Cloning and characterization of a cDNA encoding beta-amyrin synthase from petroleum plant Euphorbia tirucalli L.
Euphorbia tirucalli L., known as the petroleum plant, produces a large amount of triterpenes, such as beta-amyrin. Degenerate RT-PCR based on the sequences conserved among known beta-amyrin synthases led to cloning of a putative triterpene synthase cDNA, EtAS, from leaves of E. tirucalli. The deduced amino acid sequence of the EtAS cDNA showed the highest identity of 82% to the Panax ginseng beta-amyrin synthase. Heterologous expression of the EtAS ORF in the methylotrophic yeast, Pichia pastoris, resulted in production of beta-amyrin, revealing that the EtAS cDNA codes for a beta-amyrin synthase. This is the first report of a gene involved in the triterpene synthetic pathway from Euphorbiaceae plants.
Kajikawa
Masataka
M
Division of Integrated Life Science, Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan.
Yamato
Katsuyuki T
KT
Fukuzawa
Hideya
H
Sakai
Yasuyoshi
Y
Uchida
Hidenobu
H
Ohyama
Kanji
K
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D028481:Euphorbia / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D019751:Intramolecular Transferases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
D018076:DNA, Complementary; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D019751:Intramolecular Transferases; C039924:2,3-oxidosqualene-beta-amyrin-cyclase