Functional characterization of (S)–N-methylcoclaurine 3′-hydroxylase (NMCH) involved in the biosynthesis of benzylisoquinoline alkaloids in Corydalis yanhusuo
Journal article, 2021

Benzylisoquinoline alkaloids (BIAs) are compounds naturally found in plants and can have significant value in clinical settings. Metabolic engineering and synthetic biology are both promising approaches for the heterologous acquisition of benzylisoquinoline alkaloids. (S)–N-methylcoclaurine 3′-hydroxylase (NMCH), a member of the CYP80 family of CYP450, is the penultimate catalytic enzyme that forms the central branch-point intermediate (S)-reticuline and plays a key role in the biosynthesis of BIAs. In this study, an NMCH gene was cloned from Corydalis yanhusuo, while in vitro reactions demonstrated that CyNMCH can catalyze (S)–N-methylcoclaurine to produce (S)-3′-hydroxy-N-methylcoclaurine. The Km and Kcat of CyNMCH were estimated and compared with those identified in Eschscholzia californica and Coptis japonica. This newly discovered CyNMCH will provide alternative genetic resources for the synthetic biological production of benzylisoquinoline alkaloids and provides a foundation to help analyze the biosynthetic pathway of BIAs biosynthesis in C. yanhusuo.

(S)–N-Methylcoclaurine 3′-hydroxylase

Synthetic biology

Corydalis yanhusuo

Author

Xiuyu Liu

China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences

Henan University of Chinese Medicine

Junling Bu

China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences

Ying Ma

China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences

Yun Chen

Chalmers, Biology and Biological Engineering, Systems and Synthetic Biology

Qishuang Li

China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences

Xiang Jiao

Chalmers, Biology and Biological Engineering, Systems and Synthetic Biology

Zhimin Hu

China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences

Guanghong Cui

China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences

Jinfu Tang

China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences

Juan Guo

China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences

Luqi Huang

China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences

Plant Physiology and Biochemistry

0981-9428 (ISSN)

Vol. 168 507-515

Subject Categories

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Plant Biotechnology

Organic Chemistry

DOI

10.1016/j.plaphy.2021.09.042

PubMed

34757301

More information

Latest update

11/15/2021