title: Unraveling the triterpenoid saponin biosynthesis of the African shrub Maesa lanceolata.
abstract: Maesasaponins produced by the African shrub Maesa lanceolata are oleanane-type saponins with diverse biological activities. Through a combination of transcript profiling of methyl jasmonate-elicited M. lanceolata shoot cultures, functional analysis in transgenic M. lanceolata plants and the heterologous hosts Medicago truncatula and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we identified three maesaponin biosynthesis genes. These include a β-amyrin synthase and two cytochrome P450s, CYP716A75 and CYP87D16, which catalyze the C-28 and C-16α oxidations of β-amyrin, respectively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Systems Biology, VIB, Technologiepark 927, B-9052 Gent, Belgium; Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Technologiepark 927, B-9052 Gent, Belgium; Department of Molecular Microbiology, VIB, Kasteelpark Arenberg 31, B-3001 Leuven-Heverlee, Belgium; Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology, Institute of Botany and Microbiology, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 31, B-3001 Leuven-Heverlee, Belgium.
authors.forename: Tessa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Moses
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Systems Biology, VIB, Technologiepark 927, B-9052 Gent, Belgium; Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Technologiepark 927, B-9052 Gent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Jacob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pollier
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Production, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Faizal
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Analysis, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Apers
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Analysis, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pieters
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Microbiology, VIB, Kasteelpark Arenberg 31, B-3001 Leuven-Heverlee, Belgium; Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology, Institute of Botany and Microbiology, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 31, B-3001 Leuven-Heverlee, Belgium.
authors.forename: Johan M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Thevelein
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Production, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Danny
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Geelen
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Systems Biology, VIB, Technologiepark 927, B-9052 Gent, Belgium; Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Technologiepark 927, B-9052 Gent, Belgium. Electronic address: algoo@psb.vib-ugent.be.
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Goossens
mesh_terms: D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000378:metabolism; D019751:Intramolecular Transferases / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000378:metabolism; D029623:Primulaceae / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D012503:Saponins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D014315:Triterpenes / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D012503:Saponins; D014315:Triterpenes; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System; D010088:Oxidoreductases; D019751:Intramolecular Transferases; C021924:lanosterol synthase
keywords: C-16α oxidase; C-28 oxidase; Maesa lanceolata; cytochrome P450; oxidosqualene cyclase; triterpenoid saponin