Volatile Glycosylation in Tea Plants: Sequential Glycosylations for the Biosynthesis of Aroma β-Primeverosides Are Catalyzed by Two Camellia sinensis Glycosyltransferases.
Tea plants (Camellia sinensis) store volatile organic compounds (VOCs; monoterpene, aromatic, and aliphatic alcohols) in the leaves in the form of water-soluble diglycosides, primarily as β-primeverosides (6-O-β-D-xylopyranosyl-β-D-glucopyranosides). These VOCs play a critical role in plant defenses and tea aroma quality, yet little is known about their biosynthesis and physiological roles in planta. Here, we identified two UDP-glycosyltransferases (UGTs) from C. sinensis, UGT85K11 (CsGT1) and UGT94P1 (CsGT2), converting VOCs into β-primeverosides by sequential glucosylation and xylosylation, respectively. CsGT1 exhibits a broad substrate specificity toward monoterpene, aromatic, and aliphatic alcohols to produce the respective glucosides. On the other hand, CsGT2 specifically catalyzes the xylosylation of the 6'-hydroxy group of the sugar moiety of geranyl β-D-glucopyranoside, producing geranyl β-primeveroside. Homology modeling, followed by site-directed mutagenesis of CsGT2, identified a unique isoleucine-141 residue playing a crucial role in sugar donor specificity toward UDP-xylose. The transcripts of both CsGTs were mainly expressed in young leaves, along with β-primeverosidase encoding a diglycoside-specific glycosidase. In conclusion, our findings reveal the mechanism of aroma β-primeveroside biosynthesis in C. sinensis. This information can be used to preserve tea aroma better during the manufacturing process and to investigate the mechanism of plant chemical defenses.
Graduate School of Agriculture (S.O., K.T., Y.O., T.A., T.O.) and Research Institute of Green Science and Technology (H.D., T.O.), Shizuoka University, Shizuoka 422-8529, Japan;Research Institute, Suntory Global Innovation Center, Shimamoto, Mishima, Osaka 618-8503, Japan (E.O., H.T.);Bioorganic Research Institute, Suntory Foundation for Life Sciences, Shimamoto, Mishima, Osaka 618-8503, Japan (M.H., J.M.);Graduate School of Medicine, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi 753-8515, Japan (K.M.);Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University, Kobe 657-8501, Japan (M.M.); andGraduate School of Engineering, Shizuoka University, Hamamatsu 432-8561, Japan (N.W.).
Shoji
S
Ohgami
Graduate School of Agriculture (S.O., K.T., Y.O., T.A., T.O.) and Research Institute of Green Science and Technology (H.D., T.O.), Shizuoka University, Shizuoka 422-8529, Japan;Research Institute, Suntory Global Innovation Center, Shimamoto, Mishima, Osaka 618-8503, Japan (E.O., H.T.);Bioorganic Research Institute, Suntory Foundation for Life Sciences, Shimamoto, Mishima, Osaka 618-8503, Japan (M.H., J.M.);Graduate School of Medicine, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi 753-8515, Japan (K.M.);Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University, Kobe 657-8501, Japan (M.M.); andGraduate School of Engineering, Shizuoka University, Hamamatsu 432-8561, Japan (N.W.) eiichiro_ono@suntory.co.jp dtonish@ipc.shizuoka.ac.jp.
Eiichiro
E
Ono
Graduate School of Agriculture (S.O., K.T., Y.O., T.A., T.O.) and Research Institute of Green Science and Technology (H.D., T.O.), Shizuoka University, Shizuoka 422-8529, Japan;Research Institute, Suntory Global Innovation Center, Shimamoto, Mishima, Osaka 618-8503, Japan (E.O., H.T.);Bioorganic Research Institute, Suntory Foundation for Life Sciences, Shimamoto, Mishima, Osaka 618-8503, Japan (M.H., J.M.);Graduate School of Medicine, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi 753-8515, Japan (K.M.);Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University, Kobe 657-8501, Japan (M.M.); andGraduate School of Engineering, Shizuoka University, Hamamatsu 432-8561, Japan (N.W.).
