida for the enzymatic resolution of camphor.

Several thousand different terpenoid structures are known so far, and many of them are interesting for applications as pharmaceuticals, flavors, fragrances, biofuels, insecticides, or fine chemical intermediates. One prominent example is camphor, which has been utilized since ancient times in medical applications. Especially (-)-camphor is gaining more and more interest for pharmaceutical applications. Hence, a commercial reliable source is needed. The natural sources for (-)-camphor are limited, and the oxidation of precious (-)-borneol would be too costly. Hence, synthesis of (-)-camphor from renewable alpha-pinene would be an inexpensive alternative. As the currently used route for the conversion of alpha-pinene to camphor produces a mixture of both enantiomers, preferably catalytic methods for the separation of this racemate are demanded to yield enantiopure camphor. Enzymatic kinetic resolution is a sustainable way to solve this challenge but requires suitable enzymes. In this study, the first borneol dehydrogenase from Pseudomonas sp. ATCC 17453, capable of catalyzing the stereoselective reduction of camphor, was examined. By using a targeted enzyme engineering approach, enantioselective enzyme variants were created with E-values > 100. The best variant was used for the enzymatic kinetic resolution of camphor racemate, yielding 79% of (-)-camphor with an ee of > 99%. KEY POINTS: • Characterization of a novel borneol dehydrogenase (BDH) from P. putida. • Development of enantioselective BDH variants for the reduction of camphor. • Enzymatic kinetic resolution of camphor with borneol dehydrogenase.

Natural haplotypes of FLM non-coding sequences fine-tune flowering time in ambient spring temperatures in Arabidopsis.

Cool ambient temperatures are major cues determining flowering time in spring. The mechanisms promoting or delaying flowering in response to ambient temperature changes are only beginning to be understood. In Arabidopsis thaliana, FLOWERING LOCUS M (FLM) regulates flowering in the ambient temperature range and FLM is transcribed and alternatively spliced in a temperature-dependent manner. We identify polymorphic promoter and intronic sequences required for FLM expression and splicing. In transgenic experiments covering 69% of the available sequence variation in two distinct sites, we show that variation in the abundance of the FLM-ß splice form strictly correlate (R2 = 0.94) with flowering time over an extended vegetative period. The FLM polymorphisms lead to changes in FLM expression (PRO2+) but may also affect FLM intron 1 splicing (INT6+). This information could serve to buffer the anticipated negative effects on agricultural systems and flowering that may occur during climate change.

LLM-Domain B-GATA Transcription Factors Promote Stomatal Development Downstream of Light Signaling Pathways in Arabidopsis thaliana Hypocotyls.

Stomata are pores that regulate the gas and water exchange between the environment and aboveground plant tissues, including hypocotyls, leaves, and stems. Here, we show that mutants of Arabidopsis thaliana LLM-domain B-GATA genes are defective in stomata formation in hypocotyls. Conversely, stomata formation is strongly promoted by overexpression of various LLM-domain B-class GATA genes, most strikingly in hypocotyls but also in cotyledons. Genetic analyses indicate that these B-GATAs act upstream of the stomata formation regulators SPEECHLESS(SPCH), MUTE, and SCREAM/SCREAM2 and downstream or independent of the patterning regulators TOO MANY MOUTHS and STOMATAL DENSITY AND DISTRIBUTION1 The effects of the GATAs on stomata formation are light dependent but can be induced in dark-grown seedlings by red, far-red, or blue light treatments. PHYTOCHROME INTERACTING FACTOR(PIF) mutants form stomata in the dark, and in this genetic background, GATA expression is sufficient to induce stomata formation in the dark. Since the expression of the LLM-domain B-GATAs GNC(GATA, NITRATE-INDUCIBLE, CARBON METABOLISM-INVOLVED) and GNC-LIKE/CYTOKININ-RESPONSIVE GATA FACTOR1 as well as that of SPCH is red light induced but the induction of SPCH is compromised in a GATA gene mutant background, we hypothesize that PIF- and light-regulated stomata formation in hypocotyls is critically dependent on LLM-domain B-GATA genes.