A Cytochrome P450-Mediated Intramolecular Carbon-Carbon Ring Closure in the Biosynthesis of Multidrug-Resistance-Reversing Lathyrane Diterpenoids.
The Euphorbiaceae produce a wide variety of bioactive diterpenoids. These include the lathyranes, which have received much interest due to their ability to inhibit the ABC transporters responsible for the loss of efficacy of many chemotherapy drugs. The lathyranes are also intermediates in the biosynthesis of range of other bioactive diterpenoids with potential applications in the treatment of pain, HIV and cancer. We report here a gene cluster from Jatropha curcas that contains the genes required to convert geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate into a number of diterpenoids, including the lathyranes jolkinol C and epi-jolkinol C. The conversion of casbene to the lathyranes involves an intramolecular carbon-carbon ring closure. This requires the activity of two cytochrome P450s that we propose form a 6-hydroxy-5,9-diketocasbene intermediate, which then undergoes an aldol reaction. The discovery of the P450 genes required to convert casbene to lathyranes will allow the scalable heterologous production of these potential anticancer drugs, which can often only be sourced in limited quantities from their native plant.
Centre for Novel Agricultural Products, Department of Biology, University of York, Heslington, York, YO10 5DD, UK. andy.king@york.ac.uk.
Andrew J
AJ
King
Department of Chemistry, University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading, RG6 6AD, UK.
Geoffrey D
GD
Brown
Centre for Novel Agricultural Products, Department of Biology, University of York, Heslington, York, YO10 5DD, UK.
Alison D
AD
Gilday
Centre for Novel Agricultural Products, Department of Biology, University of York, Heslington, York, YO10 5DD, UK.
Edith
E
Forestier
Centre for Novel Agricultural Products, Department of Biology, University of York, Heslington, York, YO10 5DD, UK.
Tony R
TR
Larson
Centre for Novel Agricultural Products, Department of Biology, University of York, Heslington, York, YO10 5DD, UK. ian.graham@york.ac.uk.
Ian A
IA
Graham
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004224:Diterpenes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D018432:Drug Resistance, Multiple / Q000187:drug effects; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / Q000187:drug effects; D031286:Jatropha / Q000737:chemistry*; D015394:Molecular Structure
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D004224:Diterpenes; C530347:lathyrane; D002244:Carbon; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System
casbene; cytochromes; diterpenoids; gene clusters; lathyranes