Manabu
M
Horikawa
Graduate School of Agriculture (S.O., K.T., Y.O., T.A., T.O.) and Research Institute of Green Science and Technology (H.D., T.O.), Shizuoka University, Shizuoka 422-8529, Japan;Research Institute, Suntory Global Innovation Center, Shimamoto, Mishima, Osaka 618-8503, Japan (E.O., H.T.);Bioorganic Research Institute, Suntory Foundation for Life Sciences, Shimamoto, Mishima, Osaka 618-8503, Japan (M.H., J.M.);Graduate School of Medicine, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi 753-8515, Japan (K.M.);Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University, Kobe 657-8501, Japan (M.M.); andGraduate School of Engineering, Shizuoka University, Hamamatsu 432-8561, Japan (N.W.).
Jun
J
Murata
Graduate School of Agriculture (S.O., K.T., Y.O., T.A., T.O.) and Research Institute of Green Science and Technology (H.D., T.O.), Shizuoka University, Shizuoka 422-8529, Japan;Research Institute, Suntory Global Innovation Center, Shimamoto, Mishima, Osaka 618-8503, Japan (E.O., H.T.);Bioorganic Research Institute, Suntory Foundation for Life Sciences, Shimamoto, Mishima, Osaka 618-8503, Japan (M.H., J.M.);Graduate School of Medicine, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi 753-8515, Japan (K.M.);Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University, Kobe 657-8501, Japan (M.M.); andGraduate School of Engineering, Shizuoka University, Hamamatsu 432-8561, Japan (N.W.).
Koujirou
K
Totsuka
Graduate School of Agriculture (S.O., K.T., Y.O., T.A., T.O.) and Research Institute of Green Science and Technology (H.D., T.O.), Shizuoka University, Shizuoka 422-8529, Japan;Research Institute, Suntory Global Innovation Center, Shimamoto, Mishima, Osaka 618-8503, Japan (E.O., H.T.);Bioorganic Research Institute, Suntory Foundation for Life Sciences, Shimamoto, Mishima, Osaka 618-8503, Japan (M.H., J.M.);Graduate School of Medicine, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi 753-8515, Japan (K.M.);Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University, Kobe 657-8501, Japan (M.M.); andGraduate School of Engineering, Shizuoka University, Hamamatsu 432-8561, Japan (N.W.).
Hiromi
H
Toyonaga
Graduate School of Agriculture (S.O., K.T., Y.O., T.A., T.O.) and Research Institute of Green Science and Technology (H.D., T.O.), Shizuoka University, Shizuoka 422-8529, Japan;Research Institute, Suntory Global Innovation Center, Shimamoto, Mishima, Osaka 618-8503, Japan (E.O., H.T.);Bioorganic Research Institute, Suntory Foundation for Life Sciences, Shimamoto, Mishima, Osaka 618-8503, Japan (M.H., J.M.);Graduate School of Medicine, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi 753-8515, Japan (K.M.);Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University, Kobe 657-8501, Japan (M.M.); andGraduate School of Engineering, Shizuoka University, Hamamatsu 432-8561, Japan (N.W.).
Yukie
Y
Ohba
Graduate School of Agriculture (S.O., K.T., Y.O., T.A., T.O.) and Research Institute of Green Science and Technology (H.D., T.O.), Shizuoka University, Shizuoka 422-8529, Japan;Research Institute, Suntory Global Innovation Center, Shimamoto, Mishima, Osaka 618-8503, Japan (E.O., H.T.);Bioorganic Research Institute, Suntory Foundation for Life Sciences, Shimamoto, Mishima, Osaka 618-8503, Japan (M.H., J.M.);Graduate School of Medicine, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi 753-8515, Japan (K.M.);Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University, Kobe 657-8501, Japan (M.M.); andGraduate School of Engineering, Shizuoka University, Hamamatsu 432-8561, Japan (N.W.).
