title: Biosynthesis of the hyperforin skeleton in Hypericum calycinum cell cultures.
abstract: Hyperforin is an important antidepressant constituent of Hypericum perforatum (St. John's wort). Cell cultures of the related species H. calycinum were found to contain the homologue adhyperforin and to a low extent hyperforin, when grown in BDS medium in the dark. Adhyperforin formation paralleled cell culture growth. Cell-free extracts from the cell cultures contained isobutyrophenone synthase activity catalyzing the condensation of isobutyryl-CoA with three molecules of malonyl-CoA to give phlorisobutyrophenone, i.e. the hyperforin skeleton. The formation of the hyperforins during cell culture growth was preceded by an increase in isobutyrophenone synthase activity. The cell cultures also contained benzophenone synthase and chalcone synthase activities which are involved in xanthone and flavonoid biosyntheses, respectively. The three type III polyketide synthases were separated by anion exchange chromatography.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Pharmazeutische Biologie, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Mendelssohnstrasse 1, D-38106 Braunschweig, Germany.
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Klingauf
authors.forename: Till
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Beuerle
authors.forename: Annett
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mellenthin
authors.forename: Safaa A M
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: El-Moghazy
authors.forename: Zakia
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Boubakir
authors.forename: Ludger
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Beerhues
mesh_terms: D000217:Acyltransferases / Q000378:metabolism; D001643:Bridged Bicyclo Compounds / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D019735:Carbon-Carbon Ligases / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D020902:Hypericum / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology*; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010696:Phloroglucinol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D048630:Polyketide Synthases / Q000378:metabolism; D013729:Terpenes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D001643:Bridged Bicyclo Compounds; D013729:Terpenes; D048630:Polyketide Synthases; D010696:Phloroglucinol; D000217:Acyltransferases; C020141:flavanone synthetase; D019735:Carbon-Carbon Ligases; C098887:benzophenone synthase; C001654:hyperforin