Key Enzymes of Triterpenoid Saponin Biosynthesis and the Induction of Their Activities and Gene Expressions in Plants

Triterpenoid saponins are one of the key active components of many medicinal plants. The biosynthetic pathway of triterpenoid saponins in higher plants and a lot of experimental results both indicated that the key enzymes involved in triterpenoid saponin synthesis are squalene synthase (SS), squalen...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Natural product communications 2010-07, Vol.5 (7), p.1147-1158
Main Authors: Zhao, Chang Ling, Cui, Xiu Ming, Chen, Yan Ping, Liang, Quan
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Farnesyl-Diphosphate Farnesyltransferase - metabolism
Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
Glycosyltransferases - metabolism
Intramolecular Transferases
Models, Biological
Plant Proteins - metabolism
Saponins - biosynthesis
Saponins - chemistry
Squalene Monooxygenase - metabolism
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Summary:Triterpenoid saponins are one of the key active components of many medicinal plants. The biosynthetic pathway of triterpenoid saponins in higher plants and a lot of experimental results both indicated that the key enzymes involved in triterpenoid saponin synthesis are squalene synthase (SS), squalene epoxidase (SE), lupeol synthase (LS), dammarenediol synthase (DS), β-amyrin synthase (β-AS), cytochrome P450-dependent monooxygenase (PDMO), and glycosyltransferase (GT). The activities and coding genes of the key enzymes could be induced by a range of factors in various plant species. However, the effects of the factors on the content and composition of the triterpenoid saponins in specific plants are not certainly coincident, and different factors appear to induce the gene expressions of the key enzymes by different signal pathways and at different levels. This paper could provide a reference for strengthening the triterpenoid saponin-synthesizing capability of specific medicinal plants at enzyme and/or gene expression levels in order to improve the plants’ commercial values.
ISSN:1934-578X
1555-9475
DOI:10.1177/1934578X1000500736