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Tat proteins as novel thylakoid membrane anchors organize a biosynthetic pathway in chloroplasts and increase product yield 4-fold

Henriques de Jesus, Maria Perestrello Ramos, Zygadlo Nielsen, Agnieszka, Busck Mellor, Silas, Matthes, Annemarie, Burow, Meike, Robinson, Colin, Erik Jensen, Poul (2017) Tat proteins as novel thylakoid membrane anchors organize a biosynthetic pathway in chloroplasts and increase product yield 4-fold. Metabolic Engineering, 44 . pp. 108-116. ISSN 1096-7176. (doi:10.1016/j.ymben.2017.09.014) (KAR id:63660)

Abstract

Photosynthesis drives the production of ATP and NADPH, and acts as a source of carbon for primary metabolism. NADPH is also used in the production of many natural bioactive compounds. These are usually synthesized in low quantities and are often difficult to produce by chemical synthesis due to their complex structures. Some of the crucial enzymes catalyzing their biosynthesis are the cytochromes P450 (P450s) situated in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), powered by electron transfers from NADPH. Dhurrin is a cyanogenic glucoside and its biosynthesis involves a dynamic metabolon formed by two P450s, a UDP-glucosyltransferase (UGT) and a P450 oxidoreductase (POR). Its biosynthetic pathway has been relocated to the chloroplast where ferredoxin, reduced through the photosynthetic electron transport chain, serves as an efficient electron donor to the P450s, bypassing the involvement of POR. Nevertheless, translocation of the pathway from the ER to the chloroplast creates other difficulties, such as the loss of metabolon formation and intermediate diversion into other metabolic pathways. We show here that co-localization of these enzymes in the thylakoid membrane leads to a significant increase in product formation, with a concomitant decrease in off-pathway intermediates. This was achieved by exchanging the membrane anchors of the dhurrin pathway enzymes to components of the Twin-arginine translocation pathway, TatB and TatC, which have self-assembly properties. Consequently, we show 4-fold increased titers of dhurrin and a decrease in the amounts of intermediates and side products in Nicotiana benthamiana. Further, results suggest that targeting the UGT to the membrane is a key factor to achieve efficient substrate channeling.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1016/j.ymben.2017.09.014
Uncontrolled keywords: Substrate channeling; twin-arginine translocation pathway; dhurrin; fusion proteins; light-driven; chloroplast
Subjects: Q Science
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Natural Sciences > Biosciences
Depositing User: Colin Robinson
Date Deposited: 28 Sep 2017 15:55 UTC
Last Modified: 04 Jul 2023 13:10 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/63660 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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