Hideo
H
Dohra
Graduate School of Agriculture (S.O., K.T., Y.O., T.A., T.O.) and Research Institute of Green Science and Technology (H.D., T.O.), Shizuoka University, Shizuoka 422-8529, Japan;Research Institute, Suntory Global Innovation Center, Shimamoto, Mishima, Osaka 618-8503, Japan (E.O., H.T.);Bioorganic Research Institute, Suntory Foundation for Life Sciences, Shimamoto, Mishima, Osaka 618-8503, Japan (M.H., J.M.);Graduate School of Medicine, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi 753-8515, Japan (K.M.);Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University, Kobe 657-8501, Japan (M.M.); andGraduate School of Engineering, Shizuoka University, Hamamatsu 432-8561, Japan (N.W.).
Tatsuo
T
Asai
Graduate School of Agriculture (S.O., K.T., Y.O., T.A., T.O.) and Research Institute of Green Science and Technology (H.D., T.O.), Shizuoka University, Shizuoka 422-8529, Japan;Research Institute, Suntory Global Innovation Center, Shimamoto, Mishima, Osaka 618-8503, Japan (E.O., H.T.);Bioorganic Research Institute, Suntory Foundation for Life Sciences, Shimamoto, Mishima, Osaka 618-8503, Japan (M.H., J.M.);Graduate School of Medicine, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi 753-8515, Japan (K.M.);Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University, Kobe 657-8501, Japan (M.M.); andGraduate School of Engineering, Shizuoka University, Hamamatsu 432-8561, Japan (N.W.).
Kenji
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4875-5176
K
Matsui
Graduate School of Agriculture (S.O., K.T., Y.O., T.A., T.O.) and Research Institute of Green Science and Technology (H.D., T.O.), Shizuoka University, Shizuoka 422-8529, Japan;Research Institute, Suntory Global Innovation Center, Shimamoto, Mishima, Osaka 618-8503, Japan (E.O., H.T.);Bioorganic Research Institute, Suntory Foundation for Life Sciences, Shimamoto, Mishima, Osaka 618-8503, Japan (M.H., J.M.);Graduate School of Medicine, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi 753-8515, Japan (K.M.);Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University, Kobe 657-8501, Japan (M.M.); andGraduate School of Engineering, Shizuoka University, Hamamatsu 432-8561, Japan (N.W.).
Masaharu
M
Mizutani
Graduate School of Agriculture (S.O., K.T., Y.O., T.A., T.O.) and Research Institute of Green Science and Technology (H.D., T.O.), Shizuoka University, Shizuoka 422-8529, Japan;Research Institute, Suntory Global Innovation Center, Shimamoto, Mishima, Osaka 618-8503, Japan (E.O., H.T.);Bioorganic Research Institute, Suntory Foundation for Life Sciences, Shimamoto, Mishima, Osaka 618-8503, Japan (M.H., J.M.);Graduate School of Medicine, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi 753-8515, Japan (K.M.);Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University, Kobe 657-8501, Japan (M.M.); andGraduate School of Engineering, Shizuoka University, Hamamatsu 432-8561, Japan (N.W.).
Naoharu
N
Watanabe
Graduate School of Agriculture (S.O., K.T., Y.O., T.A., T.O.) and Research Institute of Green Science and Technology (H.D., T.O.), Shizuoka University, Shizuoka 422-8529, Japan;Research Institute, Suntory Global Innovation Center, Shimamoto, Mishima, Osaka 618-8503, Japan (E.O., H.T.);Bioorganic Research Institute, Suntory Foundation for Life Sciences, Shimamoto, Mishima, Osaka 618-8503, Japan (M.H., J.M.);Graduate School of Medicine, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi 753-8515, Japan (K.M.);Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University, Kobe 657-8501, Japan (M.M.); andGraduate School of Engineering, Shizuoka University, Hamamatsu 432-8561, Japan (N.W.) eiichiro_ono@suntory.co.jp dtonish@ipc.shizuoka.ac.jp.
Toshiyuki
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6862-9639
T
Ohnishi
D055162:Biocatalysis; D028241:Camellia sinensis / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D006027:Glycosides / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D006031:Glycosylation; D016695:Glycosyltransferases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D007700:Kinetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016296:Mutagenesis; D009928:Organ Specificity; D010802:Phylogeny; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D040681:Structural Homology, Protein; D013379:Substrate Specificity; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds / Q000378:metabolism; D014835:Volatilization
D006027:Glycosides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds; D016695:Glycosyltransferases